http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/12/obama.death.penalty.ap/

Obama takes the death penalty very seriously. As a senator in Illinois, he had the death penalty laws changed. He said, “We brought police officers and civil rights advocates together to reform a death penalty system that had sent 13 innocent men to death row.” Obama believed that this was a huge political achievement for the state and that the law could help save innocent men put on death row.

Obama cannot stand to see people sent on death row that may not have committed the crime. Obama said, “At minimum, we should agree that innocent people should not be put to death by the state.” Obama does not want to the old routine of interrogation, where the suspect can be beaten off of camera. He said, “Allow law departments to make audio recordings if they couldn't afford video equipment and training, and for a judge to allow an unrecorded statement in some cases.” However, I do not agree with Obama’s stance on the death penalty.

People who are guilty for crimes they have committed should be given the death penalty. If your relative or someone close to you was murdered, wouldn’t you want the person who committed the crime to suffer the death penalty? People would feel betrayed not to see the person who murdered their relative or friend not getting the maximum punishment. In the end of the column someone commented, “I don't know if that will get you many votes for president, but he was an excellent negotiator.” In running for presidency this year, Obama could end up losing some votes for his decisions made about the death penalty.