Cook: Sen. Jason Rapert’s Pettiness

“In war: resolution. In defeat: defiance. In victory: magnanimity. In peace: goodwill.” – Winston Churchill

For as long as I can remember, I’ve believed in the sentiment of the above Churchill quote. In victory, treat your former opponents respectfully and with generosity – unless you are State Senator Jason Rapert that is.

This week, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Rapert blocked Governor Beebe’s appointment of Linda Tyler, Rapert’s 2012 opponent, to the state Parole Board. Rapert’s fig leaf of an excuse for opposing her appointment was the fact that Tyler co-sponsored Act 570, which overhauled the state’s sentencing laws. Rapert believes the legislation puts more prisoners on the street.

Some quick background on the legislation in question. In the 2011 regular legislative session, Act 570 was so unpopular it just barely passed the State Senate…uh, no, strike that, the final bill passed the Senate with all 35 Senators on record as voting for it – including Jason Rapert. And it passed the House with 79 votes.

However, in Senator Rapert’s defense, Act 570 did have numerous flaming liberal co-sponsors such as Senator Gilbert Baker, Senator Michael Lamoureux and Senator Bill Pritchard. Uh, strike that too. I think I’m incorrect in my categorization of the political philosophies of those gentlemen. The legislation had numerous other Republican sponsors in addition to the aforementioned.

I think you get my point. I don’t buy Rapert’s laughable story of why he blocked Tyler’s appointment. Rapert is just being a petty politician. It’s not the first time he’s acted of out of pettiness.

Last year, Rapert blocked the appointment of another “lady Democrat,” as he likes to call women who dare to politically oppose him.

Kathryn Spinks, a retired nurse from Conway, had her appointment to the Occupational Therapy Examining Committee blocked by Rapert. Spinks was highly qualified for the appointment, but she just happened to be involved in Faulkner County Democratic politics. This woman dared to have a different opinion than Jason Rapert and he punished her for it.

Rapert gave no real public reason for blocking this qualified appointment, he just sniffed and said “[I’m”] just not comfortable with that appointment.” Political pettiness.

Perhaps Jason Rapert should have looked to the recent example of Senator Linda Chesterfield and Jay Barth. Chesterfield and Barth fought hard for a Democratic State Senate nomination in 2010, with Chesterfield ultimately winning the race.

In 2012, Governor Mike Beebe appointed Jay Barth to the State Board of Education, and Chesterfield graciously approved the appointment. That is how it should be. Magnanimous in victory.

In the end, instead of Winston Churchill, perhaps Senator Rapert has more in common with the author of the following historically ironic quote from a former Republican leader:

“Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.” – Richard Nixon