Game Over, Huck…Game Over…

posted at 9:18 am on December 3, 2009 by Slublog

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
– Luke 23:39-43

These verses are often cited to show the depth of Jesus’ mercy. What’s interesting is that they also show His respect for justice. Jesus did not offer to remove this man from his punishment – He only said He would see the criminal in Paradise, after the man had paid the ultimate price for his crime.

When I consider that Mike Huckabee’s tendency as governor was to show mercy to certain criminals in Arkansas, I think of the two criminals crucified with Jesus. Although one of them came to repentance, he was not given a reprieve from his secular punishment. He died at the hands of the state for his crime, and both he and Jesus accepted that as fitting judgment at the hands of men.

While governor of Arkansas, Huckabee granted 1,023 commutations and pardons in 10 years, twice as many as his three predecessors combined. Arkansas prosecutors have said that if a pastor was involved, Huckabee was likely to grant clemency. What bothers me about Huckabee’s record is that there is a difference between spiritual redemption and secular justice. People may be forgiven by God for their sins, but that doesn’t mean society should overlook their crimes. Huckabee’s seeming inability to differentiate between the two is troubling.

Huckabee’s overuse of his clemency power displayed a fundamental disrespect for those who worked to bring criminals to justice and to the families affected by the criminals he pardoned with such frequency. Prosecutors in that state asked Huckabee time and time again to take more care in his use of the pardon/commutation power and he did not, and even threatened to make it harder for them to make plea agreements with defendants. His actions and his response to criticism suggest that he put his own value system above his responsibilities as governor to use his executive power with discretion and take the opinions of those in the judicial system under appropriate consideration

Unfortunately, when he was questioned, Huckabee did not show respect for those tasked with judging criminals. The mocking tone he allowed his staff to communicate to a fellow public servant displays contempt for those who questioned his judgment, which is rather unbecoming of a man who fashioned himself a ‘Christian Leader’ during last year’s presidential campaign. Huckabee’s actions as governor, and especially the ‘LOL letter,’ display more hubris than humility. Ultimately, a leader is responsible for the actions of his or her subordinates. That Huckabee allowed such a letter to be sent doesn’t speak well of his political character.

Huckabee’s clemency record on its own would have been enough to grievously wound his political career. His reaction to those who have criticized it, both now and in the past, display a temperament and lack of judgment that have not mixed well with political power in the past, and for that reason Huckabee should be denied access to it in the future.

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