Boston Globe: Huckabee's deadly gamble

Jeff Jacoby (The Boston Globe) writes:

FORMER ARKANSAS governor Mike Huckabee wasn’t mincing words last week when he blasted criticism of the clemency he granted Maurice Clemmons in 2000 - clemency that ultimately led to the Thanksgiving weekend murder of four Washington state police officers - as “disgusting,’’ or when he deplored “how sick our society has become that people are more concerned about a campaign three years from now’’ - the 2012 presidential campaign - “than those grieving families in Washington.’’

“Disgusting’’ and “sick’’ are strong words. But this isn’t the first time Huckabee has lashed out at critics of his clemency decisions.

In 2004, when the then-governor’s commutation enabled convicted drunk driver Eugene Fields to walk free after less than eight months of a six-year sentence, the director of Arkansas Mothers Against Drunk Driving complained. “We are deeply disturbed,’’ she said, “at the message this sends to those who faithfully enforce, prosecute, adjudicate, serve on juries, and suffer the consequences of drunk driving offenders.’’ Huckabee angrily accused MADD of trying to “fan the flames of controversy’’ and pandering to “the unusual curiosity of certain media members.’’

That was nothing to the supercilious reply received by prosecutor Robert Herzfeld, who wrote a letter calling Huckabee’s clemency policies “fatally flawed’’ and suggesting that he explain his reasons when issuing a pardon or commutation. From Huckabee’s office came a mocking rejoinder: “The governor read your letter and laughed out loud. He wanted me to respond to you. I wish you success as you cut down on your caffeine consumption.’’

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