Arkansas's Democratic Governor Mike Beebe plans to pardon his son for a decade old drug conviction. The state's parole board says that Kyle Beebe was treated "no differently" than any other candidate for a pardon.

Yeah, right.

Politico:

“I would have done it a long time ago if he’d have asked, but he took his sweet time about asking. He was embarrassed. He’s still embarrassed, and frankly, I was embarrassed and his mother was embarrassed,” Beebe told KATV, ABC’s affiliate in Little Rock on Wednesday.

Beebe’s son Kyle was charged in 2003 with possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with intent to deliver and sentenced to three years probation and fined, the outlet said. Beebe was serving as the state’s attorney general at the time.

“If he broke the law, he needs to pay for it. He needs to be treated like everybody else — no better, worse,” Beebe said at the time.

However, Beebe said his son, now 34, has learned from his mistakes.

“Kids when they’re young do stupid stuff. He was no different,” said Beebe, who noted that he’s issued more than 700 pardons during his tenure. “Especially young people with drugs if they’ve straightened up, to get their life back on track and have a second chance, so this is no different. It’s different because it’s my son.”

Well, which is it, guv?  "This is no different. It's different because it's my son"? Like the rest of us, Beebe is a little confused.

A spokesman for the state’s parole board told KATV that the fact Kyle Beebe is the governor’s son played no role in the decision to approve his application for a pardon.

“I can tell you that [Kyle] Beebe did not receive any special treatment by the Board while his application was under consideration,” the spokesman said.

Since the governor appoints members of the parole board, they would never dream of playing favorites, right?

Sheesh.

Beebe is leaving office in January, so rather than waiting until the last minute, he played his nepotism card early. I frankly don't think too many people care - except those parents who have sons and daughters in similar circumstances. Why not wipe the slate clean for them too, guv After all, you're not treating your son any differently than anyone else, right?