Arkansas-- Hopelessly Red?

Until recently, Arkansas had two Democrats in the Senate and three Democrats in the House and just one Republican in its congressional delegation. But you know what happened? The Democrats started abandoning the New Deal values that had made Arkansas one of the bluest states in the South. The state's delegation became synonymous with Blue Dogs and corporate-friendly/family-unfriendly/Republican-light shills. Everyone was glad to see one-percenter Blanche Lincoln dumped unceremoniously, but that was followed by a loss of two of the three House seats the Democrats held, and they may well lose the last one this year. The delegation is now composed of: (1) in the Senate, a radical right sociopath corporate-whore Republican and a marginally better Democrat; in the House, three extremist right-wing Republicans and a disgusting, corrupt Blue Dog reactionary, Mike Ross, who is, thankfully, finally retiring.

So what is the Democratic Party doing to fight back? Nothin' much. They have a horrid Blue Dog, Clark Hall, running in the First CD against Rick Crawford in a race that will leave voters wondering if the subtle differences between the two are enough to bother turning out for. In the Second District-- the Little Rock-based one, which should be a Democratic stronghold-- there isn't even a candidate against Rove protégé Tim Griffin; there are just unsubstantiated rumors that Bill Halter or Wes Clark "might" run. And in the 4th, Ross is making sure the Democratic nominee will be as far to the right as he is. Keep in mind that according to ProgressivePunch, Ross voted with the Republicans 82% of the time this year (on crucial roll call votes), more frequently than all but one other Democrat, Blue Dog Dan Boren, also retiring, and more than seven Republicans!

That leaves one district, so far at least, where Democrats have reason to hope-- the Third, usually Arkansas's most hopeless of all. Even when Democrats were real Democrats and served the interests of ordinary working families, the Third, in the northwest part of the state, was a GOP bastion, under the near-feudal control of the Walton family. The district has been under Republican control back to Civil War times, and in 1974 a right-wing fanatic, John Paul Hammerschmidt, beat Bill Clinton, then 28, in his first try for office. Although the district did vote for favorite son Clinton in 1992, it was back voting GOP in 1996 and gave Bush 60% in 2000 and 62% in 2004. McCain did even better in 2008 (something that happened in only the most racist and/or fascist-oriented districts in the country), with 64% against Obama. In 2010, with Congressman John Boozman pulverizing the despised Lincoln on his way to the Senate, the district elected one-percenter Steve Womack with a startling 72%, winning all 12 counties with over 60% of the vote.

And yet... even in the darkest of situations, the brightest of lights can shine through. Of all the unlikely places, home to Walmart and Tyson Chickens, a genuine blue-collar New Deal fighting Democrat is running a real race against one of the most vile Republicans in Congress. Ken Aden is taking on self-entitled would-be plutocrat Steve Womack in a race that is finally starting to get national attention. Oh, I don't mean from "ex"-Blue Dog Steve Israel and his discredited DCCC, which, of course, is only backing guaranteed loser Blue Dog Clark Hall. But more and more national groups are starting to take a look at the brilliant and inspirational campaign that Aden is running against the bungling, arrogant Womack.

Last week he was endorsed by Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Raúl Grijalva. For one of the most dogged and effective champions of working families to take note of Ken's race must be startling to voters in Arkansas, where politicians usually serve the special interests of big corporations. Here's what Grijalva has to say in his endorsement:

The next Congress must protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. In the face of such weighty issues that have the potential to affect millions of Americans, we need more members of Congress with a true, progressive vision for the future, a representative who will put the interests of American families first.

We need people like Ken Aden in Congress.

After serving his country in Iraq and Afghanistan as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, Ken returned home to Arkansas and helped found a nonprofit organization dedicated to the belief that people from every economic background and walk of life can come together in some small way to create for themselves a better community and neighborhood.

Ken will bring this same vision, understanding and energy to the United States Congress and fight on the behalf of the people northwestern Arkansas.

Womack's biggest single source of contributions is Walmart, his second a bank that thrives on foreclosures, and the third Tyson Foods. You get the picture? Another major donor: Koch Industries. So far this year 60% of his campaign cash has come from corporate and far right PACs, less than a third from real people. Every dime Ken has gotten has come from individual donors, all of it in small amounts. If you can, please step up and consider helping get his message out in the sprawling Arkansas district where he means to make history. You can do it here at the Blue America ActBlue page.