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A possible explanation Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 By David Sanders Candidates who run for public office want to make sure their message is reasoned, relevant, thoughtful and timely. The success or failure of a candidate to connect his or her message with voters' concerns is often affected by news and events. Asa Hutchinson has been fortunate that all the news is breaking his way. There has to be some plausible explanation. Maybe these "e-mails" plucked from a columnist's storage bin atop his shoulders will provide some insight. Here's one from Candidate Hutchinson to Bruce Moore, Little Rock city manager, dated Sept. 15: "I just finished a breakfast speech out on the campaign trail. "You know I've been beating the eminent domain drum for a few weeks now, but our friends in the media haven't been buying it. It seems they think I've been 'demagoguing' the issue for political gain. "If I said it once I said it a million times: The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Kelo, coupled with the fact that Arkansas law is unclear, means some municipal government could come along and try to take a person's property so a private developer could have his way with the land. I'm glad you see it my way. "Bruce, I want thank you for all the hard work you are doing on behalf of my campaign. Sending that letter to Johnnie Gupton last week suggesting the city could use eminent domain to get her out of her house so that the Lions World Services for the Blind could build a building was brilliant! "This will help me drive my message home. Your hard work demonstrates what could happen to a person who tries to stand up to a municipality and a private developer who embraces the new definition of 'public use.' "Keep up the good work! Asa" "Response" from Moore: "Could it have been any better? Heck, she has lived there for over 30 years. Did you like the way she told the reporters she thought the letter was a 'threat?' Hey Asa, as far as your message goes, - THE EAGLE HAS LANDED! Let me know if I can help out on anything else. BM" Another "e-mail" from Hutchinson to Moore, dated Oct. 14: "I just spoke to the (Pulaski County) Bar Association about using tax cuts as a method to grow the state's economy. You know that our tax structure is actually discouraging new businesses from locating in Arkansas. "I have a favor to ask. I need to keep my message front and center in the voters' minds. (Mike) Beebe and I are speaking to the state chamber in a few weeks. I'm afraid he may try to stay close to me on taxes, which is a problem. "I need CONTRAST - a competing philosophical position out there. "I've heard about some of the work your 'secret citizens' committee' is doing. I'm a little troubled about what I hear. Remember, I NEED CONTRAST, nothing that could be construed as 'hey that's what Asa is proposing.' "You think you might get (City Director Michael) Keck and the committee to SCRAP the plans for offsetting tax cuts they were going to suggest to counter those tax increases - think contrast. "This might be asking a little much, but if he could present the committee's recommendations for JUST the tax increases to the board the day before I speak - that would be the 25th - and get him to use the line: 'We need to raise taxes to bring jobs to Little Rock.' I know that's over the top, but folks would be even more receptive to my approach if you guys were out there spreading an opposing view. "FYI - I might be able to break some new ground in the speech by coming out for exempting businesses from the sales taxes on utilities. "Any help would be appreciated. Asa" "Response" from Moore: "I've talked to Mike, CONSIDER IT DONE!!!! By the way, I've noticed you've been e-mailing the special masters again. BM" OK, so those aren't real e-mail messages. But considering the degree to which things have been going Asa's way, surely something is going on. ------- David Sanders writes twice weekly for the Arkansas News Bureau in Little Rock. His e-mail address is DavidJSanders@aol.com. |
