Posted on 08/26/2005 7:51:36 PM PDT by HAL9000
Clinton to show at fundraiser
Former President Clinton will return to Arkansas for an Oct. 14 fundraiser for the state Democratic Party, the party’s executive director said Thursday.
The news about the fundraiser comes after the party tapped a $150,000 line of credit in May and June as part of its chairman’s plan to win back the governor’s office next year and decided over the weekend to substantially increase filing fees for state and federal candidates next year.
The Democrats’ executive director, Gabe Holmstrom of Little Rock, said he expects the party to raise about $200,000 from the fundraiser, which will be at the Little Rock home of Mike and Beth Coulson.
The state Republican Party’s executive director, Clint Reed of Greenbrier, said he expects Clinton to be in Arkansas many times during the next several months to campaign for the only announced Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Attorney General Mike Beebe of Searcy.
Former 3 rd District Congressman Asa Hutchinson of Little Rock is the only announced Republican gubernatorial candidate.
Reed played down Clinton’s effectiveness, saying the nearly 12-year governor and eight-year president did little for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in Arkansas in the last presidential election. "Ultimately, Bill Clinton is a resident of New York who does not represent the views and values of everyday Arkansans and to me it is a turnoff for the people of this state for someone to come back," Reed said.
He later said, "Bill Clinton hasn’t lived in Arkansas for almost 13 years and has forgotten that we oppose partial-birth abortion, restrictions on gun owner’s rights, higher taxes and same sex marriages. This might be OK for New York City voters, but not for Arkansans."
That led to a little tit for tat from Holmstrom and Clinton spokesman Jay Carson.
Carson said that Clinton is "enormously popular in Arkansas and probably the biggest fundraising draw with the exception of his wife," U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, former first lady of Arkansas.
Former President Clinton’s library alone has brought in more than 415,000 visitors to Arkansas and more than $1 billion in economic development for the state, Carson said.
Holmstrom questioned "how can anybody insinuate President Clinton is out of touch with everyday Arkansans?"
Clinton not only was elected governor but also, in 1976, was elected attorney general of Arkansas and won the state twice during his presidential elections, Holmstrom said.
Then Holmstrom turned his attention to Hutchinson, the GOP gubernatorial hopeful: "Asa Hutchinson lost both times he ran statewide, then more or less fled the state afterwards. When he couldn’t get promoted at [the federal Department of] Homeland Security and his job was eliminated, he decided he’d pack his carpetbag and come back. That doesn’t tell me he understands the concerns of everyday Arkansans, it just tells me he can’t find a job.
" Now that the Hatfields and McCoys made up yesterday, and Asa’s moved into his new apartment, I’m sure he needs a little help remembering how to call the Hogs. Send him over — I’m sure President Clinton will be happy to teach him. "
In mentioning that the Hatfields and the McCoys have made up, Holmstrom said he was referring to Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee’s endorsement of Hutchinson for governor Tuesday.
Hutchinson’s campaign manager, Chris Battle of Little Rock, took a softer line.
Battle said," We think it’s great that Bill Clinton is going to visit Arkansas. "The presidential library has done a lot for tourism in the state, and we’ve always expected him to raise money for our opponent.
" As for the petty personal attacks on Asa, we’re going to stick to substantive issues that impact folks in Arkansas rather than get into that kind of silliness. "
As a member of the U.S. House, Hutchinson served as an impeachment manager, helping to present the case during the 1999 trial against Clinton in the U.S. Senate. Clinton was acquitted.
A former U.S. attorney from 1982-1985, Hutchinson represented Arkansas’ 3 rd Congressional District in Northwest Arkansas between 1997 and 2001, when he stepped down to lead the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
In 2003, he became undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security. His resignation from that post became effective March 1.
He subsequently announced that he would move to Little Rock and begin providing legal and consulting services to companies dealing with the Department of Homeland Security through his own firm. He also said that he would work in Washington, D. C., as a partner with the Venable LLP law firm and lead that firm’s homeland security practice.
Hutchinson previously lost statewide campaigns in which he received 38 percent of the vote in a U.S. Senate race in 1986 against Democratic incumbent Dale Bumpers and 47 percent of the vote against Democrat Winston Bryant for attorney general in 1990.
Beebe has been the state’s attorney general since 2003 and was a state senator from 1983-2003.
He briefly had an opponent in his first Senate race, but that candidate dropped out and Beebe has been without an opponent until the governor’s race.
Regarding the Oct. 14 fundraiser featuring Clinton, 200 tickets will be on sale for a $1,000 per person reception, Holmstrom said.
Plus, a ticket to a private dinner with Clinton will be sold for $10,000 to one person who may bring one guest, he said.
Holmstrom declined to say whether the proceeds from the fundraiser would be used to pay off the $150,000 debt.
" We are not going to discuss the internal financial matters of the party, " he said.
Party Chairman Jason Willett of Jonesboro has said the party’s filing fees could be used to help pay the debt, which he has called an investment in the party.
Holmstrom has estimated the party will generate about $450,000 in filing fees next year, up from about $420,000 in 2002.
Some Democrats have dismissed that estimate, saying the party will collect much more in filing fees with the fee increases approved by the party’s State Committee on Saturday in Jonesboro.
The increases more than doubled some fees compared to what the party charged in 2002.
1. able danger indicates that the clinton administration knew that atta was in the country and dangerous but prevented anyone from doing anything about it.
2. did you ever know osama said this after somalia? (http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2005/08/mosul-2005.html)
osama's words:
But your most disgraceful case was in Somalia; where -- after vigorous propaganda about the power of the USA and its post cold war leadership of the new world order -- you moved tens of thousands of international force, including twenty eight thousands American solders into Somalia.
However, when tens of your solders were killed in minor battles and one American Pilot was dragged in the streets of Mogadishu you left the area carrying disappointment, humiliation, defeat and your dead with you.
Clinton appeared in front of the whole world threatening and promising revenge , but these threats were merely a preparation for withdrawal. You have been disgraced by Allah and you withdrew; the extent of your impotence and weaknesses became very clear. It was a pleasure for the "heart" of every Muslim and a remedy to the "chests" of believing nations to see you defeated in the three Islamic cities of Beirut , Aden and Mogadishu.
now, what can you infer about clinton and his foreign policy team from these two items?
..now, what can you infer about clinton and his foreign policy team from these two items?..
----
Clinton was not only a total failure, but his criminal neglect and his criminality in general, will go down in histroy as this country's most dispicable President -- and the moron voters that put this POS in the White House two times, should have their citizenship revoked....
Although nowadays, being a citizen really does not mean much ----
Just think...we had an F'ing rapist for a president and he's having drinks with Bush, Sr. right about now at the summer home...how sweet...
Just think...we had an F'ing rapist for a president and he's having drinks with Bush, Sr. right about now at the summer home...how sweet...
-------
The whole love-affair between Al "Billy" Capone and the Bush dynasty is very troublesome. Especially with Bush, Sr.'s aims of the NEW WORLD ORDER, as he has professed.
Aware citizens had better keep a real close eye on the political class in Washington. Frankly, given Bush Sr.'s history as an American, a war hero, a patriot, I really cannot understand what has happened to his sense of pride, and personal respect when you seeing him playing footsie with Clinton.
i can infer that HE is the reason we are in this mess...and has done a great job of avoiding responsibility for it, just like everything else.
My goodness, Wildwood, what a great analysis. This can never be repeated enough.
Since clinton is a sex offender, doesn't he have to let the police know he's in town? He can't go near a school, or church?
Bush Sr may be a war hero, that was a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnng time ago. Wasn't Benedict Arnold a hero? I am sure there are many that are brave and strong in conflict, that have disturbing visions of the future of mankind. I wouldn't trust a politician, that has enough pull to make it into high office, to babysit my dog.
Find the book called "COMPROMISED"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.