AG Unhappy about McCain Event
The more interesting stories are often behind the scenes…
GOP’ers tell the tale that Attorney General Troy King was upset (“blew up,” said one) about Gov. Bob Riley potentially attending John McCain’s Saturday campaign stop in Birmingham. King is serving as Chair of the McCain 2008 Alabama campaign and apparently did not want Riley standing in his spotlight (figuratively as King had been leading McCain’s effort in Alabama - and somewhat literally as King had a 3-person film crew on hand with boom mikes and cameras). Ultimately, Riley did not attend as Mike Huckabee was also in town, he had not endorsed anyone, so no need to start playing favorites now.
By then, King’s tantrums had worn out those around him, people close to the event tell the Parlor. Perhaps he wanted the film crew (for future campaign ads?) to get shots of him addressing the large crowd. In the end, U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, the campaign’s Southeastern United States Congressional Chair, and not King, introduced Cindy McCain who introduced the Senator. (An aside: Tuscaloosa businessman and GOP gadfly Stan Pate heckled Bachus when the introduction ran long.)
Would all this be a factor in King’s unusual demeanor on stage behind McCain? Did you see any of that? People on both sides of the aisle noted how King rarely smiled, clapped occasionally at appropriate times, while he continually scanned the crowd like he was looking for someone or something. I would not have mentioned it here except that others also particularly noticed it and said how odd it was.
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I bet Pate paid for King’s camera crew
Comment by Straight Thinker — February 4, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
I love Stan Pate.
Comment by ha ha — February 4, 2008 @ 1:31 pm
If you want to hide something from Troy King . . . put it in a law book.
Comment by Anonymous — February 4, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
Well the Guv was not shy about get his picture on the front page of the B’Ham news with Huckabee a few days ago. I think Guv Bob wanted his cake and icing too. He wants to be on the front page with anybody. It really doesn’t matter with who as long as the Riley name stands out. I can understand a little why Troy was tore up. He had been there from day one and the Guv was trying to steal the spotlight. I am sure the Guv did not mean it that way. (cynical smile) Stan Pate is as crazy as a run over dog. Can you imagine that man wanted to be Governor??? He and Charles Bishop would have kicked or punched (well maybe tried to kick) every rear end that did not agree with them. That guy needs to learn manners and what it is to be a statesman. It’s men like him and Bishop that keep Alabama in the running for the Redneck of the Year award
Comment by poljunkie — February 4, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
why are you surprised? this is the same person who solicited favors from roy johnson while his office and other agencies were investigating the 2 year college corruption. Of the 3 headlines concerning King in 08… Johnny Cash sing along, Flak Jackets, and now this… Does anyone see a siegelman-like pattern. we could have a narcissistic meglomaniacal little hitler on our hands.
Comment by publius — February 4, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
I don’t recall our illustrious Attorney General being on the McCain bandwagon when McCain joined the Governor in a tour of the state a while back. I was in Demopolis for the annual Black Belt Commission meeting and I don’t recall Troy being in attendance then. Oh that’s right, McCain had yet to officially announce his candidacy so I guess there wasn’t any political spotlight for Troy to attempt to usurp.
The appointment of Troy King is the single greatest political mistake Riley has made since taking office.
Comment by Fo-fiver — February 4, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
I noticed the same thing about King — he was stonefaced. I wonder if it had to do with his hope of getting some tough-guy footage for a future campaign commercial, especially as McCain praised him for prosecuting the internet child pornographers.
Whatever the reason, King is a doofus.
Comment by MCF — February 4, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
My understanding is that Troy King “blew up” because the Riley folks were trying to get Riley to be the introducer, in spite of the fact that King, not Riley, is an active supporter of McCain’s. Anyway, it was just pettiness on both sides, I’m sure.
I was at the event on Saturday and I can tell you that the “people close to the event” were the Guv’s people (David, Tim, Don, etc.), not King’s, so I think you should take what you heard from them with a grain of salt.
Frankly, I think the whole thing was just a microcosm of the petty, consultant-driven in-fighting that is presently plaguing the GOP and is getting very, very old for folks involved in the GOP on the grassroots level.
Comment by Anonymous — February 4, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
The real problem was that Troy wanted his son to lead the pledge and Minda wanted her son, so neither one got to do it.
Comment by Lyn Johnson — February 4, 2008 @ 5:38 pm
Didn’t Troy attend a fundraiser for Fred Thompson a few months ago when McCain wasn’t doing so well in the polls?
Comment by Montgomery Republican — February 4, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
anonymous #3
ahahahahahahahahahaha
As for King being a supporter of a different campaign….don’t they (Republicans) always fall in line behind who they perceive as the winner? Democrats probably do the same thing so this isn’t a swipe at Republicans.
Comment by Loretta Nall — February 5, 2008 @ 5:30 am
Maybe Troy felt naked with his flak jacket. THAT’s why he kept scanning the crowd!
Or maybe he thought he heard something buzzing…
http://realitycatcher-alapoet.blogspot.com/2008/01/no-room-for-liberals-in-alabama.html
Comment by Steve Elliott — February 5, 2008 @ 8:17 am