Documents show that Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee lobbied for the release of a convicted rapist out of prison, despite a number of letters sent from previous survivors and the families of survivors urging him otherwise.
This was due to their prediction that he would rape again, and even murder, if released. Huckabee ignored their pleas, Wayne Dumond was released 25 years before his original release date, and their predictions came true. Reports the Huffington Post:
In a letter that has never before been made public, one of Dumond's victims warned: 'I feel that if he is released it is only a matter of time before he commits another crime and fear that he will not leave a witness to testify against him the next time.' Before Dumond was granted parole at Huckabee's urging, records show that Huckabee's office received a copy of this letter from Arkansas' parole board.
Huckabee spokesperson denies that he ever received these letters, although authors of the letters as well as a former senior aide of Huckabee say that they were indeed, sent and received. And despite his denial that he pressured for the release of Dumond, four parole board members say that Huckabee did, in fact, push them for his release.
You must read the details at HuffPo, which includes the letters to Huckabee by the survivors and their families; it's pretty unbelievable.
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The reason Dumond was released is because:
1. People felt bad for him. The guy was sexually assaulted and castrated before a conviction. And the local sheriff went as far as to put his balls on display.
2. The victim was related to Bill Clinton and the sheriff was seen as a Clinton crony. Therefore, in the eyes of paranoid conservatives (Vince Foster!), Dumond was innocent and being set up by Clinton.
I don't blame Huckabee for this as much as I blame idiot Republicans who are willing to believe anything bad about the Clintons.
Hmmm Rusty that's interesting. It kind of goes to show that absolutely everything with these people is about politics- don't they have any freaking humanity?
" "There's nothing any of us could ever do," Huckabee said Sunday on CNN when asked to reflect on the horrific outcome caused by the prisoner's release. "None of us could've predicted what [Dumond] could've done when he got out." "
The victim related to Bill Clinton wasn't the only one though, and others wrote to Huckabee urging him to change his mind. So, really, there's no good excuse and no way to say "we didn't know that he would rape and murder when he got out!" when his victims wrote to Huckabee voicing those very same fears.
"None of us could've predicted what [Dumond] could've done when he got out."
*cough*bullshit*cough*
This is horrifying. The letters were truly disturbing. Terrible thing to wake up to.
I cannot help but draw a connection to a totally separate instance of politically motivated example, also having to do with a politician deciding whether or not to release convicted individuals. This is the example of Arnold Schwarzinager, who did nothing when presented with evidence about several convicted women who killed their abusive husbands in self-defence as a last resort to protect themselves and their families when the law had failed to protect them. Something about wanting to show a tough stance on crime. I feel like I am noticing a pattern and women's lives are not being taken seriously...
This is horrifying. The letters were truly disturbing. Terrible thing to wake up to.
I cannot help but draw a connection to a totally separate instance of politically motivated example, also having to do with a politician deciding whether or not to release convicted individuals. This is the example of Arnold Schwarzinager, who did nothing when presented with evidence about several convicted women who killed their abusive husbands in self-defence as a last resort to protect themselves and their families when the law had failed to protect them. Something about wanting to show a tough stance on crime. I feel like I am noticing a pattern and women's lives are not being taken seriously...
This is truly disturbing. I urge everyone to read the entire article because, although difficult, you get an overwhelming sense of emotion [and reality] when you're done.
I just circulated this article throughout my Women's Studies office. This shit is just crazy. I find it personally offensive and insulting that he would even run for Presidency.
Also I think it's funny [read irionic] that a person of a conservative "pro-life" view basically assisted in the deaths of [and sexual assualt] two innocent people.
Disturbing.
Oh and Huckabee is tied for second in the Republican race. Scary.
"1. People felt bad for him. The guy was sexually assaulted and castrated before a conviction. And the local sheriff went as far as to put his balls on display."
What? Not literally?
This is so disturbing. It's clear that Huckabee was playing politics with this release. It's just depressing. I agree with Marissa's sentiments. Women's lives (and health and well-being) are always on the table when it comes to politicians desires to pander to their right-wing political base.
It terrifies me to be reminded how little these people value women's lives.
"And the local sheriff went as far as to put his balls on display."
What? Not literally?"
very literally. Apparently, the sheriff had them in a jar on his desk.
And huckabee is the perfect conservative - rape doesn't exist, and even when they admit it does, it's never a crime worth punishment. Unless the vic is a young, white, christian virgin.
But Dumond's arrest for those crimes in June 2001 came too late for 23-year-old Sara Andrasek of Platte County, Missouri. Dumond allegedly raped and murdered her just one day before his arrest for raping and murdering Shields. Prior to the attack, Andrasek and her husband had learned that she was pregnant with their first child.
Pro-life indeed.
"Unless the vic is a young, white, christian virgin."
*Vic disqualified if related to Bill Clinton.
"Unless the vic is a young, white, christian virgin."
*Vic disqualified if related to Bill Clinton.
The more I learn about this world the more I clearly realize that many do not see me as a person. I'm only a woman after all.
my heart is in the pit of my stomach.
Here's some background info on the man and the (literal) castration
http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/sexual_assault/severed_penis/7.html
I've only skimmed the first two pages, but I warn you--it appears to be VERY sympathetic to the rapist.
Wait--he sexually assaulted and murdered at least one woman following his release. Raped her with what?
Oh, God, please, no more theo-cons...no more women-hating (forget calling birth control murder....between Mark Foley and this, how dare they paint Democrats as demons who rally around "sexual deviants" (gays), terrorists, baby killers, man-haters, etc. etc while anointing their party as the "Party of Life"...fuckers....)
But Dumond's arrest for those crimes in June 2001 came too late for 23-year-old Sara Andrasek of Platte County, Missouri. Dumond allegedly raped and murdered her just one day before his arrest for raping and murdering Shields. Prior to the attack, Andrasek and her husband had learned that she was pregnant with their first child.
Pro-life indeed.
RE: the castration...the article says he may have done it himself:
"Evidence has since come to light indicating that Dumond might not have been attacked but engaged in an act of self-mutilation. A physician who treated Dumond after his alleged attack told police, according to state police records, that Dumond's own wife asked him "if it was possible for Dumond to have inflicted the wound himself." The Forest City Times Herald, which published a series of articles about the Dumond controversy in 1996, quoted experts on sexual predators as saying it was not uncommon for them to engage in acts of self-mutilation to garner sympathy or because they feel guilt for what they have done."
The article mentions that he may have castrated himself:
"Evidence has since come to light indicating that Dumond might not have been attacked but engaged in an act of self-mutilation. A physician who treated Dumond after his alleged attack told police, according to state police records, that Dumond's own wife asked him "if it was possible for Dumond to have inflicted the wound himself." The Forest City Times Herald, which published a series of articles about the Dumond controversy in 1996, quoted experts on sexual predators as saying it was not uncommon for them to engage in acts of self-mutilation to garner sympathy or because they feel guilt for what they have done."
Raped her with what?
Castration usually involves the removal of the testes. The penis is still functional.
And yet, I bet he's still pro-death penalty. What an asshole.
And yet, I bet he's still pro-death penalty. What an asshole.
And yet, I bet he's still pro-death penalty. What an asshole.
BWrites--Huckabee has been very wishy washy and evasive on the issue, but, as governor, he oversaw the execution of more people than any other AR governor.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Mike_Huckabee_Crime.htm
Regarding the Dumond case, a Huckabee adviser says: "It might have been wrongheaded for him to do what he did. But his heart might have been in the right place even though the outcome was horrific. What he did was for reasons of faith and compassion."
When you're "faith" and "compassion" get two people killed who should have never been killed then perhaps it's time to rethink your faith.
In 2001, the woman ran into Huckabee in her hometown. She wanted to know if he had any regrets in light of the Missouri murders.
"He was down here on a fishing trip," she recalled, "He was in one of the convenience stores and I went in to get me a Coke. And I went up and spoke to him.
,b>"And all he said was, `How are you doing?' That was it."
HE. DOESN'T. GIVE. A. FUCK.
He doesn't give a fuck about "life" and he sure as shit doesn't give a fuck about women. He couldn't even answer the woman in private, instead choosing to ignore her altogether, as if she weren't really there, or that her question didn't really matter.
The right wing has been getting away with this shit for far too long. And the MSM is doing NOTHING about it.
In an effort to preempt scrutiny of the Dumond case, Huckabee has said that if the issue were to be raised during the '08 race, it would be because his rivals for the nomination feel threatened by his campaign. "Suddenly I seem to be in the cross hairs of every predator who is out there," Huckabee told reporters recently. "To me that seems to be a good sign of life."
For some reason this pisses me off more than anything. Probably because had Huckabee been a democrat, and Dumond been, I dunno, BLACK, then Huckabee's ass would have been handed to him long ago and he wouldn't even still be in the race, let alone tied for second. And his Democratic opponent is probably going to let this fly, because they'll try to run a "polite" campaign. And as someone mentioned above, this was the rape of women, so it's really not that important, cause only two of them died and since that was due to Huckabee's religious forgiving, then everyone will of course forgive him. You can't go wrong when you bring in Jesus.
I have to go let off fume....
Regarding the Dumond case, a Huckabee adviser says: "It might have been wrongheaded for him to do what he did. But his heart might have been in the right place even though the outcome was horrific. What he did was for reasons of faith and compassion."
When you're "faith" and "compassion" get two people killed who should have never been killed then perhaps it's time to rethink your faith.
In 2001, the woman ran into Huckabee in her hometown. She wanted to know if he had any regrets in light of the Missouri murders.
"He was down here on a fishing trip," she recalled, "He was in one of the convenience stores and I went in to get me a Coke. And I went up and spoke to him.
,b>"And all he said was, `How are you doing?' That was it."
HE. DOESN'T. GIVE. A. FUCK.
He doesn't give a fuck about "life" and he sure as shit doesn't give a fuck about women. He couldn't even answer the woman in private, instead choosing to ignore her altogether, as if she weren't really there, or that her question didn't really matter.
The right wing has been getting away with this shit for far too long. And the MSM is doing NOTHING about it.
In an effort to preempt scrutiny of the Dumond case, Huckabee has said that if the issue were to be raised during the '08 race, it would be because his rivals for the nomination feel threatened by his campaign. "Suddenly I seem to be in the cross hairs of every predator who is out there," Huckabee told reporters recently. "To me that seems to be a good sign of life."
For some reason this pisses me off more than anything. Probably because had Huckabee been a democrat, and Dumond been, I dunno, BLACK, then Huckabee's ass would have been handed to him long ago and he wouldn't even still be in the race, let alone tied for second. And his Democratic opponent is probably going to let this fly, because they'll try to run a "polite" campaign. And as someone mentioned above, this was the rape of women, so it's really not that important, cause only two of them died and since that was due to Huckabee's religious forgiving, then everyone will of course forgive him. You can't go wrong when you bring in Jesus.
I have to go let off fume....
I have no idea why that posted twice. Sorry.
I'm sorry, people, but is this for real? Have you really all waded into this swamp? Don't you know this is the perfect place to be ambushed?
Whom, exactly, has dredged up this filth? Giuliani? Thompson? Romney, even? Is anyone here voting for any of them? Should the Republicans win again, in spite of all your hue and cry, would any of them make a better president than Mike Huckabee? I'm sure they all have much more more fearsome skeletons in their closets. Some even have them out in the open.
DNA evidence did not link Mr. Dumond to the crime; that was basis of Huckabee's lobbying for clemency. That's the sort of thing that usually gets wrongfully convicted black men on the nightly news, along with accolades for groups like "The Freedom Project." Before his case even went to trial, Mr. Dumond was attacked in his home, castrated, and the corrupt town Sheriff put his testicles on display in a jar. That sort of thing is the bread and butter of the Southern Poverty Law Centre.
Is this bad? Absolutely. Willie Horton bad? Sure, why not. Hey, I know, why don't we draft George H. W. Bush! It's too bad we can't elect Dubya again: he never would have made a mistake like this. He never pursued clemency for ANYBODY! I know the solution: let's go for a clean slate, a pure white ideologue with NO actual experience in government.
Criticize the guy, but try to avoid turning this site into a branch office for Giuliani 2008.
Kapek, you're totally off base. the article says that the guy left a series of rape victims in his wake and was arrested before and had even confessed to one of them! Huckabee's letting him go is far from reasonable, regardless of whether or not another crime was committed against him (the castration, for which someone else should have done time for, but has absolutely nothing to do with what Dumond did). And what does it matter whether or not the other Republican candidates are just as corrupt and eating eachother alive? Good! I don't see anyone here turning this into a "branch office for Giuliani 08" and when and if similar dirt on him surfaces I'm sure the criticism will be just as biting.
kapek, elementary logic much?
logically because mike huckabee is a gigantic tool, it's a fallacy to conclude the other republican candidates are all awesome.
also, it's not like people here are going to vote for any of these scumbags running on the republican ticket anyway. how are we not allowed to talk about how a particular one of the bunch is awful?
I hate Huckabee!
Fucker.........
If he were really worried about an injustice in the state of Arkansas, he needs to take a good look at the West Memphis Three.
www.wm3.org
Raped her with what?
In addition to sgzax's comment, I'd like to mention that rape need not involve a penis. A person can be raped with any object forced into his/her body against her/his will.
Here's another one for all of you: John McCain has an illegitimate black baby!
If we'd had a Vietnam Vet in the White House on Sept. 11, 2001, we wouldn't be in Iraq today (however deranged McCain's position, McCain HIMSELF, has become since then).
Really, people, exercise some critical thinking.
As far as reading the warnings of the victims' families: what case for clemency does not produce warnings by the victim's families that the convict in question is a dangerous recidivist and a menace to society? They'll say whatever they have to to keep the person in prison! Even if ALL the evidence against them has been debunked! Nine times out of ten, closure trumps justice. Now, sometimes the families are right: it doesn't mean that they're psychic.
Kapek: in case you happen to not know shit about rape and the legal system, I'll clue you in: unless you have sperm samples, and internal and external bruising: good f*cking luck! Now, why don't you go to a right-wing site where your "insights" will be appreciated, instead of here, where you're just a pathetic antagonistic butthead.
Kapek: in case you happen to not know shit about rape and the legal system, I'll clue you in: unless you have sperm samples, and internal and external bruising: good f*cking luck! Now, why don't you go to a right-wing site where your "insights" will be appreciated, instead of here, where you're just a pathetic antagonistic butthead.
Kapek: in case you happen to not know shit about rape and the legal system, I'll clue you in: unless you have sperm samples, and internal and external bruising: good f*cking luck! Now, why don't you go to a right-wing site where your "insights" will be appreciated, instead of here where you're just a butthead.