Rick Perry defended his record of executions as Governor of Texas, in the GOP presidential debate on Sept 7, 2011.

Listen to the audience cheer.

The problem with all of this is that Gov. Perry most likely executed an innocent man:

Yeah. The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man - convicted of a crime I did not commit. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. From God's dust I came and to dust I will return - so the earth shall become my throne. I gotta go, road dog. I love you Gabby. [Remaining portion of statement omitted due to profanity.]

I kind of hope Perry becomes the Republican nominee, so we can have a long, protracted national discussion about the fact the party that claims to advocate limited government is, in fact, full of enthusiastic death penalty supporters.