Hutchinson blog posting targets gubernatorial rival Beebe
Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Campaign officials for Republican gubernatorial nominee Asa Hutchinson posted a statement on Hutchinson’s Web site Tuesday accusing the Democratic nominee, Attorney General Mike Beebe, of having a “gay problem,” spinning a “web of deceit,” and having “clearly lied” about his stance on gay adoption.
The statement regarded Beebe reportedly telling a gay advocacy group that he opposed efforts to prohibit gays from being foster parents and later issuing a public statement that Arkansas should pass a law banning gay foster parents.
A Beebe campaign spokesman responded that Hutchinson was making “blatantly false statements” misrepresenting what Beebe said at a meeting with the Stonewall Democratic Club. The organization promotes gay advocacy and is not an affiliate of the Democratic Party of Arkansas.
Kathy Webb of Little Rock, the Democratic state representative-elect for House District 37 and a member of the Stonewall Democrats, said Tuesday that Beebe likely was misunderstood by some club members.
“I don’t remember exactly what he said,” said Webb, who said she was at the meeting. “But I think it’s a very good chance there was a misunder- standing. I think some of the people at the meeting maybe thought he said something he didn’t say. I think he’s been very consistent with what he said about [gay foster parents ].” Webb, a Beebe supporter, said there were about seven or eight people at the meeting.
The accusation of deceit was posted on the Hutchinson campaign’s Web log, called “Asa’s campaign blog.” It found fault with the way Stephens Media columnist John Brummett characterized Beebe’s handling of a contribution from the Stonewall group and Beebe’s public statement about the foster parent issue.
Hutchinson spokesman Dave Kinkade said he posted the statement. He described it as a “collaborative effort” at the campaign.
The statement began by noting that Brummett was wading “into the strange story of Mike Beebe’s gay problem.” “Now, what we have here is a politician getting caught up in his own web of deceit, closeddoor promises and, well, brazen hypocrisy,” it continued.
After critiquing the columnist’s account at length, the Hutchinson campaign statement concluded: “Beebe clearly lied — either to the gay activists or to the public.” A weekly newspaper in Little Rock, the Arkansas Times, on July 13 said sources it did not name but who attended the June 20 Stonewall Democrats meeting said Beebe was there to explain his returning the group’s campaign contribution and to soothe the feelings of group members who didn’t like him giving it back.
Someone asked Beebe what his position would be if a legislator sponsored a bill to ban gays from being foster parents. He told them he would try to keep it from becoming law, the Times said it was told by its sources.
Nine days later the state Supreme Court unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that overturned a state regulation banning gays from being foster parents. The rule-making body did not have legislative authority to issue that rule, the court said.
Beebe’s response to the court decision was that the state should pass a law banning gays from being foster parents.
The Stonewall Democrats group subsequently withdrew its endorsement of Beebe, citing his refusal of the group’s check and his statement against gay foster parents, The Associated Press reported.
Zac Wright, a spokesman for Beebe, said Tuesday, “Mike Beebe stands by what he said in the meeting: He will not sign any unconstitutional legislation or be a party to discrimination.” Wright said good leaders don’t make every group happy.
“What is more diff icult to understand is why Mr. Hutchinson personally would make such blatantly false statements,” Wright said. “While we expected negative, false campaigning from [former ] Congressman Hutchinson, it is surprising to see him make purposeful misrepresentation in his personal statements this early in the campaign.” Wright said Hutchinson’s campaign previously had said that statements posted under “Asa’s campaign blog” were equivalent to positions by Hutchinson.
Kinkade declined to say whether Hutchinson stood by the statements that appeared on the campaign Web site Tuesday. The campaign later e-mailed an Internet link to the statement.
“Asa stands by the fact that Mike Beebe has problems with giving straight answers — whether it’s gay foster parenting, abortion, taxes, rural schools or any other issue. He has trouble giving clear answers and taking clear positions,” Kinkade said.
Jada Walker, executive vice president of the Stonewall group, didn’t return repeated messages seeking comment.
The general election is Nov. 7.
Independent candidate Rod Bryan, a sandwich shop worker from Little Rock, also is to be on the ballot.
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