Hutchinson Family Politics Reflects Arkansas GOP

Bill Smith, ARRA Editor: Consensus within Republican Party in Arkansas (RPA) reflects a wide range of individuality. Republican opinions vary and this is no less true within families when it comes to 2008 GOP presidential contenders. Today's THV reported:

Supporting Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign is no longer a family affair for the Hutchinson clan. Former congressman Asa Hutchinson said Thursday he's no longer backing Huckabee's presidential campaign and he endorsed presumptive GOP nominee John McCain. Hutchinson's brother, former U.S. Senator Tim Hutchinson, is a top Huckabee supporter.

The Hutchinson family has had split loyalties in the presidential race. Tim Hutchinson has been one of Huckabee's most outspoken supporters, while his ex-wife, state Representative Donna Hutchinson, campaigned for rival Mitt Romney while Romney was still in the race. Tim Hutchinson's son, Jeremy, had backed Fred Thompson's unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination before the Tennessee senator dropped out of the race. Asa Hutchinson says, "I would say that the discussions at Hutchinson family events are always interesting."

If several candidates had not withdrawn before the Arkansas preferential presidential primary, the differences in opinions would have been even broader. There are many factors for the variation in choices of candidates that Arkansas Republicans (including family members) have supported and will be supporting in the nomination process:

• Republicans would have voted and suppored a number of candidates had they not withdrawn.
• The RPA is not the majority party even though the GOP's principles are those of Dixie Democrats who now fear their party's slide into liberalism. Many Democrats have become Independents. The increased number of voters in Arkansas "open" Republican presidential primary indicates that Democrats and Independents crossed over to vote for a Republican candidate.
• Many who have joined the RPA are Republican in Name Only (RINO) – not conservatives.
• Many Arkansas Republicans do not align with ALL three conservative wings in the Republican party: social conservatives, economic conservatives and national security conservatives.

While other Southern states have recognized the Democrat Party's liberal, anti-traditional family values messages, Arkansas still remains a Democrat dominated state. One reason may be the liberal Clinton connection. Another reason may be the influence of funds funneled to Arkansas Democrats from the DNC and liberal sources. Regardless, in Arkansas, Republicans have worked hard to be represented as a political party. When the GOP presidential candidate is determined, Arkansas Republicans will work for and vote for the GOP nominee. They understand that NOT voting would be the same as voting for the Democrat Party's socialist choice for president. They know they will NOT be better off under Obama or Clinton. They will vote Republican!

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