The Washington Post apparently has a soft spot for serial killers.
John Allen Muhammad, the infamous Beltway Sniper, is set to die by lethal injection tonight. After being found guilty of capital murder by a jury of his peers, Muhammad was sentenced to death. The Washington Post, however, sees the “humanity in [the] D.C. sniper.”
The Post quotes defense attorney Jon Sheldon as saying:
"I perfectly understand the families of the victims want to throttle him. It is hard to get a handle on the amount of damage he has done," Sheldon said. "John Allen Muhammad is absolutely responsible. He's guilty. But there are glimpses of him being thoughtful. People don't want to see that. It's much easier to wrap him up into the thing he did."
Perhaps the Post has missed the larger point: Had Muhammad been more thoughtful before he went on a murderous rampage, he would not be slated for execution.
This does raise the question, though: Why does the Post deem it a worthy use of time, money and column inches to defend a convicted mass murderer as something more than just a murderer?
Sheldon, who is also president of the board for Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, said he thinks executions "erode" society. "It's not about him; it's about us," he said. "When we see hatred and violence, what should our response be?"
Oh. That explains it quite well.
The death penalty has long been an issue for the left. Never mind that this is justice carried out to the letter of the law; or that Muhammad’s victims were not given a chance to defend themselves in court, as he was. Forget that his victims also had names, families and friends.
By the way, their names are Claudine Parker, James Martin, James “Sonny” Buchanan, Premkumar Walekar, Sarah Ramos, Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera, Pascal Charlot, Dean Harold Meyers, Kenneth Bridges, Linda Franklin, and Conrad Johnson. Paul LaRuffa, Caroline Seawell, Iran Brown (a 13 year old boy at the time), Kellie Adams and Jeffrey Hopper all survived Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo's murderous intent.
According to this article, the Beltway Sniper should be seen as a sympathetic figure because he shows brief snatches of humanity.
Justice demands equal payment. The justice system has decided that in this case, the death penalty is as equal a payment as can be made for the murder of multiple people. But for the Washington Post, the real story is the brief flash of humanity in an inhuman murderer.



















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The leftist cult of deception
November 10, 2009 - 18:15 ET by sevenFt Hood shows us 14 dead. The unborn baby is one of the 14. Abortion is bad but they call it good. I expect Politically correctnesss has never saved a life. I do see the leftist agenda fosters and validates a lot of this bad behavior.
Glimpses of humanity?
November 10, 2009 - 18:16 ET by BlondeThe only glimpse of humanity I want to see from John Allen Muhammed is the final flutter of his eyelids as he realizes the consequences of his sick terrorist activities.
The proverbial "but wait" moment. Hasan, you are next.
I hope he fails, too.
→ Willie Horton
November 10, 2009 - 18:22 ET by Cool ArrowAnd a litany of other murderers who have provided a "glimpse of humanity"
Chew on that, Sheldon. And the next time you open your mouth on the subject, promise your life and totality of your treasure as surety of your belief.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
I don't trust the
November 10, 2009 - 18:36 ET by tssclsI don't trust the government to do anything right. Be it taxation, healthcare, wars, etc. Why would I trust them to kill the right person. We should have more prisons like Alcatraz once was. You sent the worst of the worst there, and they killed themselves, or got shot by guards while trying to escape.
Did you miss the part where
November 10, 2009 - 19:16 ET by TenebrousDid you miss the part where the guy was adjudicated guilty by a jury of citizens? How is that the "government" killing the wrong person -- or do you believe that he's innocent?
But wait, the logic gets even stranger. If the government isn't capable of doing anything right, then surely it's not capable of building a jail correctly or sending the right people there (again, if a jury trial = government).
-----
Random-jumbled-thoughts.blogspot.com
Look, there are documented
November 10, 2009 - 20:48 ET by Mike SargentLook, there are documented cases of innocent men being executed.
Does anyone believe that Muhammad is innocent?
The justice system is based on the judgement of 12 average Americans -- most of whom couldn't tell you the three branches of the federal government with a gun to their heads. So it's something of an understatement to say that the system isn't perfect.
Is there any reason to believe its inherent imperfection is manifested in this case?
The Post story is designed to move Governor Tim Kaine, head of the DNC, to believe that Muhammad is insane. Look at these phrases, emphasis mine:
How sympathetic -- Muhammad is a victim himself, of childhood beatings. Nevermind that this is completely irrelevant to the crime at hand, even if true. Next, the heroic phrase about Governor Kaine is clearly a setup to provide political cover for what would be an immediately unpopular commuting of a death penalty. And remember, Kaine isn't just the Governor of Virginia. He's the head of the DNC.
Lastly, whether Muhammad is sane or not now is not relevant to the case. Whether he was sane at the time of the killings is, but that's not the argument presented here.
This is pre-emptive political smokescreening for the DNC chairman. It's bullcrap, and an attempted hijacking of justice by a freakin' NEWSPAPER with an ideological agenda.
Weren't all the Hercule
November 10, 2009 - 18:43 ET by Carl KolchakWeren't all the Hercule Poirot wannabees in the media thinking the shooter was going to be some right wing NRA guy? And then when it turned out to this guy and wasn't a NRA guy, but a guy who had supported Farrakhan, the media sleuthes didn't seem to want to report on it anymore.
This is another example of why people should get their news from "Weekly World News" and not the clowns in the media who don't have any detective skills.
Fundamental Assumptions of the Liberal Mind
November 10, 2009 - 19:03 ET by dock383As usual, there is little sympathy displayed for the real victims. It is not so much about the poor mass murderer either, rather it is about the evil system that would actually seek retribution.They are too cerebral, arrogantly so, and promote a socialistic utopian vision that everyone would get along just fine if only their notions were implemented. Naive as they are.
What time does muhammad get to say goodbye?
November 10, 2009 - 19:05 ET by Redrowan2000What time does this piece of scum die? I want to raise a glass to the victims at that time. Since the media has totally ignored the victims and instead focuses on the amoeba that shot them and his sex toy son.
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Red
9:00 PM Eastern
November 10, 2009 - 19:17 ET by FeynmanFan9:00 PM Eastern time.
"Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments against error. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged" - Thomas Jefferson
Wasted oxygen
November 10, 2009 - 19:25 ET by ThisnThatToo bad the execution could happen 11 days ago. This murderous bastard gets an extra hour of life because we went off daylight savings last week.
__________
"mmm, mmm, mm. Barrack-Hussain-Øbama↓." - The liberals coolaid drinking song
I'll be celebrating with
November 10, 2009 - 19:29 ET by HockeyKidI'll be celebrating with you. The morning that Malvo and Muhammad (my he live in eternal torment) struck the Sunoco station in Manassas from across the intersection, I stopped for gas at the Exxon station on the same corner, about 5 minutes before the shooting. The only thing that could make today better would have been Malvo being sentenced to the same fate. If they have truly repented, they can take it up with God. As General Schwarzkopf famously said, our job is not to judge--that's God's job; we just arrange the meeting.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
→ T minus 15 minutes and counting
November 10, 2009 - 20:51 ET by Cool ArrowRoger control
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
→ T minus 10 minutes and counting
November 10, 2009 - 20:56 ET by Cool ArrowAll systems GO
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Yep. One has to wonder
November 10, 2009 - 20:56 ET by bigtimerYep.
One has to wonder what goes through his mind today...especially about now.
If there is some kind of slow torture for all he did, he's going through it now...as he should.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
BT & cool
November 10, 2009 - 21:00 ET by MrShyWOOT WOOT!
Shy... ...and just way
November 10, 2009 - 21:06 ET by bigtimerShy...
...and just what way does she and others consider a humane way to kill a human being I wonder?
In most cases I wished murderers would be sentenced/punished/executed with the exact same crime and cause of death they did to their victim/victims.
edit~lol...sorry I left out the word 'what'...that might have been helpful.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
→ Can't wait
November 10, 2009 - 21:12 ET by Cool ArrowCan't wait till tomorrow when the MSM will pull out their "Obama is a bloodthirsty hatemonger" headline like they did to Governor Bush with the Carla Faye Tucker execution.
Not gonna happen? But why? Beltway Sniper certainly fit the liberal pity template didn't he?
Or is this a situation where "Obama giveth and Obama taketh away"?
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
CA... Man, I wish I would
November 10, 2009 - 21:20 ET by bigtimerCA...
Man, I wish I would have thought of that, I remember that well, it was horrendous what the msm did regarding the President and the cold-hearted murdering b!tch...I followed that case and read two good books on it as well.
I was furious when the msm did that...omitting for the majority of the time what all she had done...and I do the majority of the time.
Then they tried to use religion at the end, using it against Bush because he has stated his values and such and now it was up to him to do the Christian thing...blah blah blah...
It doesn't get any more hypocritical than it did then with their blatant all out bias.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
I recall it well, too.
November 10, 2009 - 21:44 ET by JerI recall it well, too. Especially the fact that it was Republican evangelist Pat Robertson who was the leading voice for sparing Ms. Tucker's life.
Jer
So what... I was talking
November 10, 2009 - 22:01 ET by bigtimerSo what...
I was talking about the msm and their hypocrisy ...we all were.
With this case Jer and the Two different Presidents/party affiliation...not what Robertson thought...that was his personal call.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
BT
November 10, 2009 - 22:43 ET by MrShyI see someone's baaaaaack......
What "liberal pity
November 10, 2009 - 21:52 ET by JerWhat "liberal pity template"? If there has been an outpouring of sympathy for Muhammed accompanied by widespread calls for staying his execution, I must have missed it.
Besides, how does that "template" square with your argument that liberals endorse black genocide?
Jer
Mr. He's Back
November 10, 2009 - 22:47 ET by MrShyBesides, how does that "template" square with your argument that liberals endorse black genocide?
Perhaps not wholesale genocide, but slavery, definitely.
Something called... the Democrat plantation? A plantation designed for all of us, in fact.
HI BT
November 10, 2009 - 21:13 ET by MightyMouthThe only way the left thinks is "humane" is old age.
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Mighty... ...and
November 10, 2009 - 21:21 ET by bigtimerMighty...
...and lawyers.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Actually, you're wrong. Old
November 10, 2009 - 21:31 ET by Mike SargentActually, you're wrong.
Old age is acceptable, of course, but there is also euthanasia and just not giving treatment to an otherwise salvageable human life because they put too much strain on the medical system. That's not limited to the old.
That could include genetically "defective" individuals, including infants; severely disabled individuals; the mentally deficient...it is the Spartan eugenic dream come to life.
And all of these are acceptable to liberals.
Not to me.
→ T minus 5 minutes and counting
November 10, 2009 - 21:00 ET by Cool ArrowAkbar this!
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
By saying the following in
November 10, 2009 - 21:10 ET by Mike SargentBy saying the following in the way in which I say it, I may cause cranial detonations for leftists who read this comment.
John Allen Mohammad ist kaput. Das ist sehr wunderbar.
Well, at least we know where
November 10, 2009 - 21:16 ET by BO STINKShe will be residing for eternity. Unless, of course, he repented, admitted Jesus is Lord, etc. Yeah, right..
"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the Plain Meaning of Words!" ~Sam Adams
I sincerely hope he did -- I
November 10, 2009 - 21:32 ET by Mike SargentI sincerely hope he did -- I don't wish that punishment on anyone, not even a reprehensible murderer like him.
But I won't hold my breath.
I hope he did, too, Mike.
November 10, 2009 - 21:38 ET by BO STINKSJesus is long-suffering and merciful. I pray that he allowed a minister to speak truth to him at the last minute. We never know.
"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the Plain Meaning of Words!" ~Sam Adams
I felt a big sigh of relief in the force! What was that?
November 10, 2009 - 21:20 ET by MightyMouth"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
just confirmed on
November 10, 2009 - 21:20 ET by JAJTjust confirmed on Hannity- John Allen has been excuted! at long last, now next the count down for the Ft. Hood terrorist.
JAJT
JAJT... Hear,
November 10, 2009 - 21:37 ET by bigtimerJAJT...
Hear, Hear!
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Awwww
November 10, 2009 - 22:42 ET by justbob223Poor baby.
"...It's much easier to wrap him up into the thing he did."
November 11, 2009 - 00:04 ET by PrairieSky"the thing he did..."
I just love how Sheldon blithely refers to the eleven people that Muhammad coldly and calculatedly murdered as "the thing he did..."
The fact that the WaPo saw fit to actually print this bs drivel is amazing enough, but it also seems to sympathize with Muhammad. No wonder WaPo's circulation numbers are circling the drain...
The bottom line is this...John Allen Muhammad was a murderer eleven times over...As a result, tonight he was justly executed for his crimes.
And I'm glad he's gone.
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan