Huckabee Clemency (Almost!) Of The Day

He actually retreated in his bid to grant this guy clemency due to overwhelmingly negative public reaction. So this guy wasn't actually released -- but only because Huckabee was challenged so vehemently by, well, everyone in the frigging state.

First, his reason for granting clemencies:

“I would not deny that my sense of the reality of redemption is a factor,” the former Baptist pastor said in a radio interview with KUAR in Little Rock. “And I don’t know that I can apologize for that because I would hate to think of the kind of human I would be if I thought people were beyond forgiveness and beyond reformation and beyond some sense of improvement.”

The governor has been criticized publicly by prosecutors in Pulaski and Saline counties for his release of violent criminals.

Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley last week asked the governor to stop issuing clemencies until the Legislature can consider possible changes in the constitution, which gives the governor that power.

Jegley said he would like to see the constitutional provision changed to require the governor to explain his reasons for granting a clemency.

The legislature wanted to change the constitution as regards clemency due largely to Huckabee's fire sale on Redemption.

On to the case of Glen Green. The parole board had found Green's request for parole to be without merit. Apparently the Huckster disagreed.

Until Tuesday, Huckabee didn’t even demand that these killers admit their guilt before asking for clemency. The Rev. Johnny Jackson, who had arranged the aborted clemency deal for Glen Green with his friend the governor, describes Green as a humble Christian man – apparently one of Huckabee’s criteria for clemency.

But the state requires that a killer express remorse for his actions, which Green refuses to do, calling the murder “an accident.” The Rev. Jackson says he accepts Green’s “account of the incident."

Redemption without admission of sin? Well, I won't argue theology with a minister.

Now, to cap it off: What crime did this "humble Christian man" commit?

Green, a 22-year-old sergeant, kidnapped Helen Lynette Spencer on Little Rock Air Force Base, where he beat and kicked her as he tried to rape her in a secluded area. She broke loose and ran toward the barracks’ parking lot, where he caught up with her and beat her with a pair of nunchucks.

He then stuffed her into the trunk of his car and left her there while he cleaned up. Several hours later, he drove down Graham Road, past Loop Road and stopped near a bridge in Lonoke County. Green told investigators he put her body in the front seat and raped her because her body was still warm.

He dragged Spencer out of his vehicle and put her in front of the car and ran over her several times, going back and forth. He then collected himself long enough to dump her body in Twin Prairie Bayou.

An accident?

A "humble Christian man"? Well, as they say, he has much to be humble about, doesn't he?

Here are a couple more actual Huckabee clemencies:

Huckabee two weeks ago issued proclamations granting clemency for Denver Witham, who is serving life in prison for a 1974 murder in Saline County, and for John H. Claiborne, who is serving 375 years in prison for a 1994 kidnapping and armed robbery conviction in Pulaski County. Both men are still in state custody and are waiting parole hearings before the state Post Prison Transfer Board. A board spokeswoman said those hearings probably would be in August.

Jegley said last week that he decided to write Huckabee after talking to the son of the victims who were kidnapped and robbed by Claiborne.

The son said his mother is still alive and is "scared to death" that Claiborne may be released soon, Jegley said.

Based on information from the secretary of state's office, Jegley said Huckabee has granted 669 clemencies since he became governor in 1996. The previous three governors, Bill Clinton, Frank White and Jim Guy Tucker, granted a total of 507 clemencies during their 18 years in office, he said.

Huckabee said he may have granted more clemencies, but he said the prison population is now three times greater than when Clinton was governor. He also said people can't get jobs without pardons because background checks prevent them from doing so.

Well, when you put it that way.

I am soooo psyched this walking disaster is going to be our nominee.

Thanks Iowa!

Via Hot Air.

posted by Ace at 02:02 PM

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