Arkansas GOP Behavior Obstructionist
Letter to the Editor by Richard Hughes, IV: I have tried long enough to restrain myself as I have watched the leadership of the Republican Party of Arkansas send the wrong messages, run the wrong candidates and generally take the party in the wrong direction, while blame is placed on the wrong people, so I have sounded off in a Letter to the Editor which I have provided to the ARRA News Service: LITTLE ROCK — GOP behavior obstructionist
Some Republicans whine about our state party’s lack of success-no constitutional officers, no substantial legislative gains, only one GOP member of Congress. A predominant reason attributed to our party’s shortcomings is Mike Huckabee, specifically that “his people” drained the party financially. However, the party was clearly on its feet well before Huckabee left office.
Our late lieutenant governor and GOP chairman, Win Rockefeller, deserves substantial credit for our party’s past greatness. He lit optimism in its fold, leaving it with no debt and roughly $400,000 in the bank. Win made us proud to be Republican, opening every meeting with an all-together-now chant of his motto for the party, “Representing the views and values of everyday Arkansans.”
As for the party’s current status, past GOP chairman Sheffield Nelson put it best recently when denouncing current chairman Dennis Milligan’s unreasonable treatment of the current governor’s severance tax proposal, saying it makes us look like obstructionists and “aginners.” “Aginner” is the exact word I have been searching for to describe some factions of our party.
Passing on an opportunity to demonstrate leadership, the chairman issued his arbitrary default response. Such is foolish considering that the deal resulted from cooperation between Nelson, industry leaders and the governor. These and recent similar actions imply that our party is automatically against everything, including recruitment of decent candidates (or, lately, any candidates) for statewide and congressional offices.
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Posted by Bill Smith at 8:20 PM - Post Link
2 Comments:
Who is Richard Hughes IV?
While he makes some decent points about the GOP's need to present alternatives and a very good point about Win Rockefeller's very good motto about “Representing the views and values of everyday Arkansans.”
Mr. Hughes (and Sheffeld Nelson for that matter) do not conduct themselves in the manner than Win Rock did. I can never remember Win Rock criticizing members of the party, even going to the point of hosting a fundraiser for Jim Holt.
The platform of the Republican Party in Arkansas represents the views and values of everyday Arkansans. Mr. Milligan knows this and has conducted himself accordingly. As far as I am concerned Mr. Milligan has been a fine chairman and is growing into becoming a great one.
If Mr. Hughes or Mr. Nelson doesn't believe in the party platform of smaller government and lower taxes, then they should work to change the platform. We have a document that defines who we are as a party and Mr. Milligan is sticking to that. Good for him.
As for Mr Nelson acting like he has some God ordained right to lead the party according to his whims or petty grievences, then he should have run for the party chair. Instead, Mr. Milligan stepped up to the plate knowing that it would be a difficult task, thankless in every respect, and has stood for the views and values written in our platform.
Instead, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Nelson insult and undermine our elected officials, making it virtually impossible for any alternative proposals they present to be taken seriously. I never heard Win Rock ever tear down another Republican, for Mr. Hughes to lay claim to his legacy is disgusting.
If Mr. Nelson wants to support a tax increase and thinks it is best for the state, good for him. But for him to try to claim to be doing it under the views and values of the Republican Party is repulsive. The same kind of repulsive that led to the downfall of national Republican Party who spent like drunken sailors and and failed to limit the growth of government.
Mr. Hughes and Mr. Nelson can support what they want. But be clear, what they are not supporting is Republican principles.
Mr. Hughes identified himself and openly expressed his comments in the light of day verses making anonymous allegations.
While some of anonymous' points are interesting, it appears that Anonymous was primarily interested in running down two people with whom they disagree verses opening a dialog on why the RPA is facing major problems. Leadership always remains responsible for poor performance and if they can't handle "open comments" then they evidence another reason they should not be in leadership.
What are the recommendations of Anonymous to get the GOP in Arkansas back to its conservative roots and following the stated objectives of the party? While I agree with Mr. Milligan's opposition to the severance tax increase -- as identified by our site's prior posts on the subject -- I am not sure Milligan opposed the tax out of principle or just to oppose an issue proposed by the Governor (a Democrat). If it was on principle, then where is the substance to address the issue further.
Note, we have printed the RPA's press releases and articles expressing Milligan's and other GOP legislative leaders position. However, we elected to share Mr. Hughes' open letter in hopes of motivating discussion within the RPA to get back on tract leading verses just "wagging the tail on the elephant." We have noted the RPA Executive Director working diligently but we have not noted to RPA chairman, at least to date, evidencing dynamic leadership.
The commenter opened with Who is Richard Hughes IV? Well you can read exactly who he is on his website via the link provided. Now - Who is Anonymous?
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