Party Chairmen Spar At Political Animals Club

There was a contrast in style and messaging at the central Arkansas Political Animals Club on Wednesday (Nov. 6) as the chairmen of the two largest political parties in Arkansas debated.

Republican Party of Arkansas chairman Doyle Webb and Democratic Party of Arkansas chairman Vince Insalaco squared off in a room full of politicos at the Arkansas Governor’s mansion.

Webb told the group that there are two different teams in Arkansas politics, not a joint team. Insalaco touted bipartisanship among Democratic leaders.

John Lyon with our content partner, the Arkansas News Bureau, reports:

Webb told the club, “There’s a red team and a blue team, and the blue team enables the policies of the team, whether it’s at the courthouse or in the Congress or in the presidency. They are enablers. Doesn’t matter the name, they are all enablers. … There is no purple team in Arkansas.”

“Arkansas Democrats want to work for Arkansans, not narrow ideological interests,” Insalaco said. “We want to work together. We want to reach across the aisle. We want candidates who know what it’s like to do that — candidates and office holders like Gov. (Mike) Beebe, who has taught us well what reaching across the aisle means and how you can get work done.”

The two political party leaders discussed the upcoming Pryor-Cotton Senate race, the federal health care law, and other issues. Read the full story at this link.