Arkansas Democrat Gazette Endorses Hutchinson Campaign

Arkansas Democrat Gazette thru "Hutchinson for U.S. Senate" webpage ^ | Oct.20, 2002

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Arkansas Democrat Gazette Endorses Hutchinson Campaign Arkansas Democrat Gazette October 20, 2002 For Tim Hutchinson We know where he stands RULE NO. 2 in taking on an incumbent politician is: Explain why the voters should make a change. (Rule No. 1 is: Raise lotza money.) The principal argument Mark Pryor has made for unseating Senator Tim Hutchinson is this: My last name is Pryor. That may have been good enough for his father, but it isn't good enough for us. And it shouldn't be good enough for serious Arkansans, either. Even on the most important of issues, Mark Pryor just smiles his smile, awshucks his way through the question, and all but sketches imaginary circles on the floor in front of him with the toe of one shoe. It's almost as if he's counting on some kind of automatic voter reflex to put him in the United States Senate. (Ballot says Pryor, vote same.) Agree or disagree, Arkansans have the right to know where their senator stands on abortion. Mark Pryor was prochoice in 1998 when he ran for attorney general, or said he was. Now he says abortion is wrong but he wouldn't do anything to stop it. And while he's opposed to abortion personally, he thinks women should be able to abort their children. Well, sometimes. After all his talk, all we know is this: If Mark Pryor gets pregnant, he promises to have the baby. As attorney general, he aw-shucked his way past those payday loan lenders who take advantage of the least among us. He was satisfied to take their money and leave them to prey on the desperate. He also defended an unconstitutional law that branded homosexuals as criminals. And our attorney general showed even less backbone when it came to thoughtcrime. Maybe you remember that. Maybe not. We don't blame you if you don't. His rationalizations weren't worth remembering. But Attorney General Pryor once backed a hate-crime law for Arkansas. He said the bill would punish only conduct, not thought. Nice sound bite. But it made no sense. The proposed hate-crime law would have increased penalties for those who commit an offense if their thoughts were in the politically incorrect place. Beating up somebody over his race/color/ religion/gender/sexual orientation would have got you a 20 percent higher sentence. Beating up somebody else because of his class, dress, political affiliation or for just his wallet would get you a 20 percent discount. Thought had everything to do with it. That's why these laws are a species of what George Orwell called thoughtcrime. They create "protected classes" that divide ordinary victims from special ones. We ourselves would prefer to treat all criminals equally. And severely. Granted, our conversation with the attorney general on this issue got ridiculous at times, but that's what happens when an attorney general supports a ridiculous law. Our minds fog just thinking about it. We were thinking of that weird conversation when some simple, sensible thoughts intruded: Tim Hutchinson deserves a second term. Yes, there have been times when we didn't like how he voted or what he was saying, but we knew where he stood. And could understand it. He gave the conversation some traction. The senator is gaining in seniority, which helps small states like Arkansas in Congress. He's a solid supporter of the Second Amendment and gun rights. He's a member of the Armed Services, Veteran Affairs, and the Agriculture committees, among others. He has taken a consistent, principled stand on abortion. (He's agin.) And you never have to wonder what the heck he's trying to say. But, we've forgotten the most important reason of all to vote for Tim Hutchinson. It's more important than bringing home the bacon, more important than his opponent's non-answers to tough questions. The president needs Tim Hutchinson in the Senate. So do all those who value freedom abroad and a free market at home. This isn't to say Mark Pryor wouldn't lend W. a hand if it were the popular thing to do, as on issues like the War on Terror. He would. As long as the polls held up. But this president needs a Republican majority in the Senate to push through other legislation - like making his tax cuts permanent - and to approve judicial nominees now stuck in the long, long partisan pipeline. The 107th Congress is still sitting on dozens of judicial nominees, and it's tying up the court system in elaborate knots. (Strom Thurmond pert-near birthed a cat the other day when the Judiciary sat on one of his favorite nominees. But it was kind of fun to see the Senate's oldest member "ever" raise Cain with these 70-year-old whippersnappers.) The Homeland Security Bill is stuck in the mud, meaning the Senate. And in the next couple of years, a couple of vacancies could be opening on the Supreme Court of the United States. Who will fill those seats - a Scalia or a Ginsburg? A thinker or another vague mediocrity? The answer could determine the course of constitutional law for the next decade. Or more. Do the people of Arkansas want every nominee to kiss current Majority Leader Tom Daschle's ring before a vote? Mark Pryor could prove to be another arrow in Sen. Daschle's quiver. A vote for Tim Hutchinson could prove a vote for a much-needed new majority leader for the U.S. Senate. A Republican-controlled Senate could clear the way to exploration of oil drilling here at home, and that would mean less reliance on Middle Eastern mullahs. Other needed legislation is also knee deep in the Senate. A lot could depend on your vote November 5 th. (Or tomorrow, when early voting starts.) Will we reform the Social Security system, letting folks decide to invest a portion of their own money, or let the system get as close to bankruptcy as possible before rushing pell-mell to save it? You have a close race and some great issues in your hands, Mr. and Mrs. Arkansan. Lest we forget, at critical times like these, all politics is national. Every seat in a closely divided Senate is decisive. A smile, a familiar name, and a handshake shouldn't be enough to win your vote. Arkansas needs to send an experienced, principled senator, one with the president's ear, back to Washington.

[Lauratealeaf]

While Paul Greenberg is an accomplished wordsmith, I believe the phrase is likely the work of David Barham, imported to the ADG Editorial staff this summer from Louisiana. (where REAL politics is played)

Thanks! I didn't know that!

[Catspaw]

I'm sorry you're so bitter that Hutchinson's moral failings are affecting his re-election campaign. However, as I told you before, he should've stepped aside so another GOP candidate without these moral flaws could run for the Senate. What he did is affecting him with social conservative women. He should've known that when he considered running for re-election, rather than thinking he could brazen it out. But we've had this conversation before, and it's a waste of my time trying to point out that the only person who hurt the Hutchinson campaign is Tim Hutchinson himself. I hope he wins for the sake of the GOP, but he really should not have put himself in this position. If he loses, he, like you, should not point fingers at anyone but himself.

BTW, this is my last post on the subject. All we're going to do is rehash what we said on the other thread, so I'd suggest you just post a link to that thread & cut & paste the appropriate posts & responses.

[Lauratealeaf]

Gee, can you address the point I made in my post?

Of course. The point you made was merely an echo of Catspaw and her many posts calling Hutchinson an adulterer yesterday. I think it is presumptious of you to be judging Tim Hutchinson. Are you the almighty God? Somehow I don't believe your statement was sincere. I suspect that you are just an echo chamber/Democrat spewing your hateful talking points. You think that most Arkansans are so simple that we can be easily led. By throwing out all those adultery accusations you hope to turn many sincere Christians against Hutchinson. Well many of us also know how to forgive and know that we should not be judging something as private as a marriage.

[Lauratealeaf]

In the eyes of God, Hutchinson is an adulterer.

Who are you? The Ayatollah Homeini Simon?

I am not running for the United States as a social conservative.

Obviously you are not a social conservative. Your comments show a lack of knowledge about Christian beliefs. Hopefully you will slip back under the rock from which you came but I doubt it. Will be watching for more adulterer spam.

[Lord_Baltar]

Nice response Laura, you have verified what I thought in the first place.

[conservative_2001]

he should've stepped aside so another GOP candidate without these moral flaws could run for the Senate.

And once again I ask, who are all these people who could win as a Republican in Arkansas, and if so why didn't they run in 1998?

BTW, this is my last post on the subject.

That's such a real shame. I was really enjoying reading you drop accusations on a man, then refuse to provide evidence after being asked 5 times.

[conservative_2001]

As a former pastor, Hutchinson should know that God does not recognize, much less honor, his divorce. Thus, Hutchinson is committing adultery with his second wife.

That's total BS. Do you have a private line to God's voice mail? When did God tell you that the divorce of Tim and his wife was not recognized by God?

[Lauratealeaf]

I justifed the adultery accusation for Catspaw.

Still working with her I see. Guess your standards would not have allowed you to vote for one of the greatest Presidents of the last one hundred years, President Ronald Reagan.

[conservative_2001]

How about a social conservative that believes that politicians should be held accountable?

Has Tim failed to defend unborn children? No.

Has Tim failed to defend our 2nd Amendment rights? No.

Has Tim failed to strengthen the military? No.

Has Tim failed to cut taxes? No.

Has Tim abused his office in any way? No

Has Tim failed to do the things he said he would do as our Senator? No.

Tim has been a great Senator. He passes the accountability test with flying colors. He's been one of the few solid conservatives in the Senate. He got elected as a conservative, 6 years later he's still one of us. Shame on any conservative who would turn their back on a man who has been there for us.

[conservative_2001]

I justifed the adultery accusation for Catspaw.

All you did was repeat the dirty allegation, then provide false information to support it. You claimed that God left you a message stating that He doesn't recognize the Hutchinson's divorce. Good luck supporting that contention.

Now if you're claiming that God doesn't allow divorces based on what religions teach, then you'd be wrong on that too. Most religions have procedures to obtain a proper divorce.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Lady you are wasting your breath preaching to these people. As I said early on and echoed by others, I suspect that Catspaw, (notwithstanding the comments of Spectre in North Little Rock, Lord Baltar, and this new guy Simon are demorat plants.

If they are not and are really Republicans, then Lord help us from friends such as these.

[Wait4Truth]

I agree with you 100%. Tim needs to be re-elected. He is a good solid conservative senator. Is he perfect? Perhaps not, but then who is? Allowing the clinton-clone, Pryor to win would be much more against God's will than a vote for Tim.