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Justice Antonin Scalia in a recent interview was asked how he could maintain his friendship with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg despite such ideological polarization. Justice Scalia responded, “I attack ideas, not people.” Sadly, such a view seldom makes its way into politics. Mudslinging is by no means a recent development in American or Alabama politics. Candidates in the early 1800s often refused to campaign themselves, as virtuous men, it was believed, should not openly seek election. Rather, they pressed supporters into service to “stump” for them throughout their districts to tout the candidates qualifications, while casting the most virulent aspersions at opposing candidates. Such unfounded vitriol has caused the ruin of more than a few political careers, and sadly the practice has not been relegated to the scrap heap of history.
Among the worst examples in Alabama politics occurred during the 1970 gubernatorial race between Albert Brewer and George Wallace. Despite promising Brewer he would not run, Wallace threw his hat into the ring as he needed a platform from which to launch his 1972 Presidential campaign. Race baiting played a role in Wallace ads cautioning white men to vote against Brewer because of his support of black state troopers with the clear connotation that they would present a threat to white women. The worst accusations appeared in unsigned circulars accusing Brewer of being a homosexual, his wife of alcoholism, and one particularly vile photo of his daughter surrounded by black men. Wallace defeated Brewer by a margin of 36,000 votes. Albert Brewer, having served with distinction in the House, as Lt. Governor and Governor, withdrew from politics as the price of holding office was far too high. I am fortunate to count Governor Brewer among my friends and I often think of where our state could be today had he been elected in 1970.
As an editorial in todays St. Clair News Aegis discusses, the character of a political candidate warrants scrutiny as character is often the clearest indicator of the service the candidate will render to the public. However, we must be vigilant to prevent scrutizing a politicians character from devolving into baseless character assasination.
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George Wallace also told House Speaker Joe McCorquodale he was not running for Governor in 1982. Wallace lied then to.
Have to admit at times, its entertaining to hear rumors especially of the “I don’t repeat rumors, so listen close” but most don’t hold water.
They rely too much on unnamed people, bogus documents and other characteristics of Conspiracy Theory.
Our society has been programmed into the “fast food – celebrity” culture. So, it’s only natural that we look at our candidates in the same light. Which one has the most celebrity status? A candidate for office that is dedicated, trustworthy and fully qualified but has no name recognition has little or no chance against a popularly known member of the most “do nothing” legislature in the history of the state. Why take a chance on going from the known to the unknown?
Just like water and electricity, we will take the path of least resistance. It’s easier to disregard one based on negative input than it is to compare the qualifications between two.
LB-22, think you also described the rise to power of Julius Caesar, fresh from his self heralded triumphs over the Gauls.
Brewer withdrew from politics after 1970???
Didn’t he make another run for Guv in ‘78 or ‘82?
Gov. Brewer did indeed run for governor again in 1978, losing to Fob James (back when Fob was a Democrat) in a race that also included Jere Beasely and Bill Baxley. Brewer was hurt in that election by revelations that his campaign had secretly received large amounts of cash from Nixon’s CREEP during his 1970 campaign against Wallace. Since his retirement from politics, Governor Brewer has been a great public servant and is truly one of the finest gentlemen this state has ever produced.
Sounds a lot like what the opposiiton is trying to do to Troy King. We just keep recycling dirty politics…..
King and Brewer are two entirely different personalities, but they share two things in common. Brewer was, and King is, the front runner for governor, and they both were attacked in an effort to keep them out of the governor’s office. Sadly, Brewer didn’t make it. This whole smear campaign against King is backfiring against those who started it. Everybody sees the crazies for what they are and it is actually beginning to work in King’s favor. He he laughs last, laughs loudest, and the bottom feeders are no longer laughing. They failed, and everyone knows it. Well, maybe not Loretta.
King the front runner???
Man you King staffers are hilarious! Go get real jobs so we don’t have to pay for you being on here anymore.
And send a memo to Troy. Run for Governor. Please run. We need the comic relief. He’ll be Governor the same day they open that skating rink in Hell . . .
He has zero chance but he’s too damn stupid to know it. He doesn’t even know how many people are laughing at him. Not with him, at him. Hilarious.