This piece in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about the new State Legislature mentions Richard Carroll, the newly elected Green Party member to the State Legislature, and his future political affiliation:
Harrelson said Rep.-elect Richard Carroll, a Green Party member from North Little Rock, caucused with the Democrats.
“We’ve asked him if he wants to be a member of the Democratic Party, and he said that he felt obligated to the Green Party,” said Harrelson.
“I think his feelings may change because, of course, we’ll seek a Democratic candidate for House District 39 in two years if he is still a Green Party candidate, so we are going to talk him into changing parties,” Harrelson said.
Carroll said he wants to concentrate on working on legislation for next year’s session now rather than deciding whether to run as a Democrat or Green in 2010.
Carroll drew No. 90 for seniority.
Carroll decided to serve on the House Public Transportation Committee and the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee.
What I find ironic about this is that the Democrats refused to run against the Republican Congressman in Arkansas, but feel obligated to run against an apparent ally in Green Party legislator Richard Carroll. Kudos to Carroll to sticking with issues over political affiliation. If he does a great job as a legislator and serves his constituents, he ought to be able to hold his seat as a Green in 2010.
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10 responses so far ↓
1 Ben // Nov 13, 2008 at 10:52 pm
It’s not just ironic, it’s telling. And disturbing. And, we all wish otherwise, not surprising.
2 GreenCutip // Nov 14, 2008 at 1:44 am
It looks like CNN has listed all the AK federal races as “ran unopposed”!
This is outrageous!
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/state/#val=AR
3 Green Ferret // Nov 14, 2008 at 6:17 am
Well, it fits in with what I’ve heard about Arkansas politics, that there is only one big business party with Democrat and Republican heads. Their top priority is ensuring the Wal-Martization of the American economy and getting their piece of the pie.
For the people to see a crack in the Republicrats’ armor, especially in the form of a longtime labor organizer like Richard Carroll, is much more of a threat to the Democrats than the Republicans are.
From Tragedy and Hope by Carroll Quigley, pp. 1247–1248:
The National parties and their presidential candidates, with the Eastern Establishment assiduously fostering the process behind the scenes, moved closer together and nearly met in the center with almost identical candidates and platforms, although the process was concealed as much as possible, by the revival of obsolescent or meaningless war cries and slogans (often going back to the Civil War). … The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to the doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can “throw the rascals out” at any election without leading to any profound or extreme shifts in policy. … Either party in office becomes in time corrupt, tired, unenterprising, and vigorless. Then it should be possible to replace it, every four years if necessary, by the other party, which will be none of these things but will still pursue, with new vigor, approximately the same basic policies.
4 Gregg Jocoy // Nov 14, 2008 at 8:39 am
Ultimately we can’t force anyone to remain a Green, but I believe Richard Carroll is a man of character, and the fact that the Democrat’s first overture to him was “Join us or we will run against you next time” strikes me as the sort of bullying tactic that just might back-fire.
I hope that the Green Party can find a way to establish some sort of “Green Victory Fund” to begin now to save up cash so that folks like Richard can have some financial backing.
But, ultimately, the decisions are in hands in Arkansas, Richard’s and the other Greens. Personally, I don’t believe that Richard is power hungry, and that he won’t be intimidated or bought off.
5 Richard Winger // Nov 14, 2008 at 11:48 am
Of course, it really isn’t up to the Democratic Party to determine whether someone will file in the Democratic primary in this district in 2010. Even if the state Democratic Party leadership didn’t want to injure Richard Carroll, that leadership couldn’t prevent any Democrat from running.
6 Ronald Hardy // Nov 14, 2008 at 11:55 am
But they couldn’t talk anyone into running against the “unopposed” Republican Congressman. Same goes for the Republicans, who didn’t run anyone against any of the Arkansas Democrats in Congress.
One could call it a coincidence, but stacked next to the standard practice of Dem-Rep conspired gerrymandering it looks more like coordination.
7 Eric Prindle // Nov 14, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Instead of a “Victory Fund,” let’s establish a “Values Fund” to give financial backing to candidates who actually agree with the Green Party platform on important points like the rights of women to control their own bodies.
8 Wes Rolley // Nov 15, 2008 at 12:13 pm
This is better than the California experience with Audie Bock’s election was heralded even in the NY Times, but she soon changed to Democrat and only lasted one term.
9 Mike Indiana // Nov 16, 2008 at 10:58 am
If Carroll were to caucus by himself as a Green (instead of with the democrats) would he be eligible for additional staff and office space, like John Eder was in Maine.
I have been unable to find any information regarding caucusing rules for the Arkansas house, if anyone knows the answer please post it on this thread.
10 Steve Kramer // Nov 17, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Unfortunate but hardly unexpected. This is the “change” and “hope” of the “new” Democratic Party. Absolutely, Greens should be organizing now to raise fund for Carroll’s run in 2010.
@Richard: Understood that the line for the Dems is open in 2010, but surely as a spokesman for the Democratic caucus in Little Rock, Mr. Harrelson is in a position to determine which races will receive priority. That he chooses to mention District 39 before Mr. Carroll even takes his seat for the first session is extremely telling.
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