Two weeks from today voters from across the country will head to the polls to exercise the only individual right granted in our Constitution. Here in Alabama, things have taken a rather nasty turn. While I strongly hinted earlier this election season about my dissatisfaction with a particular race here in my home county, I tried to refrain from providing specifics -- this is supposed to be a blog about my family, after all.
However, a story broke this week that confirmed our suspicions regarding a smear campaign targeted at Republican Gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne during the primary and run-off this past summer. Specifically, a source has confirmed that the Bentley campaign sought the help of the AEA and Paul Hubbert to defeat Byrne in the run-off-- a fact that Bentley vehemently denied. The AEA phone tree that nearly all members of the AEA received the week of the run-off? You know, the one that encouraged all AEA members to cross over and vote for Bentley in the Republican run-off? Specifically organized by Hubbert to help Bentley defeat Byrne.
This is party politics at its worst. The only word I can think of that would adequately describe their actions is sickening. So what do you do? Well, for starters, please don't run to the Sparks campaign in an attempt to "punish" Bentley. I think this is probably the very best scenario we could have hoped for -- Bentley won't soon forget that the AEA ratted him out a mere two weeks before the general election. Having a governor who is diametrically opposed to the AEA will help all of us in Alabama, especially our children. Electing a governor who supports gambling in every form and believes that taxpayers "owe" every child in Alabama a college education? That spells d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r for all of us. If you thought Alabama lawmakers could handle gambling ethically, this story should set you straight:
In any event, I encourage all of you to research the candidates that are running for office to determine which ones align with your values, ethics, and the issues that you feel are important. And then, on November 2nd, take the time to exercise your right to vote.
For more information on the AEA's link to Bentley, look here:
DISCLAIMER: These are my opinions only, and are not the opinion of my employer, husband, son, mother, sister, father, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, or any other being or entity that I could potentially be associated with an shall not be used against me, them, or us in a court of law.
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