Vincent Insalaco: Why Democrats Will Win In 2014

Editor’s note: Vincent Insalaco is the chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas. His commentary appears in the latest magazine edition of Talk Business Arkansas.

When you look at the way Republicans in Washington are behaving, it’s hard not to be frustrated by our national politics.

The Republican Party is fighting a battle between two factions within their party and a few reckless members of the Republican Party have shown that they’re willing to take the American people down with them while they slug it out with each other. The Republicans in the Arkansas delegation are so preoccupied by their party’s political civil war that they have forgotten about the people who sent them to Washington in the first place.

Look no further than Congressman Tom Cotton for an example of someone placing personal ambition ahead of the job he was elected to do. Congressman Cotton has continuously voted against women, farmers, seniors, and students in pursuit of an irresponsible agenda that brings real consequences to Arkansas families.

The shutdown and near default has damaged the people of our state and those responsible for the shutdown will be held responsible. Congressmen Cotton and Crawford were cheerleaders for that irresponsible strategy in the House, which damaged our economy and hurt the pocketbooks of Arkansans who did nothing to deserve such treatment.

When you hear Congressman Cotton say that Republicans need to be willing to shutdown the government or that the United States should “take its medicine now” and risk default and economic catastrophe, it’s not Arkansas he’s representing.

Therein lies the problem with today’s Republican Party and it’s why Arkansas Democrats are poised for success in 2014.

Arkansas Democrats are the party of reasonable solutions and the party of coming together for the good of Arkansas.

Governor Beebe is one of the most popular governors in the country because he focused on bringing people together and getting things done. He fought for policies that benefitted all Arkansans – like balancing the budget while cutting taxes and increasing funding to strengthen K-12 education. Arkansas needs responsible leaders who will continue that course.

Mark Pryor and Mike Ross have always put Arkansans first. They’re practical, pragmatic leaders. And now experienced leaders like Patrick Henry Hays are joining the fight to do what’s best for Arkansas. Hays balanced 24 budgets as mayor. Arkansans have had enough of the dysfunction of Cotton and Crawford. They want people like Mike Beebe, Mike Ross, Mark Pryor and Patrick Henry Hays to work towards real solutions for our people.

They are Arkansas Democrats, through and through. That may not play well in Washington, where they’ve never been afraid to stand up to their own party, but that’s what being an Arkansas Democrat is all about. Mark Pryor and Mike Ross never forgot where they came from and for whom they were fighting.

Hardworking Arkansas families deserve a government that works for them.

Social Security and Medicare for our seniors, veterans’ benefits for those who have bravely served their country, equal pay for women and a minimum wage that empowers Arkansans to care for their family with dignity are what Arkansas Democrats have always fought for.

Arkansas Democrats have always fought for our farmers and ranchers. Agriculture makes up a quarter of our state’s economy and accounts for 1 in 5 Arkansas jobs. Congressman Cotton voted against the Farm Bill. How do you vote against a farm bill and claim to represent Arkansans?

Arkansas Democrats are the party of responsible government and balanced budgets.

What do Republicans have?

Republicans in the House voted to shut down the government.

Congressman Cotton has supported reckless plans that would gut Medicare and Social Security, irresponsibly voted against the Violence Against Women Act, and has never been shy about placing his political ambitions ahead of Arkansas. He even missed votes in the House of Representatives to fundraise in Houston while the government was on the brink of a shutdown.

Asa Hutchinson is proposing fiscally irresponsible policies that jeopardize our balanced budget and punish working families. Asa would slash the state income tax but has yet to answer what cuts he would make to pre-school education, higher education, prisons, or programs for seniors in order to pay for his tax cuts for the wealthy.

Arkansans don’t want more Republican dysfunction in Washington, and they certainly don’t want Asa Hutchinson to bring his Washington-style policies to state government.

While Republicans are fighting amongst themselves, Arkansas Democrats are fighting for Arkansas.

Arkansas Democrats have a strong ticket and a strong record to run on. We’re enthusiastic about our candidates and committed to the values that have defined Arkansas Democrats for generations. Responsible leadership, pragmatic problem solving and an unshakable commitment to making Arkansas work for all Arkansans.

That’s how Arkansas Democrats have always won, and it’s why we’ll be victorious in 2014.