GOP candidate: Get shots for SE Ark.
A blog reader notes a comment by Republican senatorial candidate Curtis Coleman before a Benton County audience, as reported in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
“You go from here to southeast Arkansas, and you might as well get a visa and shots because I’m telling you the world changes,” he said, talking about the differences across the state.
Reader asks: "What disease do you need shots for to go to Southeast Arkansas?"
Coleman follows in the footsteps of his friend and mentor Mike Huckabee, who has a well-known penchant for exaggeration.
On the jump, State Democratic Party news release capitalizes on Coleman's shoe chomp.
DEM PARTY STATEMENT
Curtis Coleman is considering running for U.S. Senator, a state-wide position that serves all Arkansans from all 75 counties, regardless of area code, zip code or region. His statement last night shows he is not ready to take on the role of senator and may need to take a course on Arkansas history and geography.
Speaking at a meeting Tuesday night in Benton County, Coleman was quoted in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "You go from here to southeast Arkansas, and you might as well get a visa and shots..." What country is Mr. Coleman living in? It appears that Mr. Coleman needs a lesson in civics, geography and possibly in manners. Inferring that one part of our state is a disease-ridden foreign country is not only incorrect, but also insulting. Mr. Coleman owes the people of southeast Arkansas an apology.
Arkansas has a leader in Washington, in U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, who represents the interests of all Arkansans from all corners of the state, and rather than pit one against the other she works hard to improve their lives. For over a decade Senator Lincoln has served the people of Arkansas well and will continue to do so.
Comments
Coleman really knows how to win friends and influence people, doesn't he? He's finished: Miss Blank and even his Repub opponents will kill him on that one.
Posted by: durangokid![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 24, 2009 11:08 AM
Well there is a slight difference between East and West, one gets Sunshine a little sooner and one holds it a little longer. I don't know about you, but it is encouraging to see a Repub anything, so in touch with what is happening around them. But he must have either, some kick-backs from a HMO, or a Health Insurance Firm, on the shot thing.
Posted by: Americonio![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 24, 2009 11:32 AM
The Arkansas version of Nixon's Southern Strategy.
Posted by: Janus![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 24, 2009 11:34 AM
About 18 yrs ago I had to do some work in Eastern Ark around Marvell-Helena. It was like a different world.
Once a few of them discovered I was from Fayetteville the questions never ceased. I recall one store owner calling NWA the "golden triange" meaning Fay.-Spdle-Rogers. In some of those small communities lights were out at 9 pm every night. Nothing moved. It was a different world.
Posted by: eLwood![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 24, 2009 11:51 AM
I wonder where he would put the border?
Posted by: Perplexed![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 24, 2009 12:01 PM
It IS a different world, 2 b sure, but visiting eastern and southern Arkansas requires no visa and no shots. It is far from Third World (although that's precisely what I thought last time I drove through what's left of downtown Dumas, McGehee, and Eudora). Anyway, politically speaking, it was a stupid utterance. When it comes time to collect votes, Coleman can write off the 1st and 4th congressional districts. Ya betcha.
Posted by: durangokid![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 24, 2009 12:21 PM
And within the memory of old-timers, Helena was once one of the liveliest, most sophisticated towns in Arkansas, known for its friendly hospitality. The lights stayed on late. Trains ran through it north and south, with Pullman service to St. Louis. Then everybody moved out.
Posted by: Casimer Pulaski![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 24, 2009 01:05 PM
It was clearly a joke. Clearly the needs of the state are very different by region. While clumsy, it is not even close to as bad as VP Joe Biden's bumbling comments (or even Obama's comments about visiting the 56 states).
Senator Lincoln is well aware of the vast differences between parts of the state, and she has to contort herself to cater to both. Perhaps Coleman is trying to explain to his conservative friends that areas of Arkansas like the Delta in which agriculture and prisons are the only local industry have different needs. The key to winning is to find ways to help all parts of the state. I'm glad that he understands that. The Northwest corner of the state is rather unique with the flagship university, Walmart, and Tyson headquarters. You can't win the election without winning votes in all of the regions. This is a vast improvement over the last Republican to challenge Blanche, who put all of his eggs in the gay marriage issue.
Posted by: Severus![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 24, 2009 01:57 PM
Yeah, southeast Arkansas looks like a third-world country. That's what years of neglect from Little Rock will do. Where do you think most of the state education and road construction money goes? Clue: it ain't going to Eudora.
Posted by: Archaeopteryx![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 25, 2009 09:38 AM