Arkansas Blog: Unrepentant

The Democratic Party apparently has sent a letter to Democratic officeholders urging them not to support Republicans in election contests. Pitiful that this is necessary, but it is, thanks to people like Rep. Robbie Wills, who was willing to do just about anything to line up Republican votes necessary to be elected House speaker in 2009.

And, Wills tells John Brummett, he's not the least bit sorry about it.

One comment on the bipartisan blather issuing forth from Wills: You can work cooperatively with all members of the legislature without contributing your name and money to their re-election campaigns. If it takes campaign contributions to win their votes, there's a word for that and it isn't bipartisanship.

Rep. Wills responds on the jump

EMAIL FROM REP. WILLS

Hope you are well. Just one point of clarification: I didn’t promise to help Bryan King raise money in return for his vote. His request for my help came a month after the January Speaker election, two months after my last opponent dropped out and more than nine months after he committed to vote for me. Once again, your blog seems to suggest I somehow bought his vote with a promise of campaign help. That’s false. This may not seem to be an important distinction to some, but it is to me. I chose to help Bryan after my election because he’d previously crossed party lines to support me at a time when many Democrats wouldn’t, even though I had more than a majority of the Democrats supporting me. I didn’t “do just about anything it took” to line up votes for Speaker; I won by being myself. I ran a clean race, made absolutely no promises for votes, appealed to each member as a person rather than a party member, and was successful on the merits. As always, I’m always available if you ever have a question or concern about how I won the position of Speaker or what I’m planning to do in the next session. All I ask is that you be fair. Thank you.

Comments

What surprises me more is your reaction to this. Because I believe that all politicians are the same; they care more for number one than they do for the people they work for (i.e. The voters that hired them.), I am not bothered by the things they do. I find it better to be prepared for the consequences.

Posted by: Wes | May 3, 2008 10:38 AM

Again the moderater has posted my comments under someone else.
Is it something that I am doing, or only that I am new to this board?

Posted by: Wes | May 3, 2008 10:42 AM

I don't think Democrats should be helping Republican candidates either. This includes when they are running for President Pro Tem of the Senate. I seem to recall some Democrats and Max supporting a Republican over a Democrat in that race. How was that any different Max?

Posted by: The Real Bold and The Blue | May 3, 2008 01:02 PM

Max, I don't know Wills personally and don't think I've ever met the guy, but I think you owe him an apology. Perhaps you don't consider this blog to be a journalistic endeavor, but some do. If you didn't' have anything to back up your suggestion that he did it to buy votes, you should be man enough to apologize.

While I disagree with what he did as well, and while I wondered if this were a payback for the guys vote, I didn't publicly imply that with nothing to back it up.

Posted by: The Real Bold and The Blue | May 3, 2008 01:09 PM

The better question is why Bob Johnson supported a break from tradition to elect DINO Critcher, and now supports and raises money for former Repub chairman Sen. Gilbert Baker. Johnson reminds me of the old adage that everyone's a whore at some price. Bob's just cheaper than most.

Posted by: PVNasby | May 3, 2008 01:22 PM

"As always, I'm always available if you ever have a question or concern about how I won the position of Speaker or what I'm planning to do in the next session. All I ask is that you be fair. "
Robbie Willis

Ok. You have struck a decent bargain Mr. Speaker. So, what are you planning to do next session?
.

Posted by: L.Wood | May 3, 2008 04:24 PM

Imagine if the tables were turned. Say Jon Woods, R-Chickendale, was up for House Speaker. Can't you imagine what cooperation the Ds would get if Rs were the majority.

And Robbie should not blame his lack of loyalty on term limits. Term limits keep the Nick Wilson's at bay.
.

Posted by: L.Wood | May 3, 2008 04:46 PM

Arkansas Blog

Unrepentant

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