Tucker Carlson: Michael Vick 'should have been executed'

By Cindy Boren

Filling in for Sean Hannity on Fox News, Tucker Carlson reworked the penal code and dropped a small bombshell, saying that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick "should have been executed" for killing dogs.

"I'm a Christian. I've made mistakes myself. I believe fervently in second chances," Carlson said as he filled in as host of Sean Hannity's Fox show. "But Michael Vick killed dogs and he did it in a heartless and cruel way. I think personally he should have been executed for that. He wasn't."

The catalyst for the conversation was President Obama's remark about Vick's rehabilitation and resuscitated career earlier this week. The talk was more about Obama than Vick, who has been one of the NFL's success stories this year (he was named the NFC quarterback in the Pro Bowl on Tuesday) and a TV ratings magnet. (Let's not even mention the fantasy football implications of Carlson's comment.)

It's a lot of hot air, of course, about a man who did not commit a death-penalty crime. He received a 23-month sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation and served his time in the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., not the kind of place they send TV celebrities and commentators when they're found guilty of wrongdoing. He speaks publicly and openly about the crimes he committed. It may still be difficult to root for Vick or simply to wish him well -- even his employers view his probation as open-ended -- but executed? Really?

(Thanks to Jonathan Tannenwald.)

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Tucker Carlson on foxnews said Vick should have been executed. Wish I was on that panel. Tucker thats absurd & you couldn't be more wrong. Jay Feely

jayfeely