Phase Two: Defeat the Conservative Masquerade
The Republican Party is now the majority party in Arkansas. Yet, here we are in 2017 wondering why state government seems no different from when the Democrats were in control. Seeing so many Republican legislators follow the liberal big government agendas of first Governor Mike Beebe and now Governor Asa Hutchinson is disappointing and discouraging.
The job is just bigger than you thought. But… good news… the conservative grassroots has already won the first phase of the battle.
- PHASE 1 – Defeat Democrats in traditionally Democratic territory. Conservative grassroots pulled off what was thought to be impossible – defeating Democrats who were well funded by lobbyists in areas thought to be safe for Democrats.
- PHASE 2 – Defeat the conservative masquerade. (A) Replace Republicans who vote like Democrats. The conservative grass roots beat well-funded liberal Democrats and can defeat well-funded liberal Republicans (B) Support loyal conservatives who have stood up against Arkansas’ liberal big government.
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Some Republicans talk a good game yet vote for liberal big government.
When Republicans were still in the minority it was easy for a politician to hide behind tough talk while the Democrats grew government. When the Republicans became the majority party, we saw which ones were ready to turn tough talk into conservative legislation, and which ones were there to please lobbyists and grow government.
Consider the following statement by Senator Jim Hendren when he was under fire in 2015 for derailing and delaying the effort to repeal Arkansas’ Obamacare Medicaid Expansion through his bill to create a task force to study the issue. His legislation gave the task force as its first duty to recommend how to continue the coverage of Obamacare Medicaid Expansion. The following year, Hendren filed the bill to retain and rename the program as “Arkansas Works” which has nothing to do with work.
Hendren said:
“Now when we [Republicans] were in the minority party for a long time it really didn’t really matter what we filed of any significant change because it wasn’t going to pass. It’s a different situation down here today and we have an opportunity to make real change – pass legislation and do things. We also have an opportunity to screw it completely up.”[i]
When a politician can vote conservative when Republicans are in the minority but not when Republicans are in the majority, the politician has been posturing … play acting … toy soldiering.
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Several big government Republicans are running for election in 2018. Senator Hendren is not up for reelection but… he wants the Senate to elect him to the top Senate position – President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Will he get enough support from Democrat Senators, big government Republican Senators, and his Uncle Asa?
There are some principled Republican legislators who need your support. They stood up against the big government Republican leadership. Now you can stand behind them. Some are facing election opposition from Asa’s allies. Don’t forget – in 2016, Governor Hutchinson endorsed and financially supported a challenger to try to defeat Representative Josh Miller because Miller stands for Republican principles.
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A politician can rail against big government, wrap himself in flag and uniform, talk bold and loud, shout people down… yet it is his voting record that tells the truth.
Read our article, “How Did My Legislator Vote.” Also read the legislative scorecard by Conduit for Action at http://conduitforcommerce.org/ . Learn how they voted and whether they advanced liberty or advanced liberal big government.
The conservative grassroots can send a strong message by continuing the fight for conservative principles. PHASE 2 – defeat the conservative masquerade.
[i] Hendren statement as played on the Paul Harrell Program, 10-13-15 Hr 1 (See http://www.paulharrell.com/archive/)
