Monday, November 5, 2012
Arkansas Politics President Clinton endorses Herb Rule for 2nd District Congress
Posted by Max Brantley on Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 8:55 AM
Herb Rule proudly announces today an endorsement by his old friend and former President Bill Clinton.
Clinton described Rule as someone whose “only agenda will be you” and said Republican Tim Griffin represents the “extreme Tea Party agenda.”
Voters in the 2nd District will be receiving telephone messages recorded by Clinton in which the former Arkansas governor praises Rule for seeking bi-partisan solutions.
“Unlike Congressman Griffin, who spent the last two years fighting for the extreme Tea Party agenda that doesn’t serve Arkansas very well, Herb knows you’ve worked hard for, paid for, and earned, your Social Security, Medicare and veterans benefits,” Clinton says. “He’ll fight to protect them.”
Rule’s relationship with Clinton goes back to the mid-1970s when Clinton was Arkansas attorney general. Herb introduced him to golf, and Rule practiced law with Hillary Clinton in the Rose Law Firm. The current U.S. Secretary of State teamed with Rule for her first courtroom trial. Rule has worked hard to support the Clintons throughout their careers.
“I’m deeply honored, and humbled, that my old friend has lent his hand in my campaign to bring hard-working common-sense representation back to the 2nd District of Arkansas,” Rule said
Heard Tiny Tim Griffin, the Republican incumbent on the radio this morning, sneering that Rule was a lobbyist. Indeed, Rule has registered to represent clients at the state legislature. But coming from Griffin it's a bit hypocritical. In one of the few periods when Griffin wasn't employed as a political hit man for Karl Rove he did work as a political consultant for a corporate polluter in Alaska. Then he went on the public's teat. A man of the people with a background in honest toil he ain't.
Rule comments on the Griffin radio ad. Is Griffin knocking Arkansas job creators? I believe he is:
Tim Griffin, in a last desperate attempt to disparage Herb Rule, warned a radio audience of the “lobbyist” running against him.
Rule readily acknowledges having been registered as a lobbyist for years during his legal career as part of his representation of some of Arkansas’ top employers at the state Capitol.
“I’m happy to say that during my time working at the Capitol on behalf of clients we were able to create jobs and stimulate economic development in Arkansas —that’s home to us, but a place Tim has rarely been during his professional career as a political hack in Washington,” Rule said.
In February, when Rule filed to run for Congress in Arkansas 2nd District, Griffin used a similar tactic by issuing an appeal on his website for a “generous donation” because a “Democratic lobbyist has filed to oppose me.”
Rule said, “Tim Griffin’s ploy is lame. But I thank Tim for bringing up my extensive economic development and business experience.” Rule said his clients at the Capitol have included Tyson Foods, International Paper, Great Lakes Chemical, Lion Oil and Riceland Foods, some of the most important economic drivers in Arkansas.
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