Thread by @VABVOX

So @JoeBiden continues to flip stances he's held for 40+ years.
Today it was the #deathpenalty.
As with the #HydeAmendment, I'm not objecting--I'm against Hyde & against the death penalty, so I welcome these 180 shifts in policy.
But why no headline for such a major shift?
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#Biden has been one of the staunchest voices for the death penalty for decades. In his 1994 Crime Bill, Biden expanded the #deathpenalty with Title VI, the Federal Death Penalty Act, creating 60 new death penalty offenses under 41 federal capital statutes.
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Obama favored expanding the #deathpenalty to include executing child rapists and in 2008 talked about it while campaigning.
Obama didn't soften his position until 2014 & never ceased support for the death penalty. Biden shared that view until...today.
nbcnews.com/id/25379987/ns…
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There are only 221k people in federal prisons, and only 61 people currently on death row in federal prisons.
There are currently 2,632 people on death row in non-fed prisons. All but 16 are men.

#Biden: I’ll Scrap Federal Death Penalty thecrimereport.org/2019/07/23/bid…
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The #deathpenalty should be a violation of the 8th amendment.
I am glad #Biden is now against it.
But what changed between yesterday and today?
A question for the debate, but one that should be asked.
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