Arkansas governor defends 'banana republic' comments
Huckabee cites voter-fraud complaints since election; Democrats say remark crosses line
By Suzi Parker / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Thursday that he stood behind his remark earlier this week that Arkansas is a voter-fraud-prone "banana republic" in the hands of Democrats who want to control voting.
And, the Republican said, allegations coming in to the party's "voter fraud hotline" since Tuesday's election had done nothing to change his mind.
Mr. Huckabee stirred up a flurry of criticism in Arkansas with his remarks Monday on the New York-based Imus in the Morning radio talk show.
Democrats and other Arkansas citizens became outraged at Mr. Huckabee's remarks the day before the election.
Mr. Huckabee had said in the interview that his biggest concern about the election was ballot fraud, adding: "It's like the banana republic of Arkansas in an election." He referred to some Arkansas counties that allowed early voting on weekends - a time not specifically authorized by state law - and to unsecured ballots in Miller County that were kept at election officials' homes over the weekend.
He said Thursday that he didn't just make the remarks for the first time this week as had been implied by his critics. He said he has complained about such problems before.
"I have addressed these very issues numerous times in public - dozens, literally - in speeches and interviews," Mr. Huckabee said. "The issue was not what I said, but that the Democrat officials created a diversion of the ballot problems and illegal weekend voting by making it sound like some big revelation."
Republican Party officials cited numerous complaints they said they had received over their hotline. They also said they had been in contact Thursday with national Republican officials about the voting complaints.
Mr. Huckabee suggested during his appearance on the show with host Don Imus that voter fraud by Democratic election officials could rob Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush of a victory in Arkansas. Mr. Bush carried Arkansas on Tuesday night with 51 percent of the vote to Democrat Al Gore's 46 percent.
Republican Party officials said some of the complaints they've received include:
* Voting machines that "refused to recognize votes for Republican candidates."
* Voters giving other people's names and voting on behalf of those people.
* More ballots being cast than names on sign-in sheets.
* And people voting twice, once through absentee ballots or early voting and then again Tuesday.
"This kind of activity is very serious in our state," said Chris Carnahan, executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas. "I think it is very partisan. Democrats are winking and ignoring the problems. And problems still exist."
Secretary of State Sharon Priest said that a lot of the Arkansas complaints have been triggered by the re-counting of ballots in Florida.
"I think that some of it has to do with Florida," said Ms. Priest, who is also the president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. "I hate to say it but I think part of it is goes back to the governor [and his remarks]."
Democratic Party chairman Vaughn McQuary said he thinks that Mr. Carnahan's remarks are an attempt to justify the governor's banana republic statement.
"I think again the governor found himself in New York City trying to be funny and he stepped over the line," said Mr. McQuary. "Here our governor was trying to be a stand-up comedian."
Mr. Huckabee said that voting irregularities are serious and need to be addressed.
"I discussed a serious issue on a show known for its sophisticated, yet biting, political humor, and if the Democrats had rather criticize me than fix the problems, then all the more reason my comments were on target," Mr. Huckabee said.
Ms. Priest said that problems, including a shortage of ballots, did occur Tuesday, especially in Pulaski County. She said that the state Board of Election Commissioners plans to address the problems in a Nov. 15 meeting.
"But to call this voter fraud is extreme," she said.
Mr. Huckabee's remarks about a banana republic run by Democrats could come back to haunt him as the state prepares for its legislative session that begins in January, one key legislator said.
"That's a highly partisan statement, and that flies in the face of working in a bipartisan manner," said Mike Beebe, a Democrat from Searcy, who will be the chamber's president pro tem.
"We've fought so hard in recent years to minimize partisanship. It is just disappointing when you read that kind of stuff," Mr. Beebe said.
Suzi Parker is a free-lance writer based in Little Rock.