Dick Black hates Jesus, the Constitution, and apple pie.

Delegate Dick Black, apparently unable to campaign effectively against his challenger, David Poisson, sent out an e-mail to his mailing list yesterday attacking Lt. Governor Tim Kaine.

From: “Delegate Black” <mail@delegateblack.com>
Subject: Tim Kaine – – liberal on violent crime
Date: Sat, 08 Oct 2005 19:10:37

Kaine–Liberal on Violent Crime

Democrat Tim Kaine represented one of the most vicious rape-murderers in Virginia history. Kaine wasn’t required to represent rape-murderer David Tuggle, but he helped him free-of-charge.

Kaine’s client, David Tuggle, served time for strangling a 17 year-old girl to death. Four months after he was released, he killed another woman. Kaine’s client raped his victim in hideous ways and finally shot her through the chest with a .25 caliber pistol, and murdered her.

Kaine argued that this crime wasn’t “vile” under Virginia law. But Tuggle’s crimes were gruesomely vile–with details too explicit to describe.

There was no doubt of Tuggle’s guilt–he led police to the body. Kaine worked to prevent Tuggle’s execution. By defending this monster, Kaine enhanced his reputation with radical opponents of capital punishment.

It’s one thing when public defenders represent vicious criminals. But when a lawyer personally selects a monster for a client, it reveals a dark facet of his own inner character. Tim Kaine opposes the death penalty. He’s defended the most hideous criminals. Don’t expect him to change his ways.

Voters are wise to be skeptical of campaign promises. Past actions are the best predictor. Please forward this information to people who might be voting in the governor’s race.

Warm regards,

Dick

Colonel Richard H. Black (Ret.)
Virginia House of Delegates
32nd District

[A senior Army JAG officer, Dick Black was Chief of the Pentagon’ Criminal Law Division]

Dick Black fancies himself the strongest Christian in all of the General Assembly, and has appointed himself the guardian of all Christiandom, as Del. Bob Marshall is the guardian of all heterosexualdom that is really and truly straight and really threatened by gays but not out of any sense of questioning sexuality but it did seem to move that one time but he’d been drinking a lot and it didn’t necessarily mean anything but still…

Over the years, I have learned not to be surprised that Black’s agenda is totally antithetical to Christian values. He believes that Lem Tuggle (not “David” Tuggle, as Black erroneously calls him) doesn’t have the constitutional right to representation, though makes Mr. JAG attempts no legal argument as to why this should be so. He also believes that the state has the right to take Tuggle’s life. Now, there are good arguments to be made in favor of the death penalty (I don’t buy any of them), but none of them can logically be favored by anybody who strives to emulate Christ.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment. (Matthew 5:21-22)

Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy: but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you. (Matthew 5:38-44)

I guess Del. Black and I have different Bibles. His must not have all that Jesus stuff in it.

Published by Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Char­lottes­­ville, VA, USA. more »

25 replies on “Dick Black hates Jesus, the Constitution, and apple pie.”

  1. Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

    Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother “Let me take the speck out of your eye” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)

    Apparently, your Bible must be missing a passage.

  2. What makes opponents of the death penalty radical.
    Respect for life is not a radical idea.
    Why do the conservatives only respect life pre-birth?
    What about the child, the adult (criminal or not, sick or not).
    They can quote a verse but they cannot seem to live live that verse.

  3. Waldo, you quote an excellent passage on how believers should treat those who persecute them. There are some good passages that describe the authority government has with regard to wrongdoers:

    “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” Romans 13:3-4

  4. What Mimmi is missing is that most opponents to abortion are also against the death penalty. They do not separate that the murder of a child is different than murder of a convicted criminal. Unfortunately, they are forced to choose between two mainstream parties that only elect to adopt on of their views. Republicans are willing to save the child and want to kill the convict. Democrats are willing to kill the child and save the convict. Given that they must chose between these two, the pro life community chooses to side with the group that will protect the child. Since I am not a member of this group, it is difficult to determine why they choose the child over the convict. I can, however, venture a guess. The child is completely innocent. The convict is not. The convict can repent and be admitted into heaven. The child has no opportunity to live; the convict has and made poor choices while on earth.

    Please resist the urge to attack the notion that there is a child involved. This is a discussion concerning why pro-life people do what they do, and they clearly believe that there is a child involved.

    Perhaps a discussion with someone that is pro life would benefit the discussion.

  5. It’s always a pleasure to watch atheists try to give lessons in theology. Funny stuff indeed.

  6. Simon-
    “…most opponents to abortion are also against the death penalty.” Really? Do you have a reference for that? Because I’d love to see the studies, or opinion polls or whatever. If you could provide links to that info, I’d appreciate it.

  7. There he goes again with the touting of his military credentials. So, let’s see them, Col. Black. Let us see your DD214s, as in military discharge papers. Afterall, it was a big deal to the voters last year during the presidential race between John Kerry and George W. Bush, and was eventually fodder for the Swift Boat Veterans that you supported. It is nonetheless important to the voters in 2005 as well. Yes or No, Col. Black, will you release to the public your DD214s?

  8. Attorney General Jerry Kilgore filed an amicus brief on behalf of the State of Tennessee when they were sued because the courthouses were not accessible to people in wheelchairs.

    Jerry’s theme: Only the able-bodied and wealthy are entitled to their Constitutional Rights.

    Gimps, crips, people of color male and female are not part of what Kilgore and others deem acceptable. Given Kilgore’s track record, Franklin Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Wilma Rudolph, Justin Dart, Evan Kempe…well, they would not have been entitled to be able to have a fair trial in a courthouse in Tennessee.

    Why? ’cause Jerry/Terry doesn’t want their “kind” hanging around the HALLS of JUSTICE.

  9. “… most opponents to abortion are also against the death penalty.

    I highly doubt that. As Ms. Jaquith said, please cite some sort of reference.

  10. Waldo, you quote an excellent passage on how believers should treat those who persecute them. There are some good passages that describe the authority government has with regard to wrongdoer

    Jon, you don’t seriously believe that Jesus favored capital punishment, do you? You do know how the man was killed, don’t you? Wrongful execution and all that?

  11. It’s always a pleasure to watch atheists try to give lessons in theology. Funny stuff indeed.

    Who in this discussion is an atheist? How do you know? What makes you think that atheists aren’t fit to engage in theological discussions? Do you suspect that many professors teaching courses for MDivs or ThDs would agree with you about this?

  12. For the record, a lot of times non-Christians have insight into theological concepts that Christians sometimes miss.

    Waldo, I think you have some good insights on what Christ would say. :)

  13. Jon, you don’t seriously believe that Jesus favored capital punishment, do you? You do know how the man was killed, don’t you? Wrongful execution and all that?

    Do I think Jesus favored capital punishment? I know He lived in a society in which capital punishment at the hands of the government was a regular occurrence, and that the Torah prescribed capital punishment for any number of crimes, and that Jesus promised that not one jot or tittle of the Torah would pass away. So, yes, I believe Jesus supported the right of the government to use capital punishment on law breakers.

    Do I think Jesus supported vigilant-style justice or personal vengeance? By no means.

  14. Sorry this took so long so address.

    While I am having difficulty “citing” a belief structure, I did ask my pro life for children and for convicts friends how I can prove that they exist and are the norm. The best example we have been able to come up with is Catholic dogma. The church has made it very clear that life begins at conception and that we are not to take another life. Judgment is reserved for God, not for man.

    I am sure you all were looking for a citation in Newsweek or Time, but all I have is one on one conversations with people that consider themselves pro life. I would encourage everyone to sit down and talk with the pro-life people. If you can get past assuming that they are “wrong” you may find that they are the most consistent people around. To them, life is life and all life should be protected.

  15. While we are quoting Bible verses at each other:

    Hosea 13:16
    “The people of [enter name of unbelieving nation here] must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open.”

    Old Testament for LIFE! But seriously folks. I think Jon hit it pretty well on the head in the last comment. I think Jesus himself probably wouldn’t have killed anyone, but I think he would have supported a government that did.

    Also, don’t pro-life/pro-death-penalty Christians (of which I am not, pro-death-penalty that is) think that a baby hasn’t had the chance to “prove” whether they are “good” or “bad.” Yet a convicted criminal already had his shot.

    Of course that point of view is very much opposite what Paul says about grace and etc.

    Just some thoughts.

  16. **Sung to the tune of “Jesus loves the little children”.**

    Jesus loves the white, male foetus.
    All the white male, foetus of the world.
    Whether male or white or white,
    they are precious in his site.

    Jesus loves the white, male foetus of the world!

    Sing it with me!

  17. Wow. It amuses me how you Republicans will criticize Kaine for this, then go party with Dave Albo, resident frat boy in GA who defends drunk drivers for a living, lies to judges about the laws that he writes, and generally behaves like a jackass in court/GA.

    There is nothing wrong with defending drunk drivers, who kill innocent people with their cars while blatently violating the law. They deserve a defense.

    But so do other criminals.

  18. It’s very rare that I say that my mind will never be changed about something; I think that changing one’s mind is a wonderful thing to do. That said, I cannot and will not believe that Christ would have supported capital punishment. I feel stupid even writing the sentence. It’s as I’m rebutting the notion that the moon is made of green cheese, or that President Bush is actually a robot. The idea is facially ridiculous. I can only conclude that we’ll just have to disagree on this.

  19. I’m just wondering if Jesus would favor any particular method of state killing. Would he pick stoning? Crucifiction? Hanging? Beheading? Electric chair? Gas chamber? Or, just whatever the politicians thought was okay? Hmmm…

  20. Waldo: I wasn’t saying Jesus supported the death penalty, I think it is super clear he doesn’t. What I was saying is he would support a government that supported the death penalty.

    I think Jesus would be pretty a-political, as that wasn’t his bag. He had a job to do and none of it involved politics.

    But I’m not Jesus, and I have the difficult task of being being both political and a Christian. The only consistant set of views I can find *for myself* is to be against abortion and against capital punishment. So there is that.

    Also, to be completly honest I am slightly drunk ; ) Gooooo beer!

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