Death Penalty Opponents and Their Lack of Compassion

Jesse Timmendequas- Raped and Murdered Megan Kanka- Spared by Gov. Jon Corzine

Megan Kanka



Recently, I wrote a piece on the on-going legal issues over Jamal Abu Mumia, who killed a Philadelphia Police officer a quarter of a century ago. His defenders, which include activists, university types, actors and Europeans, have, for years, argued that Mumia is innocent and the victim of a white racist society. They are currently arguing for a new trial based on "new" evidence, which they say will exonerate him. In the process, they ignore the convincing evidence that the jurors heard and which points to his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

My posting, which argued the case for Mumia's guilt, drew two responses from Hans Bennett, a Philadelphia photo-journalist who is one of the leaders on Mumia's behalf. Bennett is a left wing activist engaged in a host of far-left causes. Over the course of several years, Bennett and others have challenged the evidence against Mumia and suggested that he is the victim of a police frame.

All of this, of course, comes at the same time that the New Jersey Assembly and Governor Jon Corzine have abolished the death penalty in that state. Predictably, the Democrats voted for abolition while the Republicans voted against. As Corzine signed the bill surrounded by smiling Democratic lawmakers, he also commuted the death sentences of the 8 inmates on Death Row including the man who raped and murdered 7-year-old Megan Kanka (the inspiration for Megan's Law). This despite recent polls showing a solid majority of New Jersey's citizens in favor of the death penalty. Megan's father had unsuccessfully implored the Assembly not to abolish the death penalty a few days previous.

Corzine's comments regarding his action paint a picture of "principle and compassion". My question is this: What compassion does this show for the victims and their families? (I know liberals deride this comment as an old conservative knee-jerk reaction, but it applies.)To me, the actions of Corzine and his (Democrat) elite colleagues in the New Jersey Assembly are, in effect, spitting in the faces of the survivors. The truth is Corzine could care less about the family of Megan Kanka. He has only renewed their agony.

Similarly, Bennett and his radical colleagues who are so enamored of Mumia as a symbol of resistance are not concerned a whit for the police officer (Daniel Faulkner) who was senselessly murdered by Mumia. Nor are they concerned with Faulkner's widow, Maureen, who has fought for years to achieve justice for her husband. Last week, as she was being grilled by a sceptical Matt Lauer on the Today Show, Mumia's supporters demonstrated outside the studio in New York, in effect spitting in her face. But these are the "compassionate" ones- the ones who are fighting for life. I don't have the numbers, but I would bet you my mortgage that most of these death penalty opponnents also believe in abortion rights. Interesting how the same people who want to protect a murderer's right to life would deny that right to life to an innocent one (fetus).

The hypocrisy of these so-called compassionate liberals never ceases to amaze me. I would invite you to look up the photos of Corzine and his Democratic colleagues cheerfully signing the bill abolishing the death penalty-Corzine passing out souvenir pens during the ceremony. Also present was Helen Prejean the death penalty activist nun from "Dead Man Walking" fame.

Who was not present? Marilyn Flax, the widow of a man who was kidnapped and murdered in New Jersey, was not there to celebrate with the lawmakers. Neither were the parents of Megan Kanka.