Earlier in the week Bush rejected a personal appeal by Beets, sentenced to death for killing her husband. Beets asked for consideration of the fact that her actions were a desperate response to physical violence against her by her spouse.

Rector was a mentally disabled man, who Clinton used to help stamp his administration as one of "law and order."

Earlier this week Clinton rejected any consideration of a moratorium on the federal death penalty, claiming, like Bush has done for Texas, that all death row inmates prosecuted under federal jurisdiction have received a fair trial.

These twin actions speak volumes about the character of the capitalist system, the brutalities it visits on working people, and the morals of the Democratic and Republican party politicians who run the government in the interests of the ruling rich.

There is a little rift in the ruling class on the death penalty. For example, in a stunning admission, Illinois state official Gov. George Ryan said that frame-ups and denial of a fair trial for working people is not uncommon. The move by Ryan is primarily part of a debate about how to clean up their act in order to more aggressively continue to use capital punishment.

Republican politicians like Ryan, as well as their Democratic cohorts, posture for moratoriums on death penalties based on the idea that with more attention and better lawyers, workers tried in court who face capital punishment can get a fair trial. Militant readers can take this opening to help push forward the fight to abolish the death penalty. The working-class and its allies will never get justice in the courtroom under capitalism. The courts are ruling-class institutions made to defend the property and interests of the wealthy exploiters against the proletariat.

Pro-death penalty forces like Bush often appeal to emotions and the desire to be "safe" from crime and criminals. They argue that the death penalty is a deterrent of violent crimes. Does the death penalty discourage violent crimes? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing is for sure: within this oppressive setup of capitalism, the death penalty is a weapon of terror against working people. That's why working people and their allies should demand:

Not one more execution!

Release all prisoners from Death Row!

Abolish the death penalty!  
 
 
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