Eldridge: Boozman just ‘goes along’; Boozman campaign says charge ‘laughable’

U.S. Senate candidate Conner Eldridge, a Democrat trying to unseat Republican Sen. John Boozman, Wednesday faulted Boozman for failing to help solve problems during his 15 years in Congress. Boozman’s campaign called that comment “laughable.”

Speaking to the Political Animals Club in Little Rock, Eldridge said that Boozman, first elected to the House in 2001 and elected to the Senate in 2010, has failed to help address problems, saying Boozman’s approach is “just to sort of show up, just to kind of go along to get along, and show up to vote.”

Eldridge said his own approach toward the job would be “to stand up, to speak out, to lead on every issue, no matter how tough.” Eldridge said he would practice a “white board approach to government” – write the problem on a whiteboard, discuss solutions in a bipartisan way, and be willing to change your mind.

Boozman’s campaign manager, Chris Caldwell, responded by saying, “That is laughable. John Boozman has spent his life caring for and protecting Arkansans. Just today, Sen. Boozman was on the Senate floor fighting for all veterans and the passage of the Veterans First Act.”

Eldridge, a former U.S. attorney appointed by President Obama, said he would have supported a gun measure by Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., that would have prevented people on government watch lists from buying a gun. That measure failed earlier this week. He said a Republican alternative supported by Boozman would not be effective and in some ways would be more harmful.

Eldridge said that terrorists and suspected terrorists should be prevented from buying a gun and said he supports closing loopholes allowing people to buy guns at gun shows and online that they would not be able to buy otherwise. He said he has a concealed weapons permit and opposes an assault weapons ban.

Caldwell said it is “concerning” that Eldridge would vote to strip away due process rights. He said Boozman “believes we can strike a balance that keeps guns out of the hands of terrorists while continuing to protect and defend the constitutional rights of Arkansans and Americans alike.”

Eldridge said he supports a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United ruling that allowed more money in politics, and he said he supports more disclosure of donors. He said he prosecuted a county judge who is now in prison for demanding a bribe in exchange for county business. “Aren’t we sort of sanctioning some level of impropriety here?” he said. “Do we think folks who give big PAC money or Super PAC money or whatever don’t want something for it?”

He said Boozman has said he is not concerned about it, to which Caldwell responded, “Obviously since the senator’s opponent wants to infringe on the Second Amendment, he would also want to limit the First Amendment.”

Regarding immigration, Eldridge said authorities need to know what and who are coming into the country, adding that most of the meth cases he prosecuted related to drug trafficking organizations involved drugs coming across the border. He said he supports a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants who are paying taxes and haven’t committed crimes. He said a 2013 bill by Sen. John McCain would have helped improve border security and provided a pathway to legal status.

“This is not a Democratic idea,” he said. “In fact, this is something that President George Bush wanted to do. John McCain supported it. John Boozman did not.”

Caldwell said Boozman is opposed to amnesty and “believes that real immigration starts with securing our borders.”

On criminal justice reform, Eldridge said the first bill he will introduce in the Senate would require life sentences for all child predators but said the country needs new approaches for nonviolent first-time offenders. He criticized Boozman for not being engaged enough on criminal justice reform, while Sen. Tom Cotton has said the United States does not incarcerate enough people.

“We need common sense, intellectually honest discussion and debate with an eye towards passing legislation that makes a difference. One senator is stymying legislation; one senator is not participating,” he said.

Caldwell said Boozman that day had introduced an amendment to a Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill to provide funding for local law enforcement.