Beebe hits Asa! on minimum wage
Mike Beebe's campaign today issued a press release criticizing Asa Hutchinson for his guest column in the new edition of the Arkansas Times.
"I will not dodge and attempt to hide my positions," Hutchinson says today in a guest column in the Arkansas Times. As an example of his supposed steadfastness and forthrightness, he claims that he has not opposed increasing the Arkansas minimum wage. The Arkansas News Bureau reported less than nine months ago that "The lone Republican candidate for governor [Hutchinson] said he opposed raising the state minimum wage above the national rate of $5.15 per hour." In addition to this bold attempt to "dodge and hide" - while claiming not to - Asa ignores numerous flips, flops, and somersaults on this issue.
"Why should anyone ever trust Mr. Hutchinson when the record makes it clear that he has played political gymnastics on this fundamental issue?" asks Zac Wright, Beebe campaign spokesman. ... "If Hutchinson is honest that he will no longer hide his position, it's a good time for him to explain the many positions he's taken on the minimum wage, which one of his many positions he actually believes, and why he would purposefully use this as an example of consistency and honesty when the record says exactly the opposite."
Hutchinson said he opposed an increase to the Arkansas minimum wage, supported a state increase when its inevitability was obvious, voted twice in Congress against an increase in the minimum wage, voted once in Congress for a bill that included a provision for an increase - even though Hutchinson explained his support for the 660-page package of laws for other reasons. Today, Hutchinson claims clarity in his position, leaving many Arkansans scratching their heads as to how.
After the jump, a table provided by the Beebe campaign showing the evolution of Hutchinson's positions on the minimum wage.
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A (Partial) Chronology of Hutchinson's Public Gymnastics on the Minimum Wage |
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2000
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Hutchinson votes against increasing the federal minimum wage by $1 |
While in Congress, voted twice against measures to increase the federal minimum wage by $1 over two years [HR vote 43; 2000, HR vote 45, 2000].
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3/11/2000 |
Hutchinson opposes increase, says the minimum wage "does not have any relevance" in Arkansas |
"In Arkansas ... the minimum wage does not have any relevance except in terms of marginal skilled workers and the under-21 worker." - Asa Hutchinson [Asa Opposes Minimum-Wage Hike, Says Unskilled, Teens Lose; Morning News of Northwest Arkansas, 3/11/00].
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12/14/2005 |
Hutchinson opposes raising the state minimum wage, but "would reserve judgment" on a proposed state Constitutional amendment |
"The lone Republican candidate for governor said he opposed raising the state minimum wage above the national rate of $5.15 per hour, though he said he would reserve judgment on a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the state rate to $6.15." [Arkansas News Bureau, 12/14/2005].
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12/18/2005 |
Hutchinson opposes the proposed AR constitutional amendment, saying the minimum wage should be raised federally - despite his votes against increasing the federal minimum wage |
"Hutchinson says he opposes the amendment because the minimum wage should be raised nationwide and Arkansas might risk a competitive disadvantage if it mandated a higher wage." [Arkansas News Bureau, 12/18/05]. |
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1/24/2006 |
Hutchinson still thinking the federal government should raise the minimum wage, and now believes that if they don't, he would support increasing Arkansas' in a story about the constitutional amendment. |
"Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson of Little Rock wants to see an increase in the federal minimum wage. But if the federal government doesn't increase the national minimum wage, he would support Arkansas', said David Kinkade, a spokesman for Hutchinson's campaign. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 1/24/2006].
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3/25/2006 |
Hutchinson now says he supports a legislative increase to the minimum wage by state lawmakers. |
"He supports a legislative effort to raise the state's minimum wage but said he doesn't believe hikes in the wage should be part of the state constitution. They should be enacted by state lawmakers, he said." [Benton County Daily Record, 3/25/06].
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7/27/2006 |
Arkansas Democrat Gazette erroneously reports Hutchinson supported a wage increase, "[Hutchinson] even voted to increase the minimum wage when he was a congressman back in 2000."
But, Hutchinson's claim that the October 2000 vote was a vote in favor of minimum wage does not mesh with comments he made to a reporter only seven months earlier.
Minimum wage not a reason why Hutchinson voted for HR 2614. |
On October 26, 2000, Asa voted for the HR2614 conference report, a complex 660-page conference report with numerous provisions, including ones to ban physician-assisted suicide, increase payments to Medicare-funded health care providers, and provide a total of $245 billion in tax cuts over ten years. It also included a provision to increase the minimum wage $1 over two years. [House of Representatives Vote 560, 2000, HR 2614 conference report]. After voting against an increase in the federal minimum wage of $1.00 over two years [House votes 43 and 45] Hutchinson told the Arkansas News Bureau in March 2000 that he might have voted for the increase if the implementation period had been three years instead of two. The October 2000 vote called for a $1 increase over two years. [Arkansas News Bureau, 3/11/2000].
Hutchinson's office issued a press release explaining his vote for the conference report to HR 2614. Nowhere does it list ‘minimum wage' as a reason for his vote. [Hutchinson press release, 10/26/2000].
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8/3/2006 |
Hutchinson claims false clarity of his position on the minimum wage.
Hutchinson falsely alleges he supports an increase in the minimum wage. |
"I will not dodge and attempt to hide my positions." - Asa Hutchinson [Arkansas Times, 8/3/06].
"Another controversy recently sparked by my opponent is when he falsely asserted that I had opposed the minimum wage increase in Arkansas. Mr. Beebe knows this is patently false, and yet he sent out a mass mailing to thousands of Arkansas voters to try to deceive them about my record." - Asa Hutchinson [Arkansas Times, 8/3/06].
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Comments
And you thought anyone who led the charge on Clinton's impeachment while living with his adulterous brother, who is peddling his political influence right now, and who helped lead the Department of Homeland Pork through its worst fiasco ever could be trusted to do the right thing for the little people?
Posted by: Roland | August 3, 2006 02:50 PM
Can't trust politicians or salespeople.
Out here, we sit on the porch and shoot 'em all when they come down the driveway.
Posted by: Perry County | August 3, 2006 02:57 PM
Dizzy now...goodness...
Aony$taffers will have "THE TRUTH," though...
Posted by: rosso | August 3, 2006 02:57 PM
I am sure that the minimum wage bills that Asa opposed were democrat versions and the ones he supported were Republican versions. This is the game they play in DC. That way both sides can say that they voted against ..... Mark Pryor and Blanche voted against the Republican Minimum Wage increases this week. Does that mean that they are against the minimum wage - No because they voted for the Democrat version. Mike and his campaign need to get out of LR and learn how the rest of the world operates.
Posted by: Desperate already?? | August 3, 2006 03:02 PM
Fortunately, for Asa, there will be minimum rage over this. It's hot, we're stupid, and virtually nobody cares. Oh, and I hope the polls show a tight race in Perry County. Lots of door-to-door politickin needs to be done there! :-)
Posted by: Clay, NLR | August 3, 2006 03:21 PM
ZZZZZZ
No one will cross over to vote on the minimum wage. Those losers are all democrats anyway and think rich Mike Beebe will help them. Dumbasses.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 3, 2006 03:21 PM
Desperate Already???
I'd say yes you are.
The facts [assuming they are facts] clearly paint a picture of hostility toward the lower end of the income scale. His claim of support for minimum wage was a non-starter since he himself never mentioned it in his reasons for voting for HR 2614. So he held his nose and voted for it because he was giving so much more to his more important constituents. With support like that you'd better wear two jock straps.
The man is a waffling weasel. As Harry Truman once said of Richard Nixon, "the son of a bitch lies so much he doesn't know when he's telling the truth!"
He's sure not telling the truth on minimum wage. What else has he lied to us about? Lots I suspect, especially when you've got the record he needs to obfuscate. Better luck next time Ass-a.
Posted by: Janus | August 3, 2006 03:31 PM
Just wait a couple of hours and Beebe will flip on this issue too.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 3, 2006 03:34 PM
Posted 90 minutes ago and only 8 responses. Apparently, Asa's people have lost interest in this campaign, or are conceding Beebe's points.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 3, 2006 03:55 PM
No, they are still on the bus from grade school. But soon, very very soon they'll be here throwing up the Red talking points.
Posted by: NWAobserver | August 3, 2006 04:08 PM
Perhaps we're not afraid of you faggots.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 3, 2006 04:18 PM
Wow!
"Perhaps we're not afraid of you faggots."
Outstanding debate and position statement. Got out of school early?
Posted by: NWAobserver | August 3, 2006 04:21 PM
"ZZZZZZ
No one will cross over to vote on the minimum wage. Those losers are all democrats anyway and think rich Mike Beebe will help them. Dumbasses."
I like this same anon poster who uses the word "dumbass" a lot.
Since his post was at 3:21, I guess fifth grade summer school ended early today.
Posted by: Dumbass | August 3, 2006 04:49 PM
I was for it before I was agin it. Do I hear flip-flop, flip-flop, like a fish out of water.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 3, 2006 05:08 PM
Asa keeps mentioning his "opponent" as if he only had one. You have two opponents in this race, Asa - get with the program. Rod Bryan is the Independent candidate who worked like you've never seen to get ballot access. I cannot read, listen to, or watch you banter about what you believe in until you give your other opponent, Rod Bryan, as much time as you do Mike Beebe. I want to know what you and Beebe think of Rod's initiatives, his ideas, the issues he puts out there. What are you afraid of??
Posted by: R4G | August 3, 2006 06:05 PM
Hah! I remember when Asa spoke to a bunch of ASMSA students. Man, did we make him sweat.
It was great fun.
One girl asked a question about minimum wage. He said he supported it and explained why.
I don't understand why he's changed his position so many times.
Posted by: JD | August 3, 2006 06:48 PM
I think Asa is running for Governor as just another leg of his get rich quick scheme. Someone needs to look to see if there is a trap door in the bottom of his campaign chest that he can funnel the money out of after he loses.
The whole thing sure beats working 40 years and getting a gold watch. I think his plan went something like this.
After many attempts to win public office Asa is finally handed one when brother Tim moves up a notch. As soon as Asa gets in Tim's old seat Henry Hyde waddles over and says he has a job for Asa. Help us impeach Bill Clinton and we'll take good care of you. Yes says Asa I will help you bury Bill.
So while Senator Tim is boinking his aide in their shared apartment, Asa points his long bony finger at Bill Clinton and says, you sir are boinking in the Oval Office. Yada yada Bill is impeached and found NOT GUILTY. But Asa had carried the water for Hippo Hyde and goes and stands in line for his reward.
The head of DEA was dropped in Asa's lap and he continued the tradition of NOT winning the War on Drugs to the best of his abilities. Then 9-11 happened and to fill yet another new bloated do-nothing, never ending bureaucracy, House Manager Asa gets the number 2 position at the badly named Homeland Security and spends a year lunching and passing a lot of gas and burning up a hell of a lot of taxpayer money that provided money for war ships in the middle of Kansas and around the clock guards at the vital Fort Smith DMV office, a well known target of every terrorist on the planet.
When Asa's star starts to decline at Homeland Security (probably because he has no ability to pick out the right shirt and tie to go with his drab suits) Asa spends the rest of his time there planning his "get rich" future. It's a plan of many prongs!
First prong, go to work for a big DC law firm that does tons of business with the Federal Government. Check! Then join the boards of companies who do a ton of business with the Federal Government. Check! Then become the king of penny stocks in companies hoping to do a ton of business with the Federal Government. Check!
Finally, run for Governor of the state of Arkansas. It's a fast and dirty job of raising lots of money in a short time. Eat a lot of rubber chicken dinners with the rich Republicans up around Bella Vista and give his yada yada speeches flopping any direction desired by the crowd of the moment. Then lose in November, use that trap door in the campaign war chest and go back to DC to live happily ever after with his quickly made pile of loot.
We'll see him now and then when Fox News can't find a better talking head to beat the Republican drum on securing our borders and then he'll fade out into the sunset a rich man, pleasing to the Republican Party, pleasing to his JBU God who has never taken offense at Asa's little shell game.
DBI bows and exits, stage left.
Posted by: Deathbyinches | August 4, 2006 01:30 AM
DBI,
Well stated. Please forward this on the the Ark Fam Blog and watch them squeal like pigs!
Posted by: br549 | August 4, 2006 09:03 AM
I avoid anal sex with thin effeminate guys dressed in gold lame', but I avoid the Ark Fam Blog even more than that.
Posted by: Deathbyinches | August 4, 2006 12:17 PM