As the father of a 6 month old daughter I agree with Obama 100%. I'm glad he stood on his morals and spoke how he truly feels.

I think giving the states the right to decide death penalties would have sent a real threat to pediphiles. But the root of the problem runs deeper. This country has lost its morals. People used to have the fear of God. No one cares anymore about what is right and what is wrong.
I am actually sick of hearing about OBAMA, you people follow him like its some kind of cult..sickens me… I might actually agree with the guy on a few issues if Obama backers were not so rude.
I am a Kentuckian that CNN and Obama supporters bash.. I have an education, 37 and working towards my third degree to be exact! and I am a Christian.. so CNN and OBAMA supporters think I have no rights! I call that descrimination! Stop acting so childish and grow up!

I honestly do not see how anyone can disagree with what Obama is saying about this ruling. It boggles the mind that people would think that a man who rapes a child should live. The Supreme Court should be ashamed of itself. I am not a huge supporter of the death penalty, however I do believe there should be crimes where it should apply and this is one.

I believe the Supreme Court and their supreme stupidity just opened a Pandora's Box with this ruling. Sleep well judges, you just put our children in jeopardy, thanks for nothing.

I am a woman now 58 who was raped when I was 11. I am a huge supporter of Obama and his point of view on the death penalty will not change my mind about him. I think it is a very personal choice. I don't believe in the death penalty for anyone - I believe in rehabilitation.

I find that interesting since he didn't have no problems with giving terriost the same rights as americans. I believe he is trying the old game to see if he can pick up some conservative democrat votes and republican votes on an emotional crime as child rape . I have no problem with it. Here in texas we kind of like getting rid of the slugs to society. In kenya about a month ago they burned 13 people to death for being witches. You know that Kenya is thought of as being one of the most progressive african nations. Since old dad was supposedly a Kenyan and cnn was doing that special on how proud they were of their home boy maybe he should negioate with them to stop that stuff.

I am against death penalty, but such a sex criminal act against a child should be dealt with heavily. Instead of death penalty, there was an old penalty for this in many parts of the world, which was to castrate the convicted criminal. But I am not sure if castration will stop the crime for good. Just my 2 cents!

Hundreds of comments, and not one from anyone who actually read the Supreme Court opinions. How about this fact, from the majority:

Four out of five child rapes are never reported to the police at all. Why? Because it is usually a family member who is the perpetrator, and the rest of the family, while perhaps upset and angry, don't want their relative going to jail. The child might even feel guilty about getting Uncle Joe locked up, on top of everything else the child is going through.

Now add in the death penalty. How much harder will families work to cover up the abuse, knowing that their deranged cousin/uncle/brother could be executed? How much more guilt would the victimized child feel? The death penalty would make no difference except to drive this crime further underground. Before you lash out in anger, take a minute to think about the real world consequences of your opinions.

I split with Obama on this case..I do not feel the state has a right to kill its citizens for any reason. There have been to many innocent lives ruined by false convictions and its just a can of worms that should be closed. Let countries like china and iran treat its people like cattle…this is America.

I do however support the Idea of Castration for these types of "people".

I still support Obama though, even if I think he is wrong here.

There he goes again with his ultra left wing pro death penalty stance.

What about killing late term fetuses? Or babies that survive abortion attempts? Obama voted against legislation that would have banned the killing of a baby that survived an abortion and also against a ban on partial birth abortions.

What about that Obama?

Hypocrite and fraud.

Jason you are wrong, Illinois never overturn the death sentence, what happen is the former governor Ryan put moratorium on death penalty in order to reform the system that was corrupted and hanging the wrong people

I don't agree with Obama on any issues, but this one I do.

For any who are questioning Obama's stance on this…could it be because he has daughters and the idea that this would happen to one of them is heinous? Perhaps this would give pause to rapists before they act.

Great…

Rape of a child is a heinous crime, but rape of an adult… isn't? Excuse me?!??

Sorry. I just do not see how anyone who hurts a child in this way could possibly be considered sane. These people should be locked in a high-security, mental health facility for life. Remove them from society forever and study the monsters to figure out how we can stop growing them.

NO PEOPLE THIS IS NOT A GIMMICK!!! JUST RELAX!! MANY DEM/REP AGREE/DISAGREE ON THIS…

For the molested who decided they actually liked it after all and went back for more and continue to fein victim and for the molester your nightengale song should stop just before understanding the plight of the truly molested and/or truly raped victims. There's a judge down in Florida who was very sympathic with a molester (probably admired the molester for living out his fantasys and the judge didn't have the nerve to act out - I hear the judge was breathing heavily during the court proceedings) and he let the guy go only for him to molest, bury alive a sweet neighbor girl - REMEMBER. In that case the judge should be executed as an accomplise.

Obama is a decent man and if he pauses it's because he a thoughtful, kind man and selects his words carefully concerning something so vile. But for Berkeleyoffs, everythings cool with them 'cause they inhale and think it's all good. Sober minds have the credentials for comment and anything else is just more of the Berkeleyoffs getting off.

Whatever,

I think Obama took this stance from his heart, not because it was popular. Everyone's talking about unifying the Democrats, and yet he stated on behalf of the death penalty which is wildly unpopular with many of the liberal base of the Democratic party. I think he meant what he said about this.

For this time in my adult life I am really proud of our Supreme Court.

Hah! Earl, the 2 people Bush put in there are John Roberts & Samuel Alito. They both voted in favor of the death penalty for child rapists. Do your research before you make a comment

Don’t Forget Obama's IL Voting Record
In 1999, Barack Obama was faced with a difficult vote in IL — to support a bill that would let some juveniles be tried as adults — where he risked drawing fire from African-Americans – or, in opposing it, jeopardizing his image as “tough on crime.” So in the end, he voted neither for nor against the bill. He voted “present” — an option he chose 130 times as a state senator.

Some people seem unable to listen or read details. Obama is talking about the rape of small children and specific circumstances. Ugly stuff. Again he is showing he has ideas and sticks to them. Read his ideas on his webpage. It's good to see some people realizing that Obama is not a left-wing liberal on many issues.

Independent-woman-4-Obama…………… As a Roman Catholic, I am against the death penalty, but as a victim of childhood sexual abuse……. I would make an exception on pedophiles!
The only way to stop these creeps is to throw them in jail for life or kill them. That include pedophile Catholic priests! DITTO!!!!!!!

I feel your PAIN!!!!!!!

I THINK IF YOU HAD THE DEATH PENALTY FOR ANY

OFFENSE, IT SHOULD BE FOR A CHILD MOLESTER

THAT WAS A DISHONORABLE VOTE.

I have agood friens whose stepfather sexually abused her from age 8-15 when she ran away from home.This shaped the way she acted her whole adult life. She is finally undergoing the slow painful process of bringing out all these hidden fears and dealing with them she is now 44. It breaks my heart to see her like this. My personal opinion, and cnn probably won't print it, is full castration for these sick individuals.

SHAME, MUCH SHAME ON THE SUPREME COURT.

I APPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT AS LONG AS WE

HAVE IT, A CHILD MOLESTER IS A PERFECT CANDIDATE.

as usual obama's going for emotion over logic. he got the gitmo case wrong and he's got this one wrong. as a law student, he should know that the SC couldn;t rele the other way based on law.

if we were to punish every crimal based on the negative effects their actions have on their victims, we'd be doing a lot worse to all of our criminals than just letting them sit in jail cells. but that would be considered cruel and unusual.

and if it were an eye for an eye, then we couldn't punish "victimless crimes" such as drugs, dwi and other motor vehicle laws, prostitution, etc.

Just like I disagreed with Bill Clinton on the death penalty, I strongly disagree with Barack Obama on this. I am opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances, but I also think his reasoning leads to a slippery slope where people could be executed for many offenses that do not involve murder. My United Methodist Church strongly opposes the death penalty for all offenses, one reason of which is that NO PERSON is beyond redemption. Even the pope could forgive the person who tried to shoot him.

WE ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE WITH THE SUPREME COURT.

WE WOULD RATHER HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY

FOR CHILD MOLESTER THAN ANY MURDERER WE

CAN THINK OF.THIS SHAMEFUL DECISION IS A TELLING

OF A CULTURE THAT DOESN'T TAKE IT'S CHILDREN

AS SERIOUSLY AS IT SHOULD.

child rape is not a Democratic or Republican issue. everyone should be outraged that we allow heinous acts like this to go unpunished. however since there is no money or power to be gained in trying to discourage it, nothing will ever change. everyine can talk the talk on the campaign trail, but sure enough once in office no one does anything unless theres money involved.

Obama seems to understand the Constitution better than our Supreme Court but then he WAS a constitutional law professor. The Constitution says that cruel and unusual punishment cannot be administered. If the death penalty isn't considered cruel and unusual then states should be able to apply it where the state seems fit. I do not support the death penalty (if we kill someone and later find out they are innocent-and yes, this has happened, we can't dig them up and say "oh, I'm sorry"). Better to lock someone up just in case. But Obama does have it right on this one. It should be up to the states how they apply the death penalty.
Of course, the death penalty could be deemed by the courts a "cruel and unusual punishment" in any case and then that would settle the matter.

Besides one more step you should go. You should also include that all rapist of no matter what age should be put to death. I am tired as hades reading about some teenager to a grandmother being raped and murdered. This must stop. The only way to do it is to make them pay with their lives.

I hope this man receives what he gave to that child everyday for the rest of his sorry life………..pain and agony.

Change '08

also, alot of you people are misinformed. it was the liberal judges who made this decision - the conservatives dissented, so obama's agreed with the conservatives on this one. personally, i think it was a correct decision.

obama just doesn't want to look "soft" or liberal.

what a message our Supreme Court has sent by this decision, basically condoning child rape. rapists and child molesters currently serve an average of 3 years behind bars for their unspeakable acts.

OBAMA DID YOU TELL THEM THAT YOU HAD ALREADY SIGNED A PETITION TO HAVE ALL THE STATES IN THE UNION TO DISBAND THE DEATH SENTENCES. IN DIREST INVASION OF STATE RIGHTS.

IF YOU HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART AND ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH DEATH SENTENCES FOR CHILD RAPIST THEN I MIGHT THINK SERIOUSLY VOTING FOR YOU THAT IS IF HILLARY IS AT YOUR SIDE, BUT NOT BEFORE I KNOW FOR SURE YOU ARE A MAN OF YOUR WORD.

WHY DID YOU SIGN THE PETITION?

this was a tough decision, but the SC has to make decisions based strictly on law, not what we think they deserve. many people are unfairly accused and convicted of crimes. not to mention that a death sentence would probably cause more predators to kill their victims so they don't get caught.

and what about adult victims of rape? rape is violence and torture - it's not about sex. i don't know how it would be legal for it to apply to one group of perpretrators based on their victims and not others.

europeans think we're barbaric for having the death penalty period. the death penalty won't solve the problem. we have to come up with ways to prevent these things from happening and help the victims.

I understand Obama's point on this…But life is the most precious gift that any human being has. Only the person who gives it (life)has the right to take it. no matter what we call it : a death sentence is still crime; as committed by a criminal or by the state. we cannot on this age tolarate the tallonic' law ( an eye for an eye ) to be at play.
I still strongly believe that death sentence is a luxury punishment to any type of crime. instead let us apply the life sentence which gives criminals no way out; to escape the gilt for what they did wrong. Although most of you believe such criminals lack conscience, but I guarentee you they have one.
we cannot at any circonstance promote capital punishment.
Ob. You still have my vote.

I am a supporter of Obama and I am disappointed that he has taken this stand. It is easy to label such a horrific crime as heinous. Is raping a woman at gun point not heinous, is raping a helpless man not heinous. I am opposed to the death penalty for a number of reasons, but even if you support the death penalty it is understood that there are limits to when it should be used. I have always understood it to be when someone has been died. When a life is lost. Of course when you say you do not think it is constitutional for a child rapist to be executed you are immediately labeled as a supporter of child rapists. I need to know when and how we limit certain states from deciding which crimes are now heinous. People will always push the limit and that scares me almost as much as child rapists.

i fully agree that molesting an innocent child is unforgivable crime.
but once the life is taken there is no possibility of correctiveness.
we have seen and herst in the past that innocent people have been executed.
in my humble opinion the worst punishment is to let a criminal rot in a cell for whole life. ececution is a pain for few minutes and the criminal is sleep for ever. OBAMA AS EVER IS SIDING WITH EMOTIONS TO COLLECT FEW MORE CONSERVATIVE VOTES. BEING EXTREME LIBERAL HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ANTI DEATH PENALTY.
taking and giving life is in the hands of GOD and humans can punish but not take life
bhagwan deol los angeles

Wow!

You can agree or disagree with Obama, but I am exited that we are about to elect a president who can form a coherent and thoughtful English sentence….Bravo Obama!

I can't wait for him to win the presidency. So I don't have to cringe or bow my head in shame whenever my president speaks in English.

NOW Obama wants to be "fair" and "tough" on juvenile crime.

In 1999, Barack Obama was faced with a difficult vote in IL — to support a bill that would let some juveniles be tried as adults — where he risked drawing fire from African-Americans – or, in opposing it, jeopardizing his image as “tough on crime.” So in the end, he voted neither for nor against the bill. He voted “present” — an option he chose 130 times as a state senator.

You're still only "present," Obama!

The State should not be killing anyone for a crime. Period. What the hell are we, Iran??

barry's pandering to the religious right (moving to center where he thinks he can dupe the simple minded)…now you know he was listening to rev. wright.

until you can give life don't be too quick to take it.

Wow… Obama actually got something right! By LISTENING to people instead of zombifying them with cheesy slogans… we may have a good politician afterall. But I doubt it…

His mind was also 5-4 split.
Flip -flopper!

After all of the push to convince everyone of Senator Obama's Christianity, I was supprised to hear that he supports the death penalty. There are so many Christians who do not.

I am not surprised that there was no follow-up from the media. What else is new?

Brenda

YES they should get the death penalty, these are heinous crimes!!!

And this is the guy that :

Obama also opposed legislation making it easier to impose the death penalty for murders committed as part of gang activity. Obama argued the language was too vague and could be abused by authorities.

WOW. Having an election certainly seems to change some peoples minds.

Obama will say or do anything to get elected. But he won't be.

He wants to take our guns away from us too. And he is pro abortion.

Ooo…. and that picture looks like he's actually taking a stance and doing leader-like things… Good job CNN, disguising the fact that Obama never actually DID anything but talk, talk, talk…

I think the rape of a child is one of the most heinous acts one can commit, and I'm all for the most extreme of punishments for perpetrators it should include castration, public flogging and then execution. and not the "humane" gentle executions we have these days. beheading, hanging, firing squad and worse methods of execution should be reserved for these criminals. There is nothing human about a person who would see a child as a sexual object to use and abuse, so there should be nothing "humane" in the punishment they get.Those types of offenders cannot be rehabilitated and they are a waste of resources to keep alive at the taxpayers expense. They can best pay back society as organ donors.

I suspect that life in prison would be FAR worse than a death sentence for a child molester.

In general, I support the death sentence. But until there is much better application of technology in presecutions and absolute certainty that an innocent person will not be convicted, I can not say that it should be applied at this time.

Public opinion in western countries like France, Germany and Great Britain where death penalty has been abolished for quite some time agree with this.Recent public opinion polls on the matter show that most favor the death penalty for child murderers and child rapists.
It's a tough one though…I am anti-death penalty, as mistakes are made and innocents are put to death and the deterrent factor has not been proven, but as a father i agree with Obama. This is the most heinous of all crimes.

There are other heinous crimes out there besides murder. When a crime is crusome , for me, it turns on whistle and bells , questioning how someone could do such a thing. Death penalties and the threat of going will not deter crime, but the death penalty and prison should and does allow us to know, that your crime will not go unpunished. Thats what judgement does in this life and the after life

Let's see, he takes heat for backing the court on habeus corpus rights for the gitmo gang. Would it be politically wise to get caught agreeing with them on another left leaning decision so soon? Nope! I don't believe he cares either way. Knowing that the court is the final word anyhow, he does the politically expedient thing and disagrees. He's courting evangelicals and soccer moms these days. Supporting pedophiles would be hard to explain, so he takes the path of least resisitance. Just another politician.

You know if Bush was talking about the Supreme Court being activist and being pro-death penalty the liberal left would be talking smack 'he's being a racist, reactionary caveman.' But now that Obama is por-death penalty (and, by the way, also pro-states' rights) they somehow completely forget their previous criticism.
Hypocrites!

As an incest survivor, I am grateful that I am alive. I don't think killing my Uncle would have helped.

What helps is loving people that don't think it is your fault. I was five…how could it have been my fault? I thought it was until I was 13 and a foster parent grabbed me in a bear hug, held me and said she would not let me go until I knew I was loved. I started sobbing that day…and started healing.

at least he is proficient, which is more than I can say about George W. Bush and his inability to speak standard English.

I'll take it. Give me a pause that will eventually lead to a complete sentence.

DEMOCRATS UNITE!!!!

I thought eye for an eye was a part of Islam. Death penalty for murderers sure sounds like the Supreme Court is buying into eye for an eye doctrine.

Raping a 6 or 8 yead old is somewht worse than murder because that child has to live with the horror and trauma of the rape for the rest of her or his life.

The Supreme Court should protect the public. Its interpretation of killing the rapist of a young child as cruel and unusual punishment is a stretch.

Why not take a clue from China, the number one executioner of criminals (number 2 after the US in the industrialized world). Execute for opening your mouth!

THERE FLIP FLOP OBAMA AGAIN. TALKS A LOT AND SAYS NOTHING

While I am an avid Obama supporter- I disagree with this one because I am duly opposed to the death penalty, no matter what the crime. I don't think we should dole out justice that we can't repair- we can't give back the life of a convicted rapist if it turns out he or she did not actually do it; there is no such thing as beyond reasonable doubt!

By coincidence today in Canada they exonerated a man who 20 yrs ago was send to prison for Rape of a child. The girls mother picked him out of a light up and he was charged. During trial, his lawyer advised him to take a plea deal. He did, he confessed to child rape because he felt that the jury was leaning to find him guilty and give him the maximum sentence. 2 years ago, a convicted Murderer, confessed to this crime and gave very chilling details regarding the crime. If Canada had the death penalty in this case an innocent man could have been killed. State murder is wrong no matter what the crime. There have been several cases of people being killed for crimes they did not commit, the lucky ones were exonerated while on death row but several others. In December 2000, after spending fourteen years on Florida's Death Row, Frank Lee Smith was finally cleared of the rape and murder of eight-year-old Shandra Whitehead.

While I support Obama, I disagree with him. Yes, raping children is horrible, but I think the death penalty is more of a revenge than justice.

First of all, he was not paid to say anything ; he's a father. The emotions a parent has toward children i s one of concern and ultimate protection.Rape is not some misdemeanor minot little crime. RAPE CHANGES A PERSON FOREVER. Personally, I'd give them an option, but I won't state EXACTLY what that would be as I don't wish to offend those decent men herein.
Our prisons are brimming over with drug addicts who really should be receiving treatment. Make room for the pedophiles and rapists that get off far to lightly. I am a progressive but I BELIEVE IN AN EYE FOR AN EYE.
These lowlifes dwell amongst us, in schools and churches and we are legally so powerless to do anything about it. Time to send a message.

So NOW the liberalmost senator calls the liberal left wing of the Supreme Court 'activist…'

Oh, so NOW the liberal left is a proponent of death penalty…

As much as I loathe pedophilia, the death penalty is not justice, it's revenge. The Supreme Court is correct in striking down the Louisiana law.

I agree with Senator Obama. For those of you saying otherwise, replace the question with your child's name and I'm sure you would change your mind or worse.

Hm… so is Obama saying child rape is heinous, but teenage rape or senior citizen rape.. not so bad? What age is rape ok for him? If we allow the killing of child rapist, it will open the door to killing all rapist. Or for the State to kill anyone for any crime as long as it's considered "heinous". Is that the future we should expect? Personally I think the death penalty is too kind for child rapist, they should spend life in jail getting raped my other inmates and live with the pain and shame forever. The people who agree with Obama on this are following there hearts, not there heads. The Supreme Court was right on this decision, Obama is wrong.

So the limp wristed Obama thinks he is smarter than the Supreme Court. Oh my, first it was the US Senate, then the Presidency, now the Supreme Court. My how can we be so blessed and exalted with the existence of Obama. We are truly lucky to have such a persona.

By the way, where was he when he could have joined Uncle Sam's finest? Did he try to serve our country or did he have other priorities. I heard he went to school to learn how to wear gloves, while shoveling a couple of sandbags. Nice looking gloves.

From his photo, I think he belongs in a home at Providence Town.

I'm Roman Catholic and we believe in the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb, so while I agree that rape is a TERRIBLE, HEINOUS crime and needs to be dealt with, cannot agree with Senator Obama who I will definitely be voting for. Jesus died for the innocent AND the guilt (thank God for this!), and we cannot treat any human being as being away from redemption even when it is popular to do so.

Alot of Republicans will say, how could you vote for Obama considering his abortion stance? First of all am not voting for him on this position but he and his administration will be more concerned about poverty, the environment, ending the war, etc. — all life issues. I find it a bit contradictory that republicans who more often are against abortion, are much, much less interested in the welfare of children once they are born!

So let me get this straight. Obama is against a child rapist. However, he fully supports partial birth abortion where a child (not fetus) is disgustingly killed by a doctor. And, if the child happens to survive the child birth abortion…the doctor is NOT required to try and save its life…according to Barack Obama. hellnobama.com

I've officially seen it all. The kool-aid is overflowing into the streets. Obama is endorsing a conservative position, and his legion of followers, with the majority being democratic voters, sing his praises. These are the same voters that have aligned themselves with a party that OPPOSES the death penalty for convicted murderers. This is really sick. The obscene obsession with Obama reminds me of a cult following. No one thinks for themselves anymore…they just listen to what Obama says and then sing his praises. This is demonstrated by the number of people on here that are saying GWB would have been too soft on a ruling like this…WAKE UP PEOPLE…GWB appointed TWO of the FOUR judges that voted for the death penalty! GWB is FOR THE DEATH PENALTY. That being said, I still don't think GWB is a good president, but there is no way I would ever sip Obama's kool-aid.

I totally agree with Sen Obama, I dont like the death penalty but I like his stance on this issue. All you haters stop being so bitter about Sen Obama. McCain seems to have the deer in the headlights look to me.

the fifth justice (Justice kennedy) who struck it down was put in there by Reagan. not a clear cut liberal vs conservative. This is why Obama has called for finding other language to describe our differences. when you have a dozen varieties of "conservatives" social, fiscal, neocon, etc. and as many varieties labeled liberals and then have many of their positions overlapping they have become meanings pejorative labels it seems to me. Obama is the constitutional law professor and has the gravitas to both correctly label this as a heinous crime and to determine that this doesn't violate the constitution that doesn't specify that only murder can result in the death penalty. I thought treason could also, if I'm not mistaken. i am another Obama supporter who is generally on spiritual grounds not a death penalty supporter because i think everyone should be given the chance to reflect and repent of their sins and seek redemption. i also think it leads to a more brutal society in general, let alone all the people who down the road have been proven to be innocent. on the other hand the pragmastist in me responds to the argument why is the taxpayer paying to support them for the rest of their life, and the child who has had their life ruined deserves to know justice and that they are safe.

Even though I wouldn't mind seeing every "real" pedophile dead, I have to agree with the decision of the Supreme Court. Oh, I don't agree with their reasoning - I don't think it's cruel and unusual punishment - I think that if a perpatrator knows he's going to die if caught, he will have no problem with killing the child. I would prefer the child alive and getting whatever help he/she might need rather than dead because the criminal knew he would be executed if caught. On this instance, I have to disagree with Obama, even though I can understand his position.

I am usually against the death penalty but when it comes to pedophiles I feel they should rot in hell. This to me is the worse thing a person can do, to rape a little girl like that to where he destroys her womb and he only gets life. He needs to be dead 20 times over in a very very very painful way. I have never known anyone to be a victim of child rape like this but this is the worse thing imagineable and HE SHOULD DIE SLOW AND PAINFUL!

i totally agree with Obama. let the states decide. child rape ruins a child's life forever, steals their innocence, and mentally, emotionally leaves them scarred forever. i don't believe this man is playing politics, he saying what he believes, and he will be the next President of the United States.

Obama '08

i'm baffled at the comments on this thread. how can anyone state that rape is worse than death? my mother was a victim of child rape, and her life has been worth more to me, and all of her grandchildren, than anything in the world. to say that her death would have been better than rape is merely an emotional reaction to an extremely hurtful act. but why not let the rapist suffer in prison receiving a lifetime of the same pain they inflicted on others.

Good going Obama, tell them like it is! Okay, people you ain't seen nothing yet, "it's only just begun"

Go get UM! Obama

I agree with Obama it is a heinous crime.

They should face the death penalty.

As the child will suffer for the rest of their life.

Why should these men who committee this crime be allowed to continue to rape children.

If not death penalty, castrate them like a dog.

I just don't understand people who are criticising Obama. It's a disgusting crime. Maybe these people who don't agree should find out what it like for the victim of these crime.

The Messiah has spoken. Let us all lay prostrate at his feet.

I have to say I disagree, respectfully on this one. Death penalty is never right. Rehab doesn't seem to work in most cases either. So I would be in favor of castration and very long prison sentences for offenders with no parole possible until sentence is completed. And we as a civilized society should be above killing other human beings, even when they are monsters.

The idea of sentencing people to death for crimes where no one has been killed is a terrifyingly slippery slope, and it's very disappointing to hear this coming from the next President. Death is only a suitable punishment for someone who has caused death.

I'm a supporter of Senator Obama.
My first reaction was how stupid of the justices. I think that any person who harms a defenseless person (a child or an elederly person) deserves the harshest penalty possible.

Then, I listened to some legal scholars (who are from the right) who explained "proportionality." That is, the punishment should fit the crime. So, I grudgingly allowed my thoughts to swing to it's not a death penalty situation.

But, I then thought about my own children and I'd want the person who harmed them in that way to face the ultimate penalty.

Finally, I heard someone say that in order for the state to kill someone, they need to have killed a human being first. And my thought after that was this - if you rape a child, you have killed part of their child for the rest of their lives.

So, I'm back to it should at least be an option.

I see arrogance permeates the whole Obama campaign team. Remember "pride goeth before the fall."

you are all idiots!!! you are missing the whole spin on this….

HE IS USING this free airtime to APPEAL to women…

It goes to show, he'll say whatever he has to say to get your vote!!

Obama has 2 daughters, so this struck a nerve. He was expressins his personal opinion while thinking about his own family. There are many things you have to consider when applying the death penalty. For example, what if it is later determined that a person who was sentenced to death and killed did not actually commit the crime? But on the other hand, most fathers would resort to punishing the perpetrator themselves. Had Obama sided with the courts, people would really say that he was too liberal. Obama could have said that according to his Christian faith, that people should not judge others based on their actions. That's in the Bible.

Earl - do you realize that the four judges that voted FOR the ruling were all CONSERVATIVES, and that two of them were appointed by George W. Bush? The number of grossly misinformed people, on both sides of the issues debated on this site, really upsets me.

I'm a staunch supporter of Obama but I actually disagree with him on this. The death penalty should never be an option, especially in a society that can't apply it fairly and without discrimination. Life imprisonment is a far greater punishment in my opinion, especially for perpetrators of child sexual abuse. They're targeted as the bottom of the barrel by inmates while incarcerated. That, to me, is true karma.

I am actually shocked he feels this way. I do agree, however, there would have to be SPECIFIC rules regarding when and if capital punishment is available.

Do you recall that poor kid down in GA. The one who filmed himself and a consenting minor. They were both minors and yet, they chucked him in the poky for a very long time. He may be out after the uproar.

Anyway, a multiple offender who raped a minor (like Obama said) under the age 8 or 10 etc. . .

This Mack Daddy will be anything you want as long as you pay him.

I have 4 girls and I agree with Barack on this 100%. Raping the innocent should warrent the death penalty. A child will have such a hill to climb in life after such a tragic event. The rapest gets out of jail … to rape again

THE RAPE OF A CHILD IS A HEINOUS CRIME AND WARRANTS THE DEATH PENALTY MY THUMB IS POINTED DOWN ! I AGREE WITH OBAMA (YES OBAMA CAN ) !!!!!

Having been a child that was a victim of this heinous crime, I agree with Obama all the way!!! As one person put already, the soul of that child is killed. The FBI's Behavorial Analysis Unit has done a lot of research into subjects such as this and will tell you that pedophiles CANNOT be rehabilitated. I have yet to hear of one person that raped a child being sent to prison for life but have heard of many repeat offenders. Keep your children safe and execute the monsters that hurt them. They will continue to do it until we stop them. I'm impressed that Obama stood tall on this issue and didn't back down.

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Scary. I disagree with Obama. Let see what the left says about this one. We have enough people on death row now that should not be there. Let's work on those first. Rape of a child is horrible. Leave them in prison for life, the worst prisons but if they get the death penalty anyway they will rape and then kill. We will have dead children and not ones that can be helped and returned to society healed.

Obama is just trying to side with the conservative justices to appeal to Rebublican voters and conservative Independents. We know the left won't say much about this decision either. They want to win.

I oppose the death penalty, because I think it is impossible to administer fairly. Why should a retarded man who cannot afford a good lawyer be put to death while OJ continues to roam the planet?

And who is to say what crimes are "worthy" of execution? Sorry, I just don't approve of state-sonsored killing.

POSTING THIS HERE BECAUSE OTHER COMMENT SECTION CLOSED (Hope it gets posted for ONCE) (re the Ralph Nader "Talking White" Comment): Ralph — have you actually BEEN in America since your own 70s halcyon days, or does your entire vision of contemporary black American culture still come from old Richard Roundtree movies? Even if it were appropriate for Obama — who, by the way, is running for President of the ENTIRE COUNTRY — to make his campaign all about "black" issues, don't you think such issues may have evolved a little since the days of "Huggie Bear?" Or were you really suggesting that he should stick to black issues rather than presuming to talk about "white" ones? Whatever your explanation of this truly dumb statement might be, kudos to the poster who observed that you merely seemed jealous of Obama — I guess it must hurt to know what a firebrand you once were and what an antiquated burn-out you have become.

Absolutely agree that where absolute certainty exists the death penalty is a fitting option for child rapist. The younger the victim the more certain I am the death is the fitting punishment for the crime.

This Republican is Ready for Change!

Obama for America '08

Raping adult women is somehow not as bad in Barack's beady little eyes? File this one away for future reference, women voters….

As the saying goes in New Hampshire "Live Free or Die". If the pedophiles can't allow the kids to live free from harm, they will die.

Good for Obama 08

EDW… I couldn't have said it better myself. lol

I'm supporting you for President, but I disagree with you on this one, Obama.

",Listen to the way Obama talks. First of all, Mr. Charisma is a bore when he doesn't have a pep rally behind him. Secondly, he talks as he thinks - that's why he pauses after every 3rd word."
–Vig

Dear Mr. Vig,

We currently have a president who rarely thinks before he speaks. "Bring' em on !!" Where did that get us? Senator Obama can pause all he wants, as long as what he says makes sense (which is most of the time).

-Jaime47

A perfect example of Obama "talking white."
And it works, doesn't it?

I can see you all pounding your keys already. "How could you SAY such a thing?!? Outrageous comment! Exactly the response BO's comment was meant to elicit.

to puff:
barack obama was right on point. what do you mean "THERE HE GOES POINTING THE FINGER"? YES child rape is a horrible crime against a defenseless little person who for the most part trust grown-ups. but to kill someone especially if the child survived is as barbaric as anything i could even imagine. put him in jail for the rest of his life. i think killing someone is too easy. let them suffer day and nite in prison. as far as where he can stick his finger — i won't even respond to such an offensive remark.

Like the whole Roe v Wade thing, the defendents are able to use the rulings of the past to help their client avoid the death penalty.

first time ever i have thought that Obama had some substance. he spends his whole time getting his back up over every little commetn (even though its OK for him to speak freely), for once he's shown some backbone.

Totally agree… what if it was your kid?

Just made up my mind…

voting obama

He just got my vote, and I'm a Republican.

Obama says no to the electric chair and then says yes to the death penalty for rape victims? Sounds like a waffle to me.

I agrre with Rowdyg. Although the rape of a child is completely disgusting, awful, and heart breaking, I believe that the death penalty should only be applied to thos who kill.

Bad facts make bad law. This case is unquestionably heinous and no one will shed a single tear for this creep, even me and I oppose the death penalty. But if the death penalty is allowed for rape here, some prosecutors somewhere will push it and try to apply it in lesser cases. Then were do we stop? This ruling is consistent with the prevailing view worldwide on the deah penalty.

It is interesting to notice that Obama sided with the four conservative judges on this issue. I think he is afraid some people will say he is too soft on crimes.

The death sentence is not a penalty. It is a way to avoid punishment. Life imprisonment is a better punisment for cases like these.

The death penaly should be abolished because too many mistakes are made, intentionally and unintentionally. Innocent people get trapped in the unjust application of the law.

If you are vindictive or sadistic and think the death penalty is appropriate, try this experiment. Experience solitary confinment and then imagine you are dead, which case meets your thirst for vengance?

That's why we call this politics. There is such a thing as morally correct and politically correct. Same with abortion. If the lady was raped and became pregnant would abortion be OK? If so where would she get an abortion since most hospitals will not perform abortions except to save the life of the mother. It becomes political because sometimes you have to afford the privilage to the many to protect the few. The childs life will be changed forever in any case but the child would be plagued to a greater degree when she has to explain to her kid who her father is and such. Along with that how would her kid's life be changed nowing that she was also a victim of rape? It's like telling your kid he/she was a mistake. Which is worse torture?

We all want to stay firm to our morals but you have to put the politics of it into account. Sometimes the easy thing to say such as Obama has in this case appeals to our morals but in this case the childs life may be taken because the person faces the same penalty as if he would have killed the person. Which is worse?

Sometimes you have to weigh your morals with the practicallity of the possible outcome. If you get so tied up in them that you are unwilling to be open minded to reality then you could be creating a greater evil.

I dont believe in the death penalty, but anyone that harm a small child in anyway, should be dealt with severely without hesitation. If the death penalty is the results, so be it. This man was 6′6 300 pounds on a daily basis raping this little girl, she will emotionally and physically be harmed for the rest of her life. He has left her for dead, she will never be able to have her own kids, becasue this monster destroyed her womb. Put him in prison so Big Bob can get him and show him it feels to get raped over and over. I think the dealth penalty is to easy, they dont deserve to die right away, they should be tortured like they do their victims.

thanks obama; i can't wait until you are president and we get more justices on the supreme court worried about children's well being. The rape/molestation/abuse of a child is one of the worst crimes possible and should definitly be punished by death–no questions asked.

He is sooooooooooo right. Obama is playing to the whites and to the blacks. I can't wait for the real Obama to stand up. I think America you might be surprise and somewhat dissapointed. And yes I'm Black.

i agree with obama.

This is incredibly disappointing. The death penalty is NEVER right. Obama is wrong AGAIN.

This should be the first queston they ask during a debate with McCain.

I like it, he answered a tough question in a tough world. We have to say resoundly that if you rape a child, you will pay for it.

I wonder how many of you bleeding heart liberals would agree with this had it come out of the mouth of John McCain. Do you hear the crickets?

"No nonsense straight talk. Want an answer, here it is: He endorses the Death Penalty. I like him more and more every day."

LOL!!!! That's funny coming from you…LOL!!

I gotta say, I'm surprised and I like it!

Earl,

What are you talking about? The four dissenting opinions were appointed by:

GW Bush
GW Bush
GHW Bush
R Reagan

I'm with Obama on this one! And those Justices that voted for it.

Judges should campaign and get elected just like members of the other branches of government.

Re Independent Catholic woman against death penalty who would make exception for pedophiles - is she really RC and is she really against the death penalty? They came for the pedophiles, and then the homosexuals, and then the …..

Emotion overrules principle …. that's why we have separation of powers in constitutions!

Mike

You just gained ground with me Barack Obama.

Any person who rapes a child should be put to death.

There is no crime worse than harming our babies and our youth.

ALL CHILD RAPISTS SHOULD BE EXECUTED !!!!! THESE RAPISTS DESTROYED THESE CHILDREN's SOULS, MINDS and HEARTS FOREVER !!

OBAMA HAS IT RIGHT !!!

OBAMA 2008 !!!

I'm really surprised that Obama took this stance. That said, I totally agree. I can't think of a worse or more disgusting crime than raping or molesting a child!! Good for Obama. Like I say, he surprised me on this one!

his bla bla bla blqa and nothing else.I don't trust him at all.His bodys tell a lot.

puff ……………There he is pointing his finger again. You know where you can stick your finger ………….I rather he use his FOOT,NOW TURN AROUND!!!!!

Obama is just saying what is popular.
The child did not die as a result of the rape. If Rape of a child could include execution then it would put the stress on the child to be responsible for the persons death.
Children do not need the additional damage that would cause.
I was raped as a child and with therapy I have put it behind me.

Rowdyg–Rape is not rape. Read about the young girls who are raped and can't ever walk right again because their entire (still growing and fragile) pelvic girdle is broken or crushed. Rape is terrible no matter what the age–but to a young child who cannot understand the act and who is not just emotionally, but often physically scarred for life, the act is much worse. I am not sure how I feel about the death penalty personally, but cheers to Obama for speaking his mind and not pandering. We need an honest president for a change.

Vig, I know it a novelty to possibly have a president who thinks before running his mouth but even a dim bulb like you will get used to it.

Just to point out after the first two comments, it was the five "liberal" judges on the court that wrote the majority opinion. The four conservatives wanted to let him die. I am no fan of Bush, but one more conservative justice on the court and the decision would have went the other way.

I happen to agree with the minority decision in this case. The rape of a child is henious, and the pain these children must endure for the rest of their lives is quite possibly worse than if they were killed in the act.

If PARTIAL BIRTH KILLING is OK with OBAMA, then what's wrong with the Death Penalty —- Oh wait - Illinois has a Moratorium on the Death Penalty because of the large number of innocent men convicted and sentenced to death — the Innocence Project and all - and Obama prides himself on the issue of wrongful convictions.

PS An innocent Man who plea bargained to RAPE was proven INNOCENT in Toronto, Ontario. Can the Justice System be trusted? Look at the Injustice perpetrated in Chicago against Conrad Black! The Justice System is screwed up with prosecutorial abuse, Good thing Nancy Grace is no longer in the Courtroom.

Mike

Mr. Obama thinks for real people and stands up for real problems.
Only the parents of a 8 year old would understand how henious this crime is…. I would say worse than a MURDER. Execute Them.
What happened to you conservatives now… looks like you have become the SOFTIES… you were always SOFTIES going after little things and leaving real problems aside
OBAMA (2008 -16)

I'm surprised that he took this position. Being that he doesn't care about a child's rights pre-birth.

RowdyG

First of all, rape is not rape regardless of age or gender. Rape of a minor is called statutory rape. Granted, there can be differences with regards to consent between the two charges, but at any rate the law does make a distinction between rape of a minor and rape of an adult.

Second, if you re-read what Obama said, he is not advocating automatically putting a child rapist on the execution list. He is saying that states should have the option available to them, if they deem it necessary on a case by case basis.

Not arguing, just clarifying.

Here Here Obama!! He is speaking as a father on this issue and not as a politician trying to appease his constituents. That's what we need, straight talk. Mr. Supreme Court Judge Kennedy, swing vote on this issue, needs to be removed.

Remember, that guy is 6′5″ weighs 300 lbs and brutally raped a 8 yr old girl who weights less than 75 lbs so bad, she had to have emergency surgery and the emotional damage done, she will never be right in the head again. I'm still in shock…..

I don't agree. I believe he is moving towards the center and trying to appeal to conservatives with this opinion. I think the supreme court is basically is applying an eye for an eye standard to the death penalty, and I think that is rational.
Once you say the death penalty is appropriate for child sexual abuse, you have to start defining what constitutes abuse…would molestation justify? If the adult were just 18? Would what happened in Minoeola, TX recently with the child sex shows, would that justify the death penalty?

The death penalty doesn't deter, it is more expensive than life imprisonment with all the appeals that tax payers end up funding.
The rapist will most definitely get an eye for an eye standard once he 's inside the cell.
I am not trying to be insensitive to those who have suffered abuse, but rationally, taking this man's life costs more and gives us nothing.

Oddly enough, I agree on Obama with almost everything else and will be voting for him in November.

a parent speaking

Obama is once again singing to his choir. The pedophiles certainly deserve to be hung up by their toes and tortured to death. However, if they are going to get the death penalty for the rape, they might as well commit murder as well. How many children would we be sentencing to death if we gave pedophiles the death penalty. Many pedophiles kill their victims to prevent being caught. The death penalty would exacerbate the problem.

Election time! This is different on average earlier positions.

Death penalty should be abolished.
With the exception of China and Russia we are the only western world that has the death penalty. Get over it, and stop trying to be macho, specially since the number of people executed is majority black (in Texas), and I'm white.

YES I SAID IT,

for you, the ones that thing its OK to kill another human being (by the government) YOU ARE WRONG.

They will pay their price in jail.

I hope all of you realize that the 5 who voted to strike it down were all liberal and the 4 that voted for it were conservatives, including the justices that Bush appointed.

Why does Obama and his imps not stick with the facts. It boggles my mind.

THANK YOU FOR DESTROYING MY COUNTRY!!!!

Wow! I told you so! I can see the Dems cringe….hahahaha.

So, Senator Obama you are pretending to be conservative now! I guess you threw your liberal friends under the bus.

Who will you throw tomorrow? I guess only your pollsters know.

Democrats for McCain!

The only reason he's saying this is to curry favor with Conservatives. This isn't his position. Know how I know that? Because he doesn't HAVE any positions! Obamabots…wake up before it's too late!

Since he's willing to state his position on this decision, I'll be interested on his take on the DC 2nd amendment case being released later this month.

Good man Obama. How can these 5 judges in their true conscious, if they have one, vote for letting someone who has raped a child and ruined his/her life live? How? Maybe they would vote opposite if it their own child was a victim.

Alito wrote that the majority ruled against the death penalty "no matter how young the child, no matter how many times the child is raped, no matter how many children the perpetrator rapes, no matter how sadistic the crime, no matter how much physical or psychological trauma is inflicted and no matter how heinous the perpetrator's criminal record may be." WHAT?????

People that hurt children should be subject to the death penalty, expecially raping one. They should never see the light of day. I have no sympathy. Hell, I'm even for expanding to adults, but definitely child rapists.

I agree with Senator Obama. The state of Louisiana voted for it, they should have the right to do it.

Well, the Catholic church better start running when he becomes PREZ.

Obama helped illinios do away with the death penalty. Look at his record. Because of Obama and other legislators Illinios can't do the death penalty in these circumstances. McCain released a statement on this. McCain feels strongly about this. Obama released no statement on this. He had to be asked about this.

He is a candidate who thinks for himself. I do disagree with him on this issue, however, his ability to lead is the main reason why I support him.

I don't like the death penalty, unless the crime was so bad like killing 10 people, however I don't care much about it.

I disagree with Obama on this. I think that the punishment should fit the crime. Maybe castration?

Good for you Sen. Obama.

I agree. I'm not even pro-death penalty, but I think even more than murderers, child rapists deserve to be taken out back and shot. It certainly isn't cruel and unusual in my mind…

I agree with Obama.
He is not afraid to stand up for what is right!
Even when it unpopular.
Not a FLIP FLOPPER like McBandaid!

Kill ALL those who hurt our babies…I cannot imagine a punishment more fitting.

This is the new kind of politician? Agreeing with the death penalty? The pathetic pandering from a pathetic man starts……….Sigh

I yes for the death penalty . its cost the taxs payers $54.000.00 dollars a year to take care of each person a year so take can eat and live and which t.v for free when take are in the big house as you call it. lawyer cost all also they take it to court over and over that what the lawyers like free money….. if they did it death penalty no ? of it…… i say yes….

This is the first time I have actually disagreed with Barack. Im sorry, but you don't kill a killer. You make them think about what they have done….thats worse. I still love you Barack, but i 100% disagree…

YES killers and rapists should get the death penalty… put him on the chair…bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..bye bye …

I agree w/Obama! This is happening too often in this country and sometimes the only way to put fear in a person is to let them know that the punishment will be great!

Finally a President (hopeful) that says what he really feels and believes and not what he thinks those with money and power want him to!

The judges who voted against the death penalty should all be ashamed of themselves. This is about the children, not their political and religious ties!

This is Obama playing to the rednecks. Some politicians will do anything to get elected. I didn't think he was that kind of man.