John Brummett comments further today on Sen. Mark Pryor’s emergence as a vigorous voice of right-wing Republicanism in the case of gays in the military and immigrant children.

Pryor, who got cancer and fundamentalist religion along the way, always has leaned to the considerable right of his father and to the more-distant right of his mother.

Now he positively plunges in that direction, somewhat imaginatively, actually, strongly suggesting that his natural leanings have been accelerated by fear of the Republican sweep that took place in his state a few weeks ago and which presumably could threaten him four years hence when he ventures back to the ballot.

It is beginning to appear, in fact, that Pryor and John Boozman may be able to work in a single-minded senatorial tandem reminiscent of that of Pryor’s father and Dale Bumpers in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Pryor can pick and choose all he wants according to his (flawed) beliefs on where the majority of voters stand on various hot button issues. But if he builds a four-year record as an opportunistic, backbone-deprived religious zealot interested only in his own re-election, voters on both end of the spectrum will have little reason to feel common cause with him. They might fancy any old colorless Republican lump that comes along as an alternative. Or simply stay home in droves. See: Blanche Lincoln.

Advertisement

Arkansas Times: Your voice in the fight

Are you tired of watered-down news and biased reporting? The Arkansas Times has been fighting for truth and justice for 50 years. As an alternative newspaper in Little Rock, we are tough, determined, and unafraid to take on powerful forces. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, we are making a difference. But we can't do it without you. Join the 3,400 paid subscribers who support our great journalism and help us hire more writers. Sign up for a subscription today or make a donation of as little as $1 and help keep the Arkansas Times feisty for years to come.

Previous article Sarah Palin: No press Next article Combating trolls