One of the major potential Republican presidential candidates in 2008 has made the news lately in a way that may dampen his hopes for 2012. Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, in 1990, granted clemency to Maurice Clemmons, who had been sentenced to 108 years in prison at the age of 17. By reducing his sentence to merely 47 years, Huckabee allowed Clemmons to qualify for parole, which he recieved in 2000. Recently, Clemmons was suspected of gunning down four police officers, and was later shot and killed by a Seattle police officer.
Depending on how Governor Huckabee reacts to this, and whether or not he is successful in not looking completely negligent in terms of granting this clemency, it may end up hurting his chances should he decide to run for President again. If he does, you can certainly expect this to be brought up by his opponents in the Republican primary in 2012.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/01/maurice-clemmons-killed-s_n_374951.html
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Sucks to be Huckabee. What more can you say. I’m not sure of the full circumstances that existed in this case but I am assuming that he had good reason to shorten his sentence? I think this sounds like it should fall on the shoulders of the parole board. Just because someone is up for parole does not mean they should be granted it. Sounds like someone dropped the ball on that whole mental evaluation thing. I agree it will ultimately come up during his campaign but I for one don’t think we can fully blame Huckabee.
ReplyDeleteI dont completely understand this whole story but I think it is very troubling news. If I knew more about the story it would help but this situation will clearly be brought up in his running. Candidates will look for any bit of information that will allow them to gain the upper hand. Topics like this will be talked about more and more as the primaries get closer. W will hear more criticisms
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