# OJ Simpson begs Obama for a pardon. What do you think? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 2, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751 "2014-01-02T23:25:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/21 "2014-01-03T01:45:16Z")
Fake or not (and I agree with fake), does anyone really expect Simpson to serve all of the 33 year sentence? I’d expect him to get out on parole after the nine year mandatory (so around 2017/2018). ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/22 "2014-01-03T03:17:44Z")
If only the rest of the President’s tasks were this easy to figure out. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/23 "2014-01-03T03:23:13Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > This is a story from the **National Enquirer** via the **Daily Mail.** Did O.J. get his cancer from aliens? [I’m not saying it was aliens, but it was ALIENS!](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/ancient-aliens)… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/24 "2014-01-03T03:47:49Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > This is on the [cover of the National Enquirer](http://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/wp-content/uploads/national_enquirer_oj_simpson_cancer.jpg), and judging by the photoshop job they did, it is a fabrication. Wait! Oprah’s getting MARRIED??? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/25 "2014-01-03T03:56:26Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Fake or not (and I agree with fake), does anyone really expect Simpson to serve all of the 33 year sentence? I’d expect him to get out on parole after the nine year mandatory (so around 2017/2018). Yes, despite the extremely severe sentence, I do think he’ll be released. If they treat him like a regular Joe, he will almost certainly qualify for parole and it will be hard to justify keeping him in prison. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/26 "2014-01-03T14:38:17Z")
Aside from the fact that Obama couldn’t pardon him if he wanted to, Obama’s about as big a fan of clemency as he is of civil liberties. Can’t really see him making an exception for the Juice. ---
**Author:** ![jrsone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/27 "2014-01-03T14:41:21Z")
But they have to let OJ out in time for the filming of the new Naked Gun movies! ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/28 "2014-01-03T14:47:58Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > What if OBama tells OJ’s lawyer that he will leave the decision up to Ron Goldman’s family and Nichole’s family. You capitalized Obama as OBama twice in this thread. It’s not an Irish name. It’s Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/29 "2014-01-03T15:12:38Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Yes, despite the extremely severe sentence, I do think he’ll be released. If they treat him like a regular Joe, he will almost certainly qualify for parole and it will be hard to justify keeping him in prison. The severe sentence was partly compensation for him getting away with murder. I don’t think anybody seriously doubts this. Anyway, my opinion is that clemency should be used to correct a miscarriage of justice. Not to let sick convicts get off early. Plus, modern medical treatments mean that “terminal” people can and do live for years. Look at the Lockerbie bomber. Or that other guy from Britain who recently died, years & years after being given only months to live. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/30 "2014-01-03T15:29:25Z")
> [@bup](#): > > You capitalized Obama as OBama twice in this thread. It’s not an Irish name. It’s Obama. Could be [Black Irish](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1094/who-are-the-black-irish). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/31 "2014-01-03T15:47:45Z")
He was way overcharged. If anyone else had retrieved their own personal property they would have only gotten a few years in prison. Implied force was used and supposedly one of the guys had a gun. Two or three years prison makes sense. Maybe even 5. But 33 years? Thats just wrong. I don’t have a problem if OJ gets paroled. He’s already served way more time than a street mugger would. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/32 "2014-01-03T15:54:46Z")
It would be interesting to compare what other criminals get. Like a street mugger that points a gun and gets someones smart phone. Or even a house invasion where people are threatened and robbed. I doubt they get more than 8 to 10 years. They’re probably out because of over crowding in 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/33 "2014-01-03T15:59:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Could be [Black Irish](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1094/who-are-the-black-irish). 😉 Is that why they call him Red? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/34 "2014-01-03T17:27:30Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > My initial response is that there is just too much of a chance that he is trying to run yet another scam. How many crimes and scams should the state allow him to commit? > > On the other hand, if he is telling the truth… If only medical science had discovered a way to check and find out for sure whether or not someone has brain cancer, so we’re not stuck just having to take his word for it… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/35 "2014-01-03T17:29:30Z")
I’m all in favor of giving him a new trial, just so long as there’s a change of venue to Mississippi. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/36 "2014-01-05T00:47:22Z")
They need to let him out so that he can resume his relentless search for Nicole’s true killer. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2014, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/37 "2014-01-05T12:13:58Z")
IF it can be proved that he has brain cancer I might be inclined to spring him. If he remains incarcerated, tax payers will foot the bill for his treatment. If he gets out he will have pay. ---
**Author:** ![runningdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@runningdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runningdude)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/38 "2014-01-05T18:30:44Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c\_id=2&objectid=11180822](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11180822) > > Apparently, OJ Simpson either has brain cancer or he is trying to get the Pres to believe he has brain cancer. > … > What do you think? Should he be considered for some kind of humane treatment? Or should OBama let him die in jail? > … > What do you think? :dubious: The president has no authority to pardon Mr. Simpson, who was convicted in a state court. It would be up to the governor or the applicable entity in that state to issue a pardon. Clearly the “New Zealand Herald” has a firm grasp of United States law… ETA “…The National Inquirer reports…” (ah). ---
**Author:** ![runningdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@runningdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runningdude)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/39 "2014-01-05T18:39:48Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > Enalzi, > … > But, I honestly have no idea as to the validity of this story. It sure does look valid. I’ll admit, my first reaction was that Mr. Simpson is an idiot; then after reading the first paragraph, that it looked like a straight reporting of a foreign paper duped by the National Enquirer. However I then noticed this “world headline” in the sidebar: “Pilot ‘ducked’ in near-miss with UFO near Heathrow”… ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751/40 "2014-01-05T23:34:37Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > Should he be considered for some kind of humane treatment? OJ Simpson should certainly be treated humanely. While he rots in jail. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > First they have to find the _real_ cancer. If the lump don’t fit, you must acquit! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-simpson-begs-obama-for-a-pardon-what-do-you-think/677751.md?page=3)