Candidates in the GOP AG run-off race brawl

By: Roby Brock, Talk Business and Politics

Leslie Rutledge and David Sterling are in a full-fledged street brawl with a week to go in their run-off for the GOP Attorney General nomination.

The two Republicans have taken potshots at each other for weeks questioning each others’ conservative credentials and political experience. In addition, third party groups have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the race.

Rutledge led the ticket in the May 20 Republican primary with 47% of the vote, while Sterling finished the night with 39% support heading into a June 10 statewide run-off.

On Sunday (June 1), Sterling rolled out new charges that Rutledge had voted in Democratic primaries from 1998 through 2008, had not voted in any state elections in 2010 and 2012, and had donated to the Democratic Party of Arkansas at one time in the past.

Rutledge fired back saying Sterling represented in his legal practice a company peddling pornography, an act she says contradicts his Christian and family values platform as well as should be troubling for someone seeking office to oversee a division dedicated to Internet predators.

Also in the mix, a new six-figure wave of TV, radio and web ads and direct mail pieces claiming Rutledge is against a “stand your ground” law — a charge she denies. The Judicial Crisis Network (JCN) is paying for the media which also states Rutledge holds the same position as Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi and it touts support for Sterling’s candidacy.  Sterling denies coordinating with the group and says there is nothing inaccurate in the JCN claims.

Rutledge has also picked up the endorsement of the the May 20 GOP primary third-place finisher, Patricia Nation. The winner of the run-off faces Democrat Nate Steel and Libertarian Aaron Cash in the November general election.

RUTLEDGE DEFENDS
Rutledge says she did vote in those Democratic primaries on her record — some in Independence County, some in Pulaski County. In the earlier years, she voted for Democratic friends and colleagues running for prosecutor positions and judgeships when Arkansas had partisan elections in those offices and Republican primaries were largely limited to Northwest Arkansas. Judicial elections became non-partisan in 2002, while prosecutors just moved to non-partisan status in the 2014 cycle.

Rutledge’s voting history, obtained through public records from the Pulaski County Clerk’s office, shows she did vote in the 2008 GOP Presidential primary (she says she cast a vote for Mike Huckabee) as well as this year’s 2014 primary. She consistently voted in general elections from 1996 through 2008.

In 2010 and 2012, Rutledge is not listed in Arkansas records as voting. She says she was out-of-state working for the Republican National Committee and its ancillary organizations. She also contends she voted in Virginia while working for the RNC during those years.

“While I was bleeding Republican blood in the heat of battle against the Obama/Pelosi liberal agenda as Counsel at the Republican National Committee and spending much of my time there, I voted in Virginia for all Republican candidates,” Rutledge tells Talk Business Politics. “The reason why Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan were on the ballot in all 50 states is because I was the lawyer who handled that for the RNC and Romney for President — working with all 50 Secretaries of State, preparing and filing the forms signed by Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner.”

Sterling has also pointed out that Rutledge made a contribution to the Democratic Party of Arkansas in 2007. Records show that Rutledge did contribute $104.50 to the DPA early that year, which she says was her payment for a ticket to Gov. Mike Beebe’s inaugural ball.

Rutledge said she was a state employee at the Department of Human Services at the time and, post-election, she bought the ticket and was unaware that the money would be routed through the DPA. She said she gave money to and supported Asa Hutchinson’s gubernatorial bid in the 2006 election cycle.

There are other high-profile Republicans on the 134-page DPA report with similar 2007 inaugural contributions, including Daryl Bassett, Carl Bayne, Julie Benafield Bowman, and J.J. Vignault — all of whom worked in and for the Mike Huckabee administration.

“In 2007, I was an attorney for the State of Arkansas going to court with foster children. I had worked tirelessly for Asa Hutchinson in the 2006 gubernatorial campaign, but because I was an attorney for the State and Mike Beebe had won, I bought a ticket to attend the Gubernatorial Inaugural Ball which is much different than an outright contribution to a political party,” Rutledge said.

She added that she traveled the state for Hutchinson in 2006, would go to his campaign headquarters at lunch and after work hours, and took personal vacation time from her state job to volunteer in his unsuccessful effort.

OpenSecrets.org and other Arkansas Ethics Commission filings note that Rutledge has also financially contributed through the years to GOP candidates including George W. Bush, Mike Huckabee, Asa Hutchinson, Tim Griffin, the Arkansas GOP, and some state representative candidates. No Democratic candidates appear through an OpenSecrets search.

“I have contributed to countless Republican committees and candidates over the years,” Rutledge said. “There are no public records of Sterling contributing to any Republican candidate.”

STERLING DEFENDS
Sterling does not show up in any searches on OpenSecrets.org nor in any cursory review of other candidate contribution reports. When asked about his contributions history, he reiterated that he has never given to Democrats, but didn’t speak to the absence of Republican contributions.

Sterling’s voting history, provided by the Pulaski County Clerk’s office, shows he has voted in Republican primaries from 2000 through 2014. He did not vote in the 1998 primary election in Pulaski County, but his 1996 history shows he voted in a primary and run-off election that year.

Clerk’s records don’t indicate in which political primary he cast his ballot in 1996, but there was a Presidential primary combined with a U.S. Senate race and Second District Congressional races that year. The Democratic and Republican primaries went to run-offs that spring with Bud Cummins winning the GOP nomination and Vic Snyder earning the Democratic nod for Congress. Winston Bryant defeated Lu Hardin in the Senate Democratic primary.

“I have always voted in a Republican primary. I was living in Hope during the primary in the spring of 1998, serving as the Assistant City Manager. I voted in the Republican primary that year in Hempstead County. I moved back to Pulaski County in the fall of 1998 and voted there in the General,” Sterling said in an email to Talk Business Politics.

Rutledge has charged that Sterling’s legal representation of Cupid’s Lingerie, an adult novelty store with six retail locations in central Arkansas, was a client he should have declined. According to its web site, Cupid’s sells “adult novelties toys, lingerie, vibrators, sexy nightwear, sex toys, and costumes.” A review of the web site also shows that Cupid’s sells XXX movies by DVD and on-demand.

Sterling represented Cupid’s in a 2009 lawsuit against former employees that it claimed stole company secrets while opening up their own competing shop. Revelations of his representation led to the “un-endorsement” of conservative TV patriarch and former State Sen. Jim Bob Duggar back during the primary.

“Due to new revelations and recent developments the Duggar family has decided to withdraw its endorsement of David Sterling in the 2014 race for Arkansas Attorney General. The family wishes both candidates well, but will not be making any endorsement at this time,” the family said through a spokesman in late March.

When asked by email why he took Cupid’s as a client and if it conflicted with his conservative or Christian views, Sterling did not directly address the questions.

“Rutledge is launching a personal attack on me regarding a private business matter from five years ago. She’s doing this in a desperate attempt to avoid explaining why she voted in five Democrat primaries and even gave money to the Democrat Party of Arkansas,” Sterling wrote.

“This race is about which candidate can most effectively use the Attorney General’s office to protect state authority and individual liberty from an overreaching Obama Administration. My opponent has a record of voting for Democrats and donating to the Democrat Party. I have a record of consistently voting for Republicans and have never donated to the Democrat Party. As Attorney General, I will fight to rein in an overreaching federal government,” he added.

To see more of Roby Brock’s report go to TalkBusiness.net 

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Sharia-compliant website offers Muslims relationship advice

DUBAI // The founder of a website offering relationship and sex advice for married Muslim couples says he is trying to change attitudes across the region.

Karaz.me was launched in Palestine three months ago and has already attracted much attention, but its chief executive, Ashraf Al Kiswani, insists all of its products and services adhere to religious standards.

Now he is hoping to attract customers in the UAE after the site made its debut at the Arabnet conference in Dubai.

The website offers articles and blogs in Arabic and English on improving sex lives, leading to more fulfilling relationships.

“Our aim is to provide a range of tasteful products to help rekindle the purity and passion between married couples,” the site states.

“Karaz is proud to help foster healthy relationships and open communication by offering a wide spectrum of marital aids that help husbands and wives achieve and maintain an intimate lifestyle.”

The website’s blog shows a picture of the fatwa that permits the site’s activities.

“There is in general a lack of education and a discomfort for professors and teachers talking about this subject openly, so that is why we launched Karaz,” said Mr Al Kiswani.

“It provides marital and sexual aids that are within the realm of Islam, so they have to be acceptable by Islamic guidelines – anything for sexual enhancement, like creams, lotions, pills, massage oils and lingerie, things that can enhance the playfulness between husband and wife.

“Islam promotes anything that helps bridge the gap between husband and wife and it is a firm belief that sexual intimacy is built on strong communication.

“It helps make a happier environment at home.”

Mr Al Kiswani said that with divorce rates climbing in the Arab world, Karaz.me aimed to help couples in a constructive way.

“We have a blog section that has a wide range of topics including sexual health, sex in Islam and relationship advice and tips to make the overall experience for husbands and wives more happy,” he said.

“We want to reduce the cases of infidelity. If they are happy and trying new things, then there is no need to go and look for it elsewhere.”

Mr Al Kiswani said that despite some initial fears from the community about the concept, he was usually able to convince his customers.

“We have a fatwa to say that this is acceptable in Islam,” he said.

“This is a Sharia-compliant website and we are trying to bridge the gap between husband and wife.

“Once I tell them that it is not haram then it is usually fine, and a lot of them think it is a great idea.”

kisnclair@thenational.ae

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