Thursday, November 17, 2022

Asa Hutchinson. You may ask, "Who?"

 You might find the answer unambiguous, but would the answer inspire?

First, Real Clear Politics:

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said on PBS's 'Firing Line with Margaret Hoover' that former President Donald Trump's influence has diminished and it is time for the Republican party to have a "post-Trump future."

"The election reinforced my thinking that if we're going to win, we have to have common-sense conservatives," Hutchinson said. "We have to have those that can appeal to independents, that can actually bring people together and that can win in November,  [...]"

[red highlight added] Okay, hat in the ring. Is he the type of man who can sufficiently distinguish himself from Trump and from DeSantis, or not? Can he offer that sizzling difference the nation yearns for?

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Hutchinson has a Wikipedia page, disclosing:

 Hutchinson took office as [Arkansas] governor on January 13, 2015.

On November 16, 2015, Hutchinson said that he would block all Syrian refugees from entering the state in response to the November 2015 Paris attacks.[23]

Under Hutchinson, Arkansas resumed executions in 2017 after having executed no one since 2005.[24][25][26] In 2021, DNA testing on the murder weapon and a bloody shirt at the scene of the crime did not match Ledell Lee, who was convicted and executed for murder.[27] Hutchinson defended Lee's execution, saying, "the DNA findings released today do not present any conclusive evidence to undermine [Lee's guilty verdict]."[27]

As governor, Hutchinson implemented work requirements for Medicaid enrollees. As a result, by December 2018, almost 17,000 Arkansans had lost their Medicaid health insurance, with reapplication available in the new calendar year.[28]

In February 2019, Hutchinson signed a bill into law that would criminalize abortion in the event Roe v. Wade is overturned.[29] On March 9, 2021, he signed SB6, a near-total abortion bill, into law. [...] 

In 2015, Hutchinson signed into law legislation that would prohibit localities from extending civil rights protections to LGBT individuals.[31] At the time, Arkansas was among states that allowed discrimination in the workplace, housing and business on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.[32] In March 2021, Hutchinson signed into law legislation that would allow doctors to refuse non-emergency medical treatment to LGBT people based on moral objection.[33] In April 2021, he vetoed a bill that would make it illegal for transgender minors to receive gender-affirming medication or surgery,[34] calling it "a vast government overreach".[35] The state legislature later overrode his veto.[36]

In August 2021, Hutchinson signed bills into law that prohibited businesses and government facilities from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for staff and customers to enter facilities.[37] While Arkansas was experiencing a wave of COVID-19 cases, he also signed a bill into law that prohibited state and local officials from enacting mask mandates.[38] He later said he regretted doing so.[38] In December 2021, Hutchinson praised President Joe Biden's COVID policies and thanked Biden for his efforts to "get the vaccinations out" and "depoliticizing" the federal COVID response.[39][40] In January 2022, Hutchinson encouraged large businesses to not comply with the Biden administration's vaccine requirements.[41]

Hutchinson demanded that Republicans who tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election and spread Trump's "Big Lie" about the election not be put in positions of leadership.[42] He also accused Trump of dividing the party and said his election conspiracies were "recipe for disaster".[43][44] On February 5, 2022, Hutchinson and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski condemned the Republican National Committee's censure of Representatives Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney for their support of and participation on the House Select Committee tasked with investigating the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[45] When asked in May 2022, Hutchinson said he supported Doug Mastriano in the 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election;[46] Mastriano denies the results of the 2020 election, and said if elected governor he might certify Pennsylvania's electoral votes only if the Republican presidential nominee wins.[47]

Personal life

[...]  Hutchinson's son Asa Hutchinson III has been arrested multiple times for driving offenses, including arrests in 2019, 2018, and 2016 for DWI and an arrest for possession of a controlled substance at a music festival in 2016.[49] [...]

Previous to Hutchinson being governor, Wikipedia describes his earlier career. Check it out unless you feel you've seen enough.

There is Trump. Aside from Trump, there is DeSantis.

As an alternative to either of those two, should Asa Hutchinson's candidacy be taken seriously, and where would it place the Republican party, if taken seriously?

Consider the question in the context, there is Mike Pence. Who we know better than we know Hutchinson.


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