The state's Republicans had a lot to celebrate at their annual convention, for the party picked up nine seats in Arkansas' 100-member House of Representatives in last month's election and two more seats in the 35-member state Senate.
If everything isn't coming up roses, then at least it's daffodil time for the Grand Old Brand New Party. And yet only one refrain was repeated over and over again at this Republican conclave: "Don't screw it up!" For the party can be its own most effective saboteur, waxing complacent as the loyal opposition prepares for the next pivotal election. How? By fully absorbing the painful lessons of this one and preparing a new approach that might lead to victory down the bumpy road ahead. Defeat, however devastating, can provide a teaching moment, even a couple of teaching years. But who ever learned from success?
One thing some Democrats learned in this election is that they'd been Republicans all along and now should openly identify themselves as such. To quote Doyle Webb, the party's re-elected chairman: "You never know when someone decides that they should switch [parties], not because their values have changed, but because their values align closer with ours. There have been conversations with others who are considering switching parties."
Why, sure, these legislators may have been Republicans all along and just didn't know it. So why not hop on the Republican bandwagon when the hopping is the best it's been in years? Is it just opportunism or a genuine change of heart, and why should Republicans care? As long as it strengthens their majorities in the state Senate and House, why let a hollow pride stand in the way of their party's growth?
Now that the Republicans hold the whip hand in state politics, the only question may be how they choose to use it. To cut taxes, emphasize human-rights issues like abortion, all of the above or none? For the moment, the GOP's emphasis is on giving Arkansas taxpayers some long overdue relief. Some legislators would like keep this state's most shameful tax--the one on groceries--at 1.5 percent rather than cutting it to 0.125 percent as the law now requires. Which would be a definite step backward in terms of simple justice.
Governor Asa Hutchinson, lest we forget, is not only head of state but head of his party, and he doesn't sound at all fazed by these intra-party differences. Call them growing pains, for the larger a political party grows, the more factions it is bound to develop. "As you grow larger," the governor recognizes, and "more diverse, you're obviously going to have differences of opinion, and so it's about managing those. I look at the legislative session. We've never had this large of a majority before, and I recognize there's going to be some differences, there's going to be some fights in there, and that's all good. I've always believed that you have to win in the marketplace of ideas. We don't want to stop being an idea party. I think that debate is healthy, and if you don't have that debate, you become stagnant."
For an example to beware, just look at the cramped uniformity, empty sloganeering, and idea-free campaign that the Democrats' national leader, Hillary Clinton, waged for the presidency. If her Republican opponent was a loose cannon, at least he was indeed a cannon, not a pop gun.
Asked why he thought Hillary Clinton had conducted such a poor campaign for the presidency, a never-cocksure Republican congressman from Arkansas--French Hill--said it was because she'd neglected the economic issue. Oh, she'd seen the unemployment numbers all right, he said, but failed to recognize how bad it was in the Farm Belt, that is, in places like much of his own congressional district. Congressman Hill noted that there are only 3,000 more folks working out there in the fields than there had been back in 2007. Republicans should celebrate their gains, he added, but not let their guard down for the coming midterm elections in 2018. "Y'all think that's a cakewalk?" he asked. And answered in terse, telegraphic style: "No. Off-year election. Donald Trump president. Who loses seats in an off-year election? Party in charge." Case made.
As state chairman of his party, Doyle Webb surely understands all that, as his record of success indicates. And his party's success is his own. He himself will continue to earn $60,000 a year as party chairman, and he qualifies for a $38,000 bonus if he meets his fund-raising goals. It seems Republicans don't believe in incentives just for the economy but for themselves. Mr. Webb is proving well worth his salary and possible bonuses. It's highly unlikely by now that he'll fail.
Editorial on 12/08/2016