The Tavares case has echoes of a presidential campaign controversy two decades ago involving a Massachusetts felon named Willie Horton. Horton, serving a life term for murder, was granted a weekend furlough under a program overseen by then-Gov. Michael Dukakis. Horton escaped to Maryland, where he robbed and raped a woman.

What is your association with the Romney organization? Are you a paid supporter? A volunteer?

You really are missing the whole point. No matter what the process in Massachusetts was like, the political reality is that it was Romney’s appointment.

As I pointed out, I am not pro or con on Romney. The political reality is that this will indeed be used as a negative. The one thing I am certain of is that Huckabee will not be the one throwing the stones – he has his own Willie Horton that is more direct than Romney’s.

Would you rather have this vetted now, or by the Democrats if he wins the nomination? All you have tried to do here is to silence anyone who raises this as an issue with Romney by making condescending remarks against those who mention it.

Romney talks about the process in MA – it wasn’t really his fault because of the “system”. The murdered girl’s father blames Romney directly. Whose sound bite will get more attention?

And frankly, blaming the system is a bit too Clintonian in my book. Great leaders do not need scapegoats nor are they compelled to lay the blame off for things that occurred during their watch.

You can deny it all you want. It WILL be an issue.

Check it out. I call Jarrett Barrios Senator Fluff because he lead an attempt to get Peanut butter and Fluff banned from schools (Although he is openly gay, he has a son and he didn’t want his son to be able to get a peanut butter and fluff sandwich for lunch at school – I kid you not). The fact that Fluff is made in MA and employees a lot of people didn’t slow down his crusade.

I hope even those of you who will vote for another Republican in the primaries won’t let the Dems attempt to smear Romney with this as a [erroneous] “Willie Horton” moment.

It’s already started. I’m doing the best I can to set ‘em straight.

On the other side, I don’t blame Romney.

Given that this was a former prosecutor, I’d be willing to give Romney a pass on this one even if he is as much a awaffler as John Kerry.

The good news is that since the murderer is a white-male, unless I am misinterpreting his picture, no self-appointed leader of the various ethno-groups that bless this country will rush to his defense. Reform is possible! He might actually be executed if found guilty. Of course, every liberal creep, cretin, and coward will have a field day with it at Romney’s expense. Fine, let them go for it, if some good can be salvaged from this atrocity.

and as commonsensemom states above; considering Tuttman’s professional experience this was totally unpredictable.

Unfortunately, the bench changes some people. In the case of prosecutors it can be, after years of giving little/no quarter to defendants, a conscience effort to be more “even handed.”

I hope even those of you who will vote for another Republican in the primaries won’t let the Dems attempt to smear Romney with this as a [erroneous] “Willie Horton” moment.

Do you realize how judges are selected in MA?? It’s a blind appointment. No names, no political affiliations … only education and profession experience.