Obama's unpardonable neglect of clemency

One of the under-reported promises made by Congressman Ehrlich in the gubernatorial campaign of 2002 was to re-energize the pardon power in Maryland. My advisers thought it a bit loony to make the pledge, since the race promised to be close and there was little political advantage to be gained. After all, Gov. Parris Glendening had framed his clemency strategy with one brief line — "life means life" — to minimal criticism from his liberal base.

Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

January 13, 2013