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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a poll from Anzalone Liszt Research that shows Democratic nominee Parker Griffith 8 points ahead of Republican Wayne Parker in the AL-05 race. The entire text of the release is below.
This poll was taken Oct. 12 to 14, mostly before the flap emerged yesterday about a recording from a forum last month where Griffith is heard saying, “I think America’s greatest enemy is America and its materialism. And I think that we have nothing to fear from radical Islam. We have nothing to fear from any other religion if we are strong on our own beliefs. I don’t fear radical Islam.”
Today’s Huntsville Times has Griffith on the record about that Colbert-Lauderdale Baptist Association meeting on Sept. 15:
Griffith said he was surprised that his comments had caught the NRCC’s attention a month after they were issued. He said the forum was about faith and family, and his remarks about Islam were completely from a religious slant.
“I don’t think anyone in the room misunderstood what I was saying,” Griffith said. “I was in a room full of Baptist ministers, and we were talking about religion, not matters of national security. The point I was making was that if we are strong in our Christian beliefs, that is stronger than any Islamic threat.
“I don’t know how this got so taken out of context. It’s just a baseless negative attack.”
You can hear the comment here at Redstate.com, but there is not enough audio to add any context. Redstate.com says that Griffith “was asked about radical Islam and its threat to the United States.” You can see the planned questions in this agenda from the forum that was provided the Parlor by the state GOP. Question 12 is “Who do you think is America’s greatest enemy and why?” Question 13 is “Do you think we have any terrorist threats in North Alabama?”
David Carpenter, a Baptist minister from Florence, was the moderator of the event, and “said he was ’shocked by the misuse of the quote from that event.’”
According to the Times article:
“I sat right between Wayne Parker and Dr. Griffith during the program and thought both did an excellent job discussing issues of faith and their views,” Carpenter said. “The response that is being used against Parker Griffith was part of his comment in a longer discussion of whether radical Islam was a threat to our Christian faith.
“I was there when he said these quotes and can tell you that they have been taken out of context, and it is unfortunate that anyone would misrepresent the truth in this way.”
I am told that Rush Limbaugh hit on this issue today. If Griffith has thrown a hanging curveball here, the question is whether the Republicans have a slugger at the plate who can muscle it out of the park, or if it will be a swing-and-a-miss. The Huntsville Hospital issue from Griffith’s past does not appear to be the game-changer that Republicans hoped it would be. This poll released today suggests that the hospital issue is not the hanging curveball that the Parker campaign hoped it would be, or that Parker was not the batter to knock it out. Will Parker have a good level swing, connect solidly on this one, and drive in the go-ahead run? Or is his campaign still looking for the game-changer?
Here is the text of today’s release from the DCCC on the Anzalone Liszt poll:
Griffith Leading by 8 Points in New AL-05 Poll
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a new Anzalone Liszt Research poll today conducted October 12-14 that shows Parker Griffith leading Wayne Parker by 8 points in the race for Alabama’s 5th Congressional District (46 percent to 38 percent). The poll surveyed 400 likely voters and has a 4.9 percent margin of error.
Voters in Alabama 5th District are reacting to the negative tone of Wayne Parker’s campaign. Not only do more voters view Wayne Parker unfavorably than favorably (35 percent unfav to 31 percent fav) but by a 3:1 margin voters say their opinions have become “less favorable” toward Wayne Parker over the last couple of weeks (31 percent “less favorable” to 9 percent “more favorable”).
“This poll shows that Wayne Parker’s lies and smears against Dr. Griffith are backfiring, and voters are soundly rejecting Wayne Parker’s misleading attacks,” said Kyra Jennings, Southern Regional Press Secretary at the DCCC. “While Wayne Parker continues his negative smears in a sad attempt to hide his ignorance about North Alabama’s economy, voters know that Parker Griffith shares their values and will be an effective and independent voice for their needs in Congress.”
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hmm… Rush Limbaugh or a Baptist minister who was there at the event? Rush Limbaugh or a Baptist minister who was there at the event?
That’s a tough one. I’ll have to think on that one.
I’m withholding judgment on this one, but I have a lot of trouble seeing how “America’s greatest enemy” and “terrorist threats” translate into “dangers to Christianity.”
Could be that the moderator called an audible and departed from the prepared questions or it could be the Griffith is lying yet again.
The complete audio (either the question asked or Wayne’s response to the same question) should settle the issue.
In the interest of full disclosure, the Baptist Pastor in question is David Carpenter. David in addition to being a bi-vocational pastor also has close ties to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in the Shoals. One of his church members and fellow union members is Gene Tackett who in addition to being a prominant leader for the union is also leading the charge for Dr. Griffith in the Shoals area. It would seem to me that as a “moderater” for an event like this Mr. Carpenter would have a hard time even prentending to be unbiased in his statements.
Even though there is merit to the medical claims (and Griffith still hasn’t addressed them but just deflected it, repeatedly) the issue doesn’t lend itself to sound bytes.
Griffith has now done us all and favor and given us the sound byte that shows where he really stands.
I know the Shoals very well and indeed, many ministers are the two job types who have factory jobs during the week and collect the union checks too, and sadly many of the union types are to this day reluctant to see that the Democratic party does them more harm than good. The pastor’s comments do not jive with the questions on the form, but I wish there was full audio though because it would hush the naysayers once and for all.
Kyra Jennings, listen to your press release: Griffith shares “my values” and is an “independent” voice for the 5th district? As a spokesperson for the DCCC, how can you even write a press release with a straight face when these are the facts?
My values mean no pay raises for state senators, and Griffith votes himself one. My values mean a hard stance on illegal immigration. Griffith refused six times to vote on tougher illegal immigration laws in the past 2 years alone. My values mean that you blow the whistle if you see poor patient care or don’t engage in it in the first place. Griffith has been silent and angry about his medical past and won’t talk to the public about it. My values mean respect your marriage vows. Griffith…..
Considering he was addressing pastors, his statement:
makes sense. If one has faith (either in G_d or Lewis “Chesty” Fuller), then one has nothing to fear. Also, don’t thing there is much dispute we have become more attached to things than what really matters, full bellies, happy families, etc.
Do wonder how he would have answered it in a more secular setting, say the AM coffee klatch and goat roping seminar in Scottsboro.
Well, at MY coffee klatch and goat roping seminar, the materialism comments holds water, for sure. Huge problem, no doubt. But my klatch pals and I all spit our Starbucks on Billy Goat’s Gruff with the “America” part of it. Doctor Griffith should have said maybe, say, passive Christianity, worship of idols over God, but “America” itself is putting the blame on the country, and that doesn’t fly with us down home folk.
I wish I could like Griffith but he is no Bud Light. More like Milwaukee’s Worst. That’s a beer joke, by the way.
Go Parker Griffith,
You will be elected Congressman for 05 on Nov 4.
“Vote for Griffith”
Just heard from both Wayne Parker, who was there, and others in attendance, that the question was not about Christianity at all, but America.
So here is what Griffith does:
-make stupid statements that show his beliefs
-public outcries
-Wayne Parker, NRCC, media, or others call Griffith out
-Griffith explains it all away as being “attacked”
-Griffith changes story
My hope not only for district 5 but for all of America is that this loser finally gets his due.
And in the horrible chance that this professional liar gets elected, may the media finally expose him after the fact since they can no longer use the campaign excuse to ignore the full story.
It is beyond politics at this point. Parker Griffith is a professional liar beyond the depths of Pinocchio himself.
Ever wonder why a well paid doctor would give up his practice to run for mayor,and lose then run for state senate,get that and then immediately run for Congress? Sounds to me like he is just looking for power and money.He showed me his true colors on the illegal immigration fiasco when he didn’t have the guts to state either yea or nea on the bill.This man wants to represent us?? I don’t really believe that,he wants to represent himself and his liberal ideology.
Joe Sixpack – not sure about the “money” part since Mr. Funeral Home is rolling in the dough and has a net worth almost equivalent to the Jefferson County sewer debt, but ego and power are definitely everything to Griffith.
Also, Griffith voted “present” on at least six immigration items. He can’t say it was one instance. It was several. And yet Griffith has the audacity to use illegal immigration in his campaign ads as one of his most urgent topics to address. You already had the chance, nimrod.
It falls in line with all his other BS – do one thing and say another later because we the public are too stupid to connect the dots. Let’s see, to tally, that would be 1. his doctor mess 2. illegal immigration 3. radical islam 4. pay raises for state senators 5. Christian values …. but it’s “baseless attacks,” all of them. Poor Parker Griffith.
I frankly want to give the man a Bible and drive him to Georgetown for the exorcism. It worked for Linda Blair, after all.
This begs the question, hey Griffith campaign people: How can you work for this guy? His personality has to show through. Do y’all hit the bar often?