Keep looking at Mike Huckabee's record on granting clemency to convicted murderers. It's scary to think of him with the power of presidential pardons in his hands.

Let us say for the sake of discussion that Huckabee didn't pressure the board. Has anyone Huckabee why he interjected his opinions to the board re: rape?

Wasn't it God's will?

Wan't it God's will?

Willy Horton comes early. Not a good move, but he made an error. So have most people that ever made a decision. I am more concerned about the continuing Abortion position and the sell out of the American workers with the support of the criminal immigrants. Either position should remove him from politics.

WHY? No one covering the story has told us WHY Gov. Huckabee interjected himself into this case. WHY?

Oh our legal system is great, always fair and mistakes are never made? yea right. Too bad it smells fishy with a case and someone gets out too early, whether they should have or not. So what kind of pressure to let him out was it?

Looks like big Mikey NEEDS TO DO SOME EXPLAINING!!!!!!! So Mike Huckabee put pressure on the parole board to release this killer???? REAL NICE MIKE!!!!!!!!!!!

He still has MY vote!

Truth: Governor Huckabee did not pardon Dumond. He never took action in the DuMond case that made him parole eligible. He either denied the clemency request, or took no action (which is the same as a denial) on four separate occasions.

He also did not parole Wayne Dumond for he had no authority to do that. Governors in Arkansas don't grant parole-the parole board does. The fact remains that Governor Huckabee didn't commutate, pardon, parole or grant any form of clemency to Wayne DuMond.

No one can tell you why Huckabee interjected himself into this case, because Huckabee didn't.

It is plain to me that people are trying twist what ever they can find to keep Huckabee from winning.

ABC News of course doesn't tell you two critical facts. First DuMond was only eligible for parole because Governor Jim Guy Tucker (D) had in 1992 reduced DuMond's sentence to 39 years. That would normally make DuMond eligible for parole in 1998. Second, Governor Huckabee apparently considered commuting DuMond's sentence but rejected it after a plea from the victim and her supporters.

I'm a compassionate Baptist just as Gov. Huckabee. I was excited to see him become a factor in the last couple weeks, but this has me worried. Why can't he tell the truth. Is everyone from Hope like this?

Pam: Why doesn't Huckster tell the important facts like he did more than just attend a meeting where someone brought it up?

I am from Arkansas and a Christian Republican. I am so grateful to ABC for finally reporting on how bad Huckabee was for Arkansas. He raised our taxes, repealed our sentencing laws, allowed our state to become a sanctuary state, and was the most unethical governor in our history (and that's saying something).

EVERYBODY in Arkansas knows that Huckabee arranged for Dumond to go free and the rumor is that he did so because he got a sizeable contribution from a relative.

I am beggin you Christians out there to look more closely at this guy, We all jumped on board with him and he was the BIGGEST dissapointment. He even began attacking us and calling us racist and mean spirited, etc...

Why doesn't Huckabee take so responsiblity for his actions. We all know that people in positions of authority don't have to say or do much to get results. Look at president Bush and his oppression of religious freedom.
Own up Mike and maybe you'll get some respect, but I doubt it.

It is time for Mike Huckabee to step down. He cannot be our President. It is scary. Governor is equivalent to President, and he failed as a Governor

Disgusting. As far as I'm concerned, Huckabee has blood on his hands.

If you people got you news from organizations that actually researched before going to print you would know these facts: (old facts, a story from 2002 and the people of Arkansas knew the facts and re-elected the Governer)

Truth: Governor Huckabee did not pardon Dumond. He never took action in the DuMond case that made him parole eligible. He either denied the clemency request, or took no action (which is the same as a denial) on four separate occasions.

He also did not parole Wayne Dumond for he had no authority to do that. Governors in Arkansas don't grant parole-the parole board does. The fact remains that Governor Huckabee didn't commutate, pardon, parole or grant any form of clemency to Wayne DuMond.

ABC News of course neglects tell you two important facts. First DuMond was only eligible for parole because Governor Jim Guy Tucker(D) had in 1992 reduced DuMond's sentence to 39 years. That would normally make DuMond eligible for parole in 1998. Second, Governor Huckabee apparently considered commuting DuMond's sentence but rejected it after a plea from the victim and her supporters.

Wow. Read this article at the Huffington Post for much more detail on this story. If these assertions are true, and it is certainly convincing to me, then Huck is TOAST.

I don't think this one will fade, too much emotion, too many people willing to come forward. I don't think Huck's campaign knew that one of his aides had provided the victims letters to a reporter.

This makes Huckster UNELECTABLE, and should give people pause if they think someone would make a good POTUS just becuase they are a "good god-fearing man."

As if this wasn't bad enough, Huckabee didn't even know about the major report on Iran's nuclear program more than 24 hours after it was released. I could understand if it were just hours after being released but more than a day?

David Paul Kuhn: I don’t know to what extent you have been briefed or been able to take a look at the NIE report that came out yesterday ...
Huckabee: I’m sorry?
Kuhn: The NIE report, the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran. Have you been briefed or been able to take a look at it —
Huckabee: No.
Kuhn: Have you heard of the finding?
Huckabee: No.

Huckabee went to bat for Dumond due to heavy pressure from the right side of his political base. The false conspiracy theory that led to that pressure is very well documented

This is why Huckabee will not talk frankly about this.

This is a very important story -- the
press needs to not drop the ball on
this. It says some very disturbing
things about the way Gov. Huckabee
may have decided important questions.

If it really is true that he dismissed
the accounts of multiple rape victims of
Mr. Dumond and also improperly
pressured the parole board then he is
not qualified to be President.

Why is it that the PAROLE BOARD gets a free pass? It was ultimately THEIR decision. This is their job and the ONLY responsibility they had. Of course, it's easier for them to pass the responsibility to someone of a different political party. Huckabee doesn't seem to have a motive and I don't see where political pressure from a new governor from an opposing political party would have much sway with them. What is Butch Reeves background? Is he a Democrat? Was he passed over for promotion? If Brian Ross is an investigative journalist, then why not report fully?

Who cares this REPUBLICAN is NOT going to get elected in 2008 anyway...No NUTJOB REPUBLICAN is...

Who cares???? NO Republican is going to get elected in 2008 anyway....And hopefully not for another 50 years.

Faith Voter -
Let's see you equate an extra-marital affair and pushing for a rapist's parole? I guess if you believe a book of fairy tales that kind of statement makes perfect sense.

From what I've read, there was a lot of right-wing pressure on Governor Huckabee to pardon DuMond, because the woman he was convicted of raping was a distant cousin of President Clinton's and the right-wingers (with their usual excellent logic) assumed DuMond must be an innocent railroaded by Clinton.

What's amazing is that Governor Huckabee could continue to believe DuMond had been unfairly treated after learning of all his earlier bad acts (including involvement in a murder) and reading the letters from DuMond's victims, especially the letter from the woman who was raped while her 3-yr-old daughter slept in bed next to her. DuMond actually used threats of harm to the baby to keep the woman from fighting back against him.

How could anyone help a monster like that go free?

Huckabee also refused to allow the state to pay for an abortion after a 15 year old girl was raped on a camping trip with her own step-father. I actually opposed nearly all abortions but this case should have been allowed.

He often answers the Roe v Wade question by asking if someone should be allowed to abort a 8 month 8 lb baby to thow people off. Odd that this is the same guy who condones killing innocent children for oil and to perserve our "honor".

I am a Christian and was very excited to see Huckabee gaining in the polls in Iowa. I thought that I had found the candidate I could support. However, it appears that he is that he is being deceptive and evading the truth about his applying political pressure to pardon of Dumond. He also stated in the recent debate that he would not force the illegal aliens to abide by our laws concerning entry into the country and obtaining citizenship. What worries me most is he appears to practice a Christianity of leniency that does not demand obedience to laws nor punishment for crime. God certainly demands obedience and He certainly punishes unrepented sins. By the way repentance means to change one's life (i.e. turn from practicing sin to practicing righteousness). Dumond quite obviously demonstrated a pattern of continued crime/sin. God does not forgive when there is no repentance (Luke 13:3) and we are not expected to do more than God. God ordained the governments to administer punishment to evildoers (lawbreakers) (Romans 13:1-4). The question is will Huckabee do that when he becomes the leader of our government?

We're missing the context and full details of this story, so it is impossible to make an accurate judgement.

It is plain to me that people are trying to twist whatever they can find to keep Huckabee from winning.

There isn't a Republican frontrunner, and certainly not a Democrat, who can boast being above this man's integrity.

Being a good person with compassion for all is great, but-and a big but, Huckabee is not the tough leader America badly needs. He will only allow the illegal immigration situation to worsen due to his compassion for the underclass thereby destroying America.

This article doesn't mention the fact that the rape victim was known to be a cousin of Bill Clinton's. Wonder if that had any bearing on Huckabee's view of the case?

My question is more for reporter Ross. Why throughout the GMA video report did a banner run saying Huckabee had pardoned DuMond when you knew this was not the case? Is this unbiased reporting? Also, why was no one allowed to present the governor's side of the issue? As others have already posted, the actual facts are quite different than Mr. Ross would have us believe. Perhaps a better use of his time would be to go ask former governor, and now convicted felon, Jim Guy Tucker why HE commuted Dumond's sentence. Oh wait, that's right, he is a Democrat and a Clitonite, so he's off limits from investigation.

So, why was the Dumond case a cause celebre to begin with?

Was he "born again"?
Murray Waas writes:
"In 1996, as a newly elected governor who had received strong support from the Christian right, Huckabee was under intense pressure from conservative activists to pardon Dumond or commute his sentence. The activists claimed that Dumond's initial imprisonment and various other travails were due to the fact that Ashley Stevens, the high school cheerleader he had raped, was a distant cousin of Bill Clinton, and the daughter of a major Clinton campaign contributor.

The case for Dumond's innocence was championed in Arkansas by Jay Cole, a Baptist minister and radio host who was a close friend of the Huckabee family. It also became a cause for New York Post columnist Steve Dunleavy, who repeatedly argued for Dumond's release, calling his conviction "a travesty of justice." On Sept. 21, 1999, Dunleavy wrote a column headlined "Clinton's Biggest Crime - Left Innocent Man In Jail For 14 Years""

It's hard for me to imagine this becoming a cause celebre for a Baptist Minister, unless he was "born again." The New York journo was probably interested in the Clinton angle, but how did this guy get so much community support in the first place? Reminds me of A Clockwork Orange. A viscious young rapist/murderer becomes a choir boy and befriends the prison chaplain, pretending to have converted.

Wikipedia says there was "a groundswell of public support" for his release. Why?

It's no wonder why "most" americans distrust the media. They NEVER go very deep investigating when they just might find the facts or matters of mitigation. They look for "WHAT" they want to find and ignore or trivialize the rest. NOW, my fellow citizens, what scares you the most? A slanted media or someone with integrity such as Mike Huckabee.

I wouldn't trust anything for accuracy and fairness that came from ABC or NBC News, and too many other major news sources in America today. They have all become corrupted. They could be getting paid to write and report flattering or unflattering stories as hired to do on the side, which makes them news media whores.

Trish, if you actually believe that the Huckster has integrity you must not do any research before choosing a candidate to support. He is owned by Tyson and Tyson loves cheap illegal alien labor. That's why he ran a sanctuary state. As president he would run a sanctuary nation. He made a deal with Mexico and let them put a consulate in a government building(a legal no no). He was involved in many scandals. Some of the complaints were dropped by the ethics committee but others were not. Someone donated $70,000 worth of furniture to the governor's mansion. He and his wife took it when they left the mansion. After complaints filed by the donor they were forced to return all of it. He used state money for nannies, personal vacations, family dinners, even bought his wife's nylons with the taxpayers' money. He used a convoluted accounting system in an effort to hide expenses related to personal use of the airplane. Last but not least, his wife's friends signed them up at numerous bridal registeries in an effort to solicit gifts for their new home. They have been married since 1974. This act is not illegal but it sure is deceptive and tacky. He may be a minister but a man of integrity and high morals he is not. If you want a man with integrity look at Ron Paul. Lobbyists do not even bother calling on him because his vote cannot be bought. He is an honest, highly intelligent man, he is a statesman.

Mr. Huckabee is a hypocrite. I heard him defending his views on abortion with this quote:

"We're all born equal."

If that were really the case, why is he against gays in the military, gay marriage? Oh right... he's a Baptist minister.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IS AT STAKE HERE, PEOPLE!

We need a real, principles conservative with integrity. Duncan Hunter 2008! It's not too late for him. Ronald Reagan was at last place a few weeks before primaries in 1980.

I'm very disappointed. I thought Huckabee was a man of integrity but this situation and his support for using taxpayer money to fund illegal immigrants' chidrens education has soured me to this candidate.

Huckabee has a dubious recrod of granting clemency

Arkansas clemencies outpace other states

Dumond's case was high profile because he raped a teenager, then he got castrated by a pair or trio of unknown individuals. His prison time was well deserved, but the truth of Dumond's character came out after his release - wasn't he killed trying to rape another woman in Missouri? I fail to see how Huckabee is responsible for anything this man does after feigning rehab to all the psychologists and parole board. By the way - the castration guys were never caught.

Dumond's case was high profile because he raped a teenager, then he got castrated by a pair or trio of unknown individuals. His prison time was well deserved, but the truth of Dumond's character came out after his release - wasn't he killed trying to rape another woman in Missouri? I fail to see how Huckabee is responsible for anything this man does after feigning rehab to all the psychologists and parole board. By the way - the castration guys were never caught.

If Iowans vote for this guy, then they're bigger fools than I thought they were.

I am glad people are finally seeing who this person really is. He did lobby for Dumond, when people were outraged. His position was the sentence was to harsh ( because the victim was a relative of then former Gov. Clinton). This guy is very dishonest. He was so outraged that illegal immigrants were allowed to stay in Arkansas and work illegally. Huckabee wanted to give the children of illegal immigrants the right to go to college free because they were disadvataged. I work everyday to put my daughter to school and I was very glad that measure did not pass.

This story is factually incorrect! Look at the title it said Huckabee pardoned the rapist. He did not do that and he did not commute his sentence.

Huckabee thought a life sentence was too harsh for this creep. Rapists shouldn't be jailed; they should be executed. This is a savage crime. I don't quite look at Huckabee in the same way now.

I don't know how much is true regarding all the claims made against Huckabee's ethics and integrity (except it does seem that there's no denying his active role in securing the release of the convicted rapist who did go on to rape and kill again), but I do find it interesting that nobody (and there are plenty of people with motive to try and find something) has been able to launch any sort of attack on Romney's prior doings. Why? Because it would seem he hasn't engaged in that sort of behavior. People have plenty to point to when it comes to Giuliani, Huckabee, and even Thompson's pandering for pro-choice groups....but with Romney all you can do is show your bigotry and just complain because you don't agree with his theology or his faith in doctrine that doesn't align with how you see the world. WE NEED A REAL LEADER WITH REAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS - a president of integrity and character, one who won't embarrass this nation or continue in the corruption that has given the GOP a black eye. VOTE ROMNEY. How can you possibly look past his accomplishments in business, in public office, and in the Olympics and not say to yourself the following? "Now there is a candidate with a proven ability to lead and solve big problems." THAT'S WHAT WE NEED!

Its not about making a mistake. Everyone does and he'd be forgiven im sure if thats all it was. It was WIDELY criticized that Huckabee's intent was political in nature regarding the case itself due to involvement by Bill Clinton and his relative being the victim.
Turns out Bill was right and strong on crime, and Huckabee was wrong and weak on Crime.
Thats just the way it is.

I'm glad my guy doesn't have any scandals to deal with. Most other candidates from both sides have more than enough to go around. Avoid the circus, get real solutions, get Fred.

It does not matter that Governor Huckabee refused to commute at the same time that he favored parole. He is wholly culpable in this matter because governors have such powerful influence over the membership of parole boards, regardless of party or who originally appointed them. I await complete candor on this subject on the scale of what Clinton should have said regarding Lewinsky, had he been a man of honor, and what President Nixon should have said about Watergate, had he been a man of honor. I hope Huckabee proves to be such, as so much of his life before politics was. I will be reluctantly supporting Fred Thompson until Governor Huckabee can convince me that he is thoroughly intelligent enough for the job in terms of his ability to study and handle extensive volumes of facts, and infinitely more compassionate for the victims of crime than for long-time sex-offenders with pathological sophistry.

There was never any Clinton involvement in the Ashley Stephens case. There is excellent evidence that DuMond castrated himself (as self-mutilation is carried out by a great many sex offenders) knowing it would win sympathy from some (as it did). Dumond was 100% guilty of the rape of Ashley Stephens, all the more evident now because his specific rape modus operandi was repeated like a calling card on those two victimized ladies in Missouri. Dumond was the consummate con artist, rather like the BTK scum of Wichita, deceiving his family “and if possible the very Elect.” Governor Huckabee's ignoring the pleas of Dumond's victims (preferring to hear the “ignore the facts” remonstrations of Jay Cole and Steve Dunleavy---fully comparable to the "don't confuse me with facts" mentality of Michael Moore) will take considerable explanation.

This is the kind of crap that happens when we put "magical thinkers" in high office--they make life-and-death decisions based on their "guts" or personal prejudices.

I submit that we have had enough of that for a while, and need to elect a rational person to the presidency this time.

he's soft on crime

we need honesty,not getting it

How the Huckabee administration worked to free rapist Wayne Dumond.

But the Times’ (Arkansas Times) new reporting shows the extent to which Huckabee and a key aide were involved in the process to win Dumond’s release. It was a process marked by deviation from accepted parole practice and direct personal lobbying by the governor, in an apparently illegal and unrecorded closed-door meeting with the parole board (the informal name by which the Post Prison Transfer Board is known).

Chris and Warren should read each other's posts before their verbatim reprint of the Huckabee campaign's talking points. Saying he "denied" the commutation sounds like Clinton's it depends on what the meaning of "is" is. The Governor had ANNOUNCED that he was going to commute Dumond's sentence, and the later denial only took place after unusual shenanigans got Dumond a new hearing only six months after jis last denial. Then virtually the same Board, after an unusual unrecorded meeting with Huckabee, completely reversed their position and paroled him, thus sparing Huckabee the political fallout. Explanations of what happened have been inconsistent and nonsensical, and everyone at the meeting except Huckabee says he brought up Dumond and pressured the Board to let him out. His own explanations have been inconsistent with the facts. I'm afraid he showed poor judgment in who he listened to then (anti-Clinton fanatic Jay Cole) and low integrity in dissembling now.

And no, I'm not a Democratic supporter (longtime Republican), nor an anti-Huckabee Republican. I was seriously considering voting for him till this week, but this story soured me. The facts are pretty clear; stop blaming Murray Waas. Huckabee's appallingly poor judgment cost one, probably two, women their lives, and he should quit lying about it.

Every sociopath behind bars prays Huckabee will be elected President.

Too bad we don't know who castrated Dumond. These are the kind of people we need in public office. Willing to do what it takes to right a wrong even at the expense of their own freedom.

What a sad day when a Baptist minister refuses to acknowledge, refuses to be accountable for his actions, refuses to take responsibility for the politically motivated and ignorant actions he took as Governor, all for his political career to rule america with a hippocritical iron fist of satan.

because of his efforts to release the convicted rapest ,dumond, and the fact his own son tried to sneak a loaded gun onto a commerical airline flight, I´d say Huckabee is more concerned with the rights of the unborn, then the living. Hiis sole claim to be a nominee is he is the favorite of the right to life wing of the party.if you or I tried to carry a loaded gun on a flight, we would be in the slammer. dad uses his influnce to pervert justice? Beware of politicians from ARK. these were all alleged, but seen no rebutal yet.

what is disturbing about this, is how the single issue right to life branch of the Republican party has hijacked the nomination process. they turn out in force for the primaries and get their man nominated.but what we need is a person who can govern from the center or mainstream.the gop used to want less government. this means don´t force your morality or relegion on others. keep out of a mans home without due cause or process. these guys want to force their morality.on others. Sort of like the taliban. I am sure they would bring back proabition if they could.the dems are just as bad,as they pander to those who want a government handout.

As far as I know that there is nothing more to our system any more... criminals are getting out early because of this or that. Our Criminal Justice system is getting weaker as the years go on. I am taking Criminal Justice at BOCES in Fredonia. We are taught to build a sound cases. The court system in some cases are going to easy on criminals. You think people would realize that our goverment is so corrrupt that they are bringing down our Criminal System too. They are pulling our freedom out from underneath us and we just let it happen...when are we "as the poeple" going to say enough is enough. Let serve their sentence and let them know that they can not replace what they did. Can you give a girl her life back when she got raped or can you give back a person a loved one that you killed? NO, you can't. I am a christian and our system is going down unless we all take a stand, for our rights and freedom after all freedom is not free.