Huckabee defends himself
At RedState, the former Arkansas governor and GOP presidential hopeful has posted an essay about his 2000 decision to shorten the sentence of Maurice Clemmons, the suspected killer of four police officers in Washington state who was himself fatally shot in Seattle early today.
Clemmons had served 11 years of a 108-year sentence for burglary and robbery when then-Gov. Mike Huckabee commuted his prison term to 47 years. The commutation made Clemmons eligible for parole, which the state’s parole board subsequently granted.
That last phrase is one that Huckabee spends considerable time on, as he did during a brief interview on Neal Boortz’s radio show this morning. Huckabee notes that the governor of Arkansas cannot parole any inmates, and that the facts and people involved in the case back in 2000 warranted his release. Though Huckabee says that he regrets the loss of life in Washington, he adds that “If presented the same facts today [as before the commutation decision in 2000], I would have acted in the same manner.”
Huckabee also makes a considerable effort to explain that Clemmons, a black man who was 16 when he committed the original crime, had received a sentence that was disproportionate to what white middle-class teenagers were apt to receive in Arkansas at the time. Huckabee says that this factor, not his personal religious views, also informed his decision. On Boortz’s show, Huckabee noted that Arkansas governors dating back to Bill Clinton had decided there was nothing to gain politically and everything to lose by commuting sentences, and that he had acted out of conviction rather than political calculation to do otherwise in this and some other cases.
Now, I’m not here to defend Huckabee — I didn’t vote for him last year and most likely would not do so in 2012 if he were to run again. But I am curious as to whether this incident is his Willie Horton moment, or if his explanations can erase any new doubts in the minds of GOP primary voters. My guess is that it will be too easy for his opponents to beat him with this club, and that this will make it very difficult for him to win the nomination. But since Georgia was one of his biggest bases of support last year, what do y’all think?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
88 comments Add your comment
dude
December 1st, 2009
5:10 pm
upchuckabee is done! Goodbye!
Tom
December 1st, 2009
5:10 pm
Reality check: If Huckabee runs for President again how many Police Unions do you think will endorse him? Huckabee’s only decision now shoud be which Country does he wish to move to, to become a full time missionary. I believe that might be called atonement.
Jefferson
December 1st, 2009
5:16 pm
He’s no Bootsy Collins !!
David Axelfraud
December 1st, 2009
5:37 pm
At least Huckabee took responsibility for it and explained his actions. Not like other politicians who put the blame on other people.
Davo
December 1st, 2009
6:55 pm
An ugly and unfortunate series of events, to be sure. But he did man up, and for that he earns my respect; just not my vote.
Linda
December 1st, 2009
7:14 pm
Nine yrs. ago, all Huckabee did was to commute (not pardon), without objection, the sentence of a 16-yr-old kid who committed burglary & robbery from 108 yrs to 47 yrs. after he served 11 yrs., which made him eligible for parole by the parole board who paroled him with a unanimous vote. This is done all the time.
I was hoping Huckabee would pick Yanni for his running mate, for harmony.
Davo
December 1st, 2009
7:16 pm
Off topic, if I may.
I found this interesting (at least to me) video while reading about the current troubles of Tiger Woods. There seems to be some people who think that he gets preferential treatment from the police because of his celebrity, and while that may or may not be true, this particular video explained why he actually is the wiser for not cooperating with the authorities.
It is a bit long at 48 min, but there is some humor in it. The first half is a law professor who states his case quite well on how to defend your 5th amendment rights. He then presents a cop (and law student) equal time to discuss the same.
Dont Talk to Police
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc&feature=player_embedded
“An law school professor and former criminal defense attorney tells you why you should never agree to be interviewed by the police.”
Skram30082
December 1st, 2009
8:40 pm
First, I’m not a Huckabee supporter. However, the timing of this revelation is important. Huckabee has at least 2 years to explain and defend his actions, and perhaps, recover from any damage inflicted by his opponents in the Republican party. If he was the presumptive Republican nominee in 2012, and this info came to light, it would indeed become his Willie Horton, and the results would be disastrous.
It’s easy to pile on and say what should have been done, or what somone would do now if presented with the same information. It’s also difficult to criticize someone on what is truly a moral decision. But, Michael Dukakis was criticized for not supporting the death penalty if his wife or daughter were raped and murdered.
twodawgs
December 1st, 2009
9:28 pm
Huckabee never took responsibility for this. All he ever said was “we”, “we”, “We”. Where was the “I” was responsible for this statement? I was leaning toward voting for him until this debacle.
Jubal
December 1st, 2009
9:37 pm
Cynthia Tucker was excited to have Huckabee’s Willie Horton Moment. Although when Kerry had his she thought it was unfair and outrageous. Now we can add hypocrite to Cynthia’s malevolent racist monikers
stands for decibels
December 1st, 2009
9:39 pm
I do hope Huckabee manages to weather this, if only to prove to myself that perhaps American conservatives have grown up a little bit and are willing to try to see a big picture, rather than simply reacting to law enforcement issues on a predictable, emotionally based manner.
But I wouldn’t bet the farm on any of this happening. Huckabee is probably toast.
Max
December 1st, 2009
10:04 pm
I think Huckabee is toast. Palin, Romney, etc. will use this in the primaries to make it impossible for him to win among the folks who typically vote in GOP primaries. Given that those same voters probably won’t vote in great numbers for someone who they (in their hearts) don’t consider a Christian I think that right now Palin is in the lead for the GOP nod.
If that happens I think it would herald the end of the GOP. No party could survive what would happen with Sarah Palin as their nominee.
Ink
December 1st, 2009
11:13 pm
He never has been much and should move out of the way for the true leaders. He actually caused republicans to lose the last election as Romney and he split the main party votes and gave us a helpless cause in McCain. He should get out of the way for the good of the republican party.
Hillbilly Deluxe
December 2nd, 2009
12:16 am
I don’t know much about this case and don’t know who is telling the truth and who isn’t but taking the linked article at face value.
•He was back in prison by 2004 and would have remained there until 2015 due to his parole violations had the prosecutor chosen to properly file the paperwork.
The above sentence seems to be the key statement in the article to me.
Gil
December 2nd, 2009
5:21 am
I believe that this was a ‘Perfect Storm’ of bad decisions – on the part of Huckabee and then on the part of the parole board. Hindsight is always 20-20; I have seldom been a fan of clemency and in this case it was a very poor decision.
Gerald West
December 2nd, 2009
5:34 am
The American “justice system” (it’s not a system, and it’s not just) is dysfunctional just like American government, American medical care, and American industry. Huckabee tried to make the best of the mess by interfering with the usual haphazard course of events.
What prudent actions can a state governor take with situations of 2 million people in prison, 100+ year sentences, juveniles sentenced as adults, trivial sex offenders treated as serious offenders, drug offences treated more harshly than violent acts, incurable criminals released to commit ever more destructive crimes when their sentence has been served, etc.?
We should stop the muck-raking and get behind a leader who will address the problems of our dumb and dumber nation!
Charles Jackson
December 2nd, 2009
5:45 am
Wouldn’t vote for him anyway. Now, wouldn’t even shake his hand.
AC
December 2nd, 2009
6:02 am
A judge once had Maurice Clemmons shackled and put next to a uniformed police officer in court. He considered Clemmons that dangerous.
Yet, authorities in Arkansas and Washington state let him out of prisons and jails and onto the streets of this country time and time again.
The Arkansas Parole Board and then-Gov. Mike Huckabee even teamed up to shorten Clemmons’ 100-year sentence enough to let him out on parole. Washington authorities let him out on bond just a week ago on a child rape charge. This, after his having punched a sheriff’s deputy in the face last spring. His criminal history in Arkansas alone included at least five felonies.
How many chances should a guy like that get?
In this case, he got plenty too many.
Now, Clemmons is dead, killed by police after having shot four officers to death in cold blood in a Lakewood, Wash., coffee shop this week.
It’s an unmitigated tragedy for the officers’ families — and a catastrophic failure for this nation’s criminal justice system.
We don’t envy our friends who toil for long hours and often short pay in the justice system. They deal every day with the moral dredges of humanity.
But they also need to remind themselves that they’re playing Russian roulette — with a gun pointed at someone else’s head.
The public’s.
There’s a hazard when dealing with “Other People’s Money,” as government does. You forget the value of a dollar. Likewise, in dealing with murderous sociopaths every day, some in the criminal justice system seem to take leave of their senses — and take chances with our safety that most of us wouldn’t take with ourselvcs or our loved ones.
They’re dealing with Other People’s Danger.
We hope the Clemmons case haunts every man and woman who labors in the criminal justice system. We hope it keeps some folks up at night — so they never repeat the mammoth mistakes made in this case.
Authorities said they arrested three people who allegedly gave aid and comfort to Clemmons. But didn’t the system aid and abet him too?
Shame on everyone who could have stopped this monster — and should have — but didn’t. That includes former Arkansas governor and one time — and surely one-time only — Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, whose dubious record on public safety has just eclipsed that of Mike Dukakis, who famously gave us Willie Horton.
Other People’s Money is real.
So is Other People’s Danger.
D. Strong
December 2nd, 2009
6:16 am
I can’t believe my eyes now. A southern Gov. stands up for correcting the sentence of a black teen and he gets this. He didn’t pardon the man, who by the way didn’t kill anyone at this point unlike Willie Horton. He didn’t let him out of prison, that was a decision by the parole board. It wasn’t him who allowed him out of prison in Arkansas or Washington State. He decided to do what was right for a black teen who was being punished by a unfair system and all anyone can do is beat on Mike. Shame, Shame on Atlanta for not caring that a White Southern Governor took a stand for a Black Teen.
ohmy
December 2nd, 2009
7:08 am
the evolution of huckabee continues
Skip
December 2nd, 2009
7:38 am
It’s not about what someone did, it’s how we can use it against them. That’s what this once great country has become.
hatin' on the stupid
December 2nd, 2009
7:39 am
funny that all the beeahuck apologists here are the same ones that scrounge for any morsal to slander our President in hopes he will fail…typical hypocracy from Fraud, “linda”, and davo, who have swallowed a bit too much spittle from boorz, nannity, limpbaugh, and yeck to be taken seriously
Mutts R Stupid
December 2nd, 2009
8:49 am
Never trust a religious fanatic with State power, just look back in time to see how that has worked out. The Catholic Church makes Islamic violence look peaceful, from the Spanish Inquisition to the Holy Roman Empire, to the French atrocities against non catholics. You can just imagine what the Southern Baptists would do with unlimited State power. If anything could make me pack up and move to Canada, it would be a Jesus Freak in the White House who has control of Congress.
George
December 2nd, 2009
8:53 am
Why don’t we ask the families of the four cops? I think I’ll go along with them.
Mutts R Stupid
December 2nd, 2009
8:58 am
Jubal- IMHO, Cindy is the worst writer at the ajc, bar none. Notice her columns are much shorter than others, yet she gets the fattest paycheck, does the least amount of work, gets the biggest travel account with little oversight, and she has the least content or new information, imho. All this time she has been in DC, she has produced ZERO scoops, ZERO big stories, ZERO big interviews, but she sure has run up the costs at the expense of real reporters, imho. Time to let her go to another paper, I am sure she can market her Pulitzer Puzzle to some other rag that is on its way DOWN. Notice the ajc has failed to cover major stories in our Region, like the Jefferson County Alabama mayor and his crooked dealings that cost the county billions, or the new Boeing plant in SC that could have been in Georgia.
@@
December 2nd, 2009
9:17 am
HuckaFEE is another one of those politicians who uses his charm to get by. His record on taxes exposed him as a RINO. I’ve spent two years trying to convince my husband that HuckaFEE was not what he would have us believe.
He (my husband) hates it when I’m right.
I would have preferred Giuliani or Romney in 2008. Fred fizzled early, but I liked Fred too.
Churchill's MOM
December 2nd, 2009
9:23 am
Wingboy, looks like you have calmed Dukefraud down, good for you..
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
9:32 am
Churchill’s MOM, still waiting on that Duke law degree evidence you claim to have.
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
9:33 am
What messages did our president’s bait-and-switch speech just send?
To our troops: Risk your lives for a mission I’ve written off.
To our allies: Race you to the exit ramp.
To the Taliban: Allah is merciful, your prayers will soon be answered.
To Afghan leaders: Get your stolen wealth out of the country.
To Pakistan: Renew your Taliban friendships now (and be nice to al Qaeda).
This isn’t just stupid: It’s immoral. No American president has ever espoused such a worthless, self-absorbed non-strategy for his own political gratification.
Our president is setting up our military to fail — but he’ll be able to claim that he gave the generals what they wanted. Failure will be their fault.
He’s covering his strong-on-security flank, even as he plays to our white-flag wavers. His cynicism’s worthy of a Saddam.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/setting_up_our_military_to_fail_lBlTIHm69SM02Lly5JbNaO
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
9:34 am
Churchill’s MOM, do you wake up every morning angry at the world?
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
9:38 am
Ms. Stupid, no, we don’t have to try to find dirt on President Acorn. He wallows in dirt.
As for Huckabee, I didn’t defend him. I just said that he was one of the few politicians who didn’t blame other people.
Bill Clinton blamed the “right wing conspiracy” that exists in his head, Al Gore blamed voting machines for his loss in 2000. Liberals always blame other people.
Hey, sort of like what you’re doing now. Pot meet Kettle.
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
9:41 am
Ms. Stupid and Churchill’s MOM,
It must burn you two to the core having to watch President Acorn give his Afghan speech about sending over 30,000 troops to a war you two call pointless. It must also burn you two to the core knowing deep down that this president is a one term guy. He’s done absolutely nothing for your party but destroy it. Poor whittle libs. So sad.
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
9:44 am
More bad news for the kool aid drinking global scammers!
THE scientific consensus that mankind has caused climate change was rocked yesterday as a leading academic called it a “load of hot air underpinned by fraud”.
CLIMATE CHANGE ‘FRAUD’
Professor Ian Plimer condemned the climate change lobby as “climate comrades” keeping the “gravy train” going.
In a controversial talk just days before the start of a climate summit attended by world leaders in Copenhagen, Prof Plimer said Governments were treating the public like “fools” and using climate change to increase taxes.
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/143573
Fix-It
December 2nd, 2009
9:48 am
Wait, didn’t Clinton pardon Soros, George Soros who is now the de-facto president of the US, who has the single goal of ruining our economy so he can get rich on monetary futures. He may not outright kill somebody but he is ruining a nation, does anybody care?
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
9:50 am
Fix-It, Soros is doomed. DOOMED!
JackP
December 2nd, 2009
9:53 am
Huckafraud is a phoney who allowed his religious redemption attitude to cloud his judgement resulting in placing the public in danger. At one point, I was in his corner politically, but no more. He is a puffed up windbag who bloviates on and on without saying anything of substance. He also commuted a convicted rapist who later murdered a girl. How many more are out there waiting to explode. His opponents will never let this die and they shouldn’t. By the way, there is more to this story than we will ever know. Who put pressure on Huck and the parole board to make such a poor decision? Tell us the rest of the story Mike.
Churchill's MOM
December 2nd, 2009
9:56 am
Wingboy, looks like you don’t have Dukefraud calmed down.. I have started posting on Bookman’s blog, they are both civil & smart over there. I’ll stop by ocassionally to see if you calm the Fraud down, good luck with your next job..
Mutts R Stupid
December 2nd, 2009
9:59 am
Yeah AxelFart, we are disappointed in Obama, but at least he is not Bush or a Neocon Scum Bag. It is becoming obvious that Obama, like Bush, is just a cardboard cut out for others pulling the strings behind the scenes. I believe Obama is intoxicated by the power of being commander in chief, a state many a leader has fallen prey to, from Adolf to LBJ. For early indications of failure in Afghanistan, watch the logistics trail from Pakistan, it will be under great strain in trying to support another 34K in resource wasting American troops. Watch Ivan too, he may cut off our air bridge at a time of his choosing. and watch the dollar die, and with it your bloated lifestyle.
jconservative
December 2nd, 2009
10:16 am
Yes this is Huckabee’s Willie Horton moment. He is finished nationally.
There is more to the story than the Clemmons commutation. There are commutations others out there.
Newsweek had a story on the issue during the 2008 Republican Primary but pulled the story after it became apparent that McCain had the nomination locked up. (Isikoff on TV yesterday)
The Romney campaign had the story & were prepared to release a series of attacks on Huckabee. They then decided to drop that campaign in the name of “party unity”. (Romney staffer on TV yesterday)
In politics it is the perception that matters, not necessarily the facts. And the perception is that Huckabee turned a bunch of deadly criminals loose on society.
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
10:18 am
Churchill’s MOM, you are the one who accused me of lying about a law degree. Fess up, you lied! By all means, go over to Bookman’s blog with the rest of the kook left wing nuts! You belong there.
Mr T
December 2nd, 2009
10:20 am
It must be nice to blog all day from your trailer Axelfraud! The reality of the United States(not the racist brain washed South) is the policies you stand for have failed. Your hero, the former retarded President and the draft dodging Vice President started a false war, ran the economy into the ground, and sky rocketed the deficit. I think you need to get counseling. You can’t take it a black man is President. America has moved on from idiots like you. the South and morons like you have no bearing in the big picture anymore. I know it hurts! Obama will have two terms, your Whig party will continue to whittle away. have fun blogging all day while I go back to my job!
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
10:20 am
Ms. R Stupid, no, Obama is TEN times worse than Bush. You’ll learn a very painful lesson come next November. All this talk about how the GOP is irrelevant will soon come to an end.
Obama = Jimmy Carter on steroids.
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
10:23 am
Mr T, trailer? Huh, I didn’t know 30 story buildings were considered trailers. Who’da thunk it? The racist south? Maybe you should get out more. Try coming up here to Chicago and listen to President Acorns pastor of 20 years rail on white people. Talk about racist.
If the GOP is irrelevant then why are people fleeing the democrap party? Besides, the GOP just won in two Democrat heavy states. Explain that one.
Oh, and if Bush is so stupid then why is President Acorn doing the exact same things that he did?
IE: out of control spending and sending troops off to war?
OBAMA LIED SOLDIERS DIED!!!!!!!!!
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
10:24 am
Ms T, in draft dodging are you referring to Bill Clinton?
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
10:25 am
MSNBC reached a new shameful low tonight when Chris Matthews referred to West Point as an “enemy camp.” He was trying to convey his surprise that Barack Obama would go to such a place, somewhere, he said, where Paul Wolfowitz would be more comfortable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTbJcixsLq8&feature=player_embedded
Jessica
December 2nd, 2009
10:25 am
Any fair and reasonable person would have made the same decision, given the information available at that time. Unless he had an ability to forsee the future, Huckabee could not have predicted that the man would get out of prison, go nuts and commit terrible crimes.
If other Republican leaders attack Huckabee for this, they will lose the support of many conservatives. Even people who wouldn’t vote for Huckabee for President like and respect him. He is a good and decent person and he served his state well as governonr.
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
10:26 am
SUCK ON THIS LIBERAL COMMIES!!!!!!!
Never before has a speech by President Barack Obama felt as false as his Tuesday address announcing America’s new strategy for Afghanistan. It seemed like a campaign speech combined with Bush rhetoric — and left both dreamers and realists feeling distraught.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,664753,00.html
Mutts R Stupid
December 2nd, 2009
10:26 am
Well AxelFart, ah agree with U about next November, but Obama is no yet 10 times worse than the Chimp. He still has a couple wars to start, a few books on Goats to read, and he has yet to sell out to agents of a foreign power.
David Axelfraud
December 2nd, 2009
10:32 am
Ms R Stupid, in Goats to read, do you mean his three teleprompters? At least Bush didn’t have to take his orders from a teleprompter. He could make up his own mind. President Acorn doesn’t have the experience nor knowledge to govern. He’s an empty suit hell bent on destroying America.
Oh, has Obama been to all 57 states lately? Just wondering because he said he would visit all 57 states.
Mr T
December 2nd, 2009
10:35 am
If the GOP is irrelevant then why are people fleeing the democrap party? Besides, the GOP just won in two Democrat heavy states. Explain that one. Heavy Democrat states? The Virginia Governor race has went to the opposite party in power to the President every election since the early 60’s. The New Jersey race was dominated by a scandal on Dem side, and he barely lost. I’m from Chicago jerk. I’m referring to Dick Cheney jackass. Obama is simply cleaninig up the mess from the retard. You come accross as Mr. know it all who has the answer to everything. You call me commie for being on left, then you are a Nazi jerk!