Posted on 12/04/2007 3:10:31 PM PST by GOPGuide
Absolute moral authority?
"A Missouri mother says she will do “whatever it takes” to stop former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee from becoming president, because he freed the man who went on to rape and murder her daughter, Carol Sue Shields (pictured).
“I can’t imagine anybody wanting somebody like that running the country,” Lois Davidson of Adrian, Mo., told the Blotter on ABCNews.com.
Wayne Dumond was initially sentenced to life plus 25 years for raping a 17-year-old Arkansas high school cheerleader. In 1999, a parole board voted to free Dumond, after then-Gov. Mike Huckabee announced his desire to see him released."
If you’re not up to speed on the Dumond saga, get there because the rest of the field’s going to start flogging it. In much the same way that he conveniently omits the meager three-year residency requirement for the illegal alien tuition breaks he sponsored, Huck is quick to emphasize that he never took any official action to pardon Dumond or commute his sentence. Which is true, according to this Byron York piece from October, but also fails to mention that Huck did lobby the parole board on Dumond’s behalf. Why? Partly because he doubted the guy’s guilt; read York’s account to see why. But there’s more to it than that:
"Critics, and some friends, too, say Huckabee’s position was deeply influenced by his Christian faith. “When I first met him, I was going through his positions on issues and I said, ‘You’re a conservative, so I’m sure you oppose granting parole for violent felons,’” says Dick Morris, the campaign consultant who ran Huckabee’s first run for lieutenant governor. “And he said, ‘Oh no, I would never take that position, because the concept of Christian duty requires that there is a possibility of forgiveness. The concept of Christian forgiveness requires that we keep open the process of parole — use it sparingly, but keep it open.’” When I ask Huckabee about that, he reminds me that he was tough on a lot of criminals, too. “Heck, I executed more people than any governor in the history of the state,” Huckabee tells me. “It’s not something I’m bragging about, I’m just saying that if it had been simply a matter of my Christian conscience saying I don’t believe in capital punishment, then I was pretty lousy in my conscience.” Watching him speak, it’s clear Huckabee feels deeply about the issue. If he continues to rise in the polls, it’s likely he’ll be talking about it a lot more."
What makes Huckabee such a fascinating character is that he so often seems to pit two traditionally conservative values against each other: Christianity on the one hand and law and order on the other. It’s the same with his immigration position, where he wants (or so he says) to get control of the border while also happily encouraging illegals to immigrate with the prospect of scholarships or tuition breaks. He hasn’t cited any faith rationales for his stance on Gitmo but you can imagine that taking shape pretty easily. Exit question: How far is too far? Using Christianity as a shield for some of his more liberal positions may help in a pinch but there’s a segment of the base that already has qualms about the explicitness with which he’s touting his religion as a political asset. If he’s pushed on Dumond and invokes the spirit of mercy as justification, is it going to spook even mainstream conservatives?
Yikes, this is a lot like Willie Horton.
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Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts
Too many great comments here to pick a winner!
This loving woman has presented us all with something which we cannot ignore (truth), even if it goes against the populist tide!
In the end, you will not pass muster, Mike!
There has been some unfair criticism of Huckabee in regard to taxes but this incident is truly sickening...
“Yikes, this is a lot like Willie Horton.”
You’re right, unlike the weak Romney judge analogy this has teeth.
BUMP
No wonder Laura Ingraham, and so many others, want to see Duncan Hunter get traction.
We all must do what we can to get Duncan Hunter name recognition.
That is the main problem - the MSM has done all it could to prevent Hunter from having name recognition.
We can help get Hunter’s name out by calling talk shows, and writing editor’s letters, and of course, contributing to his campaign.
Dr. Richard Land is on Saturdays from noon until 3 p.m., Eastern Time. I think he has the most affiliates on the 2 - 3 p.m. hour. I called at that time and didn’t have to wait too long. I started with a couple of social issues that Hunter stands for, and then mentioned other issues, like borders. I heard Dr. Land say last Saturday that we must secure our borders because of drugs, etc.
Dr. Land also said to a caller that Duncan Hunter is just as pro-life as Huckabee (I believe Hunter is more pro-life.)
Dr. Land’s phone # to call the show is: 1-888-324-8456.
http://www.richardlandlive.com/
You can click to the left and see if the show airs in your area, probably on a religious station, or you can listen online, or listen to replays.
Huckabee: “...the concept of Christian duty requires that there is a possibility of forgiveness.”
There’s where he erred.
It wasn’t his duty to experiment with the lives of innocent citizens. Forgiveness is soley the provence of the victims and their survivors.
Some politician wants to show forgiveness, he should be required to house the early-release felon in his own dadgum neighborhood.
When is our base going to recognize ..there is only one truly conservative candidate..FRED THOMPSON. I believe our party will be diminished and may never recover if we select one of these quasi conservatives as our nominee.
“He must be expecting to be Rudy’s VP.”
I’ve heard that said before.
I heard on tv tonight that Huckabee is almost tie with Rudy. I’m glad Rudy is losing momentum, because he is the worst of the GOP candidates.
Huckabee wanted rapist set free; rapist then raped and murdered another woman; BUMP TO THE TOP!
“When is our base going to recognize ..there is only one truly conservative candidate..FRED THOMPSON. I believe our party will be diminished and may never recover if we select one of these quasi conservatives as our nominee.”
Agreed.
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