(CNN) – The Arkansas coordinator for Mike Huckabee's political action committee resigned Tuesday, citing the former Arkansas governor's decision nine years ago to grant clemency to Maurice Clemmons, the man suspected of murdering four police officers in Washington state.
Jason Tolbert, who runs a conservative blog, served as Arkansas state coordinator for HuckPAC in a volunteer capacity.
"My departure was with a heavy heart but was done after serious prayer and consideration," Tolbert wrote on his Web site. "Some have asked about the timing. As most could imagine, the recent news of the last two days along with the response did play a role in this decision but was not the sole factor."
Huckabee said Tuesday he takes "full responsibility" for the clemency decision.
"I acted on the facts presented to me in 2000, the former GOP presidential hopeful said in a statement. "If I could have possibly known what Clemmons would do nine years later, I obviously would have made a different decision. But if the same file was presented to me today, I would have likely made the same decision."
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Huckabee frees murders and rapists and they do it again...he is a discrace!
Huckabee denies evolution and would make us into a Christian Theocracy...he's just like Taliban!
Huckabee is gaining weight again...clearly a total glutten who can't be trusted!
"If I could have possibly known what Clemmons would do nine years later, I obviously would have made a different decision"
-------------------------------–
It's not as easy as it looks from the armchair is it Huckie? Hindsight IS a perfect science but without it you always run the risk of making the WRONG decision. I know GOPers like to see themselves as infallible, but that's a bunch of bulltwinkle. Now your main guy has bailed on you in typical GOP fashion. The rats leaving a sinking ship: nothing in it for him if he stuck in there with you Huckie. Tsk, tsk. That swirling sound you hear is the toilet flushing down your aspirations of becoming the next President of the USA. I agree, it may not be fair, but you're dealing with a REALLY tough crowd here.
I wonder if he knows that the decisions only get harder after becoming president. Cut Obama some slack dude cuz everybody makes mistakes and yours has cost lives.
Huck's now saying that it would have been racist not to grant clemency.
Quote: “If he were a white kid from an upper middle class family he would have gotten a lawyer and some counseling....”
Ignoring the fact that said hypothetical white kid wouldn’t have had anything approaching the record that Clemmons had amassed by that age.
Just goes to show how even so-called right wingers feel compelled to adhere to liberal racial orthodoxy.
Mike Huckabee also needs to step down. It is the morale thing to do.
At the end of the day a simple fact remains, the man you gave clemency to murdered 4 police officers.
It is not shocking that this happened, it goes on all the time.
Unfortunately we lost 4 police officers, what can we say to their Families?
This was senseless if you follow the time lines of this murdering inhuman person to do such a thing!
My sincere condolences to the Families, I can not fathom what they are
now going through.
Time to start looking at just who sits on parole boards.
I saw this coming. 2012 is a wrap for Huckaboo.
This is the problem when decisions are made in a cloud of religious mysticism and not on the facts. When government leaders rely too much on their "faith" whatever it is, it leads to bad judgement. This is a very good example why separation of church and state is so important.
He already had SEVERAL felonies when Huckabee granted clemoncy.
I am a Christian, so I hate to say it... but this is what happens when you govern with your religion.
Huckabee should admit fault in his decision making process and step down. Even if he doesn't, because of this he will never win another Presidential primary anyway.
Mike in NYC writes, "Ignoring the fact that said hypothetical white kid wouldn’t have had anything approaching the record that Clemmons had amassed by that age."
Boy, are you naive! Some of the most reprehensible criminals in all of history have been white, including all the "white collar" criminals who recently just about took down the entire global financial system!
And as I recall, Ted Bundy, Timothy McVeigh and Jeffrey Dahmer – just to name a few – were all white.
The ONLY one a racist in this whole incident was the black man who shot 4 innocent white police. Let's call a spade a spade, whall we? Just for ONCE?
No need to comment here. This situation speaks volumes for itself.
Regardless of a person's circumstances or background, if they committed a crime, they are responsible.
Factors such as mental health, lack of opportunity, mental capacity, etc., should be taken into consideration during the sentencing phase. It was obvious from Clemmons’ actions that he had very serious psychological/psychiatric problems – and that the answer was not to commute his sentence, but to keep him incarcerated, receiving the treatment he needed until he had either completed his sentenced or been deemed fit to return to society.
This is the kind of subtlety of thinking that is lacking in not only our criminal justice system, but everyday life.
It ain't easy – but it is the right and responsible thing to do.
My heartfelt sympathies and condolences go out to the friends and family of the four slain police officers. What a senseless tragedy!
During the last general election cycle, Huckabee was one of the FEW Republicans that looked somewhat respectable.
Since the election, he has veered to the FAR RIGHT, and is even hosting a show on Fox, inwhich he toes the tea-party line 100%.
Very disappointed here, but Karma strikes again!
That Willie Horton stuff is a two-way street, no?
What a joke...the clemency decision was there in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and up until he stepped down in 2009...Now all of a sudden it is a big deal that test his principles. Please.
huckleberry is a moron, a charlatan, a phony, and a fool. In other words, a modern conservative. however, pointing a finger at him for a grant of clemency 9 years ago is silly. There are many perfectly valid reasons to mock and detest huckleberry, but this is not one of them.
Perhaps now Mr. Huckabee will stop all of his criticism of our president. My, my, my, how quickly things change. It isn't so easy is it Mr. Know-it-all-Huckabee? I do not believe you made the decision out of anything but good intentions according to the information you were presented with. But maybe you need to take a step back and stop judging President Obama so harshly- it is obvious you are NOT capable of perfect judgement- no one is. Enough with your non-stop nonsense. You could not run this country any better- you, beck, hannity, o'reilly, and that awful liar Palin need to shut-up now and start to represent something other than lies and hate. I hope you can do this, if for nothing else, yourself.
The Huckster is beginning to show a pattern of poor judgement where clemency is concerned. Over 1000 pardons/commuted sentences on his watch in Arkansas, with several becoming repeat offenders. Chuck the Huck!
Hi. Big Democrat here. I just wanted say, that given the choice between Huckabee and the other conservatives that are currently positioning themselves for 2012, I'd take Huckabee in a heartbeat. He seems to be the only one who is down to earth.
Don't get me wrong, I want Obama to win in 2012. But should Obama lose, Huckabee is the only guy from the right that I think I could actually support.
So, yes, it's a terrible tragedy what happened. But I still supported Dukakis after Willie Horton.
Wow it boggles the mind at how self righteous and judgmental conservatives can be!! Why would anyone want to associate themselves with such PERFECT people!! Huck made a decision years ago that seemed like a good one at the time. He had no idea that this guys was going to go postal a decade later!!
No wonder the republicans ar jumping ship. The nailed Michael Dukakis to the tree for the same thing
Huckabee is just one more power hungry self appointed ego centric person hiding behind GOD and he thinks he has a direct line to HIS version of the creator. Republican politics have led our country to the brink of desaster, but thats OK cause we will be saved in the next world.
Although I am NOT a big fan of Huckabee-–when Huckabee granted the clemency-–I don't really think that he did anything wrong.
The kid at that time (as he was only 17)-–received 60 years for burglary and theft charges (I believe it was 60 years, it might have been longer).
There is no way that anyone should receive 60 years for burglary and theft charges--–especially a 17 year old.
Therefore, I do believe that Huckabee made the right decision at the time, when he granted the clemency.
However, this is going to hurt Huckabee's political career--as the majority of people in the country are not getting all of the facts about the clemency.
WHAT? He didn't know what he was going to do in the future. How about the past dummy? hucky now has to live with four lives taken just because of his beliefs that everyone should be pardoend.
At least there's one repug out there willibg to act of something that he believes is wrong. What a concerpyt cominb from the partty of no and lies and cheats.
He also pardoned Wayne Dumond who later raped and murder a woman in Missouri.
Even the shrub had more sense in not pardoning libby except that he should have put cheney in jail for shooting his friend and lying about the cover up in general.
Blaming Huckabee for what Clemmons did nine years later is just lame.
And the comment about Obama... I didn't know he was part of this story but... leaders make decisions and sometimes it doesn't work out how they would have hoped. Sometimes lives are even lost. It happens for the President. Every President. It happened for Mike Huckabee here.
Our prayers are with the officers' families and Mr. Huckabee.
And that's why Mike Huckabee is as well respected as he is. He met the issue head on, and with class. Good guy that really is the Republican's best chance in 2012.
CNN full of haters....and worse of all people who are ignorant or plain stupid with their comments
comments that are driven by hate not facts or solid reasonable opinions
the Gov. did the right thing in 2000
the judges in WA did the wrong thing..why don't you focus on them?
not a word on CNN amazing
Why are Americans so dumb! The thought, as carried by Wolf Blitzer and his guests earleir this week, that Huckabee's presidential ambitions can be wiped out by one decision made NINE years ago....the world just laughs at you...louder and louder!
This aide resigning needs to find a new god to pray to...one who will ensure that no human EVER makes a mistake again! (and frankly, it was not seen as a mistake to grant clemency nine years GO!)
I think 24 hour news channels is the worse thing to ever happen in America....because most of those 24 hours are filled with trivial crap and an attempt to blow tiny little issue into great big concerns....why don't you start REPORTING the news and stop trying to manufacture it!
Huckabee will now probably not seek a presidential run in 2012 because of this–even though he really did nothing wrong when he granted the clemency.
This will just make it easier for Romney to run and win in 2012.
Quite clearly the Huckster should not take these odds to Vegas. If Huck bets on Red, I'm taking Black.
Huckabee would have made the same decision today?
A lame governor is now an ex candidate.
Fitting.
Murderer's don't exist. A benevolent all omnipotent and powerful god that can magically do anything on a whim would not allow for such things to exist. Oh.. wait.
At least the first 6 comments on this story are from some pretty ridiculous "haters".
As Mike Huckabee stated earlier, 9 years ago, the judge in the Clemmons case as well as all 8 members of the parole board all felt the young Clemmons deserved clemency. The prosecutors in the case submitted no opinion. His decision to grant Clemmons clemency was based on what he knew 9 years ago....not on what Clemmons was going to do at some point in the future....and on the fact that Clemmons' prison sentence was based on crimes he committed under the age of 18. No blame should be directed to Huckabee for what Clemmons did just recently.
Easy to focus on Huckabee, isn't it?
Instead of blaming Huckabee, let's blame the animal who committed murder! You libs are all the same.
Kiss your 2012 chances goodbye, Huck. I for one am glad you'll never come within 1,000 miles of the seat of Presidential power. You have become the symbol of everything that's wrong with the "moderates" in the GOP.
This also could have been a decision based on money also. It is costing us more and more to coddle our prisoners because we want to be so human toward them. Maybe we should rethink on how well our prisoners are treated. After all it is suppossed to be a punishment.
What does he mean "with serious prayer"? What does God or this man's spiritual beliefs have to do with this highly political decision?
This guy and his former boss, Mike Huckabee, wear their religion on their sleeve and use it to expiate guilt and diffuse personal accountability for what they do.
When you make a choice, it is yours. Not God's. When Huckabee gave that killer clemency despite his +120 year sentence and history of violence, it was Mike Huckabee, not God.
Knock off this self-righteous, holier-than-thou pseudo-religious crap and take ownership of your decisions.
If Mikey Huckleberry knew 9 years ago what Clemmons would have done , he would never have pardoned him.
Gee, Mikey Dukakis said the same thing 20 years ago, but Willie Horton stuck with him.
Bye Mikey Huckelberry. LifeReality bites, don't it?
That is why Huckabee will never be President – he is too honest.
The AMerican people fell for a fast talking, used car salesman type in 2008 who they still call a great orator (when all he can do i read well)...America gets what it deserves.
Joan
MN
He made an error in judgement which ended up costing lives. It will also cost him his political aspirations as many conservatives (myself included) would not have agreed with parole at the time it was granted. This is not Monday morning quarterbacking on my part-I have always felt if the sentence was for 95 years, he should have served 95 years. I get the feeling that if it had been a Democratic judge or governor that did this, the tone on this blog would be far different (like who are we to judge, he did what he thought was best with the facts he had at the time).
I suppose Tolbert has a crystal ball, thereby NEVER making any decisions or mistakes that years later could render a 'sucker-punch'. There have been many politicians that commuted prison sentences – – - this time the guy was paroled on a measly $15000 bail - NOT by Huckabee – - but he gets blamed for it.
ps – - the hatred, bias and venom that spews from the left-wing bloggers here is repulsive, ignorant and often immature – - – too bad !!
Does anyone remember Willie Horton?
The republicans used the willie horton issue to destroy Dukakis.
The exact same situation here. Why was Dukakis held to the fire and Huckabee is given a pass?
Double Standard?
Maybe what we need to do is put all teenagers in jail for the rest of their lives. You know some of them will be murderers and drug users.
Poor Huckabee. He's a good man who does not deserve the blame for what this man did in Washington.
The media needs to stop using the deaths of these officers to attack him.
Knock off the politics for 5 seconds, could ya?
However, let this be a lesson to governors around the country. Make these convicts serve their entire sentence no matter what the parole board says. Once a convict always a convict. You try to give someone a second chance and look what happens.
i couldn't stand huckabee when he ran as a conservative republican and such an upstanding christian. i saw him as a petty, vindictive, jealous and mean man who was our version of jimmy carter – a hypocritacal , judgemental " religious man". his petty digs at romney have never stopped and he is just being exposed as the really small person he is. i am glad this has come out before he tried to fool people and run again in 2012. he is a loser and we don't need him.
Never had plans to vote for Huckabee and never would consider it either. Although I am in Seattle, I do not blame Huckabee for letting a guy out for a crime that he committed when he was 17. Again, that is all that you will get from me Mr. Huckabee....no vote though.
I would not have voted for you in 2000 and I DEFINITELY would never vote for you EVER
Hey Huck, Mike Dukakis just called and left you a message: "Karma really stinks, eh?"
This is not the first Murderer/Rapist that Huckabee has pardoned. He obviously does not care enough about the community he serves to protect it from these kinds of animals. Clemmons and the other guy that he pardoned simply moved out of Arkansas and started right where they left off, adding to their rap sheets. One is in jail (for more crimes) and Clemmons is now dead, just like Huckabees chance for EVER getting into the White House, at least in by book.
Don't blame the GOP. The liberal left is far worse on this topic, especially Obama. He worked hard to block youthful offenders from being prosecuted as adults in Chicago. The issue here is that one, you can't reform antisocial people and that includes juveniles and two, kids of this ilk are totally antisocial, sociopathic, and permanently criminal by their early teens. Either to permanently isolate these monsters from society, or you tolerate the heinous acts they commit. The other issue is that we don't have enough prison space to hold the vast numbers of violent offenders (and it becomes a political and racial issue every time a prison is built). We only incarcerate a small fraction of felons, choosing instead to live the fairy tale of probation, parole, diversion programs, suspended sentences, etc.
Hey Frank, let me guess. The two Washington judges are Democrats. Are you Faux News types completely devoid of self awareness?
Jesus loves Truth, Facts and Reality. Why don't Republicans?
I think clemency decisions are tough to make for a governor, so Huckabee made a mistake and it was a really bad one. But imagine how the Republicans would be ranting if a Democratic governor had made this mistake. The entire Democratic party would be ripped to shreds with no future in the next decade. Fox News would have had a hay-day like none you've seen. Happily the Democratic party isn't like that, despite their other flaws.
How about someone research all those he pardoned and post a list of their accomplishments on-line.
This is what happens if you let out everyone who says they 'found Jesus'.
i am a supporter of Obama...but guys cut some slack for Huckabee...the decision he made nine years ago was the right decision...it was up to our legal system to get this clemons guy treatment and guidance to becoming a better person...
Clemency and conjugal visits for every prisoner who professes that he read the bible last night, but please keep those dangerous gay men from loving one another. Talk about misplaced priorities.
His actions are as criminal as the outcome of his clemency!
This is Willie Horton all over again. Dukakis was crucified by the Republicans for freeing Willie. This contribur\ted to his losing the election.
If Huckabee decides to run, I wonder how the party will handle this?
Is he beefing up again?
Seriously, I can't decide which Republican I'd like to see the GOP trot out for the 2012 race! But I think they'd all fair about the same. Huckabee, Cheney, Palin, that other crazy woman from MN, or any of the others.
What the pissed off people in america fail to recognize is that regardless of who was elected, our current President was going to have a struggling economy, high unemployment, two wars, and half of the country feeling left out. Be glad that we have an articulate planner in office who's put a lot of thought into every decision.
Where was the outrage during the "bring-it-on" "we'll go it alone" administration of Bush-Cheney?
@Dominican mama 4 Obama
Your posts are my favorite. I can't tell if you are racist against white people, blindly anti-Conservative, horribly uneducated, or just plain ignorant. The smart money is on all four.
Keep spouting your hate, and keep mixing in the dreams that the GOP is on the way down. You are in for a very rude awakening in 2010 and 2012.
head on with class? He doesnt have any. Maybe that is why it didn't bother him either that his son tortured and killed a dog. Boys will be boys, right?
The Huckster admited his choice was wrong and it's a hard pill to swallow for him. Some of you hate mongers try sitting in his chair and make choices that he had to make. For the most part they were right but a couple of bad apples and some of you want to crusify him.
What about Odumbo waiting to make his choice about Afganistan, how many of our troops died because of his choice to wait, shouldn't he be gone too due to his bad choices???????
Some people just amaze me of how they think. Have you ever heard Odumbo say he made a mistake??? NOPE
It takes a big man to say he was wrong and the one that you say is the best president we ever had can't say when he is wrong. What a guy!
I'm as "un-Republican" as you can get but I find it more than a little ridiculous that most every comment on this issue seems to have a crystal ball that would have foreseen this cop killer. So, despite my vast differences from Huckabee, I think he is a better man than those throwing the stones right now.
The rats are jumping of the Hucktanic, it's never too late to abandon ship
If he frees murderers and rapists – how do you think he would be in securing our nation, if he should become President. Talk about a whimp – why don't you call him a whimp and a man-child Rush.
Just another right wing religous nut case hypocrite!
I'm not sure what to make of the comments here. Unlike many other governors and elected officials, he stood up and said he was wrong. He isn't hiding from anything and I don't see what his faith has to do with any of this. Let's face it, if this had ever happened under Obama's watch (had he actually made any executive decisions in his life), he would have made sure we all knew it was someone else's fault.
To the poster who said he should step down, step down from what, his job as a talk show host on Fox?
I don't think Huckabee is a good presidential candidate, but this has little to do with it.
I would have love to seem the you Republicans reactions if that was Barack Obama or another democrat did this. It would have been played on hannity, beck and limbaugh all day long. Not a peep out of the clowns about this issue. So much for Fair and Balance. I make a bet with any republican out there if this had been a Democrat is would have been headline news on Fox and now you wonder why everybody calls it GOP TV .
Willie Horton....
Once again, 'Conservatives', which has come to mean, 'living in fantasyland', will fail to see their utter hypocrisy.
Why dont stories point out the circumstances leading to the clemancy? Seems important to me.
I really don't think Huckabee's actions were out of the ordinary but I do think this will prevent him from having a chance in 2012.
Bye bye nom. At least you still have your bass and your wife (who looks alot like Huck but I digress).
I don't like Huckabee for his policies, but this can't be blamed on him at all, and it's bad form for CNN.
If there is anyone to blame, it's the police that didn't serve him a warrant when he was arrested in 2003 (letting him get off).
In fairness to Huckabee he made what he thought was the correct decision at the time. None of us can predict what someone may do in the future so maybe some these self righteous republicans should think about that before lambalsting a demcocrat when they do this.
People are trying to equate Willie Horton (Dukakis) with Maurice Clemmons (Huckabee) and there is just no comparison. Dukakis went AGAINST the advice of the Parole Board and granted a RECENTLY convicted violent rapist, his release. I feel badly for the families of the officers that were killed; it was terrible and I'm glad the shooter was caught. It's too bad that he died in a shootout with police, but that was his choice. However, Huckabee was faced with a RECOMMENDATION from his Parole Board and at the time, a non-violent prisoner. It was NINE years ago. Who knows what someone might do 9 years from now? Can you guarantee that every decision you make today will be justified almost a decade from now?
I am not a Huckabee fan at all. But I will say he handled it better than I would have expected (no denial and no blame).
As for Tolbert – give me a break. You sound like a typical judgmental Christian. We make mistake and Huckabee showed a lot of accountability. Hey Tolbert, watch those "Christan morals", they tend to forget that people are human and we are doing the best we can.
I am not a fan of Huckabee, but I do not think it is reasonable to attack a public official based on a parole decision made years ago in good faith. Whether done by Republicans and Democrats, such attacks are made only for partisan advantage, and they debase our political system. It was disgraceful when it was done to Dukakis, and it is just as disgraceful to have it done to Huckabee.There are lots of reasons to criticise Huckabee, but this isn't one of them.
Huckabee's political life is at an end. Think back people; remember that democrate Mike Dukakis and the revolving prison door. Yup that one act of awarding a pardon has doomed Huckabee. Without much thought or experience anyone could think of a dozen campaign commercials of Huckabee releasing/pardoning killers from jail and dead policemen laying about the commercials.
I'm a democrat but I had the honor of meeting Mike Huckabee. I found him to be a very honest genuine person and I have no doubt that he feels terrible about what had happened to those four officers. It's easy for us to criticize decisions of our elected officials but Mr. Huckabee was in the trenches. He couldn't have known that someone he released based on credible evidence would turn out to be a goon 9 years later. No one could have known that. I applaud his honesty.
If Huckabee was a democrat, we'd be hearing 24 hours of political opponents calling for his resignation. But since he is a republican, they do what all republicans in this situation do: blame something or someone else, while out of the other side of their mouths they're saying the buck stops with them.
The republican party is dead. And we have the likes of conservative hacks like Huckabee, Beck, and Limbaugh to thank for that.
@Marie MD
Your grammar and spelling are atrocious. Apparently you do not believe people should be given second chances, as the governor does. The file that he was given led him to believe that a 17 year old kid deserved a second chance to contribute to society rather than have his life thrown away. People make mistakes and there are consequences for those mistakes. Governor Huckabee took responsibility for his mistakes and expressed his regret. Perhaps you should do the same and apologize to all of your teachers for making them look ineffective and unqualified with your horrific excuse for a paragraph.
Looks like Huckies political career is over . . . awww. How's if feel to have karma bite you in the butt, Huckie????
This is a good example of why it's good to look at a Governor as a POTUS candidate. You'll see actual decsions that were made in the process of governing, not just votes on legislation and speaches.
While I am a Huck fan, I'm truly concerned about this. It dosen't bode well for him.
Two points: 1. If it had been a Democrat that had granted the commutation of sentence to Clemmons, the Becks, Limbaughs and Hannitys would have been having a field day ripping the decision. Instead, Hannity has Huckabee on the radio justifying the decision. Total double standard!
2. I am inclined to agree with the rationale of the decision Huckabee made back in 2001. The 60-(or 95) year sentence seems to be ridiculously disproportionate for the crimes, and appears appropriate to commute. Our legal system provides for such pardons and commutations for a reason, and I accept Huckabee's explanation for doing what he did, to avoid what sure looked like a miscarriage of justice. Monday morning quarterbacks never have had much credibility.
I've got to give credit where credit is due, even though I do it reluctantly. I give Huckabee credit for admitting he made a mistake in commuting part of Clemmons sentence. Hindsight is always 20/20, so it is easy to say he should have known better, NOW. But he wasn't in that decision alone - the parole board recommended it also.
However, it was just a part of the continuing string of failures that allowed Clemmons the opportunity to continue to be a felon, and ended with the death of four peace officers. There were a lot of people whose bad judgement in the Clemmons case led to this sad circumstance. Noone is squeaky clean in this circumstance.
What is amazing is the bailing of his aide. What is with this?
The issue, as I see it, has nothing to do with Huckabee's pardon. It has everything to do with the right wing's handling of the Willie Horton thing. Why was it wonderful for the GOP to attack Dukakis (sp) for something he did not control either. Where are the attacks on your "Christian" son, Mike? None because EVERY Republican is a fraud.
Hey steve You are wrong. There are laws on the books,sentences for crimes, death penalties, etc. They should be followed right to the letter. No, we can't do that because you get some bottom feeding lawyer making deals, or whining that it is "against his clients rights". Bull puckey. Huckabee or any other judge should have never let that guy out of jail. You people whine about over crowding; put all the lawyers and judges in jail.Then you'll see overcrowding.
I am no Huckabbee fan but please, get real: the governor followed the recommendation of the parole board. Fact is, the parole board could have nixed it right there. That is where the ball was dropped. Leave the Huck alone!
You know, compassion and forgiveness are supposed to be Christian virtues. Huckabee might have been wrong about this particular criminal, but he was doing what he thought his God wanted. Republicans claim to be holier than the rest of us, but they reject the teachings of their own God. This is hypocrisy.
Back in 1988, Governor Michael Dukakis was painted as another "soft-on crime" Northeastern liberal elitist by the Republicans for allowing Willie Horton (a convicted rapist) )) out on furlough ( who raped and killed while out on furlough) when he ran against GHWBush for president. Lee Atwater – the political adviser to Bush – did a doozie of a hatchet job painting Dukakis as a criminal-hugging, weak-on-defense liberal. However, we now know two certain things about the Christian Conservative, Palin-Wing (she forced rape vicitms to pay for their own rape kits as Mayor of Wasilla – Alaska at the time had the highest incidence of rape of any state in the country) of the RepubliKlan Party:
1) they are the really the ones who "love" rapists, per their vote against the Franken Amendment in the Senate and Palin's actions as Mayor; and,
(2) they are really the ones "hugging" murderous felons, per Huckabee's action as Governor of Arkansas.
Why are you telling Huckabee to step down? Step down from where? Some of you are just here to run on about nothering.
So long to the most credible Republican candidate for POTUS. Stick a fork in him, he's done.
I am not a Huckabee supporter but he is getting unfairly pilloried on this clemency issue. But it is the bitter medicine that a simplistic, scare-mongering GOP invented and patented 17 years ago so I guess there is some measure of retribution here, politically.
Nonetheless, clemency and criminal justice are complex issues that can't be reduced to soundbites and one-size-fits-all approaches. That this turned out very badly after a number of years is tragic, but this should not be used as a gross reflection on the former Governor, nor on the justice system.
People need to use some intelligence and thought here.
What exactly do you people think Huckabee should step down from? He's not the Governor any more, he's a talk show host!
You have to remember he granted this when the kid was 17 for burglary not MURDER. Does Huckabee have a crystal ball? Huck was the only candidate I had faith in and hoped they wouldn't find anything on him so he can run in 2012. I still want him to be president but I'm figuring this will ruin him. REMEMBER, Huckabee did NOT murder the cops the KILLER did. It's as if he's on trial for murder. Leave Huckabee alone-he is a good guy.
Jeez, how can Huckabee be the blame? Higher ups excuse people all the time, it's part of the deal. It's one of the first things Obama did as president.
Huckabee is obviously a Christian, and he did the Christian thing by granting this pardon. I know all the aethiests out there are rolling their eyes, but it is part of the Christian religion to forgive others the way God forgives us. Huckabee was practicing his faith as well as making a judgement by looking at evidence that was presented to him.
Michael Jackson and OJ Simpson got off from crimes that they obviously commited, Huckabee is human and I don't see why this should affect a presidential bid. Bush killed thousands AS president and you all voted him back in.
Huckabee is not terrible (considering the GOP), but this should put a period on his political career. I hope he reaches out to the families of the slain officers whose lives he was in a unique situation to prevent from being taken. If I was a gov, I wouldn't pardon/commute anyone if I had any aspirations for higher political office. Are you really going to entrust your political career to a convicted felon? And besides, why are we paroling violent offenders anyway? That should be an easy choice – you hurt someone else in the commission of a crime, you serve every second of your sentence.
Isn't Huckabee the guy who has been bashing President Obama for the past 10 months over the hard decisions Mr. Obama has had to make?
Aren't those now supporting Huckabee and HIS decisions the EXACT same people who have been mocking our president non-stop?
Same old GOP, same old nonsence, same old hypocrisy coming from the right.
Remember Willie Horton, guys? I'm sure Mike Dukakis does...
I really like the Huckster's idea of full responsibility. It wasn't my fault I made a bad decision. It's not my fault the criminal I released committed another crime within a year. It that full responsiblity? It doesn't sound like it to me.
The Huckster is a typical Bible thumper who never claims responsibility for his actions. I guess he believes God will forgive him.
This is not Huckabee's first clemency grantee that went on to commit murder. Wayne Dumond raped and murdered after Huckabee granted him his freedom.
Here's really no reason to run a HuckPAC anymore. The guy is political toast!
And good ol' Huck seems to have a BIG blind soft spot in his heart for violent criminals. According to a story in the New York Times yesterday, Huckabee had a strange fascination with letting criminals go in Arkansas.
Don't tell me the party that produced the Willie Horton smear campaign will ever nominate somebody who released a criminal that makes Willie Horton look small time.
Remind me not to ask Huckabee to pick my stocks.
Quote: "My departure was with a heavy heart but was done after serious prayer and consideration,"
Why do these evil people resort to prayer every time they are caught doing wrong? Do they think everyone is foolish to believe them?
It is easier to deal with someone I know to be evil, dishonest and a no-good SOB; than these people who pretend to be Christians.
There must be a special hell created for this kind to mentally unstable people.
I am not a Huckabee fan, and disagree with him on most topics. The decision he made 9 years ago, though, is certainly not the reason I would oppose him as a candidate. Granting clemency in that situation is quite understandable (even "christian" if you need a religious label for any decision you make.) It's a shame the criminal didn't take advantage of that clemency. He is the one responsible for his actions, not Huckabee.
I will not support Huckabee for any elective office, but I don't hold this against him.
Huck-PACrisy!!! How quickly people forget that if u have. 1 finger pointing at someone else you have 3 pointing right back at you!!!!
This will haunt Huckabee if he does change his mind and runs in 2012...this is poison.
I am not a big fan of Huckabee but blaming him for what happened is irresponsible and silly.
You can still get a job at our service station Huck,hahaha
Folks Your missing a important point in this whole case.
I live in Washington State, close to where this happened.
The fact most of the media is missing is that , Washington State picked this guy up for his Ark. Parole violation and contacted Ark. and they did not want him back or where willing to jail him or pay to ship him back to Ark.
I agree everyone should write hannity & FOX and rip him/them a new one for covering for Huckabee. The GOP have to live with what it reaps. They went after Dukakis and now karma has bit back.
Also the 4 officers left behind nine kids, There are foundations and charity places to help these kids with expenses like college, etc. It won't replace the 3 dads and 1 mom shot and killed, but may show them America cares. I hope FOX could start by donation hannity's pay for the next year and fire the idiot.
Diane do your research.
Dukakis paroled convicted MURDERERS with no hope of parole. The cases were not in any way similar. As for rape kits, some places do ask the victims to pay for them...but that is a decision for council members, not the mayor. Further Dukakis never apologised and he REFUSED to even meet with the couple who were victims.
You want a history lesson? democrats ran on a racist platform, fought civil rights every step of the way and got us involved in Viet Nam. They enclaved us in a welfare state and have been systematically gutting the constitution.
Huckabee IGNORED the prosecutors plea to keep the guy in jail... They don't give 95 years sentences to boy scouts. What the heck was Huckabee thinking when he paroled this guy. Huckabee has blood on his hands. His political career is over.
He is christian and im sure god was controlling this freak too,
so hay turn the other cheek.
But shows Huckabee is not a racist giving a black man another chance, maybe he should take steels place?. he even know how to play bass, larry graham eat your heart out, Huckabee is more black and in tune than steele, we have a rival to obama's black voters.
Huckabee could not have known what would happen nine years in the future. Besides, who gave him the information he used to reach his decision? If you want to blame someone for doing something nine years ago, why not blame the person who gave then Governor Huckabee the report he based his decision on?
I think this has been blown out of proportion (as most media stories are). Why should the chairman of Huckabee's PAC resign over something that happened nine years ago?
As much as liberals and some conservatives want to place the blame on Huckabee for four cops being shot, this is not huckabee's fault. He didn't force the alleged shooter to shoot the cops.
Stop trying to place blame where it doesn't belong. IF the alleged suspect was the one who shot the cops, then the alledged suspect is solely to blame. Not someone who happended to cross paths with none years ago.
Could Tolbert be considering a political run for something and decided to throw Huckabee under the bus as a spring board to campaigning?
The only people that should step down are the two Washington State judges who allowed Clemmons out on bail in the first place.
Huckabee is a hypocrite and a POS, but this one is not his fault.
He had no way of knowing what Clemmons would do nine years later. Clemmons was killer, not Huckabee and Clemmons is dead – case closed.
If that's the case EVERY American that voted for George W. Bush should be imprisoned for corruption, treason and murder of our soldiers.
This appears to b nothing more than PC garbage. We must take back our country.
Huckabee is done.
I'm not a supporter of Huckabee, but his statement that, given the same facts today, he would make the same decision about clemency, shows a lot of class.
Huckabee reduced a 16 year olds sentence from over 100 years to 47 years – that is all he did. You would think the NAACP or Jesse or Al or their mignions would praise him for that. Mike Huckabee stood up and took responsibility for his part. Any other policitcian would have blamed everybody else and tried their best to avoid any responsibility. Mike Huckabee has earned my respect from this situation and if he runs in 2012 he will get my vote. The country needs leaders who can take responsibility.
I admire Huckabee for being so forthright about his involvement, and frankly, he doesn't deserve to have his potential political career ended over this. That being said, I hope Republicans can recognize their hypocrisy in defending Huckabee considering how they've trashed Democrats over similar stories, like the one about Willie Horton. And I hope Democrats who complained about the treatment of Dukakis in the Willie Horton case and the like can recognize that Huckabee doesn't deserve to be skewered for this any more than those Democrats did.
There goes Huckabee's chance of ever winning the GOP nomination. No matter how much he talks to God he will always be known as the governor that pardoned a murderer that went on to kill 4 cops...and the guy was black too. That's a double whammy to the right-wingers!
I would love to be able to see nine years in the future, wouldn't you? But, he couldn't. And neither can any of you.
This guy is a clown and hypocrite. No way he should be on a national stage.
Clemmons wrote to Huckabee that he was a "good Christian" and that's all Huckabee had to hear. The fact is, even back then, this kid had a "file" that warranted keeping him locked up. But it seems the Christian mind in this country, eager to believe, will believe anything as long the speaker/writer claims to be a "good Christian". Look at Mark Sanford, or Ted Haggard, or Jim Bakker or Swaggart and on and on and on. These people lie and steal from their flocks and constituents, but hey, as long as speak The Word, as Clemmons did, they MUST be good people. Well, Mr. Huckabee, your "good Christian" murdered a whole lot of folks, and you are in LARGE part, responsible.
Good Lord!!!
How on earth could any governor have known that a seemingly contrite man who, by all accounts, was initially dealt with too harshly by the law, would turn out to be a murderer many years later???
There are those who get paroled and go on to live decent lives, and there are those who don't. I am with Huckabee... he did what he felt was the right and compassionate thing at the time. He is not a clairvoyant – he was just a governor trying to do the right thing.
A lot of folks gloating that Huckabee won't be POTUS. I really don't care but after reading most the comments – I'm glad none of you will be President too. 4 police officers were killed and most of you think its a football game – "my side wins". It not the country that screwed up – its the people. With few exceptions – lots of half wits here.
It is not his fault, he does not have a crystal ball to look into and see the future. I am an Idaho Democrat and support our President, but you should read the racist comments in the Local newspaper. It will make your stomach turn. My condolences go to the families of the victims.
It's very obvious that you do not learn from your mistakes.
No two ways about it, blood is on his hands. He made a retarded decision and now four cops are dead because of it.
You can cover for him all you want, it simply makes you an accessory to the murder. If he had a shred of 'values' he would not have let a very dangerous person, with a proven track record, back out on the streets to harass and murder.
The only thing Huckabee didn't do, was pull the trigger. But with out his aid, four officers would still be alive.
It's funny how the republicans ravaged Dukakis on parioling Willie Horton. I wonder what Huckabee had to say about that when it happened. He takes full responsibility, I'm sure the familise of the slain officers are gratified about that statement.
How many of the people that Huckabee pardoned or gave clemency to have NOT gone on to commit more crimes? Odds say that in any group of people there are going to be some who don't make good use of the breaks they are given.The only person responsible for the shooting of the police officers is the shooter himself.
Gee, with all the conservatives complaining about the unfair treatment Huckabee is getting in the press, one would think they have completely forgotten Willie Horton.
How convenient.
I can't wait for the attack ads in the next few elections. Now that the tables have turned, we'll see how well the conservatives handle the criticism.
Of course it isn't Huckabee's fault. But up until yesterday, Huckabee blamed everybody and took no responsibility until he had to. That reflects poorly on Huckabee's integrity.
When public safety is not taken seriously by a governor or president, our
lives will always be at great risk.
As a Republican, Huck was never on my short list, but at least he tells the truth. As for the Horton thing, it was only one reason Duckie got beat, the others were that he was a whimp and a moron. So go ahead and rip Huck for this decision 9 years ago, get your pound of flesh, but remember liberals, you and your ilk want all like him pardoned because "society did it, not them." Heck, you even want that crazy MOSLEM who killed 18 soldiers pardoned because he will say was driven to it by the system that gave him over a million dollars for an education because he was a minority. So don't talk about hypocrits unless you can look into a mirror and not see one. Bet you can't.
If he was "doing the christian thing" by releasing this guy, why didnt he do the "christian thing" and release nearly everyone?
*crickets*...thought so.
I am no fan of Mike Huckabee and think he would possibly even worse than Bush as a president, but it's pretty difficult to hang this albatross around his neck.
I'm an Obama supporter.. and I support Mike Huckabee on this. He went with what was known at the time. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But you can't simply stop doing clemencies because it "might" bite you in the butt years down the road.
I wish the Republican Right could learn from this unfortunate incident, but I doubt they will. Pretty soon, we'll be doing the Chinese thing, and just execute people who did wrong, no clemency, no chance for redemption, on the "chance" that they might not straighten up later.
Not good enough, Huckabee. You need to beg forgiveness from the families of those police officers.
You GOP want to hold others to an extremely high moral standard, but when it comes time for all of you to hold yourselves to your own high moral standard, you fail miserably. Huckabee, Ensign, Vitter, Foley - and 2 of these men are still in office!
I've seen a bunch of people on here referring to him being 17 and too young to be sentenced to such a long time in jail – where did the age 17 come into play? Everyone is calling him a kid. He wasn't a kid when he was released from jail in 2000 – he was 28 years old. Every news agency that reported on him said that he was now 37 years old, and if that was 9 years ago that his sentence was commuted, he would have been 28. Old enough to know better, no matter what the crime was, and old enough to serve his punishment for said crime. He should have NEVER gotten out of jail.
I'm not a Republician but I have respect for Huckabee. He's a upstanding guy. Many thing failed here in what happened in Washington and Huckabee should not have to carry all the blame on his head. Washing judicial system let this man bound out of jail after the rape of a child and hitting a officer in the face.
Poor Huck,now if only mjm was a convict,we could all sleep better at night.hahaha
The ghost of Willie Horton has come back to haunt the Republicans (specifically Huckabee). Karma can really bite sometimes. P.S. Governor, some people really don't belong out of the confines of a jail cell – I'm sure the jury knew exactly what they were doing when they imposed the 95 year sentence.
I hope that talk show host gig works out for him. His political career is over.
Willie Horton might have been a good idea at the time. Now not so much.
Opps
This is why your not presidential material. Decisions of such nature must be given careful analysis not just on the spur of the moment to grant clemacy to a certain few. That is why we have streets full of child molesters, illegal aliens and murderers again. Thanks Governor you politicians really have a knowledge bump.
"I acted on the facts presented to me in 2000, the former GOP presidential hopeful said in a statement. "If I could have possibly known what Clemmons would do nine years later, I obviously would have made a different decision. But if the same file was presented to me today, I would have likely made the same decision."
Maya Angelou said: "when someone shows you who they are, believe them".
Huck failed to remember that when he allowed a monster to be released into the public. But we will remember that when/if he tries to run for any office again.
Judges and Governors that let these people back on the streets that have records like this guy did should be held accountable!
This guy should have never been let out.....
Unconscionable !!
Nice story CNN...too bad you can't get the facts right...Huckabee 'commuted' the sentence to 47 years....he didn't grant him clemency by setting him free...stupid is as stupid does.
I give Huckabee credit for taking responsibility for and standing by his actions rather than recharacterizing them in light of hindsight.
I give Tolbert for being a self-righteous prick.
Regardless, I think this means Huckabee stands no chance of a successful run for the presidency at this point.
I'm not a Huckabee fan; but I think it is silly to pin this on him or for one of his coordinators to resign in protest over it... people change and it is unforunate that this happened, the man obvously had issues and God will render his final act on justice on him...
Think again, ThinkAgain.
In the white neighborhoods I've lived in, I never knew of one kid with the record Clemmons had. Non-white areas, OTOH, are filled with aspiring social liabilities.
Willie Horton, take 2. Bye Huckabee, it was nice while it lasted.
Personally, I think we should use this as an opportunity to reflect on two things: The first of which is why some people are granted 'clemency' to start with, laws should be the same ACROSS the board. Secondly, further proof the gun laws in this country have no teeth, our streets are turning into war zones...either enforce the laws, or restrict them. There are way to many massacres happening on US soil these days.
Obama never would have freed him. Community organizers don't have that power.........
There goes your Presidential ambitions pal. Good. One less idiot to run for office.
If it were not for Willie Horton, I might say give Huckabee a pass on this commutation thing, but turnabout is fair play for the Republicans.
Also, Huck tried to pass the buck or pass part of the buck and that shows the man has no character. He seems to be a Christian hypocrite. Where were these Huck defenders when Dukakis was beeing skewered?
another Republican boob.
I wish he had orginally taken responsibility rather than issuing a statement about how the whole system in AR and WA had failed. He obviouly heard loud and clear that this was whiney and weak so he changed his tune. What a lout!
And with all that he is still the most honest, most civil GOP hopeful for 2012.
Don't blame this on the Judicial system Mike. You signed his clemency papers on the dotted line. We don't need you representing anyone especially after your comments " I would do it again given the same circumstances" Wake up Mike, these type of individuals don't change. I think your religious beliefs are getting in the way. And no we don't need to change the constitution to make our way of life more in line with the bible. We need to make sure all the laws protect us from people who think like you. Look whats going on in the middle eash where religion and government are mixing it up. You screwed up Mike. Admit it, realize your terrible mistake and ask forgiveness from the families.
Most of these comments are lame and politically biased (you're kidding!). As a GOP conservative, it is clear that Huckabee will never be considered for a major office holder again. We were concerned about this issue (Huck's spinelessness for tough law enforcement)before; we are convinced about it now. Conservative principles remain rock steady regardless of who may violate them...
He's still better than Palin.
I'm not a Repub supporter, but it's amazing how so many librals throw all Christians into the same little box. Accuse us of being judgmental, yet continuously launch judgments themselves. Come on bros and sisters, let thoes without sin cast the first stone...there should he none. The guy made a mistake years ago, let it go already.
"My departure was with a heavy heart but was done after serious prayer and consideration"
Yes, you certainly wouldn't want to make such a decision after light-hearted prayer.
Let's see: 1 bad decision + the same bad decision = 2 bad decisions.
At least 1 republican is honest about making bad decisions.
Nobody's questioning whether he "acted on the facts presented to him at the time." Of course he did. The problem is, part of the facts "present at the time" is his extremely high rate of granting clemency to people in comparison to the governors for 17 years before him. That doesn't necessarily prove he was wrong, but it certainly forms a very solid foundation for questioning the lucidity and accuracy of his judgment when he acts on those "facts present at the time"...particularly when the potential results have now been played out and 4 officers are dead. Why don't you get off your duffs and get us more of those :"facts present at the time" CNN, so we don't have to act on surmise....oh wait, you like that because it leads to bickering and controversy to help grab viewers...instead of an informed public knowing what the real answer to the question is.
Huckabee let this cop killer go scott free. Obviously he does not have the juidgement to lead this country.
Huckabee is a nice guy, but this is a sign of his poor judgement. He went on a spree where he released all kinds of criminals from jail, based on their "religious conversion" (which covers darn near everyone in the pen). Huckabee let his religious beliefs sway him into making some bad choices, and this guy isn't the first person he set free to have committed further crimes.
I don't blame him entirely for this, and I'm sure he acted with good intentions, but it does show poor judgement. And his record with the economy is even worse. I'd never vote for him because I don't trust his judgement, but as far as a person goes, I like him.
did anybody see fox come out and defend mike ?
if this would of been a democrat they would of wanted him to flog himself. i am so sick of the hypocritical gop and there yelling god and church everytime they get theri tit in a ringer. we al;l mistkaes you guys are not protected from that. if you would just own up to yours the world would be a better place. if the gop qwould quit teling people what to thnk and how to act the spin monster could stop for them.
I'll add to the chorus and say that Huckabee has earned my respect for his honesty on this issue.
However...
He is still unqualified to be President, he wants to change the U.S. Constitiution into a 'Christian Document', which pretty much destroys what the U.S. is supposed to be all about.
where is Huck's high moral standard... He owes those 4 families a big apology
I am certainly not a Huckabee supporter but in the interest of fairness to him I would be very interested in seeing a complete breakdown of what happened to the other 1000 people that he commuted sentences on...how many of them returned to a life of crime. If this was the only one, then it certainly seems that he did a pretty good job...nobody should be expected to be perfect. If 500 of them returned to a life of crime and this is just the big example, then I certainly would question his ability to make decisions.
I think an article looking at the crime rate of individuals that received reduced sentences or clemency would be very interesting in regards to any of our potential candidates that have served as governor.
It's amusing to see the conservatives condoning the murder of four police officers when confronted by the choice between doing that, or taking responsibility for a very bad decision that ole Huckee boy made.
No, he couldn't see into the future. But he owned up to making a bad decision, good for him. It's the retards here trying to persuade us that it wasn't a bad decision that need SERIOUS help. Pathetic shirkers of responsibility is all they are. Man up, like Huck, and admit when you are wrong. Or do what conservatives ALWAYS do, and blame someone else for a mistake that resulted in DEAD PEOPLE.
As an Arkansan I can tell you right now..Huckster is aloser. He does what he is told to do, flip flops on so many issues it isn't funny and now he says this is a political thing? RIGHT Huckster!
Stay out of Arkansas..we don't .ike you.
Why does Mr. Jason Tolbert have to step down, when fomer Gov Mike Huckabe, former GOP presidential hopeful and the former Arkansas governor's decision nine years ago to grant clemency to Maurice Clemmons, the man suspected of murdering four police officers in Washington state. Something wrong with this picture
This not the only ex-Arkansas inmate that Huckabee released that killed somone after the release. Dumond killed a woman a few years ago in Missouri after being released by the Huckster. This over the objections of everyone.; but Huckster knew better than everyone..forced the prison board to grant the pardon....ugh.... this is his nail in the coffin... see you on the lecture circuit Huck...
I don't think you all should be so quick to judge Huckabee. I agree with a few people on here, some of you idiots are using this tragic situation to spew your ignorant politically ideology and that folks is just sad. no wonder why the rest of the world views America as joke. Four police officers who chose to protect you, me, everyone lost thier lives and all some of you can say is Conservative this or Liberal that?????? It's people like you who vote a D.C. crackhead back into office after being caught in a hotel room with crack and hookers, or idiots who flat out lied to you about WMD and you still voted him back in for another four years! Now don't get me wrong, I disagree with Huckabee's religous and political ideology but he should not blame himself for one man's actions nor should any of you do the same. Some of you make me want to puke, morons!
The Democrats won't have to use this against Huckabee. He will never get out of the primaries. The Republicans will use it.
The parole board STRONGLY opposed his release. The ONLY reason he was is because of his kowtowing to Schmukabees pro religious prejudice. ALL RELIGION SHOULD BE REDUCED TO THE CULT STATUS THAT IT IS.
Not my fault! Not my fault!
Nice work Mike! I figure you're going to run on a "Law and Order" platform. I love when good upstanding Christians release criminals on compassionate grounds. You must be from Scotland...
Huck ain't one of the good guys like he says.
This report from 2000 is so off base it makes msnbc calling west point the enemy camp last night seem like both news feeds are America haters. Whose side are you on anyway ?
I don't feel bad for Huckabee. After years of claiming that the Liberals/Democrats were too soft on crime. That they would turn murders and rapist loose after giving them milk and cookies first, I think that he deserves everything he has coming his way. The Republicans want us to believe that they are tough guys and only they can protect us from the evils in the world. I for one don't need or want their protection any longer.
How many of the people hating on Huckabee for following the recommendation of the parole board would have crucified him if he hadn't followed it? He would have been accused of being a racist by the far left.
Huckabee can always use Bush's words that he used to start war "my faith tells me it's the right thing to do" . Isn't it strange Huckabee hasn't mentioned his religion, most Republicans do when they get ready to tell a lie.
Huck is done, this will end his political hopes for president. Only Democrats can get away with these types of choices.
I believe that someone who has posted a comment on this blog will commit a serious crime in 10 years. I want all of you arrested and imprisoned for life, because I cannot tell now which of you is the future criminal. And don't bother asking for parole. There may be 49 people who will not commit a crime in the future, but one of you will – according to statistics – commit a felony or already has committed a felony.
I also believe that ten of you (statistics) has had inappropriate relations with a minor, so I'm sorry but you will all have to be imprisoned for life, since I can't be sure which of you is the culprit (or future culprit).
Where were all the Republicans when G H W Bush ran those Willie Horton ads?
As long as we have a judicial system which permits parole these types of tragedies will happen – no matter how smart we think we are, there is really no way to be able to predict with 100% certainty what a parolee will or won't do.
What Roger Ailes did to Dukakis in 1988 has come back to bite the conservative's best chance to beat Obama in 2012.
Another whirlwind reaped by the right wing goon squads.
First of all I am not a republican, and never will be.
I donot think that, Mr. Hubabee was wrong in what he did releasing Clemmons, he could not have known, that this man would turn around and kill these four Police Officers.
The thing that bothers me is, this man had a 95 year sentence, that would have bother me, if I had been in Mr. Hubabee place. Some one with that kind of sentence must have been a bad hombre from the start. They should have taken more time on making a decision on letting him out on parole.
I think Mr. Hubabee bid for the White House is over. He and he fellow republicans over at Fox News will just have to preach their venom from the news room. Thank you
well, i don't see Mike Huckabee running for president in 2012, not after this....
it's looking more and more like Palin will be the frontrunner. regardless of what the left says, people really like her. for the same reasons the left doesn't. reminds me of how the right was saying they hoped Hillary would run because Hillary is so polarizing. truth is, McCain would never have led for a minute without her. as McCain said in his own words...get used to it folks!
The people slamming Huckabee here are idiots. It's not his fault this happened; first it's the criminals fault to begin with.
After that, it's all the people who let this guy skip out on jail AFTER he was let out. When Huckabee let this guy out there was not a good reason to keep him. However down the road when he committed multiple offenses and broke parole the liberal prosecuter dropped the ball and let this guy walk.
But lets not cloud the argument with facts!
Looks like the repugs are running short on Presidential candidates. Too bad it took 4 police officer's lives to showcase this idiot's ignorant decision making. Better luck in 2016.
Who cares?! This idiot is looking for publicity and now CNN has given him that. What happened 9 years ago is irrelevant. The justice system completely failed to deal with this habitual criminal AFTER he received clemency. It seems the justice system will jail a guy stealing bread to feed his family for 2 years but will release violent repeat offenders at the drop of a hat. Now 4 police officers are dead because of it. The judges and parole dept. EVERYWHERE need to be held accountable for these travesties.
Two words for the republicans: Willie Horton.
It would be interesting to look back to see if Huckabee claimed to have prayed about the decision to pardon Maurice Clemmons . If so he could then claim it was within either the permissive or directive will of God and therefore part of God's plan. It would get him off the hook with his base.
Bulltwinkle for sure.
God told you to free this nut????? Right Huck????
Huckabee is just as responsible for this shooting as Obama was when those kids beat that honor student to death with that 2X4. That was a direct cause of Democrat politicians and community organizers.
I hope you people, especially the Republican people, are actually reading these posts. Clearly, one of the key factors that seperates Republicans and Democrats is the understanding and honesty in views of Democrats.
In numerous posts, people who are neither Republican or Huckabee supporters are voicing their opinions that Huckabee is an honest and respectable man who did what he thought was right based on the information he was provided at the time.
Notice the lack of hatred as typically from the right, just honest views regardless of his Republican affiliation. As a Democrat, I agree with these views, I don't hold him accountable for this and don't think others should either.
I feel for the families involved, but there's noone to blame but the perp.
When will this idiot Huckabee step out of the limelight like so many of his fellow republican friends?
Why do people reference their party affiliation on this thread? Stupiid stupid and their are fine examples at both poles.
When he says he would do the same thing again he means don't elect me to any position where i have the opportunity to be a "do-gooder" and free dangerous people into society. The sheer number of his pardons is frightening. He is now saying that he will persist in his ignorance and apply the same "rigor" to other cases. Forget the nomination, pal...go work for ACORN...........
Mr. Huckabee needs to denounce the Republican Party for it's Willie Horton tactics.
He's no leader.
Anyone with the authority to grant clemancy or parole should have to live with the person they let out. So if YOU are NOT WILLING to put your own family at risk, don't turn them loose on an unsuspecting world.
The GOP went after Dukakis full-force for the Horton thing, despite Dukakis never claiming to be psychic and know what Horton would do. It should be tit for tat for Hucklebee.
I am certain if the Board that presented this file to Mr. Huckabee had thought or known this individual would make a turn for the worse and do these terrible things, then the file would have been presented in a way where as the then governor Huckabee would not have made the decision he did. There's plenty of blame to go around and my heart and prayers go out to the families of the murdered officers but I don't feel as though Mr. Huckabee is the only one at fault here. After all; Clemmons committed these atrocious acts.
It is surely the system. Dirty Harry tried to warn us all in the 1970's about the left pushing laws to let the criminals out to commit more murders and the right with police taking the law into their own hands.
What ever happen to John Wayne punching out or shooting someone who deserves it.
Govern from the Center. There is no way anyone can make everyone happy all the same. Have Obama read Means to Ascent about LBJ.
Wow, Huck still doesn't get it. Of course there's no way "to have possibly" known" that this guy would kill 9 years later, but there's certainly this thing called "judgment." Huck has poor "judgment", and there is a history of poor judgment through his clemency decisions.
It wouldn't be such a big deal if Huckabee didn't have one of the highest clemency numbers and one of his previous clemencies resulted in a murder. Huckabee has a history of bad decision-making and should never be in a position to make decisions that affect anyone ever again.
Im am also an Obama supporter....But I don't blame Mike Huckabee for this tragedy... The state of Washington also let Clemmons slip through cracks, after commiting a crime aginst a child and other offenses he was once again let go to live freely
in the state of Washington,, so is our justice system perfect...obviously not....people in power make decisions sometimes there good and sometimes they are not...even president obama has made a few and without a doubt he will make more...but Mike Huckabee should not have to carrry this burden, but he will for the rest of his life, him as well as those officials and attorneys in the great state of Washington whom also could not have predicted this horrible tragedy.
Come on folks, let's not forget the Repubes salivating over Willie Horton when Mike D. ran for president. Fair is fair and let's not let the Repubes forget this one. It is a banner on which it should be flown everyday. Hucky baby, you're fair game. Mine as well think of running for dog catcher, no, those folks are too good for you. Just keep doing what you're doing and the Democratic party is safe.
The parole board also considered the case, the accused killer wasn't pardoned, he was paroled.
OBVIOUSLY (unless your a Republican or a cave man, wait, that's the same thing), some teenagers do need to be locked up for life.
But also OBVIOUSLY, if every teenager who commits a violent crime is locked up for life, SOMEONE (not Republicans though since Republicans believe all government services, including prisons are free) will have to pay.
I would never vote for Huckabee because he's a flat-Earther who thinks the Earth is 6,000 years old and that dinosaurs walked around with humans.
But I can't conclude that he did ANYTHING wrong based on what he knew.
this was the kiss of death for his possible president campaign....especially now since even some of the GOP is going against him.
I'm not a Huckabee fan and disagree with an overwhelming majority of his ideas and methods. But I can't see him as a culprit in this. I can't believe the decision was off the cuff but made with serious consideration. A lot of time has passed – that's what people should be looking at. What was it that pushed this guy over the edge?
I'm not a fan of Huckabee or the GOP. However, I find it hard to blame him for exercising kindness and humanity to a young man 9 years ago. It’s easy to sit back and play arm chair quarterback after the fact; something the GOP loves to do.
Kind of silly to blame a man who gave pardon to a criminal 9 years ago. I would assume the shooter met all the qualifications at that time to be granted clemency and was released with the thought that he would make good use of his second chance.
I hope this type of sentiment doesn't start becoming the norm because there are people out there who have been granted pardons/clemency/commutations and have gone on to live good, crime-free lives.
As much as I don't like Huckabee, I don't see that Huckabee did any wrong and shouldn't be to blame for this shooter's crimes.
I guess he is jumping a sinking ship. Huckabee just lost any chance at the nomination. Too bad. I thought he was a pretty good guy.
It's a fact that if he were a Democrat, Hannity, Rush, Beck and O'Reilly would still defend him based on principles. Take this truth and compare it to how a majority of Democrat here have responded. Same ones who agree with Chris Mathews that Obama was on enemy grounds at West Point.
Accuracy... Not clemency but comutation.
Accuracy... Did not free him but reduced sentence from 106 years to 67years
Accuracy... Parole Board released him. Then did a crime and went back to prison until 2006.
When trying to be truthful also be accurate and make sure the words selected match the event.
Im a Obama supporter too and i feel Huckabee just tried to be merciful towards the guy by giving him another chance to get his life together. Mr, clemmings is the one that blew it. everyone deserves a chance to try to do whats right Huckabee was just being compassionate at the time and i dont blame Mr. Huckabee its the Crmminal fault, yes if he had known that he was going to do this no he wouldnt offer release efforts but how many of us knows what another person might do later.
I live in Seattle. If Huckabee ever runs for public office, I will do all in my power to remind ALL voters of his role in the execution of 4 police officers. Huckabee does not deserve to be in power, and there is NO WAY he will EVER become President because of this.
Being from Arkansas, I have been around Huckabee for a long time. He is a self-promoting hypocrit.
Are we all so sad that it's come down to 'my way or the highway' mentality? I once read that a person shouldn't have to explain their actions; their friends don't need it and their enemies won't believe it... As the animosity fountain is freely flowing, shouldn't someone at least raise their cup and a kind word for the four dedicated police officers. Many people were painfully affected by this, but this string of Huckabee/Horton is just childish and we as a nation should be greatly ashamed of ourselves for acting this way.
I am not getting into any mudlinging here, but moving on to the next logical point: This decision was made, but the same decisions are being made every day across America. What will we as a people do about it?
This all says our idea of criminal justice needs to change a little bit. Bring back the gallows and solve a few modern day social problems.
That's pretty crazy too. I'm not familiar with the full story in general but just heard bits of it. Pretty ironic the people close to you or assume are the ones you never expect could commit such a heinous crime. Talk about another level.
I just hope Fox News treated this story just like anyone else. There is association and affiliation among Fox news and their beliefs. I can call em out but na'h, the're a waste of time. I'm sure they did but with the Afghan strategy already set in motion, that seems the most logical and reasonable solution by far.
This ain't big news, is just big news because the Huckster is associated with him. And yes, even conservatives can get crazy too, morons.
I'm no fan of Mike Huckabee, or the GOP for that matter. However, I must say that taking responsibility for making that decision would be a tough thing to do. He didn't have to say he would do it again, either. Kudos to a GOP politician for not making an excuse for what turned out to be a bad decision.
By the way, it wasn't the Huckster that released him, it was the parole board. Huck only made it possible. The parole board is the guilty party here.
This is why a jail term should be set in stone. A 10 year sentence should mean ten years. No exceptions and no excuses.
Huckabee got himself a Willie Horton!
The absolute most unfathomable part of all of this is how in the United States of America is a governor allowed to grant clemancy to anyone and part of the deal is that the criminal must NOT RESIDE in THAT STATE. If the criminal was supposedly good enough to be relieved of a sentence that a jury gave him then why would you release that criminal but say he can't live in YOUR state?? This needs to be changed. Perhaps less criminals that belong in prison would be set loose if those politicians had to have them living next door to them. As long as the politicians are able to ship these criminals out of state, none of us will ever be safe.
BOY! You people are takin' no prisoners today! Well, if I may add my 1 cent; I have to agree with the Huckster. I don't agree with any of his policies BUT how in this world could he have known this would happen NINE YEARS LATER?? Gees.....I don't even know what's going to happen tonight! Give him a break people (although my heart sincerely hurts for the families of the police officers). If you do, he may start seeing things for what they really are and stop bashing our current President. Maybe??
Who will Chuck Norris turn to now that he found out that the Huckster is soft of crime?
It's all about JESUS – This is a perfect example why religion and other superstitious activity has NO PLACE in Government.
huckabee let more people loose then a bleeding heart liberal would have. his done.
"But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that's what we need to do - to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view." Mike Huckabee Jan 2008
Separation of church and state, anyone?
It's such a sad affair. My regards to the families of the slain officers. I cannot imagine the anguish the governor is going through now. I’m a Democrat who empathize with the governor‘s situation. How was he to know this would happen 9 years later? He did the best he could with the information he had at the time. My problem with the governor was his first reaction, realizing the consequences on his political aspirations; he started blaming everybody but himself. He remembered the Republicans vicious Willie Horton ad and started to play it in his head and watching his dreams grow wings. Now, after his media consultants told him to own up he unenthusiastically owns up. It’s so sad to see these games come home to roost. I wonder how the show fits on the other foot???
Well, I think that this unfortunate episode is similiar to the Willie Horton flap and will certainly doom Huckabee's chance of a second run for the presidency. Huckabee is now politically vunerable and will probably not win nomination. There are other reasons why he will not win the presidency. They are these:
* Huckabee does not appeal to a broad and diverse constituency of Americans since he is represents social conservatives–a small segment of the American electorate.
* Huckabee is neither a pragmatist nor a problem solver.
* Huckabee is too conservative whereas, most Americans are middle of the road–moderate in their views on most issues.
Get the facts straight Huckabee only commuted his sentence and this only made him “eligible” for parole. Meaning unless a parole board found him fit to return to society he would live out his term in prison. Anyway 95 years in prison with no possibility of parole for armed robbery is not a typical punishment?
GOP has blamed OBAMA for the Sun rise, and now Ol' Huck cannot be blamed for a direct......direct decision. Ha, Ha GOP same hypocrites. One thing is certain and that's Karma and it will visit all the loudmouths on Repub side. Watch out Rush, Hannity and Beck. Karma will get you...
Those arguing that Huckabee has no blame in this tragedy because he could not predict the future are ignoring the facts in this case. I believe it likely that Huckabee was advised not to pardon this man by the attorney's office who knew of Clemmons' violent history. Huckabee chose to pardon this man because he was persuaded by a fellow minister that Clemmons had "come to Jesus." Being a Southern Baptist minister himself, Huckabee believed that Clemmons was pardoned of his sin by God. Huckabee has a history of doing this with other prisoners, and he had to reverse a pardon in one case because the people of Arkansas strenuously objected. In addition to being laughably credulous, Huckabee is guilty of two things: ignoring the advice of the AR justice department and putting his religion ahead of his job to protect the people of Arkansas.
"Speaker Gingrich will give opening remarks followed by an opportunity for audience members to ask questions, share stories about what has worked for their business, and provide input on our 'Jobs Here, Jobs Now, Jobs First' plan."
Sorry but I don't give a - who's advice is better because their economic conditions is better than those of the population. I understand what he's trying to do but this isn't 1st grade and we share stories to among each other.
What the - you gonna do? Do I look mad or what?
Laters.
His political career is over and don't think most people are crying over it, they are not. I can't wait for the Huckabeast to get out of the limelight. His big pale doughboy face makes me sick.
(yawn) I'm still waiting for CNN to stop spiking the stories on Climategate and start doing some honest reporting instead of confirming their overt bias for the left-wing extremists. (yawn)
"Huck", as all his political friends refer to him, to make him look like a "regular guy", which he is not, is the candidate from the Jerry Farwell wing of the Republican Party. Those are the people who have more in common with the Taliban that with America. They and the Taliban have a common goal: Control Women!
If you glued one of those deer whistles to "Huck's" head, he would make the same sound, as he fell from grace, as a bomb dropping from a high altitude aircraft. The loud noise you would hear when he hit the ground would be the end of his political career.
He is right where he belongs – on the Fools On Xanax network, pushing lies, just as big, but at a little less rate, than O'Reilly, Hannity, guests Coulter, Malkin, and the rest of that disgusting, phony "news" gang.
I'm not a Huckabee fan by any means, but kudos to him for admitting that if presented with the same facts now as he was then, he'd do the same thing. The problem needs to be looked at much closer – what was in the report that fooled everyone, and how can convicts play that game too easily anymore.
How stupid do you have to be to give clemency to a convict with a 99 year sentence. And this is the best the GOP can come up with. This man needs to crawl in a hole and never be seen or heard from again.
On one hand, it's nice to see a Republican getting burned on this issue after those hateful Willie Horton ads. There is a certain cosmic justice in what has happened to Huckabee's career.
But on the other hand, I want my elected officials to exercise their clemency power. There are no guarantees when it comes to human behavior, but that doesn't mean that we should just slam the prison door shut with no hope of a future. Clemency is one way for Governors and Presidents to reach out to show mercy and (if needed) to correct miscarriages of justice.
Frankly, I think it should be used more. There has to be a balance between justice, forgivness and pure vengence. Clemency is one tool to achieve that balance.
Huckabee is toast. Period. Thank goodness!! I won't vote for Obama in 2012, but I could never vote for an evangelical preacher either.
Huckabee was unelectable BEFORE he chose to give clemency to a criminal that was slated to serve over 100 years. There is no one in the GOP that IS electable at this point – by a longshot.
That "Fool" had a 95 year sentence. Yeah, someone needs to step down. Innocent lives were lost.
The first time he got in trouble his release should have been revoke. The signs were there. Unfortuately, the decease officers and their families have had to pay for this action.
Praying daily....because I just don't understand WHY.
The rats are jumping off the ship.
Huckabee's political career is over so no aspiring political career person is going to waste their time on a loser.
The Republican Party has no viable candidiate for any national office and they are running off anyone with common sense that might run with their laughable "purity test". The Republican Party is lost in the wilderness. They have done NOTHING this entire year but criticize, tell lies, promote hate, fear, and racism. They are anti-American and no one is going to support these traitors of the People they were supposed to be serving.
Huckabee is just one example of their hypocrisy and poor judgment on critical issues facing and affecting our lives.
If it were a Dem he wouldn't quit...even if guilty in a crime, a Dem will blame eveyone else and cry 'victim'...
Honesty and compassion is a death blow for a republican politician. The only thing worse would be admitting a mistake. So long Chuk-ah-bee.
He and Palin are better at making cash off the simple minded Fox following tea-baggers anyway.
The system failed here. Huckabee made a decision on the information placed before him at the time, 9 years ago.
The problem is with the nine years since his release. He has been in and out jail on very serious charges. The system and those involved recently are the ones to blame here, not Huckabee. No matter how liberals, atheists and others try to paint it, it doesn't fly.
If this had happened one or two years after his release, they might have an argument.
Why is it that reason seems to elude the liberal mind?
Govenor Huckebee: Will you be attending the funerals for the four slain police officers in Tacoma, Washingto?
finally someone with guts to stand up to his actions. too bad for the many teenage offenders hoping for clemency these days.
Anyone remember Willie Horton and how upset the Repubs were over this. I am waiting for the Republican outrage on this, so far...silence.
There is a reason why certain criminals get 90+ year jail sentences. It's so they don't get let back out on the street to commit more crimes. Given Clemmons history during his original term I don't how anyone could possibly think he wouldn't keep committing violent crimes once he got back out. He attempted to attack the judge during his original trial. He attacked his guards during that same trial, and he committed numerous violations including assaults while serving 11 years of a 95 year sentence.
The blame certainly can't be put squarely on Huckabee since the parole board recommended his release (god only knows why), but ultimately Huckabee made the decision to release this animal back into society where he then picked up right where he left off as a teenager.
How could Huckabee have possibly known what this man would do later in life? It's a tragedy, but the only person to blame is the man who committed the crime.
By the way, how many of you think that a white teen in Arkansas would have been given 100 years for burglary? If Huckabee hadn't granted clemency, he would have been under fire for being racist. There's never an easy solution to issues like this.
It apears he is leaving a sinking ship.
Another don't do as I do, do as I say republican.
If only Huckabee could have pardoned a few thousand cheesburgers the way he pardoned one (obvious) career criminal.
I am not a Republican, I vote independently, and I'm not a fan of Huckabee. However, people who are trying to make him responsible for crimes that another person committed, just because he followed the recommendation of a parole board nine years ago, are really not informed about crime and punishment issues. If you want to lock up every person forever who committs a robbery or assault, there would be no room for all the prisons in the US. Besides, this guy was clearly crazy when he murdered these poor people, and how was Huckabee suppposed to predict that outcome. Some people are really big on personal responsibility–how about this–the guy who committed the murders was responsible and no one else.
Huckabee was the best hope of the Republican party and maybe the nation. Of course, the media can kill anyone, and the distorted reporting about this situation has proven that they will do so mercilessly.
I'm glad he's probably out of the race. He was too good to waste on an ungrateful group of self-seekers.
We wonder why we never get anyone of any real value to run for president. It's because decent people do not want to be crucified.
I know first hand about clemency. I have seen the rap sheets of people granted clemency. After seeing the rap sheets of these people I am referring too it was beyond me how they were let off the hook and granted anything but the death penalty or a life sentence.
Huckabee had to have seen the rap sheet of this clown. I don't know if the guy had any major priors but if he did then all of this huckabee support would make a person sick. I can't imagine the comments on here if this would have been Obama and not Huckabee.
Looks like Huc just had his Michael Dukakis monent. And we all know how that turned out for the presidential hopeful.
Elected people need to butt out when it comes to dealing with cons.
These people are in prison for a reason.Leave them there.
So Huckabee has his own Willie Horton now.
Of course, the man that Huckakee personally reduced the prison sentence of by 61 years had a life long record of violent criminal behavior with 13 separate felony charge and convictions with multiple act of felony violence.
This compares to the one act of murder and assault committed by Willie Horton, who was part of a furlough program supported by Michael Dukakis.
Horton went on to commit rape and assault against two people.
Clemmons went on to commit multiple parole violations, multiple felony assaults, multiple sexual abuse of children before finally murdering four police officers in a planned execution.
It will be interesting to see how the Republican Party will spin this.
Though I am not a Huckabee fan and would never vote for him, I disagree with attempts to vilify him for playing a distant role in this tragedy. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.
The only thing that bothers me about this is that most conservatives, including Fox News hardliners, will treat this incident with kid gloves, when, if Huckabee were a democrat, they'd be calling for his head. Even so, I don't advocate some people's attempts to pin the blame of this solely on Huckabee.
47 years is not much of a commutation.
Being from Arkansas, I have many reasons to dislike Mike Huckabee. This is not the first time that his judgment has come into question because of serious consequences resulting form that judgment.
Huck's a dead duck in the 2012 presidential race.
There are some stupid people in this country. The person responsible is the one who pulled the trigger.......Our legal system lets people off every day that eventually commit other crimes yet we don't single each of those people out and blame them. Since I am speaking mostly to democrats who follow CNN, stop blaming other people when things go wrong, start blaming the person who was the problem......I am sure this is difficult since GW is not in office anymore.