Switch by Former Supporter Shows Evolution of Death Law

[Rose Siding]

Helene E. Weinstein owes her Assembly seat, in part, to capital punishment.

In 1978, her father toppled the Assembly speaker, Stanley Steingut, a death penalty opponent, from his Brooklyn district, in an upset that sent shock waves through state politics. Two years later, Ms. Weinstein herself was elected to the seat, and consistently voted in favor of the death penalty.

But in a shift that reflects the changing passions on capital punishment among the public and its elected officials, Ms. Weinstein these days harbors serious doubts about the death penalty. And now, having risen to become chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee, she is poised to doom New York State's on-again-off-again death penalty law.

"It was an evolutionary process," Ms. Weinstein said the other day, explaining her shift. "But clearly the advent of DNA evidence and the dramatic number of individuals who have been exonerated and freed from death row in states around the country was something that was building in my mind.".........

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/nyregion/28death.html?pagewanted=1

[liberalhistorian]

1. Good for her!

That takes a lot of guts to have that kind of position when you know how potentially unpopular it's likely to be. We need many more of her.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. It would seem "Life without Parole" is an equally horrible punishment

while still allowing for the correction of a terrible mistake should it prove that is what was made.
It is refreshing to see that some legislators are open to enlightenment.

[uppityperson]

3. Good for her to be able to say she is able to learn.

Next, to show the creationism theory of the death law...

[Rose Siding]

4. Hopefully, this is the way to retire the distructive term "flip flop"

snip>
"I'm not sure there's anything as dramatic or as important as the death penalty in terms of my vote," she replied. "I have certainly looked at legislative proposals I supported or opposed and become convinced there's room for a change of position. Times and evidence have changed. That is the wonderful thing about a mind: You can change when you hear evidence and make an intelligent choice."

[uppityperson]

5. I'm in strong agreement with you here.

I am soooooo tired of that term and the fact that just because someone believs something doesn't mean it will always be true. Hey, it's dark outside here right now, but I bet it will be light in 12 hours. Flipflop, grrrrrrrrrr