Murder Victim's Mother Assails Huckabee

Says GOP Presidential Hopeful Shouldn't Be President Due To His Handling Of Case Of Wayne DuMond, Who Killed Her Daughter

(CBS)  The mother of a woman murdered by a convicted rapist after he was paroled while Mike Huckabee was Arkansas governor is now speaking out against the GOP presidential hopeful.

Lois Davidson, whose daughter Carol Sue Shields was murdered by Wayne DuMond after he was released, told CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith that Huckabee's involvement in the case suggests poor judgment.

"I don't think he did enough background research on Wayne DuMond's life," she said. "And if he didn't do that kind of research, I don't think he's gonna be good for the country."

As CBSNews.com detailed yesterday, DuMond was arrested in 1985 for the rape of a 17-year-old girl who was a distant cousin of former Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. He was convicted to life in prison plus 20 years, but some members of the media, including New York Post columnist Steve Dunleavy and radio host Jay Cole, suggested that DuMond was innocent and had been railroaded by Clinton.

Clinton's successor, Jim Guy Tucker, reduced DuMond's sentence to to 39 years, making him eligible for parole. When Huckabee became governor in 1996, he said he was considering commuting DuMond's sentence to time served. After the victim and her supporters protested, Huckabee did not do so, but he reportedly wrote a letter to DuMond saying "my desire is that you be released from prison."

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Read More About The Case

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Soon after, Huckabee met with the parole board, which had the power to free DuMond.

"He thought DuMond had gotten a raw deal," Charles Chastain, a Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, who was on the parole board at the time, told CBSNews.com. "He said he'd been born on the wrong side of the tracks and hadn't been treated all that fairly."

After the meeting, many board members reversed their votes from the previous year, and DuMond was paroled. After he was released, DuMond moved to Missouri, where he sexually assaulted and murdered Shields. He was the leading suspect in another rape and murder when he died in prison in 2005.

The Huffington Post reported yesterday that Huckabee's office was provided letters from women who had been sexually assaulted by DuMond, who warned he could strike again. Before his conviction for rape, DuMond had a record that included attempted sexual assault and involvement in a murder.

Huckabee denies that his influence on the parole board resulted in DuMond's release.

"For people to say that I was responsible in getting him out makes a few presumptions...it assumes I had the amazing persuasive power to go into a board of seven people, all of them appointed by Democratic governors before me and persuade them to do something they didn’t wish to do," he said.

But the mother of Carol Sue Shields doesn't accept that explanation.

"I don't think Mr. Huckabee ought to be president," said Davidson on The Early Show. "I don't think he should be running the country."

[teeus]

I disagree.

It shows that Gov H fell prey to the facts-don''t-bother-me-with-facts-Clinton-as-the-devil-incarnate slime machine. In my opinion he gave too much credence to the side that was manipulating a "non-story" for political capital.

And because of that lapse in judegment, this poor girl died.

It''s not that he made a mistake--everybody makes mistakes, and if that''s all it was it would be tragic, but, as you say, a non-story.

It''s that he listened to the fanatic fringe against the jury or the facts.

Sounds like he''d be an easy mark for the neo-cons to manipulate.

Thanks, but no thanks. We''ve already got one of those for president.

[jerr11]

""For people to say that I was responsible..." he said.


Looks like Huckabee is eminently qualified to become president.

He has that unique neocon gift for passing the buck!

[bdribus]

Mike Huckabee is a good man. This is a terrible slime campaign, and those involved should be ashamed. It is the responsibility of the parole board, not the governor, to decide parole. The board members who have accused Mike Huckabee of pressuring them to release Dumond are liberal operatives who are cynically attempting to shift responsibility. The only possible result of this sort of character assassination is that no one who has any history or any record will be able to run for office. To hold a governor of 11 years responsible for the crimes of everyone paroled under his tenure is an impossible standard. Whether you like his politics or not, you should be disgusted at how he is being treated.

[bdribus]

Mike Huckabee will win the nomination in spite of this disgusting smear effort, because he is the only candidate who has an optimistic and forward-looking message. This slime campaign is old news; it was used against him during his reelection campaign for governor, and he won anyway. Obviously, the voters decided to ignore the character assassination and look at his record. I hope voters across the country will do the same.

[mudrose-2009]

""For people to say that I was responsible..." he said.


Looks like Huckabee is eminently qualified to become president.

He has that unique neocon gift for passing the buck!

Posted by jerr11

Nobody passes the buck better than the Dimnowits. Check out all that legislation they passed this year. Why oh why haven''t they asked the Supremes to legislate for them. Oh, that''s only when it concerns destruction of life issues like abortion, embryonic stem cell research and of course fairy princess issues.

[gkc99]

Huckleberry is a panderer to rapists, lets criminals out of jail before their sentences are served, and is responsible for the rape and murder of two women.

And this is the leading Repug candidate?

The Michael Dukakis of the Right Wing?

The Righties really are scraping barrel bottom!

[mudrose-2009]

This slime campaign is old news; it was used against him during his reelection campaign for governor, and he won anyway. Obviously, the voters decided to ignore the character assassination and look at his record. I hope voters across the country will do the same.
Posted by bdribus at 01:07 PM : Dec 05, 2007


Most Repugs in Arkansas don''''t even feel the way you do about him. IMHO, you shouldn''''t be paid for your work on these boards ..... Dumb Repug Troll.
Posted by parrot2 at 01:34 PM : Dec 05, 2007

Yeah, you dumb repug troll. How dare you put things in perspective!

[pollroller1]

Well if he wins the nomination, I will not vote for him. I hope that Ron Paul gets the Republican party nomination.

[bdribus]

parrot2 wrote:

Most Repugs in Arkansas don''''t even feel the way you do about him. IMHO, you shouldn''''t be paid for your work on these boards ..... Dumb Repug Troll.

HAHAHAHA... PAID?!?!? Don''t you know that Governor Huckabee has the least money of any of the candidates? He can''t afford to pay me. I comment because I know the truth, and the truth is that Mike Huckabee is the best hope for this sadly divided country.

[gkc99]

"Yeah, you dumb repug troll. How dare you put things in perspective! "--Posted by mudrose


Uh huh--like all that "perspective" on Willie Horton, eh?

And your hero Reagan sold missiles to the Iranian ayatollahs.

[gkc99]

"Oh, that''''s only when it concerns destruction of life issues like abortion, embryonic stem cell research and of course fairy princess issues"--Posted by mudrose


Yeah the Neonconscum like destruction of life only when it''s dropping napalm or nukes on little kids.

[shingson]

Mike Huckabee, despite this, is still the man that I will vote for! Show me a perfect candidate and maybe I will change my mind...know takers on this...then Mike has my vote!

[incog-nito]

Looks like the presidential aspiration of Mike Huckabee is coming to a timely end. The mother is not going away, the networks are more than happy to give her a forum.

[shingson]

incog-nito I disagree, this is part of his past, every candidate has one. I feel bad for this mother but will still vote for Mike as well as everyone else that I have talked to, this does not change anything.

[docofthebay]

this is part of his past, every candidate has one. I feel bad for this mother but will still vote for Mike as well as everyone else that I have talked to, this does not change anything.
Posted by shingson

Oh the he11 it doesn''t!!! I think it''s absolutely vital to understand the decision making processes of these people who want to run our country! What a reckless thing he did supporting (or at least not preventing) the parol of such a sick and violent criminal into society!!! Any decision made in a politicians past should be well understood by voters!! They must ANSWER for their actions, and be held accountable for ALL that they do/did in any office!!!

[strut2k]

When I screw up, I can usually make some quick corrections or an aploogy. When a governor screws up, everybody hears about it.

Mrs Davidson''s pain and anger is perfectly understandable. It''s terrible to lose a daughter, especially under these circumstances. Mr Huckabee does not seem like a man who knowingly would put a murderer on the street. He thought DuMond was treated unfairly, tried to make it right, only to have it blow up on everybody involved. I imagine Mr Huckabee would pay a high price to get a do-over if he could.

I won''t be voting for Mr Huckabee for President, but I won''t disqualify him for an honest mistake, even a grave mistake. If a Republican must win in 2008, I hope it''s him. He is a human, and shows every sign of being a decent man. He shows greater character than the flip floppers and serial adulterers in the Republican field. I''m confident he would learn from the DuMond matter.

[pepperp1]

Well there is a great deal out there available from the time and it absolutely indicates the young Governor reacted to the Fringe Looney elements in this country and women died as a result. Where is the civil suit against Arkansas by Jay Cole, a Baptist minister and radio host who was a close friend of the Huckabee family. It also became a cause for New York Post columnist Steve Dunleavy, who repeatedly argued for Dumond''s release, is there not culpability in her death, from these two possibly the Baptist Church? Hey some trial lawyer should give this sweet lady a call.


Takes the Governor off the table for a second look for me but I am sure this will attract many from the Right that want this kind of a puppet leader who does for them and believes he and they are above the law.

And to boot he lied about his involvement, hmmm, must be a party requirement even for a supposed man of God.

[thgdriver]

All must remember what happened to Mike Dukakis When he supported prison furloughs.
The most controversial criticism against Dukakis involved his support for a prison furlough program. This initiative resulted in the release of convicted murderer William Horton (dubbed Willie Horton by the Bush camp), who committed a rape and assault in Maryland after being freed. A lot of folks think his answer to questions along this line helped cost him the election.

What Huckabee did is not too far removed form the black eye it gave Dukakis.

[pepperp1]

Oh the he11 it doesn''''t!!! I think it''''s absolutely vital to understand the decision making processes of these people who want to run our country! What a reckless thing he did supporting (or at least not preventing) the parol of such a sick and violent criminal into society!!! Any decision made in a politicians past should be well understood by voters!! They must ANSWER for their actions, and be held accountable for ALL that they do/did in any office!!!


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You are correct and it is also why their leaders always fail them.

Tap Tap

[pepperp1]

Looks like the presidential aspiration of Mike Huckabee is coming to a timely end. The mother is not going away, the networks are more than happy to give her a forum.


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Posted by incog-nito at 02:18 PM : Dec 05, 2007
+ report abuse


%u2026%u2026.its over wait to you read the letters begging him not to let this guy out and read some of the loonies beating the drum to let this rapist out and why.
Man swift boating these republican candidates like Huckabee and Rudy is not even required they have done this all to themselves.

On now lets make gun control the wedgie of the day someone is running around killing people while they Christmas Shop at the Mall in Omaha. jezzzzzzzzzzzz at least 5 dead

GUNS DON%u2019T KILL PEOPLE DO, ya right, get these people out of office while we still have a country.

[thgdriver]

On now lets make gun control the wedgie of the day someone is running around killing people while they Christmas Shop at the Mall in Omaha. jezzzzzzzzzzzz at least 5 dead

You also support someone like Huckabee, so he could pardon the guy in a few years.

Soft on crime people like you and those you support for president like Dukakis and Huckabee is why criminals know they can get out of prison as easy as the Monopoly game.

[infidel_us]

Ted Kennedy has killed more women than Mike Huckaberry. Think about it.

[p-syrus]

This case is highly suggestive of the depths that "Republican Clinton Haters" will descend to in order to make a partisan political statement.

[denn034]

That woman has a point. Huckabee''s direct involvement demands the view.

[kansas1946]

He was convicted to life in prison plus 20 years, but some members of the media, including New York Post columnist Steve Dunleavy and radio host Jay Cole, suggested that DuMond was innocent and had been railroaded by Clinton.
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An herein lies the rub. Because of hatred for Bill Clinton, and because Huckabee is a reationary, not particulary bright, and has poor judgement, he pressured the parole board to let this guy go, and as a result, one woman was murdered and possibly another. Not the kinda guy I want with his finger on the red button. We already have a loose cannon is the White House now, we sure don''t need another.

[kansas1946]

Ted Kennedy has killed more women than Mike Huckaberry. Think about it.
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Posted by Infidel_Us
****************************************

Ted Kennedy isn''t running for president.

[nyckate]

This should be the end of Huckabee''s campaign -- afterall not only did he help free a known rapist who turned rapist murderer but now he''s lying about it ...

but then again his main supporters are the same sick twisted fools who still cheer Bush so what can we expect from their teensey inbred minds anyway.

[nyckate]

kansas1946

and at least one women was brutalized and murdered all because of their irrational hysterical hatred of clinton.

[ucjb]

I can''t trust Huckabee any more.

[mruk100]

I think this will be terrible for Huckabee''s campaign. I don''t know how you can trust his judgement, as the president of the United States, knowing the details of this story.

[scarletphd]

...this is part of his past, every candidate has one. I feel bad for this mother but will still vote for Mike as well as everyone else that I have talked to, this does not change anything.
Posted by shingson

Oh the he11 it doesn''''t!!! I think it''''s absolutely vital to understand the decision making processes of these people who want to run our country! What a reckless thing he did supporting (or at least not preventing) the parol of such a sick and violent criminal into society!!! Any decision made in a politicians past should be well understood by voters!! They must ANSWER for their actions, and be held accountable for ALL that they do/did in any office!!!

When I screw up, I can usually make some quick corrections or an aploogy. When a governor screws up, everybody hears about it.
Posted by strut2k

Who gives a *** if you screw up, you are nobody. The GOVERNOR and his screwups effect thousands or millions. They shouldn''t GET to hide.

[watcher269-2009]

What, Huckabee a Republican in a Democrat outfit. This is a NON-Story plain and simple.

[stopthespin]

I am just an average American Citizen with no ties to politics and I find it quite obvious and pathetic how the drive-by media (and that includes the early show with Harry!)chooses their political targets and their assasination attemps (But the majority of us average people can see right through them and can very easily see through the smoke) Why did Harry ignore the real fact that bill Clinton was the one who actually made wayne dumond parole eligible? I''ll tell you why, Because that fact wouldn''t fit his and the drive-by media''s agenda, and that agenda is to get the Camilian and phony hillary clinton in to the presidency! FACT- bill clinton made dumond eligible for parole before he left office as Arkansas Govenor! Huckabee could not by law over turn dumond''s parole eligible status! Just another mess left behind by the clinton''s for someone else to clean-up and take the rap for. Just another example of the bias and unfair reporting of the drive-by media to fit their own agenda which is sooooo clear to average person, we''re not as ignorant and dumb as the drive-by''s think and it really hurts their credibility. This is why so many of us go to Fox news to get the truth and fair reporting! Why don''t they call hillary to the plate on all of her scams, lies and blunders? We all know the answer to that!

[abbe91]

"Why OBAMA can not be trusted?
--Muslim blood. His father was a Muslim. Muslim%u2019s sons are Muslims for life.
Posted by THEmagic07 at 10:43 AM : Dec 06, 2007"

Given his ties with 911 terrorists, Giuliani is more muslim than Obama.

[antoniof123]

He was convicted to life in prison plus 20 years, but some members of the media, including New York Post columnist Steve Dunleavy and radio host Jay Cole, suggested that DuMond was innocent and had been railroaded by Clinton.

Well, let me see Dunleavy, Cole DuMond you were wrong and Clinton was right. He was not railroaded, he was convicted by a jury of his peers and sentence to life plus 20.

[infidel_us]

Wow....even Mary Jo''s parents never went THAT far!