In Governor Hickenlooper’s interview with Mike Rosen on 850KOA last week our state’s chief executive showed a shocking lack of knowledge about the death penalty and convicted cold-blooded killer Nathan Dunlap, to whom he’s granted a temporary reprieve.

Despite his protestations to the press that he has studied the issue — that he’s an expert — Hickenlooper’s interview made clear he doesn’t know jack about the death penalty.

In part one of our series we exposed Hickenlooper lying about what the victims’ families wanted for Nathan Dunlap. In part two, we caught Hickenlooper making up polling numbers that don’t exist when it comes to public support for the death penalty.

In part three today, we examine Hick’s statement that the United States is basically the only civilized country with the death penalty on the books.

Roll the tape:

Transcript:

I didn’t realize that we’re it. Of Western countries, it’s the United States and Guatemala. Right? Oh, and Belize. But every country in Europe, Australia, Mexico, South America, Canada. Everybody else has gotten rid of the death penalty. Israel has no death penalty. So, you know, I looked at that and said alright, I don’t think I want to make, you know, I’m not the dictator. But I think people should hear these facts.

First of all, Israel does have the death penalty. Secondly, there are plenty of major industrialized democracies that have the death penalty on their books. Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan for starters.

Just in the Western Hemisphere, countries that still have the punishment available for at least one crime include Brazil, Peru, Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Vincents and the Grenadines.

Guess we aren’t the only ones, eh Hick?

You know who recently got rid of the death penalty? Russia. Does Hickenlooper think that bastion of freedom and democracy is somehow more civilized or “humane” than the US?

Beyond the idiotic political tactic of using other countries as a guide for democratic governance in America, Hickenlooper didn’t even have his facts right. An expert on the death penalty? Far from it.