Huckabee Warned Not to Lobby for Parole of Serial Rapist Who Later Killed
Little problem for Mike Huckabee:
As governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee aggressively pushed for the early release of a convicted rapist despite being warned by numerous women that the convict had sexually assaulted them or their family members, and would likely strike again. The convict went on to rape and murder at least one other woman.
Not good. Worse, he has denied having been informed of the man’s dangerousness — but now there are documents contradicting him.
Is this his Willie Horton moment or is it the cover-up?
DRJ (a6fcd2) — 12/5/2007 @ 10:59 pmI thought Ace writing at Ace of Spades HQ had the best short post on this. It’s got audio, video, and pithy commentary.
I’ve been warming to Huckabee and discussing the campaign each day with a girl I know in Iowa who is leaning toward supporting him. Yet his incredible clemency record is troubling and his honesty in answering for his record is more troubling.
Christoph (92b8f7) — 12/5/2007 @ 11:02 pmMore evidence that Huck is not a Conservative, but a Populist.
Another Drew (8018ee) — 12/5/2007 @ 11:28 pmHuckabee turns out to be a pretty agressive commuter of prison sentences.
daleyrocks (906622) — 12/5/2007 @ 11:37 pmMore evidence that, whatever a voter’s personal views, voters are justified in asking about and considering a candidate’s personal religious convictions when choosing whether to vote for him or her.
Christoph (92b8f7) — 12/5/2007 @ 11:52 pmHow do we know whether or not Huck’s religious views propel his commutation policies, anymore than Dukakis’ religion propelled his furlough policies?
Another Drew (8018ee) — 12/6/2007 @ 12:09 amThe Constitution says that there shall not be any religious test for public office. I can live with that.
If what a politician does cuts across my grain, then I cannot support him/her, regardless of their religious affiliation.
They are welcome to their beliefs, and I do not tolerate any interference with mine. Actions, though, are another matter.
We don’t (for sure), but they seem in line with Jesus’ teachings. Some, by the way, would consider this a plus.
Yes, imposed by the government. It doesn’t say voters can’t use it as part of their decision making. There would be no way to enforce it if it did, and it clearly doesn’t.
True.
Christoph (92b8f7) — 12/6/2007 @ 12:12 amHuckabee claims this morning in an interview on CBS that he could not have stopped the release; previous to his taking office, the prisoner had been made eligible for parole, and governors do not control the actions of the parole board. None of those had been appointed by Huckabee, and none were renewed.
htom (412a17) — 12/6/2007 @ 5:43 amHuckabee is simply a liberal with an R after his name 🙂
He’s lied about taxes, education, commutation AND lobbying to get a convicted rapist loose (who would go on to bigger crimes).
It would be like voting for Ron Paul with a clear conscience…
Lord Nazh (458803) — 12/6/2007 @ 7:10 ambut, but, it was all a frame-up by the Clenis.
Andrew J. Lazarus (eb98c0) — 12/6/2007 @ 7:18 amMore evidence that whenever a Conservative screws-up Big Time, they’re suddenly, magically not a Conservative.
David Ehrenstein (5f9866) — 12/6/2007 @ 7:40 amThe other big lie he has told several times is the “scholarships” for children of illegal aliens.
Every time he has been asked about whether he approved of giving in-state tuition to children of illegals, he turns it around and says he supported only giving them academic scholarships, and only if they met the same criteria of other instate students.
What he doesn’t say is that his description is of the first bill, which as I understand it was never passed. The bill that was passed eliminated the “scholarships”, and instead made such children eligible for in-state tuition, and he supported and signed the bill that was passed.
His answers, in my view, are clearly deceptive.
wls (6c5569) — 12/6/2007 @ 7:47 am“How do we know whether or not Huck’s religious views propel his commutation policies, anymore than Dukakis’ religion propelled his furlough policies?”
“We don’t (for sure), but they seem in line with Jesus’ teachings.”
Jesus says forgive them, yes. But forgiveness does not mean removing the consequences of one’s actions. If anything it entails assuming them.
Parole them and put innocent people at further risk? Not at all.
Dana (b4a26c) — 12/6/2007 @ 7:59 amThis story is even worse for Huckabee on the “tough on crime” front:
http://www.arkansasleader.com/frontstories/st_08_11_04/huckabee8.html
That is not a winning strategy for the GOP nomination.
The GOP always talks about the “three-legged stool” of the party — small government, national security, social conservatism.
It appears that Huckabee’s candidacy has cut two legs off that stool.
After Iowa, he’s toast. The remaining campaigns will take down. Romney is going to try now, whereas the other campaigns are happy to have him shooting holes in Romney right now. Come January 6, it’ll be a whole new world for Huck.
wls (6c5569) — 12/6/2007 @ 8:04 amA semi-serious question:
If the above reporting is true, why shouldn’t Huckabee be charged with felony murder?
He ignored clear evidence that this rapist would be violent again. By releasing him despite the multiple warnings, Huckabee provided the figurative vehicle for a murder to occur.
King Dude XVI (1bd52f) — 12/6/2007 @ 8:13 amFelony murder requires an underlying felony.
Patterico (be2b92) — 12/6/2007 @ 8:19 amAlso, not just any felony will do. Typically the underlying felony must be very serious, like burglary, robbery, or rape.
Patterico (3f63d9) — 12/6/2007 @ 8:22 amPer the article, after his release, Dummond rapedand suffocated his last victim. This rape (and potential other violence including murder) appears to have been entirely forseeable given the information with which Huckabee was provided from multiple sources. He was told quite clearly that this man would rape again. Per the article, he actually chose not to directly speak with some of the letter-writers, despite there strong desire to speak with him. Had Huckabee not ignored these very explicit warnings, the subsequent rape and murder would not have occurred.
King Dude XVI (1bd52f) — 12/6/2007 @ 8:41 amPerhaps we should charge the Parole Board as well, since he was paroled, not pardoned?
Another version
htom (412a17) — 12/6/2007 @ 10:00 amHave you forgotten the crusade to free Dumond as a victim of Clinton? You’ll recall Clinton had Dumond imprisoned at the behest of the so-called victim’s father.
You can cure your amnesia at this link.
You know, if Clinton had managed to kill Osama bin Laden, a significant portion of the conservative movement would be insisting on building an Osama Memorial.
Andrew J. Lazarus (7d46f9) — 12/6/2007 @ 1:37 pmSeems that htom may have found the diamond in the ruff!
“If the Governor was actively seeking to release DuMond, he could have easily done so by granting him clemency. He did not do so.”
Oh well so much for that jelly smeared allegation eh?
Oh and please find me any SQUEAKY clean person running for president.
TC (1cf350) — 12/6/2007 @ 4:07 pmDavid E…
As more and more of Huck’s history in the Governor’s Mansion comes to light, it appears that the only one who claims that he is a “Conservative” is Huck. If you look at what he actually DID while in office, he is a Populist (if you don’t know what a Populist is, look it up).
Conservatives don’t raise taxes; or, at least, they only do it as a last resort. In AR, the Clintons’ put a sales tax on groceries; and IIRC, Huck increased/expanded it.
Enjoy your fantasy about Huckabee being the GOP nominee. It will all be gone in 60 days.
Another Drew (8018ee) — 12/6/2007 @ 6:01 pmDavid E – When a conservative screws up Big Time, by acting like a liberal, that is when their conservatism gets questioned.
JD (2c9284) — 12/6/2007 @ 6:53 pmAndrew – This quote
might possibly be one of, if not the most stupid comment I have seen from you. And that is no small feat.
JD (2c9284) — 12/6/2007 @ 6:55 pmThanks for the link, htom. That certainly is a different story from the one Patterico linked. I hope Patterico does an update.
Doc Rampage (ebfd7a) — 12/7/2007 @ 1:05 amhtom & Doc Savage: That’s not another version, that’s Huckabee’s version. It’s a press release from his campaign.
Here’s Waas’ reporting on Huckabee’s involvment in Dumond’s case from back in 2002. He makes a compelling case that Huckabee directly intervened.
I think Huck has been denying his involvement for so long, that he’s painted himself into a corner on this – he can’t just say he made a mistake in judgement and let it drop.
Bob Loblaw (23d1c4) — 12/7/2007 @ 10:20 am