Blog Post # 3
With elections just around the corner candidates are saying everything possible to win over the votes of the people. Currently in the running for Governor of California are Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman. Whitman, who has already spent more than $140 million of her own money on her own campaign[1], is trailing in the polls and now is speaking about her position on the death penalty. Of course, there will be bashing of the other candidate (Jerry Brown) and why his stance on the death penalty is the wrong one. The questions at hand are whether we want to elect a governor who is for or against the death penalty and are their reasons for taking their stance valid?
With elections just around the corner candidates are saying everything possible to win over the votes of the people. Currently in the running for Governor of California are Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman. Whitman, who has already spent more than $140 million of her own money on her own campaign[1], is trailing in the polls and now is speaking about her position on the death penalty. Of course, there will be bashing of the other candidate (Jerry Brown) and why his stance on the death penalty is the wrong one. The questions at hand are whether we want to elect a governor who is for or against the death penalty and are their reasons for taking their stance valid?
When reviewing the LA times and The Sacramento Bee it was hard to find valid reasons as to why Meg Whitman was for the death penalty. It is obvious that when campaigning, the candidates often slander their opponent; however, while doing so, Whitman did not give enough reasons that would justify one to vote for her and be pro capital punishment. On October 25, 2010 Whitman told supporters that they would only have to wait one more week until a governor would be elected that would “protect the rights of victims of crime in California1.” Whitman claims that Jerry Brown is “soft on crime” and has a “long history of judges that were very liberal[2].” Of course, people for the death penalty believe that Jerry Brown made a mistake when he appointed Rose Bird as chief justice back in the 1970’s. People believed that Bird was not experienced enough as a judge to be appointed.
Jerry Brown was governor of California from 1975- 1983. During this time there were many changes occurring with the death penalty in California. In July 1975, the Supreme Court found the statues that allowed a jury to impose the death penalty after consideration of both aggravating and mitigating circumstances constitutional but later that year over turned this decision and ruled the statue unconstitutional[3]. In addition, life without the possibility of parole was added to all capital cases. During this time Jerry Brown vetoed the death penalty but it was overridden by the legislature in 1977[4].
These facts are important to keep in mind because people worry about officials getting elected into office and not standing by their word. Whitman is trailing in the polls and is taking extra measures to reach the people and try to win their votes. Jerry Brown was against the death penalty back in the 1970’s and took measure to get it abolished. This can give candidates peace of mind about him as an elected official and making promises that he intends to keep.
[1] Mehta, Seema. “Whitman Will Appoint Only Judges Who Support the Death Penalty.” Los Angeles Times. October 25, 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/calif.htm Accessed on October 26, 2010.
[2] Siders, David. “Whitman Says Her Judicial Nominees Would Support Death Penalty.” The Sacramento Bee. October 25, 2010. http://www.sacbee.com/2010/10/26/2010.htm Accessed on October 26, 2010.
[3] “California Death Penalty Rulings.” June 2009. Accessed on October 26, 2010. http://www.newsbatch.com/deathpenalty.htm
This was a very enlightening blog. I had no idea that Brown was against the death penalty when he was Governor before. Politicians on both sides do not like to give enough information to which side they support. Whitman did not want to say why she was pro death penalty, and i find this strange. People need to understand that politicians say and do things to get the vote.
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