Coakley Was For The Death Penalty Before She Was Against It Before She Was For It

Boston Globe columnist Scot Lehigh is unimpressed with Martha Coakley's flip flopping on the death penalty:

LAST OCTOBER, I sat down with Martha Coakley to talk about the issues.

US Representative Michael Capuano, who was running as the unabashed liberal in the Democratic primary, had portrayed her as cautious about speaking out on progressive causes, and Coakley was ready to hit back.

“I’m as progressive and liberal as Mike Capuano,’’ she declared.

When the topic turned to the death penalty, Coakley, who had once favored capital punishment for cop killers and murderers who slay again while in prison, said she was now against it in any circumstance. She contrasted her stand with that of Capuano, who in 2001 had voted for federal anti-terrorism legislation that included capital punishment for terrorists who bomb public areas or government buildings.

“So if you are Mike Capuano, don’t say you are against the death penalty. You have carved out an exception,’’ she said. “He has now voted in favor of the death penalty for terrorism. It is also an example of, if you are principled, you are against the death penalty.’’

Even, I asked, for terrorists like Osama bin Laden or Khalid Shaikh Mohammed?

“I’m saying I don’t think a death penalty is appropriate,’’ she said. “I think we need to do other things to protect ourselves from terrorists, but I think the death penalty is not appropriate.’’

Fast forward to Monday’s US Senate debate. Republican nominee Scott Brown asked Coakley whether she would favor the death penalty for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed if he is found guilty for the September 11 attacks.

“He will get the death penalty if he is found guilty,’’ she said. Brown then asked whether she agreed that he should get the death penalty. “Yes, because that is what the federal law says right now,’’ Coakley replied.

When Brown noted that she had come out strongly against the death penalty, Coakley said she didn’t support it personally and wouldn’t vote for it. Still, she said, US Attorney General Eric Holder had decided to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in federal court and “it’s their decision to make.’’ If found guilty, “he will face the death penalty,’’ she concluded. “That’s what the law of the land is and I would support the law of the land, even though I disagree with it personally.’’

So: When trying to fend off a liberal primary rival, Coakley said she was against the death penalty for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and criticized Capuano for supporting legislation that included capital punishment for terrorists. But now, running a general election race against the more conservative Brown, she’s finessing what she once cited as a principled position.