Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the governor of Arkansas, recently appeared on Dan Bongino’s conservative podcast, where she boasted about the influx of people from blue states like California to her state. She attributes this migration to Arkansas’ strong economy, conservative values, and belief in individual and personal freedom. However, her claims are being met with skepticism as Arkansas is currently the fourth poorest state in the nation, grappling with an affordable housing crisis and food insecurity.
Arkansas: A Conservative Utopia?
Despite Sanders’ assertions that Arkansas champions personal freedom, her tenure as governor has been marked by legislation that seems to contradict this notion. She has signed laws banning books and the gender-neutral term “Latinx,” as well as policies that police bathroom usage for transgender and nonbinary individuals. Furthermore, restrictions have been placed on teachers when it comes to discussing race, sexual orientation, and gender identity in the classroom.
Catering to a Select Demographic
During her podcast appearance, Sanders claimed that she met people from out of state in all 75 Arkansas counties during her campaign for governor, with a majority hailing from California. She emphasized the importance of these newcomers remembering why they left their blue states in the first place. Sanders also made it clear that she is excited to welcome more people to Arkansas, but only if they are cisgender, straight, white, Christian, and Republican. Her open invitation is not without caveats, raising concerns about inclusivity and equality.
When Sanders shared a snippet from her interview on Twitter, it was met with mixed reactions, including criticism from Arkansas residents who questioned her commitment to individual and personal freedom. Just yesterday, Sanders proclaimed May 4th, 2023 as the “National Day of Prayer” in Arkansas, calling on citizens to participate in public prayer. This move has some questioning whether her administration is truly dedicated to upholding the principles of freedom and non-interference she claims to champion.