Let’s clear this much up. Alex Reed was NOT misquoted.
The reporter, Allison Gatlin, has posted a copy of a recording of Reed’s remarks on the El Dorado News-Times’ blog. (Note: The relevant part begins about the 22-minute mark.)
If you don’t know what this is about, SoS press secretary Alex Reed told Union County Republicans that a number of Arkansas county clerks were “lazy” and let “illegal aliens” get registered to votes. He then (remember Mark Martin’s promise to make sure the nonpartisan office stayed nonpartisan here) went on to explain why it was so important to elect Republicans to the office of county clerk. Well after the county clerks all let Martin have it up in Springdale, Martin said that the Eldorado paper reporting the remarks had just made the whole thing up. Judging from Reed’s responses to Max Brantley’s inquiries, that seems to be the line he was pushing as well. But here’s the thing about lying-you always run the risk of getting caught. And so the reporter who wrote the story, after having her integrity called into question by Martin and his lackey here, put up the audio of Reed saying exactly what he was reported to have said. And so the Secretary of State’s office finds itself caught in yet another scandal, surprise surprise.
Judging from the comment Reed plopped on his facebook page, he’s pretty unrepentant about all this:
Really? This doofus lies and smears not only the county clerks across the state of Arkansas with his first one but then goes and smears the reporter, calling into question her integrity, and he wants to talk about spilling blood like he’s some kind of martyr? What the hell? Then a sitting state representative and one of the ring leaders of the Faulkner County tea party circus come out to try and cheer him up over it? What, do Republican parents not teach that its wrong to lie anymore? Is honesty no longer one of those so called “family values” they love to preach about? Don’t answer that-it’s rhetorical. Being a lying sociopath with no regard for what your lies do to other people’s reputation is as Republican as gay bashing and racism apparently, and so is playing the victim when you get caught doing something wrong as Reed is clearly intent on doing, with comfort and encouragement from folks like Bell, Moore, and his boss. And seriously, do we even want to know how the hell Nate Bell knows what “gnome blood” tastes like? I swear, that moron gets weirder every day…
Anyway, go and listen to the audio and you’ll hear Reed talking about “illegal aliens”, which to him seems synonymous with Latino voters. You’ll also hear something really chilling-praise for Florida’s illegal efforts thousands of registered voters from the roles. Did Reed tip their hand? Could there be something like this in the works for Arkansas? Sounds like Martin and his office might need to be watched even closer than before.
Oh, and one last thing. Kudos to Allison Gatlin and the Eldorado News for being one of the last bastions of journalistic integrity in the state of Arkansas.
