Asa? the flip flopper

Our country has a rich history of whimsical politicians who will do and say whatever they think will get them elected and in that fine tradition, I give you Asa? Hutchinson.


Illegal immigration: Just two years ago Asa's stance on illegal immigration was from what I can tell, so what. For months, Hutchinson worked feverishly to get illegals to buy into the Bush plan of amnesty for upwards of 12 million illegals. On September 9th of 2004 Hutchinson said: "We've outlined a number of incentives to encourage aliens to support the plan including provisions freeing them from arrest and deportation, giving them access to tax-deferred savings accounts and Social Security credits and allowing them unrestricted travel to and from their home countries. We're trying to bring 8 million illegals out of the shadows and give them legal status."

Now in 2006, with a super majority of Americans, and more importantly, a super majority of Arkansans firmly against any type of amnesty plan, Hutchinson has changed his position dramatically. He has offered up a weak plan to bring state forces to bear against the scurge of illegal immigration. From the Hutchinson for Governor website:


Springdale, Ark. – Asa Hutchinson, the 2006 Republican candidate for Arkansas Governor, today laid out a four-point plan he would implement as Governor to fight illegal immigration in the state.
In a news conference at the Springdale Police Department, Hutchinson said state and local government can – and should – play a vital role in combating illegal immigration.
“There are still too many who say that immigration is a federal matter only, and that states have no role in enforcing our laws. That’s an old way of thinking, and one that simply isn’t acceptable anymore,” Hutchinson said. “In a post-9/11 world, we must acknowledge that border security does not stop in El Paso or New York City. Illegal immigration impacts states like Arkansas by straining state resources and undermining the rule of law.”
Hutchinson emphasized the importance of immigrants to the history, culture and success of America and insisted that the United States must remain an open and welcoming nation even as we step up efforts to secure our borders.
“Those who come to the United States and Arkansas legally, who have respected our laws and have worked to achieve the American dream, they represent many of the very success stories that have made our country great,” Hutchinson said. “But we need to send a clear message to those who do not respect our laws, who have cheated others who have followed the rules, that they will not be rewarded for their behavior. We must also send a message that those who facilitate illegal activity will also be held accountable.”
Noting the explosive growth of illegal immigrants in Arkansas in recent years, Hutchinson said that Arkansas taxpayers were the ones shouldering the costs of such illegal activity. “When Arkansas taxpayers are footing the bill, when our state’s law-abiding employers are left uncertain of the status of their workers – clearly, this is a state problem,” he said. “As Governor, I’ll work with our law enforcement agencies to give them the tools they need to partner with federal immigration authorities and to fight illegal immigration here in Arkansas.”

What is most sickening about this particular brand of flip floppery is that the problem would not be nearly as bad as it is now had Asa actually done the job he was hired for at Homeland Security. It was on his watch, that a large chunk of these illegals crossed the border he was supposed to be securing. How are we supposed to believe that he can get the illegal immigrant problem under wraps as the governor of Arkansas when he couldn't even do it at the federal level when the problem was actually in his title, "Undersecretary for Border and Transportation Security."

I couldn't make this shit up if I tried, it just goes to show you that the truth IS stranger than fiction.