Golden Words from a Silver-Tongued Salesman
Mark R. and Renee E. Taylor



Snake oil salesmen of the 19th Century used to comb the countryside, selling their remedies to unsuspecting consumers hoping for a cure, or at least a quick fix, for their ailments. Without much more than golden words out of the silver-tongued salesmen, they set alluring traps for their artful chicanery. Weeks later, those sold a bill of goods by the salesmen’s trickery were worse for the wear, the only benefit going to the deceptive salesmen - now long gone - with the victim’s hard earned gold in their pockets.

As long-standing residents of Arkansas, we are reminded of yesteryear’s snake oil salesmen when we listen to our former Governor, now presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, as he mesmerizes crowds across the country with golden words that defy his record in our fair state. With his pockets full of gold, we’re left with pockets full of dust.

Huckabee’s actions regarding illegal immigration are an often discussed topic on blogs, forums and conservative news sites across the country, and particularly within our state. For instance, as a parting “giftâ€