BooksFilmandMusic

Mitt Romney’s Willie Horton - How a Liberal Massachusetts Judge Appointed by Romney Has Imperiled Romney’s Presidential Aspirations

There are two striking similarities between Michael Dukakis and Mitt Romney. Both are former Massachusetts Governors and both have a very ugly murder case that haunts them. For Dukakis, the Willie Horton murder case was the issue that derailed his campaign and cost him the election. Over the course of the 1988 campaign questions of Dukakis’ competence, character, and judgement arose and, not dealt with effectively finally overwhelmed him. The Willie Horton case in particular demonstrated to the country the falsity of the “Massachusetts Miracle” tourism and economic growth marketing campaign and the ugly and high cost of liberal “justice” in that state. There were multiple problems with former Governer Dukakis which in totality proved to the electorate his unfitness for the presidency. The most devastating issue was the release of Willie Horton, and his subsequent crimes while enjoying the freedom granted him by a liberal Massachusetts civil society completely adrift then as it is now. Mitt Romney, currently enjoying high poll numbers and a recent (but premature) endorsement from The National Review has his own ugly judicial situation to explain to the American people. The case of Daniel Tavares, a vicious murderer released early by a forgiving liberal Massachusetts judge appointed by former governor Mitt Romney now gets little attention except in Massachusetts and Oregon. Reasonable people in Massachusetts wonder how such a despicable and dangerous person as Tavares could be released into their midst- the people of Oregon in their shock and grief wonder the same things. Who is responsible for Daniel Tavares’ return to society? Does the confused incompetent liberal judge in Massachusetts share responsibility with Tavares for the cruel and savage double murder he committed in Washington state shortly after his release? Most importantly for Mitt Romney, should the attention of the people of the United States be focused on this horrible and possibly avoidable tragedy will they hold Mitt Romney responsible for showing poor judgement in appointing this particular liberal judge to the bench in Massachusetts? Is the murderer alone responsible for his vicious crimes in Washington state, or is the judge who released him, and the governor who appointed the short-sighted liberal judge, and the system that fosters and encourages such dangerous absurdity also responsible?

A Murderer Released - A Massachusetts/Washington State/American Tragedy

Few media outlets are covering this importamt story. This in itself is a mystery. The Boston Herald is following this story closely, as is the Boston Globe. The facts of this very ugly case are these:

• Daniel T. Tavares was sentenced in June, 1992 to 17-20 years in prison for savagely killing his own mother.

“He was a vicious kid. A lot of mistakes were made with Daniel Tavares,” said retired Somerset Detective John D. O’Neil, who obtained a videotaped confession from Tavares just hours after he killed his mother, Ann Marie Tavares, in 1991. “Someone stabs his mother 26 times. It doesn’t get more vicious than that. You have to think about him getting out again, and then he did,” O’Neil said. Link

• Despite a history of violence in prison, and at least one assault on a prison guard, Tavares went before Romney-appointed judge Kathe Tuttman to request his release due to having served the lower end of his sentence on the original crime.

• Assault charges were filed against Tavares for the prison assault on June 11, 2007 three days before he was to be released from prison. Judge Martha Brennan ordered him held on 100,000 bail.

• Romney-appointed judge Kathe Tuttman canceled the 100,000 bail and released Tavares on personal recognizance.

• Tuttman stated from the bench that she did not believe Tavares to be a flight risk. The vicious killer is freed on his own recognizance on July 16, 2007 despite his assault on a prison guard and the vicious murder of his mother over ten years before, and the pending legal action on the assault case. Clearly not rehabilitated, just released.

“It’s difficult to believe he was able to get away,” said Timothy Connolly, a spokesman for Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.  Connolly said Early was notified by the state police that Tavares was able to buy a plane ticket and fly across the country despite two open warrants for his arrest. Link

• After his release from a forgiving and clearly wrong Massachusetts judicial system, Tavares made his way across the country to the Pacific coast and Graham, Washington in Pierce County.

• November 17, 2007, Tavares walks to the residence of his neighbors a newlywed couple, Brian Mauck, 30, and Beverly Mauck, 28. Tavares shoots and kills both Brian and Beverly Mauck.

Now facing the possibility of a capital murder trial, Tavares sits in segregation 23 hours a day at the Pierce County Jail, said deputy prosecutor Jerry Costello. He has pleaded not guilty. Link

Fallout for Mitt Romney?

The evil murder of the Mauk’s could have disastrous repurcusions for the man who appointed the judge who so stupidly let the murderer free on his “own recognizance”. On November 23rd, 2007 Romney, through his spokesman, called for the resignation of Judge Kathe Tuttman. Romney’s spokesman described the case as “…a system-wide failure … starting with the judge.”

Eric Fehrnstrom, a Romney spokesman, said yesterday that Judge Kathe M. Tuttman should never have freed Daniel T. Tavares Jr. on personal recognizance in July, after he was charged with assaulting two prison guards. “There was a system-wide failure in this case starting with the judge,” Fehrnstrom said in a statement yesterday. “Her decision represented an inexplicable lapse in judgment and was inexcusable. Unless there are facts unknown to us, Governor Romney believes Judge Tuttman should resign.” Link

It is interesting to note that Romney issued his calls for Judge Kathe Tuttman’s resignation through his spokesman, and did not followup with a personal direct call for her removal.

Asked Saturday (11/25/07) if he was afraid the press attention on Tuttman would create a similar situation (Willie Horton and Dukakis), Romney said simply, “No, not really.” Link

Like the National Review’s premature endorsement (the editors of that formerly great publication believe he is “the most viable” candidate), Romney’s confidence that the Mauck murders and the failure of the Massachusetts justice system will not cause him any political difficulty is overly-confident at best. This case is a critical one in understanding Romney’s character both in why he appointed a liberal such a Tuttman to the bench and perhaps more importantly how he will handle the spotlight on this case once it is brightly shined upon him as it should be.

Responsibility for Tuttman’s Appointment is Romney’s

The Willie Horton case received little attention during the campaign of 1988 until it was suddenly everywhere, ubiquitous. The truth of Dukakis’ extreme liberalism and his poor handling of the aftermath of the case was instrumental in ruining his campaign. Romney’s “Willie Horton” moment will likely come, too. When it does, Romney must take responsibility for his judicial appointments, especially Tuttman’s.

Governor Mitt Romney has seized control of the way judges are nominated in Massachusetts, weakening a 35-year-old panel intended to evaluate candidates without regard to politics. Link

Romney’s desire to have more control over judicial appointments appears to have backfired in a very big way. “The changes strengthen Romney’s ability to put his own stamp on the state’s judiciary, as he prepares (his run) for president in 2008.” (link) Romney’s grab for more power in selecting Massachusetts judges may prove to be his undoing. Appointing judges is one of the critical roles of a governor just as appointing Supreme Court Justices is an important function of the President.

Romney said, ”I reserve to myself the responsibility to evaluate judicial temperament and philosophy.”

Romney has noone to blame for the appointment of Tuttman but himself. The stupidity of Tuttman’s decision to release Tavares is self-evident. Mitt Romney must take responsibility for this appointment and explain to all concerned and the American people how such a disastrous event could have occured. Nobody is suggesting that Romney is responsible for judicial decisions made by those he appoints, but he is responsible for appointing those individuals in the first place. If Mitt Romney will not discuss this case, the press and the public must demand that he do so. Romney cannot dodge this impending “Willie Horton moment”. This case could be the defining issue for Mitt Romney.

Massachusetts Judiciary and Civil Society Liberal Confusion

Something was deeply wrong in Massachusetts during the Dukakis candidacy. It took some time for the American people to figure out just what it was. There was no “Massachusetts Miracle” in 1988 only a slick ad campaign. And now, the same issues of liberal moral and ethical confusion that were the foundation of Dukakis’ defeat twenty years ago rear their ugly head again for all Americans to see.

The Massachusetts Public Safety secretary has completed his investigation of the state’s handing of a released prison inmate accused of killing a couple near Graham (Washington). Public Safety Secretary Kevin Burke says state agencies did everything they could to keep Daniel Tavares behind bars. Tavares finished a manslaughter sentence last June for killing his mother. Authorities tried to have him held on charges he assaulted two prison guards. A judge released him without bail and he moved to Washington to marry a prison pen pal. Link

Failure of the Rule of Law in Massachusetts

If Mitt Romney wants to be the leader of the greatest country in the history of the world it is time for him to comment on the failure of the rule of law in the state that he recently governed. The rule of law is the foundation of any society of value and justice. A crisis in the judiciary in any state (especially the home state of a former governor running for president) is a crisis for all Americans. The Tavares case was clearly mis-handled. The vicious murders of Mr. and Mrs. Mauk in Oregon were avoidable. Someone must take responsibility for the release back into society of someone so violent and savage as Daniel Tavares. Judge Tuttman must resign, or be removed from the bench.

Two members of the board that appointed Judge Kathe Tuttman now want her booted from the bench, charging that former Gov. Mitt Romney did not inform them of her involvement as a prosecutor in a botched case that freed a child rapist. Link

Mitt Romney must show the country how he differs from former Governor Dukakis. He owes this to the survivors and friends of the Maucks, the people of Washington State and Massachusetts, and the entire country. If he does not, his candidacy will end in defeat.