Switch to the mobile version of this page.

Arkansas Times

Arkansas Blog

Archives | RSS

« Petrino coming out on ESPN | 500 block of Main: Sold »

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Arkansas Politics / Arkansas Media El Dorado paper posts smoking gun tape on secretary of state aide

Posted by Max Brantley on Thu, Aug 9, 2012 at 1:59 PM

TALE OF THE TAPE: Alex Reed was not misquoted.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Alex Reed was not misquoted.

I wrote this morning about the El Dorado newspaper's account of a speech by Alex Reed, an aide to Secretary of State Mark Martin, who told a Republican group in Union County that county clerks were allowing illegal immigrants to register to vote. Thus, he said, it was important to elect Republicans as clerks.

I asked Reed about the remarks, particularly the serious charge he made about official misfeasance. He indirectly disputed making the remarks. He didn't respond when I asked directly if he'd been misquoted. But an attendee at the Association of Arkansas Counties convention told me this morning that Martin and Reed were maintaining to offended county clerks (Martin was present at the meeting and told the assembly there what Reed had told him) that Reed had been misquoted, though they wouldn't issue a statement repudiating the remarks. Reed has not responded to further questions from me.

Let's clear this much up. Alex Reed was NOT misquoted.

The reporter, Allison Gatlin, has posted a copy of a recording of Reed's remarks on the El Dorado News-Times' blog. (Note: The relevant part begins about the 22-minute mark.)

Note that he touts the great job Mark Martin is doing, "especially for Republicans." Note how he views illegal voting and immigrants strictly through a Latino lens. Telling.

Back to you, Mr. Reed. Were you misquoted? Did you misquote yourself? If not, where's your proof clerks aren't doing their jobs in voter registration? Care to apologize to Ms. Gatlin for telling your boss and others that she'd misquoted you, as they've reported?

Tags: Secretary of State Mark Martin, county clerks, voter registration, illegal immigrants, El Dorado News-Times, Allison Gatlin

        
Tweet
Share

Speaking of...

UPDATE: Beebe vetoes partisan election oversight bills

April 23, 2013

by Max Brantley

Gov. Mike Beebe cleared his desk of pending legislation today, signing all but thyree bills by Sen. Bryan King to put more power over election oversight in the office of secretary of state, now held by Republican Mark Martin. /more/
More »

Comments (28)

Showing 1-28 of 28

Add a comment

Subscribe to this thread:

By Email

With RSS

Showing 1-28 of 28

More by Max Brantley

Gun control from the Ethics Commission

I hesitate to call attention to this news story from Northeast Arkansas, where the state Ethics Commission waded — properly — into (mis)use of public office so some local cops could get special treatment on purchase of high-powered special guns.
- by Max Brantley
- Mar 24, 2013
Mark Pryor, the NRA's friend, opposes debate on gun bill

The Senate voted 68-31 to send gun legislation to the floor for debate. The majority included many Republicans who oppose the bill, but believe the issue should be debated.
- by Max Brantley
- Apr 11, 2013
More »

Readers also liked…

Last night: James McMurtry

James McMurtry played Stickyz Thursday night.
- by Joe Meazle
- Feb 24, 2012
More Wakarusa reviews: Dirtfoot, Edward Sharpe and Balkan Beat Box

On Thursday night, Dirtfoot put on a heckuva performancein the Outpost Tent.
- by Kristal Kuykendall
- Jun 6, 2012