A tragedy hit the law enforcement community in Western Washington for the second time in 4 weeks today. Four Lakewood, Washington police officers were gunned down at a local coffee business named “Forza”.
King5 News in Seattle, Washington reports…
“According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, the slain officers have been identified as 39-year-old Sergeant Mark Renninger, 37-year-old Officer Ronald Owen, 40-year-old Officer Tina Griswold and 42-year-old Officer Greg Richards.
Renninger is a 13-year law enforcement veteran who leaves a wife and three children.
Owens is a 12-year veteran who leaves a wife and daughter.
Griswold is a 14-year veteran who leaves a husband and two children.
Richards is an 8-year veteran who leaves a wife and three children.
The man police are seeking as a person of interest in the shooting deaths of four Lakewood, Wash. police officers was supposed to be spending the rest of his life in an Arkansas prison.
But, Maurice Clemmons, 37, who has a criminal history complete with violent, psychotic outbursts, was set free by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.”
(Huckabee was governor of Arkansas 1996-2007 when he jumped on the GOP presidential candidate bandwagon; Southern Baptist Preacher at Beech Street Baptist Church in Texarkana, Arkansas 1980-1986; Immanuel Baptist in Pine Bluff, Arkansas 1986-1992)
And why would former Southern Baptist Preacher/Arkansas Governor/now turned Fox News personality/proverbial presidential candidate Mike Huckabee even consider commuting a violent criminal’s sentence after he – Maurice Clemmons – had already been convicted, sentenced and safely locked up? Well, it would appear that Governor/Preacher decided that even if you are a violent criminal, if you claim to have found God while in prison (along with 99.9% of the other convicts) that you should be forgiven and released.
In 2007, ABC News reported on the role that Huckabee’s religious beliefs may have played in his decisions to support early release of so many prisoners:
“None of the prosecutors were ever told why Huckabee felt compelled to have a hand in freeing so many prisoners, though all of them speculate that his deeply religiousGover nature led to a strong belief in repentance and forgiveness. In some cases, prosecutors say, evangelical leaders attested that a prisoner had found Jesus and that seemed to influence the governor’s thoughts.”“None of the prosecutors were ever told why Huckabee felt compelled to have a hand in freeing so many prisoners, though all of them speculate that his deeply religious nature led to a strong belief in repentance and forgiveness. In some cases, prosecutors say, evangelical leaders attested that a prisoner had found Jesus and that seemed to influence the governor’s thoughts.”
So a proclamation that you have been born again…accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour…and can now memorize rote bible versus trumps the fact that you have raped, assaulted and taken the life of other human beings.
In 1989, Maurice Clemmons was convicted for aggravated robbery;
Another instance where Governor/preacher Huckabee used sound ‘c’hristian judgment was when he released a serial rapist from prison…
Often Huckabee’s claim of faith-inspired politics created obvious inconsistencies. On the eve of a triple execution in 1997, he cited Old and New Testament passages “supporting” capital punishment and offered that “Jesus on the cross” didn’t complain about the death penalty. But around the same time, when he was defending his decision to push for the parole of Wayne Dumond, a convicted rapist who upon release from jail went on to murder two other women, Huckabee claimed that it was his religious belief in the power of rehabilitation that led him to support Dumond’s release.
Where do these people get off deciding what is in the best interests of the rest of us based in their religious views? Would Huckabee have made this decision if not for his faith? I would argue that he would not! And now he has the audacity to respond with the following statement today…
“Clemmons’ criminal history includes at least five felony convictions in Arkansas and at least eight felony charges in Washington. The record also stands out for the number of times he has been released from custody despite questions about the danger he posed.
Huckabee, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination last year, issued a statement tonight calling the slaying of the police officers “a horrible and tragic event.”
If Clemmons is found responsible, “it will be the result of a series of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington State,” Huckabee said.
He added that Clemmons’ release from prison had been reviewed and approved by the Arkansas parole board.
Clemmons had been in jail in Pierce County for the past several months on a pending charge of second-degree rape of a child. - by Seattle Times Staff
To read more of Huck’s statement on this horrible tragedy costing the lives of four officers caught completely off-guard while preparing for work…click here. One of the things he has the audacity to say is…
“This is a horrible and tragic event and if found and convicted the offender should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our thoughts and prayers are and should be with the families of those honorable, brave, and heroic police officers.” ~ Huckabee
Really? Honestly? But what about the redemption? What about his turning to Jesus before he raped a young girl and shot and killed 4 innocent police officers in cold blood? Did your faith fail you Mr. Huckabee…at the expense of others pain and suffering? I mean if God is guiding your political success…how did you MISS the violent futures yet to unfold of Maurice Clemmons and Wayne Dumond?
Before you pour out your sympathies on more victims of your handy-work-for-God…make a public statement to Lois Davidson whose daughter was raped and murdered as a result of your divine judgment!
Hey…after all Dumond was a loving husband and family man! I can certainly see where Huckabee had difficulty understanding the concern when he learned that he remarried while in prison to a church going woman!
“His final wife, Terry Sue, met him while he was in prison in Arkansas, visiting him as part of a church group which supported his release from prison. During his parole, after he was widowed, they married and lived together in Missouri, where he committed his final crimes.
“Governor Mike Huckabee…became a cause celebre among some evangelical Christians in Arkansas after DuMond claimed to have undergone a religious conversion ~ Wikipedia
And then Huckabee went to do more of God’s work by freeing Clemmons in 2000.
Now you tell me…how can people think for a moment that Political Dominionism is not already impacting our lives? I grew up in a law enforcement family and I can tell you firsthand that these officers risk their lives to try and uphold the law and contribute to a peaceful society that we can all feel safe in…and the one entity that they are constantly at odds with? The attorneys and the judicial system that bargains away the rights of the victims.
So, Mr. Huckabee…do not dare to hide behind an excuse that it was the parole board’s decision! As Governor of Arkansas you could have over ridden their error in judgement just as former Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton when he over turned the parole board denying Dumond’s release. And not only did you not do what was in the public’s interest you turned around and used Clinton’s judgement as a political tool exclaiming that HE was in the wrong.
Sleep well…Mr. Huckabee…and keep focusing on the abortion issue! After all, they aren’t as valued by you after they take their first breath!
…how do we divorce? Because the marriage has happened already, thanks to ignorance…
No wonder the Huckster said he'll probably keep his job with Fuchs Noose over running for president again. He probably knew he'd be linked to Dumond and Clemmons. I linked to a web site on Crooks and Liars which shows that the Huckster's decisions on clemency, commutation, and parole of prisoners were heavily influenced by ministers and his associations with the relatives of the prisoners. One of the people he paroled was a relative of someone who had worked on his gubernatorial campaign. I am extremely upset about the deaths of these police officers, and the lack of responsibility the Huckster takes for his role in them. The parole, clemency, and commutation of prisoners' should be based on the facts associated with their convictions, not on religion. This incident clearly illustrates why church and state should remain separate.
Absolutely! A perfect example of how marrying church and state poses great dangers to all of us in ways people don't even think of.
Your point is right on! That Huckabee couldn't discern that is disturbing. Thank you for the link!
Your point is right on! That Huckabee couldn't discern that is disturbing. Thank you for the link!
Here's what he wrote to Huckabee to obtain his pardon:
—-
Clemmons said he came from "a very good Christian family" and "was raised much better than my actions speak (I'm still ashamed to this day for the shame my stupid involvement in these crimes brought to my family name.)," he wrote.
—
Note that he's ashamed of the shame! Not ashamed for his acts. That alone should have raised a red flag.
LINK
And THAT is exactly why we fight to prevent the marriage of separation of church & state…a persons faith has NO place in deciding who is rehabilitated and who is not.
I would be more inclined to agree if not for the MANY other lapses in judgement that Huckabee demonstrated while governor flexing his clemency muscle. Nope…I have zero warmth for Mr. H right now.
I have a bit of a different take on this because I know about 1 in 7 people in prison in this country are innocent of the crimes they are convicted of. I applaud anyone who is trying to reverse those convictions. I also applaud anyone who is trying to do something about the harsh sentences, the bad conditions, brutality from other inmates/guards, and lack of health care. If Huckabee was indeed using conversion to Christianity as a criteria for selecting those to be paroled that is crazy. I would say there are probably more than 1000 people in Arkansas who needed to be paroled, but the criteria should be based on justice and truth
It seems that this particular person has slipped through the hands of law enforcement on more than one occasion and Washington State had just let him go free. Since this man at one point thought he was Jesus and has targeted authoritarian figures in the past I would say he must have a mental healh issue. WA state is usually very good at dealing with mentally ill legal offenders. There are several factors which may not be predictable such as drug use or stopping psychoactive medications. Even though I do not like right wing radical Christians I would say in all fairness he is not wholely to blame even if his reason for paroling him was flawed.
Ditto!
Precisely! And they can worship from behind bars where the rest of us are protected. Huckabee is absolutely guilty in my opinion of being an accessory to every crime committed by these heinous criminals!
Yes, you mean when she went to the villages on her photo-op trip with Franklin Graham? And suggested to the villagers that they simply go to work on the Slope! Palin is so out of touch with Native Alaskans it is pathetic!
And how about how she drug her feet til the very last minute on signing a bill to award money to the Alaska Territorial Guard members…the few that were still alive! Yeah, she REALLY CARES about the veterans and armed services…she is such a fraud that words fail me right now.
Outrageous. Irresponsible.
Thank you O’ Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Wise Mike Huckabee for knowing the hearts of every person to whom you provided clemency. Words are merely words and are not of any consequence unless they are backed up with works. Now four people who were police officers are dead. Now, their families–spouses, children, parents, siblings, extended family–are mourning and trying to deal with the overwhelming pain, anger, senseless loss of their loved ones. Why?
You, O’ great Xian are responsible for the release of many prisoners who were convicted and found guilty of violent crimes and at least one pedophile. Why? Because you “knew” that they found God, simply because they said they did. Does that mean that all prisoners have a really good shot to get out of prison if they simply say that they found God?
Keep your religion out of your office. Just because an inmate says the magic words, “I have found God…I found Jesus…I am sorry for what I have done (before the god light turned one), and I am a different man today (throw in a ‘praise God and hallelujah and thank you Jesus, I’ve seen the light). The fact of the matter is, these prisoners were found guilty of their crimes against men, women, and children. They were then sentenced accordingly and ordered to serve time in prison.
Saying the magic words for you, dear Huckabee, does not automatically give any prisoner a free pass out of prison. They are still accountable for their actions and should not be beyond the laws that are on the books. If one or more is truly repentant, he/she could use that time to reflect on their life while building and forming his/her life dedicated to seeking the Truth.
A good night's sleep and now I'm back. I'm still pissed, but I'm thinking straight.
What made me so mad was seeing the numbers. Over 1000 commutations and pardons? When I saw the story earlier in the evening, I was just so sad that Huckabee's good faith effort turned out so tragically. No one gets it right all the time. But now, with those numbers, and the back story, we have a serious problem. The bizarre thing is that in some places, we have the exact opposite problem, but for the same reasons. How many criminals did slap-happy Bush and Perry execute in Texas because God deemed it the right thing to do?
I am against the death penalty for one reason. It's that 'reasonable doubt' thing. If we were certain that a criminal committed a heinous crime, beyond any possible shadow of a doubt, I'd be first in line to 'throw the switch.' I don't think murderers and rapists deserve to live and I don't think society should pay for them to live in lock-up until they die. But we also know that many people have been proven innocent after they were executed. It's a mistake that can't be undone. So until we refine the system and reserve the death penalty for absolute guilt beyond any possible doubt, I'm against it. However, I digress.
According to Wikipedia, Huckabee is quoted as saying "…when people say, 'We ought to separate politics from religion,' I say to separate the two is absolutely impossible."
Uh-huh
To repeat Leah's zinger – sleep well, Mr. Huckabee. There are four families and hundreds of friends that won't sleep for weeks, and will need years to get their lives to resemble any form of normalcy. You, on the other hand, get to sleep in your comfortable bed, with your wife by your side, dreaming of making another run for prez in 2012. I hope this story will be your Waterloo.
I think that Huckabee is finished.
As a born-again Christian, I want to state clearly and unequivocally that this sort of thing is the evangelical Christians in times past were far more clear-headed than they are today. They weren't sentimentalists. Yes, they believed that redemption is available and possible for the lowest, basest criminals; but they also believed that sin had consequences, and that convicted criminals — regardless of whether or not they had "found Jesus" — should be forced to pay for their crimes, even if it meant the death penalty. Say what you like about George Bush, but he at least ignored the sentimentalists' pleading on behalf of Karla FayeTucker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karla_Faye_Tucker).
Great sigh, physical head-shake and half of a cigarette (I'm TRYING to quit that nasty habit).
Well, Huck, you got SO suckered on this one and four police officers lost their lives at the hands of YOUR born-again Christian. Are you proud of your "redemption" philosophy now? I could go on (and ON), but, Leah, you've said it so well, as usual.
I hear you and thank you…but I am just getting warmed up on this one.
Well, there's some fine family values for you.
I'm letting fromthediagonal and Celia take this one. I'm too pissed off to think straight.
I share your anger…and now I want to know who Palin may have ever pardoned…and all the rest of these self-righteous, pious asses!
It's bad enough that Palin cut the state social service funding for hiring and salaries and follow up care by qualified care workers for the 277 elderly, disabled, indigent Alaskans who died for lack of care in her 2-1/2 years' reign.
277 lives on HER head! That should be enough to put her right up there with Huckabee, but we COULD include all the western Alaska villagers she mistreated with her policies abusing and disrupting their subsistence lifestyle.
Yes ma'm… thanks for the vote of confidence, but I share your fury in full measure!
This is abysmal!
Yet, every time we think they have hit rock bottom in their insanities, they seem to find another hole into which to crawl and from which to throw more s**t to the detriment of all.
No matter how I look at the supposed "logic" of these evangelicals' decisions, I cannot find any word but "incomprehensible". I just cannot wrap my mind around their verson of our existence.
That is why, Leah, your last sentence sums it up completely.