Clark’s lack of party affiliation typical in Arkansas

[Nicholas_J]

By DAVID HAMMER

Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Wesley Clark is typical of many voters in Arkansas. When he registered to vote, he declared no party affiliation.

But Clark is no longer a typical voter. He is one of 10 Democrats seeking the party’s presidential nomination and his lack of political affiliation is proving somewhat embarrassing as he fends off rivals who question his Democratic credentials...

Only 4.4 percent of Arkansas’ 1.5 million voters have declared any political party, said Janet Miller, the secretary of state’s deputy for elections.

"Voter registration by party affiliation is an optional choice, and we have found that a very, very small number of registered voters declare," Miller said. "And if you do declare, it isn’t binding. They just ask you which ballot you want when you show up at the polls."

Arkansans couldn’t even declare party affiliation until 1996, after changes in 1995 to a state constitutional amendment added an optional party information box to registration forms.

http://www4.fosters.com/News2003/October2003/October_03/News/reg_pol_1003c.asp

[StephNW4Clark]

1. This is a dupe.

There's at least 2 other threads posted recently. Just an FYI.

[trogdor]

2. So?

If that is so, then let him run as an independent. If I wanted to play by Arkansas rules, I'd move to Arkansas.

[RandomUser]

3. By that logic

over 95% of Arkansas voters are independents, which is clearly not true. Almost all the democrats in Arkansas are "independents". That's why voter registration as a "democrat" or not doesn't define you as a democrat if you're from Arkansas (which Clark is). Because it wasn't even legal to register as a "democrat" until the last few years.

[dfong63]

4. no more excuses

Because it wasn't even legal to register as a "democrat" until the last few years.

but it is now, yet Clark didn't do it. Clark could have registered as a democrat, but didn't. his apologists say he didn't have time. but he had enough time to speak at a republican fundraiser. he had enough time to appear on numerous talk shows and drop hints about which party he belonged to. and he had time to lie about having registered as a dem.

[Nicholas_J]

11. It is placed as an optional choice at the end

Of the Voters Registrations forms. It is not required, nor do most people in Arkansas bother to answer the optional attachement on the form, nor is it reflected in the Supertintendent of Elections records.

[Nicholas_J]

12. Yet only 4.4

Percent of ALL voters in Arkansas register as either Democrat of Republican. Therefore they are not Democrats or Republicans, according to the records of the Superintenant of Elections.

The box on the form is optional, and is not indicated on the V.R. cards, but statistics are kept.

95 percent of all people in Arkansas choose not to tick off the OPTIONAL party affiliation box on the form.

[RandomUser]

14. That would mean

that until a few years ago there were NO republicans and democrats in Arkansas. And yet they managed to have democratic and republican primaries without a single democrat or republican for years.

Heck, Bill Clinton wasn't a registered Democrat, since he's from Arkansas. Does that mean he's not a democrat? Just because you're not a registered democrat doesn't mean you're not a democrat if you're from Arkansas. Unless you're ready to say Clinton wasn't a democrat.

[sandnsea]

5. Oooh, this explains it

No party affiliation is the way it's always been done in Arkansas. I don't know when Clark registered, but it makes sense that somebody would follow the long tradition in their state. I guess it's possible he didn't even know voting registration had changed. Well now that he knows, he needs to update his registration. If he gets it done pretty quickly, it seems like no big deal. Supporting Nixon and Reagan, however, still concerning to me. Republicans can sound like they support traditional Democratic ideals, it's how they're implemented that makes the difference.

[RandomUser]

7. Regarding Reagan et. al.

I believe most of those statements of his support for republicans are taken out of context and spun. If you have a spare moment, I believe this might clarify the point.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/oct0301.html#1001031244pm

When you read that recent interview, you'll find that Clark praises Republicans (and democrats!) in it. And I think you'll agree with me that it's not out of line. As a matter of fact, someone posted on GD that they converted to Clark after reading it. But you can also see how those statements praising republicans in that interview can be taken and spun out of context.

[sandnsea]

13. It just concerns me

I've never supported a Republican in my life, save a couple of friends running for local office. I've read almost everything of what Clark has to say and he or Edwards are great second choices in my mind. I could get behind Clark enthusiastically, provided nothing truly strange comes out on him, like he fought against a sexual harrassment program on one of his bases or something equally weird. But I still believe we've got the proven commodity, Kerry, and see no reason to jump over to an unproven commodity, Clark.

[w4rma]

6. What the heck is going on with the Clark campaign?

Presented by the Federal Election Commission
CLARK, WESLEY GENERAL ID: P40002792

Office Sought: President
Election Year: 2004
State: Presidential Candidate
District: 02
Party: UNK (Unknown)
http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?P40002792

…
"A Clark campaign spokesman at first told BusinessWeek that the former general had in fact updated his voter registration to reflect his newfound status as a Democrat. But a call to the Pulaski County Voter Registrar indicated otherwise. When asked to explain the discrepancy, campaign consultant Mark Fabiani says Clark hadn't yet had time to register as a Democrat."
…
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2003/nf2003101_0874_db038.htm
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=448201#448927

[RandomUser]

9. Perhaps it's lost in the paper shuffle?

It's possible his paperwork is in the system but taking time to process. Or the Clark campaign has an internal communications problem and fumbled. Regardless, the issue of his nonpartisan registration isn't really an issue when taken in context.

[lams712]

8. I doesn't matter what he's registered as....

...it's his unabashed support for Nixon/Reagan/Bush, et.al. that bothers me. Look at the May 2001 speech to the Republican Party of Arkansas and tell me he's a Democrat.

[RandomUser]

10. Often times his comments are taken out of context and spun

see #7