PrintDecember 5, 2007
The Wolves at Huckabee's Door
The most recent LA Times poll has former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee moving into second place nationally, trailing Rudy Giuliani 25%-17%.
Rather than rejoice, Huckabee should start bobbing and weaving. He is now target #1 of other Republicans running and the media. And the assault has already begun:
As governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee aggressively pushed for the early release of a convicted rapist despite being warned by numerous women that the convict had sexually assaulted them or their family members, and would likely strike again.The rapist, Wayne Dumond, subsequent to his release, raped and suffocated a woman. This is the nightmare of all governors and perhaps singling out Huckabee for special treatment would be unfair - except he has apparently denied any knowledge in helping Drumond when in fact, one of his close friends was pushing for the inmate's release as was Steve Dunleavy, a New York Post columnist. Then there's the little matter of Huckabee missing the news of the year - the release of the NIE on Iran:
The convict went on to rape and murder at least one other woman.
Confidential Arkansas state government records, including letters from these women, obtained by the Huffington Post and revealed publicly for the first time, directly contradict the version of events now being put forward by Huckabee.
[Snip]
[T]he confidential files obtained by the Huffington Post show that Huckabee was provided letters from several women who had been sexually assaulted by Dumond and who indeed predicted that he would rape again - and perhaps murder - if released. 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.
The woman later wrote directly to Huckabee about having been raped by Dumond. In a letter obtained by the Huffington Post, she said that Dumond had raped her while holding a butcher knife to her throat, and while her then-3-year-old daughter lay in bed next to her. Also included in the files sent to Huckabee's office was a police report in which Dumond confessed to the rape. Dumond was not charged in that particular case because he later refused to sign the confession and because the woman was afraid to press charges.
The Politico's David Paul Kuhn was among a group of reporters who had dinner with Mike Huckabee in Iowa tonight. According to a transcript posted by Jonathan Martin, Kuhn asked Huckabee about the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, and it was news to Huckabee:Yikes! One would hope that as president, the Huckster would pay a little more attention to what's going on in the world. Both incidents show that the long knives are out for Huckabee and that if he wants to survive long in the rarefied atmosphere the frontrunners inhabit, he better get up on his hind legs and fight back.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
