Huckabee's book deal after Jonesboro tragedy still rankles

latimes.com ^ | 01/26/08 | Richard A. Serrano

[TornadoAlley3]

Critics say the Arkansas governor cashed in on the school shooting with the 1998 publication of 'Kids Who Kill.'

JONESBORO, ARK. -- After two middle-school boys in camouflage gear shot and killed four classmates and a teacher here, leaving 10 others wounded and a community shattered, it seemed inevitable that someone would see opportunity in the tragedy for a book deal.

Indeed, within days a publisher agreed to pay $25,000 to an Arkansas writer to produce a book on youth violence.

Victims' families were outraged. They called the payment blood money and said the author was cashing in on their pain. They demanded that the money go to the school, victims' relatives or scholarships for the wounded, not to the writer's personal bank account. He refused.

That the author was Mike Huckabee, Arkansas' governor at the time, made their resentment all the stronger.

[SE Mom]

Beyond tacky.

[Nextrush]

From this uncommitted, but opposed to McCain and Paul person a simple message.

This is no time to attack any candidate other than McCain.

McCain must lose and Huckabee is the man in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia and other states on February 5th.

McCain must lose by tactical voting for Romney in some places, Huckabee in others and Rudy Giuliani in New York and New Jersey on February 5th.

[Bahbah]

Beyond tacky.

Good description of the Huckster.

[gridlock]

Hopefully the Beyond Tacky Huckabee will be history after Florida.

[rob777]

"Hopefully the Beyond Tacky Huckabee will be history after Florida."


We can always hope.

[knarf]

I haven't read the book, so ...

Books are one way of diseminating information, and if someone has a viewpoint on any matter, I see no problem with trying to get that information out to the public.

Granted, the subject was either based on, or drawn from, a tragedy, but for a man that is purported to have a semblance of spiritual insight, (and every Baptist preacher laments the fact that a large number of people that might benefit from preaching, but refuse to go to church ... ) why not try to explain the why's and wherefore's about kids that kill?

Every parent that experiences some sort of tragic event that involves their own child goes through a period of questioning.

People will seek out a spiritual person to help in a time of need.

I'm not a Huckabee fan, but I'm more averse to anything that comes out of the LASlimes ... this is a hit piece.

[rob777]

"This is no time to attack any candidate other than McCain."


Sorry, but my reservations about a McCain nomination pales in comparison to my dislike for the rise of Huckabee.

[vetvetdoug]

The MSM and the Democrats have manipulated the Republican Party into nominating a Joker for a candidate. The candidates that are left have real character attributes and histories that can be exploited and publicized in a negative manner. The real conservative candidates, not the Trojan Horses, have been squeezed out of the race and we’re left with the dregs. I fear for four years of an affirmative action President.

[bvw]

Okay Complainers, Bad-mouthers and Whiners are against Huckabee.

Do I have that right?

[rrrod]

What really bothers me is that so many good folks have been taken in by the huckster. The guy is slick no doubt but all the signs are there...

[K-oneTexas]

I'm surprised, on his books, course I only read one. I believe it was his first "Character Is The Issue" (1997). It was his account of what happened on the day he was to replace Jim Guy Tucker as Arkansas governor, just after the Whitewater scandal. I thought it was rather interesting and pretty good.

But he's not the one getting my vote. I don't believe he has the character and philosophy, as evidenced in recent months, to be President.

[FreeReign]

Leave it to the LA Times. This is a hit piece.

There's a lot to be critical of Huckabee about, and this isn't one of them.

[machenation]

Janus rodgers brown
janus rodgers brown
janus rodgers brown

[I still care]

Everyone and their uncle writes a book when there is an event of some kind. It’s silly to get upset about it.

Even Bill and Hill each have their books. JFK got his start from a book.

[muawiyah]

One of the family members had made half a pallet load of ammunition available for the kids.

I think I'd focused on that fact in my book (if I'd gotten the contract).

The families sound so tacky.

[muawiyah]

McCain is a fascists who is not deserving of a run for the Presidency under the Republican label.

Lest you forget, he doesn't believe in the First Amendment!

[rob777]

"McCain is a fascists who is not deserving of a run for the Presidency under the Republican label."


I am not a McCain supporter and have great reservations about him as our nominee. The problem is that I consider Huckabee to be worse than him. (I will not support either)

[muawiyah]

The Huck is not a Fascist however.