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State Sen. Harri Anne Smith (R – Slocomb) this morning endorsed Democrat Bobby Bright over Republican Jay Love in the race for the 2nd Congressional District seat. Love defeated Smith in a hard fought race for the Republican nomination.
Smith’s endorsement of Bright has been rumored for weeks. Those close to Smith say that hard feelings lingered over the tone of the Republican primary race. Still, many doubted that she would actually commit to endorsing Bright, however tempted she may be. The endorsement will raise many questions over her political future with the Republican Party. Many observers believed Smith, a one time candidate for governor, was politically weakened after her showing in the primary and that she could expect a primary challenge in any re-election bid for her state Senate seat.
Partisans love to see politicians cross the aisle in their direction (e.g., see Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman at the GOP Convention), and this will juice the Bright crowd even more than the endorsement of Republican Dothan Mayor Pat Thomas. The question is, how many voters will she bring with her? In a race as close as observers are expecting this one to be, it may not take many.
Update: The Dothan Eagle has the story here.
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Good comments John.
#50,
Has a Republican-controlled Congress ever passed pro-life legislation?
Dear Brother Mullet,
Actually, Yes! A Republican controlled Congress passed the Born Alive Act, signed into law by George W Bush. A similar bill, on the state level, was opposed by then-Illinois State Senator Barack Obama.
Also, a Republican controlled Congress passed the Partial Birth Abortion ban several times–vetoed twice by President Clinton and then signed into law by George W Bush.
A Republican controlled Senate has confirmed pro life judges that have moved our judiciary closer to overturning Roe vs Wade.
In days when I am frustrated with the weakness of the GOP on so many issues, the right to life is a core value with me and this conviction demands that I support members of Congress and a potential President who will support the right to life.
On an additional note, I know that Bobby Brght may be prolife, but his first vote for Speaker will put Nancy Pelosi back into the Speaker’s chair and tilt the committees and hence, the flow of legislation toward those who oppose pro life legislation.
I guess according to idiots like Jay Love and Mike Hubbard the once most “Conservative Senator” is now a raging liberal. Jay Love and Mike Hubbard are wondering somewhere in a dark closet “I guess Bright Republicans actually do exist!”
#53, I am a democrat and like many others we would love to see Nancy ousted as Speaker and replaced with Steny Hoyer or a more moderate democratic. Pelosi is an idiot and I wouldn’t expect Bright to vote for her.
#50 and #53,
Thanks for the info. Although Republicans talk the pro-life game, they rarely put such talk into legislation. I truly hope that the legislation you reference has led to the saving of many human lives in the past and future.
$150,000 for that performance today? wow – give me a freakin’ refund!
HAS has told many people to vote for Bright because he’ll be the easiest to beat during the next election, especially if Obama wins. Yes, she’s tried to find financing for her debt. Bobby took the bait, and boy, was he baited. I wish she would say publicly now, what she would have said about Bright, if she had won the nomination. HAS IS A JOKE. Remember her attack ads on Jay Love, which went negative FIRST by the way. Remember how she rode Riley’s coattails with the spot about the oil companies over and over? Can’t believe she’s complaining about negative ads. HAS, GET OVER YOURSELF.
The people in Dothan think she is a joke. This proves them right. If ACORN gives her $10,000 I wonder if she will climb on the back of a truck and read their talking points too? Bobby promised $150,000 but I hear she is also accepting smaller “donations”
HELLOOOO! THE WRONG REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WAS CHOSEN IN THE PRIMARY … AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES THIS? HMMM, SEEMS I AM THE ONLY ONE TO ADMIT THIS … THERE WAS A VIABLE CANDIDATE OUT THERE WHOSE ELECTION WOULD NOT HAVE FOSTERED THIS DIVISION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. IS IS A SHAME.
Hey you guys! Guess What? Bob Mckee, the right wing Republican House Representative Jay defeated with gutter politics has an “I’m a Bright Republican” sign in his front yard! So does his daughter. Go Figure!
60
Yes, Mckee knows first hand how dirty Love is in his so called politics, so he pronounced his pledge of support for the best candidate in this race. That candidate being BRIGHT all the way. Mr. Mckee is on the team that really matters.
$150,000 bought and paid for! I love it. Smith is Smith, that is all you can say. Too bad Bobby took the bait.
Smith is a great person whom was truly battered by the Jay Team during the primary! Now lets get real folks, she’s definitely speaking from her heart and with good reason to do so. Who best to know what a crooked race that Love has run than she? I say congratulations to Mrs. Smith and hats off to her for doing the right thing by endorsing Mr. Bright as the candidate we need as our Congressman. Now this speaks volumes about Love and his rudementary actions, not being able to garner Mrs. Smith’s support! Bright is the best choice in November for US.
Post 63 is laughable. But thanks for the comment Harri Anne.
$150,000 SOLD!
If # 63 is so laughable where are any Republicans who ran in the primary??? You have never answered the question and I am giving you a challenge right now. Explain to me why not one, not one ingle person who campaigned against Love will endorse him???
Brother Mullet,
On the pro-life activity of the GOP controlled Congress,under GOP leadership, Congress did significantly cut federal funding for abortion. Plus, the House passed a Parental Notification bill that did not ultimately get through the Senate. President Bush supported this legislation.
I am a convictional pro-lifer and believe that a culture that does not respect life will not long survive as a nation. I do believe that both Jay Love and Bobby Bright are personally pro-life. Both men have good characteristics and I believe that both men are somewhat sincere. At the same time, I would have problems with both men.
But bottom line on the pro-life issue–Jay Love would work to put leadership in place in the House that would favor pro-life legislation. And yes, Bright WOULD vote to make Pelosi the Speaker of the House as do conservative Democrats like Heath Shuler of NC and Gene Taylor of MS.
Bright has voiced his support for Barack Obama. And that is no shock – he will also vote for Vivian Figures and other Dems straight down the ticket. He is a democrat plain and simple and wants to go to DC to be a part of their liberal majority. The last thing we need is another democrat in Congress. Not from this district folks.
John Killian – I respect you, having read your previous posts. Do you not believe that Jay Love’s record of public dishonesty is an issue? I do understand the concern about Pelosi, but she is not the candidate here. In esssence, is it better to vote for someone who has lied to win an election instead of an honest man with a less-than-desirable poltical party?
Bright is a Democrat. So was Robert E. Lee, Andy Griffith, Audie Murphy, and Johnny Cash.
Jay Love is a Republican. So was Richard M. nixon, Senator Joe McCarthy, Tom Foley, and Larry Craig.
Indivuals and character truly matter.
Character does matter – so why would Bright agree to pay off Harri Anne for $150,000????????????????? Oh wait, he denies talking to her about it. My bad.
# 68 Anonymous
I really don’t know the details on the alleged dishonesty by Jay Love.
I have dealt with both Jay Love and Bobby Bright on a personal level. In both cases I found them to be gentlemen and I know that both have a profession of Christian faith (not that this determines my vote).
On the issues, however, I would support Jay Love as the one with the stronger conservative convictions.
Post 71, please read the editorial in today’s Montgomery Advertiser. In reference to Love’s new mailout which the Montgomery Advertiser condemns as misleading, the newspaper says, “One of the greatest threats to democracy today is the attack ad…The only real protection is an informed electorate that realizes such dirty tactics reflect more on the attacker than the attacked.”
Love is a disgrace! He makes our whole Republican party look bad! Him and Hubbard! quit the attacks!