Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, drew the ire of the majority of the Republican Party when he vetoed legislation that would prevent children from undergoing permanent genital mutilation with the goal of transitioning genders. The Arkansas legislature ultimately overrode his veto, allowing the bill to become law, but even after Hutchinson faced an embarrassing interview with Tucker Carlson, his eyes are now set on the White House.
The law Hutchinson refused to sign would ban doctors from prescribing puberty blockers – hormones – to children who believe they were transgender, and ban doctors from committing physical castrations against children. Hutchinson had a confrontational interview with Carlson, and ultimately doubled down on his stance that it is important for children to be chemically or physically castrated by doctors.
We also try to restrain ourselves as conservatives, we don’t have to be involved in every issue. If you want to broaden the party, if you want to get back to the principles, then let’s at least think through, in a reasoned way, as to whether this is the right bill,” said Hutchinson. Carlson concluded the interview by mocking Hutchinson, saying “Alright, well that’s the conservative position.”
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Now, an Arkansas news website claims Hutchinson is planning to start a national organization that will make sure his policies are taken to the national level in 2022, apparently with the ultimate goal of running for President in 2024.
“2022 is a very, very important year for our country and for our party, and I want to be engaged in that debate. So when the legislative session is over with, I hope to set up a national leadership effort called ‘America Strong and Free,’ where I can help influence the direction of our country in 2022. We’ll see where that leads,” Hutchinson told Talk Business & Politics. There will be two parts of ‘America Strong and Free.’ One will be an educational branch that will help raise money, educate people on the principles and issues. Then, there will be a leadership PAC, part of it that will help in supporting the candidates, but also the national voice in terms of what I can do in 2022.”
Hutchinson also indicated that he will not support President Donald Trump – who lambasted his decision to veto the bill – should he run in 2024, and refused to back down from the suggestion that he may run for President himself.
“I indicated that I wouldn’t support [President Trump] in 2024. I don’t necessarily expect him to run, but I thought he did not handle and did not lead our country in the right direction post-election on January 6th. That’s part of speaking your mind and that’s part of him speaking his mind. I don’t get bent out of shape about that,” Hutchinson said of Trump’s criticism.
When asked specifically about his potential plans to run for President, Hutchinson demurred, instead focusing on 2022. When the reporter doubled down, Hutchinson again refused to deny his intention to run for President, instead saying, “We’re gonna see how this all plays out.”
Hutchinson also bashed President Trump repeatedly while defending anti-election integrity governors Brian Kemp and Doug Ducey, saying that if he was being criticized by President Trump, he was “in good company.”
