Rick Perry: I Don’t Lose Sleep Over Texas Executions

Posted on Sep 07, 2011 @ 11:30PM

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There were several memorable exchanges during Wednesday night’s Republican Presidential debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif. -- but one of the most striking came between Texas Governor Rick Perry and NBC’s Brian Williams, who moderated the event.

Under questioning about the death penalty from Williams, Perry said steadfastly that he does not lose sleep over the possibility that his state has executed an innocent man.

Williams began his question by noting to Perry that Texas "has executed 234 death row inmates, more than any other governor in modern times..."

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Perhaps surprisingly to some -- including Williams -- the crowd burst into applause, prompting the veteran journalist to pause.

As the applause subsided, Williams continued: "Have you struggled to sleep at night with the idea that any one of those might have been innocent?"

Perry replied, "no, sir."

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"I've never struggled with that at all," he said. "The state of Texas has a very thoughtful, a very clear process in place of which -- when someone commits the most heinous of crimes against our citizens, they get a fair hearing, they go through an appellate process, they go up to the Supreme Court of the United States, if that's required."

Perry then added: "But in the state of Texas, if you come into our state and you kill one of our children, you kill a police officer, you're involved with another crime and you kill one of our citizens, you will face the ultimate justice in the state of Texas, and that is, you will be executed."

Williams then followed up by referring to the audience’s ‘approving’ reaction to his statement about the number of executions in Texas.

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He asked Perry: "What do you make of that dynamic that just happened here, the mention of the execution of 234 people drew applause?”

"I think Americans understand justice," responded the longtime governor. "I think Americans are clearly, in the vast majority of -- of cases, supportive of capital punishment."

"When you have committed heinous crimes against our citizens -- and it's a state-by-state issue, but in the state of Texas, our citizens have made that decision, and they made it clear, and they don't want you to commit those crimes against our citizens," he added. "And if you do, you will face the ultimate justice."

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@ Reader31 - If you want law and order, you need a Government to take a stance against criminals. Let he be compare to Hitler or not, Ghandi said "An eye for an eye" but that would leave us ALL BLIND!!!

by Clintonv
Posted Fri, 09/09/2011 - 2:35am

I always laugh at these so-called "pro-life" freaks who call themselves pro-life but support the death penalty and going to war. LOL!!!!!! How can you be "pro-life" & support murder??? They should just admit what they really are

by Reader31
Posted Thu, 09/08/2011 - 11:27pm

This guy is the 2011 version of Hitler. Isn't this the same lunatic who wanted Texas to succeed from the US? I wish it would. That redneck, hick, backwards state is an embarrassment to the civilized world.

by Reader31
Posted Thu, 09/08/2011 - 11:25pm

you can't be a pansy if you're going to run a country or state. more importantly.. texas doesn't have an income tax??!!!

by pooky
Posted Thu, 09/08/2011 - 3:26pm

Hi pook nope no state tax. The quality of life is great because there are plenty of jobs and affordable housing as well. The first time we visited our daughter there we knew that was were we would eventually retire.

by vermonster
Posted Thu, 09/08/2011 - 6:22pm

hey if you don't want to get your azz 86'd then don't go to texas and act like a murdering azzhole.

by BlogDog
Posted Thu, 09/08/2011 - 2:41pm

i wish we get a decent person in Office as oppose to these Savages with all the killing and all. i can see this guy getting in office trying to do the same bullsh%% Bush did...War! War! he is laready talking tough.

by nastyboy1467
Posted Thu, 09/08/2011 - 1:34pm

this guy seem like Hitler to me. what America have to understad is that we can't bully p[eople anymore we have to sit down try to work out problems he is going to office do you anyone going to respect by his bull tactics. Bush was a great example.

by nastyboy1467
Posted Thu, 09/08/2011 - 1:29pm