State Dems on Love’s DC Fundraiser
The state Democrats issued a statement related to Jay Love’s fundraiser hosted by Washington Republicans yesterday.
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 25, 2008
National Republicans Ignore Jay Love’s Tax-Loving Record
National Republicans in Washington are holding a fundraiser for Jay Love today, making it clear they are behind him in the primary run-off for Alabama’s Second Congressional District. What they haven’t made clear is if they also support Love’s long history of raising taxes on the working families of Alabama.
The National Republican Campaign Committee’s spokesman even attempted to cover up Love’s past, claiming that he has a “record of cutting taxes” (AP, 6/21/08). In reality, nothing could be farther from the truth. Love has consistently supported raising taxes on the people of Alabama in the state legislature, and there is no doubt he will continue his tax-loving record in Congress.
“Jay Love can run from the truth but his record doesn’t lie. He’s voted to raise taxes and he’s voted against cutting taxes. This is a classic case of a slick politician talking out of both sides of his mouth. Washington has seen its fair share of GOP swindlers but the people of district 2 deserve better. It’s time they send a straight shooter up there to represent them in the nation’s capital with Bobby Bright,” said Jim Spearman, Executive Director of the Alabama Democratic Party.
Jay Love’s Tax-Loving Record:
· Love Voted to Raise Property Taxes by $469.5 Million a Year.
Love supported raising Property Taxes on homes, cars, businesses, farms and timber by $496.5 million annually by the time the taxes took full effect in 2008. (Montgomery Advertiser, 6/3/03)
· Love Voted to Raise Income Taxes by $461 Million a Year.
Love supported raising income taxes on individuals by about 20 percent and on business by about 25 percent. (Montgomery Advertiser, 6/3/03)
· Love Voted to Raise Sales Taxes by $178 Million a Year.
Love supported raising sales taxes by $178 million a year, increasing sales tax on cars and boats to 2.5 percent and imposing a 4 percent sales tax on repair and installation of parts in cars and boats. (Montgomery Advertiser, 5/31/03)
· Love Voted Against Eliminating the State Sales Tax on Food.
Just this spring, Love voted against removing Alabama’s state sales tax on food, at a time when grocery prices are soaring. (Roll Call Vote 837, HB 274, 4/15/08, 63-38)
Michael Lowry, Jay Love’s campaign manager responds with a statement, “The liberals are attacking Jay Love because they fear facing him in the fall. They’ve figured out what Republican primary voters have — Jay Love is a conservative who will win in November because of his strong record of cutting taxes. Harri Anne Smith is working from the same liberal playbook because these are the same tired lies that she’s trotted out during the run-off. Voters in the 2nd District will reject them on July 15 and again in November.”
That Democrats “fear facing Love in the fall” is standard campaign rhetoric, but it’s more likely that the Democrats were looking for an opportunity to ding him a bit as he continues to look like the eventual nominee. As one Democratic observer told the Parlor, “Republicans in Congress are not popular anywhere so drawing attention to Love’s connections to Congressional Republicans is win/win.”
The winner of the AL-02 GOP primary runoff between Jay Love and Harri Anne Smith will face Democrat Bobby Bright in the fall.
The Democrats are frightened about having to run against Jay, and, considering the ineptness of Harri Anne’s crew and the momentum behind Love’s campaign, no one can blame them.
The fact that the Democrats are already attacking Jay and ignoring Harri Anne shows who they consider the real competition to be.
Comment by Running Scared — June 26, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
Wow funny it takes Alabama democrats to call out Jay on not telling the truth. Say what you will about their stategy, but it is the truth.
Comment by Jay Loves Taxes — June 26, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
Democrats obviously see Jay Love as the one to beat now. But excuse me, since when are Democrats the ones that believe in lower taxes? Considering Bobby Bright is getting campaign money from the likes of Charlie Rangel, I doubt Bright wants to get into a tax related debate on how Republicans vs. Democrats feel about the issue.
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
When is Mr. Bright going to show his real allegiance and endorse Obama! He has already alligned himself with the likes of the following: Nancy Pelosi, Charles Rangel, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rahm Emanuel, Nita Lowey, Ike Skelton, etc., yes these are Bright’s new pals who are contributing heavily to his campaign. Lot’s of real conservatives in that list huh?
Remember when Bright start’s saying that he is a “self thinking conservative,” he is lying. Bobby Bright is a LIBERAL!!!!!
Is that what we want in District 2?
Comment by LD — June 26, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
You must not know Bright.He says what he means and means what he says.That’s the type of man he is.IF he says he is a self thinking conservative,” believe it.”
I can’t think of a more honest man than he is.
Comment by tips — June 26, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
I know all I need to know about Mr. Bright. Who you align yourself with politically, normally, indicates how you really feel. BOBBY IS A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT who will get his “clock cleaned” by Mr. Love in November!
That “I’m tough, macho persona” that he tries to exhibit makes me sick! He is a Obama/Rangel/Pelosi aligned Democrat! He will never be able to run away from his party identification, DONKEY-DEMOCRAT!!!
Comment by LD — June 26, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
Hey liar. You should see Smith’s record on taxes. SMITH HAS RAISED TAXES on everything from cell phones to property taxes. That is right, property taxes! If you live in Montgomery or Autauga or Elmore or many other counties, HARRI ANNE SMITH RAISED YOUR TAXES. The person posting above has a difficult time with the truth!
Comment by Mr. Taxes (#2) is a LIAR — June 26, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
Say what you will about Mr. Bright, we can be certain of one thing: If he were elected to Congress, the first vote he would take would be to elect Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House. He can make claims that he is a conservative, which is a laughable proposition, but when his being elected to Congress means Democratic Chairmen retain their gavels, voting Bright does not result in the advancement of conservative principles.
Comment by Will — June 26, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
Will, you are exactly correct! That will start his alignment with Pelosi and all the other LIBERALS!!!
Comment by LD — June 26, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
After what Bush and Rove have done to the terms “Conservative” and “Republican” loads of people have started abandoning them, especially the young. Republicans stupid enough to still treat the word liberal as a swear word are only pushing this trend along and helping to give us a generation of Democratic rule.
Comment by Pecan Jim — June 26, 2008 @ 5:39 pm
Bright will tow the line with the democratic party. he is not being financed and promised committee assignments for nothing….get real you guys. a vote for bright is a vote for pelosi and her leadership
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2008 @ 6:55 pm
If you don’t think that Bright will stand up straight and remain firmly planted on the platform he has based his beliefs on and runs his campaign on, then you definitely don’t know Bobby Bright to well. I can assure you that I for one know him very well and you can bet your last buck that he is a very straight shooter and when it comes to standing up for what he believes in, he has the integrity and the will power to demonstrate his ability to vote against the Dems and Repubs for what he thinks is the right decision that should be made for our district and our country. Regardless of the amount of resistance he may receive from other Congressmen, Mr. Bright will strive to do the best job for the district and I can assure you he will prove himself to be one very progressive leader who can make things happen and get things done in the House of Representatives. You can take this post to the bank district 2 voters!
Comment by Evaluator — June 26, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
This ad looks so much like Joe Turnham’s run in the 3rd CD back in 2000. Trying to out republican the republicans. Did not work then and it won’t work now. Joe Turnham ran as much against Siegelman as anything else, and guess what? Siegelman carried the 3rd CD and you know how it turned out for Turnham.
I also think Turnham is the reason there is so little support for Josh Segall at the state level. He feels since he could not win it, nobody can or should.
Comment by Pecan Jim — June 26, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
Do not call me a liar. Even if the spin you put on those votes are true which I will address, Jay still supported more taxes therefore, he is necessarily worse. But to address those two issues. Those property tax votes made a consistant ad valorem tax across Alabama instead of some areas having to foot the bill for other. That actually lowered some areas property taxes. And the cell phone tax only transfered the land line tax to cell phones so old people ie those who keep land lines do not have to foot the bill for everyone else. Not exactly a tax hike just a transfer to growing technology. It was actually necessary whereas Amendment 1 was not. Jay Love is always going to lose this battle. My post was not a lie, you simply did not chose to accept facts as the truth.
Comment by Jay Loves Taxes — June 26, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
Bright is a DEMOCRAT!!!! Is this district a democratic district?
November 4 - Love 60% - Bright 40%
Comment by db — June 26, 2008 @ 10:26 pm
Pecan–Um, Siegelman wasn’t on the ballot in 2000. Come to think of it, neither was Rogers or Turnham.
Comment by GOP Observer — June 26, 2008 @ 11:07 pm
I kind of find it funny that someone said that “Bright’s first vote will be to elect Nancy Pelosi speaker.”
Funny you mention that. In 2003, Jay Love’s first vote was for Seth Hammett - a Democrat - for speaker of the Alabama house. Jay had also pledged to vote for Seth over the GOP candidate in return for a spot on the House Ways and Means committee. This is known to a lot of people around the StateHouse.
He’s not the only GOP type to do that. Others have gotten plum committee assignments the same way. But he did pledge to do that. Which makes the “Bright will vote for a Demo for speaker” comment quite ironic . . . .
Comment by Anonymous — June 27, 2008 @ 5:52 am
well if you want to talk about pledges then believe me, bright is already pledged to tow the line for the democrats in congress. no oil exploration - give up in iraq - raise your taxes - etc. tow the line bobby - tow the line. HE WILL.
Comment by Anonymous — June 27, 2008 @ 7:08 am
Honestly, I’m surprised Bobby bothered to come out against Jay. I thought he’d just let Harri Anne and Jay tear each other to shreds and save his effort to unload on whoever was left standing. Guess he’s trying to influence the outcome a bit. Harri Anne would definitely be easier to beat in November.
Comment by BrightFan — June 27, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
Don’t count Harri Anne out just yet. Could it be that the Dem’s are afraid to run against Harri Anne and thus are trying to undermine her campaign. Voters know the difference.
Comment by ABIGAYLE1 — June 29, 2008 @ 10:18 pm