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Democrats pass on answering conservative group's election questionnaire Thursday, Sep 14, 2006 By Betsy Turner Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Democratic candidates for top statewide offices passed on answering questions posed by a conservative pro-family organization for its online voting guide for the 2006 general election, a spokesman said Wednesday. The Arkansas Voters Guide is the Internet version of a print publication that the Arkansas Family Council has put out for the past 16 years, spokesman John Thomas said. The guide prints the answers given by each candidate to a number of questions on topics, this year ranging from gay foster parents to the sales tax on groceries. Thomas said he did not know why Democratic candidates for the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general did not complete the group's survey. "I'm a little bit confused as to why," Thomas said. "The questions are not partisan. We have come up with those questions about issues that have come up in the news in Arkansas." Bud Jackson, spokesman for lieutenant governor candidate Bill Halter, said the conservative nature of the group had nothing to do with Halter's failure to respond to the questions. "It's a question of priorities and time," Jackson said. Melissa Moody, a spokeswoman for Democratic Attorney General candidate Dustin McDaniel also cited time constraints for McDaniel not answering the questionnaire. The questions cover several controversial topics in Arkansas politics, including the candidate's views on granting scholarships to the children of illegal immigrants and the Roe v. Wade court decision that legalized abortion. Republican gubernatorial nominee Asa Hutchinson and independent candidate Rod Bryan turned in responses. Both expressed support for the elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and increased state funding for pre-kindergarten programs but oppose casino gambling in Arkansas. Bryan expressed support for allowing gays to serve as foster parents and allowing abortion in all cases in Arkansas. Hutchinson said he would support a ban on gay foster parents. Hutchinson said if Roe v. Wade were overturned, he would "take the lead" to outlaw abortion in the state except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Beebe's campaign spokesman Zac Wright said "not every interest group's questionnaire can be filled out." He said Beebe's plans for the office could be viewed at his Web site. U.S. Reps. Vic Snyder and Mike Ross, both D-Ark., answered the questionnaire. ----- On the Net: Arkansas Family Council Voters Guide: www.arkansasvotersguide.com |
