The media flapdoodle over sending Johnny Muhammed and his ward to Virginia for trial is a classic example of liberal media disconnect. On various Sunday shows over the last two weeks, talking heads have noted that America is less enthusiastic about the death penalty than John Ashcroft is. Therefor, they’ve also argued or suggested, choosing a venue which is most likely to impose capital punishment is somehow wrong. Well, first of all, many of the Americans who’ve become wobbly on the death penalty in recent years did so because they are troubled by the suggestion — wildly overhyped by the media — tht innocent people are being put to death (they’re not). When Americans know the guy is guilty and deserves the death penalty these misgivings evaporate.

Second, why is it wrong to have capital punishment as a criteria? Surely, if you believe it is an acceptable form of punishment then there’s no reason to be blind to it in a jurisdictional conflict. After all, if Maryland merely sent criminals to bed without supper and Virginia sent them to the big house, it would be absurd to expect the AG to ignore such facts on the ground. Death penalty opponents will be relatively silent about Muhammed and Ward precisely because they know fighting against the just punishment of obviously guilty and deserving criminals is a losing proposition for them.