The Conservative Fool Of The Day is...Kim Hendren!

Arkansas State Sen. Kim Hendren is one of the Republican leaders of the Arkansas legislature.

Hendren's foolishness has until now largely been unremarkable by today's standards. Although he introduced a bill to establish a statewide "Ronald Reagan Day", rumors that Hendren wanted to replace the Christ of the Ozarks statue's head with that of Reagan are unfounded. (Incidentally, that statue is already controversial because of the views of the man who had it built.)

Hendren is the only announced Republican challenger to Democratic U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln. (And believe me, I sure as hell hope DLCer Lincoln has some Democratic or Green challengers, after she abandoned the Employee Free Choice Act.)

What does Kim Hendren think about prominent Senate Democrats? Well, at a recent Republican forum, Hendren referred to New York's Charles Schumer as "that Jew."

What's Hendren's defense of this statement? When asked about it, he said, "At the meeting I was attempting to explain that unlike Sen. Schumer, I believe in traditional values, like we used to see on 'The Andy Griffith Show'."

That's odd, because folks who grew up in the '60s tell me they don't remember Sheriff Taylor or Barney Fife ever referring to anyone as "that Jew."

What speaks volumes about Hendren's so-called defense is that he defines "traditional values" on the basis of someone's religious affiliation. He tries implying Schumer is less moral all because he has a different religion from him.

Kim Hendren's not exactly a model of tolerance, is he?

He's more like a model of old-fashioned conservafoolery! Congrats, Kim. You're the Conservative Fool Of The Day!

(Source: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/14/731353/-AR-Sen:-GOP-candidate-calls-Schumer-that-Jew)