Cook: Jason Rapert’s Re-election Announcement Exposes Internal GOP Rift

When an incumbent announces for re-election, it usually is met with cheers from their own party members. The opposition party may jeer, but at least your base is with you on that one day.

Unless you’re State Senator Jason Rapert.

Earlier this month Rapert announced his plans to seek re-election and the response it received from fellow Republicans shows the rift that has developed in the GOP due to the passage of Obamacare in Arkansas by the Republican-controlled State Legislature.

Rapert voted to implement Obamacare in Arkansas by voting for the Medicaid Private Option during the last legislative session. And if you take a look at the Faulkner County TEA Party’s Facebook page, you’ll see that Rapert’s base is downright livid with his Obamacare vote.

On June 5, Rapert’s reelection announcement was innocuously placed on that Facebook page and suddenly it generated 124 comments, with almost all of them from fellow Republicans attacking Rapert for his vote. Rapert defended his vote numerous times saying in part, “The majority of my constituents – including Republicans – asked me to vote for the Private Option…”

Check out some of the comments from Faulkner County TEA Party Members in regards to Jason Rapert:

Glenn E. Gallas Sr. He’s a member of the G.O.P. (Government Obesity Project)

Ron Bartels Who wants to support the Private Option by re-electing this traitor. Voters is [sic] Cleburne County are saying, “not me.”

Christine N David Keller You voted for the largest expansion of government in Arkansas history, while all states surrounding us are saying NO to Medicaid expansion. When Obamacare crumbles on its own, Arkansas will be a little island still locked into its key component, which hundreds of thousands of new Medicaid patients and no way to pay for it. BRILLIANT strategy move! And what’s more, you dare to arrogantly tell the grassroots that they have no idea what they’re talking about.

Other Arkansas Republicans were also attacked for supporting Obamacare implementation:

Christine N David Keller I am sick and tired of the Republicans who voted with EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT to cram this down our throats then lecturing us that it’s not their fault and we have to just “get along,” as if this is just a minor issue. It NEVER EVER crosses your mind–even slightly–that this could have been wrong?

Carla Couch Fowler When I saw Davy Carter and David Sanders all smiles and chummy with O’Beebe signing off on this I wanted to puke! They were showing their true colors as did others!

The base of the Republic Party of Arkansas believes the GOP-controlled State Legislature “voted for the largest expansion of government in Arkansas history.”

I wonder if Republican voters in Senator David Sanders’ district are pleased he was a key leader in bringing Obamacare to Arkansas? Based on what I’m reading, probably not.

I’ve written previously on how Republican legislators hate admitting they voted to implement Obamacare. They don’t like that characterization of the private option plan they helped craft.

I put it to you: how would you describe a new health insurance program that takes hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government, made possible only by the Afforable Care Act, that insures low-income Arkansans? It sounds like Obamacare to me.

All the vitrol directed against Rapert and his fellow Republicans makes it clear they’re heading into an election year with a Republic Party that is fighting among themselves.

Finally, I would not be surprised if Jason Rapert received a primary challenge from the right. He’s clearly vulnerable within his own base.