April 5, 2010 CCA
The Evolution of Bradley Byrne and the Leadership of the Alabama Republican Party
By Dr. Randy Brinson, Chairman of Christian Coalition Alabama

It should be no mystery to anyone in the state of Alabama why the Republican Party is so dysfunctional in so many ways. While the grassroots citizenry of our great state identify with the Republican Party on the national level, it frequently fails to translate into support on the state and local level. The actions of the state Republican Party steering committee this past weekend have only further codified these impressions.

Over the past weekend, the state party steering committee made a series of rulings that were supported by the Bradley Byrne campaign and voted by his supporters within the party machinery. First, they disqualified State Senator Harri Anne Smith from running in the republican primary. Her transgression was her support of Democratic candidate Bobby Bright for Congress .After she had lost in the republican runoff for the Congressional seat vacated by Terry Everett , she chose to support Bright over Jay Love. The party cartel had anointed Jay Love, another Byrne supporter, to be the nominee and actively worked to ensure that he was the nominee, despite the fact that every republican candidate in the race refused to endorse him because he failed to represent the values of the second district. Ultimately, the voters of the district agreed and rejected Mr. Love. So, if they want to sanction Senator Smith, they really need to sanction all the republicans in the district who felt that it was more important to elect a congressman who could relate to them rather than the Republican Party making the choice for them. Their actions ensured victory for Congressman Bright, in one of the most republican districts in the country.

Next was the action of Autauga County Republican Chairman Al Booth, who declared that Bill Johnson was unsuited to speak to the Autauga County Republicans because he dared challenge the governor regarding his relationships with the Mississippi Choctaw Indians. Judge Booth further stated , according to a press release by the Johnson campaign, that the Bill of Rights doesn’t apply to the republican party.

Finally, the party ruled against State Representative Dr Robert Bentley regarding the use of Dr in his name on the ballot. Dr Bentley had previously been assured that he could be listed on the ballot as such since there was previous precedent back in 2002 when a candidate was listed as doctor on the republican primary ballot. Furthermore, many voters have identified him as “the doctor who won’t take a salary as governor”. Dr Bentley had formally changed his name to be Dr Robert Bentley with the probate court in Tuscaloosa County only as a last resort in order to allow voters to properly identify him on the Republican primary ballot. He received a favorable opinion from the Ethics Commission, the office of the Secretary of State, as well as the Attorney General of the State of Alabama. In reality, a candidate should be allowed to be listed in any way they feel appropriate provided that the title is not obscene, in order to assist voters in identifying them on the ballot. Not to be swayed, the steering committee refused to allow Dr Bentley to have his legal name on the ballot. The same fate awaited Judge Roy Moore, although the Republican Party was aided by a judicial cannon that stated that candidates cannot use judge in their official political ballot filings.

The question of the voters should be, Why? Because all of these fine candidates represent a threat to the republican establishment and their anointed candidate, Bradley Byrne. But why would they anoint a former democrat, Bradley Byrne.

Mr Byrne has done more than embrace human evolution. In Feb 2001, he stated that “evolution best explains the origins of man”. Really? A self professing Christian embracing evolution?

He stated that Christian Heritage Week could not be implemented in public schools due to lack of instructional time.

He stated that the Bible was not literal and that the prophets didn’t live hundreds of years

He stated that he accepted Christ in his early 20’s then he stated that he accepted Christ as a child in Episcopalian Sunday School.

His political inconsistencies and political evolution are equally troubling…… 

He supported Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis, and Bill Clinton for President and was a long time democrat.

He financially supported Bill Clinton for President.

He stated he supported the governor’s raid on the bingo operators but later said that it wasn’t the best use of state resources.

He states he supports coastal insurance reform but fails to embrace any meaningful reforms or legislation sponsored by his own state senators from Mobile and Baldwin County after receiving thousands of dollars in PAC money from the insurance industry.

He publically opposed a sales tax increase in Baldwin County that was ratified by the voters and led to the resignation of his County Chair in Baldwin County.
He received hundreds of thousands of dollars in PAC money tied to gambling and other special interests to do their bidding as governor.

He was a member of the PACT board but failed to attend the majority of the meetings during the time of serious financial losses, yet blamed State Treasurer Kay Ivey for the loss of equity and failed to offer any tangible solutions.

The list is endless. Christians need to send a message to the Republican Party, either support candidates that embrace the hopes and dreams and will of the people or continue to suffer at the polls. We need men and women of integrity to represent us, not the wealthy, well connected, stiff shirted, silver tongued politicians. We need candidates of moral clarity and purpose that are in public service to serve the public, not enrich them. Republican candidates from the grassroots win elections, those tied to the well to do and party establishment, typically lose elections.

Tell your representatives and the candidates seeking your vote that you are voting for the person, not the party. We will not reach our full potential until we make the character, conviction, and courage of our elected officials, not party identification, our primary motivation in the area of public policy and debate.

Randy Brinson, MD, Chair, Christian Coalition of Alabama