Endorsement at What Cost?
The state GOP fires back quickly after Republican state Sen. Harri Anne Smith’s endorses Democrat Bobby Bright in the AL-02 race this morning. This email to the state GOP Executive Committee members went out during lunch. The emphasis is in the original.
From: John Ross
Sent: Oct 20, 2008 12:15 PM
Subject: ***Important Election Alert***
Executive Committee Members,
Today is a very sad day in Alabama. Republican State Senator Harri Ann Smith has publically endorsed Democrat Bobby Bright in the race for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District. As you may recall, she lost in a very heated run-off to our nominee Jay Love back in July.
To make matters worse, her endorsement came with a price tag of $150,000. I received a call from her former campaign manager a couple of weeks ago. He told me Bright had offered to pay off her campaign debt in exchange for her endorsement and if the ALGOP couldn’t come up with the same amount, she would accept the deal. As you can imagine, we don’t intend to a part of any shady “backroom” deals and refused to be blackmailed. Well, true to their word, the deal took place and she made the endorsement.
Each of you need to be fully aware of this situation and spread the word of this unconscionable act to everyone you know. This is extremely disheartening. However, it should only strengthen our resolve as Republicans and motivate us as we move toward Election Day.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Regretfully,
John
John C.M. Ross
Executive Director
Alabama Republican Party
Former state GOP Executive Director Bill Harris is the Harri Anne Smith campaign adviser that party officials are saying called Ross.
State GOP Chair Mike Hubbard released this statement this afternoon:
“The circumstances surrounding this endorsement should eliminate all credibility from today’s announcement. Harri Anne Smith shopped her endorsement around, offered the Alabama Republican Party the opportunity to purchase her support, and we declined. It is unfortunate that Bobby Bright is so desperate for support that he is willing to pay top dollar for it, and by doing so, Bright is showing once again that he will say and do anything to get elected.”
Update: Lance Griffin is on top of this at the Dothan Eagle with comments from Bill Harris, Smith, and Bright.
Later Update: Bill Harris’s former party title has been corrected.
Related Articles:
Bright will totally and completely deny this. But the truth hurts. This is 100% Harri Amith style.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
This will actually help Jay Love. Harri Anne must not be interested in re-election.
How much did Bright’s campaign think her endorsement would help Bobby anyway? She’s not that popular.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 2:50 pm
Does anybody believe anything Republicans say any more?
Comment by Pecan Jim — October 20, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
Considering that Democrats wrote the book on hypocrisy, I put a lot more favor in the accuracy of this than, say, Mr. Mahoney’s moral campaign, John Edward’s compassion for his wife, or Don Siegelman’s conspiracy theories.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
Uh - first of all how is Bright going to pay of Smith’s debt when he is supposedly broke.
Jay “Subway Artist” Love supporters you can’t have it both ways claiming that Bright is broke and he is going to pay off her debt.
The Republican flip flop of course
Comment by Progressive E — October 20, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Jay Low. It fits.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
Can you believe how desperate Bright is? Does that dumb a– not realize how “unpopular” Harri “Ms. Piggy” Anne is down here?
I hope that $150,000.00 was well spent in his mind. Her endorsement was detrimental to his campaign. In reality what Bright has done is to pay that kind on money to get more votes for Mr. Love. What an idiot!
Comment by LD — October 20, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Another finger in the wind politician. Didn’t she start out as a democrat?
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:11 pm
From the Associated Press story:
“That just confirms that I made the right decision. That is absolutely not true,” Smith said when told of the allegations.
Bright said he did not make any promises to Smith.
“Absolutely not. To make these allegations, they are desperate. It’s time for people to realize that party labels are not important to Americans,” Bright said.
******************************************************
No one has less credibility than Jay Love. You cannot take anythhing he says as truth.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Progressive E’s comment makes sense until you consider how these types of deals go down. Let’s see, $150,000 payment to HAS on FEC report or shady backroom deal with trial lawyer, union boss or some other wealthy Obama-bot? Duh….
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
Credibility is the key here. Harri Anne Smith, Bobby Bright, David Grimes, Ronnie Gilley, Bob McKee - all of these people have accused Jay Love of lying. Most of these people are Republicans.
Additionally, Jay Love has made claims in his campaign (”I cut taxes” etc.) that have been shown to be untrue.
I don’t believe Jay Love. There’s a truth gap here.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
I’ll trump your Associated Press excerpt with this Dothan Eagle excerpt:
John Ross told the Dothan Eagle Monday that Bill Harris, who was Smith’s campaign manager during her Republican Congressional primary race with Love, told him on Oct. 7 that Smith was prepared to endorse Bright in exchange for $150,000 to help retire her campaign debt. However, Ross said Harris told him Smith was willing to entertain offers from the Love campaign.
When reached by the Dothan Eagle, Harris said that he did have a conversation with Ross, but declined to comment further.
“I’m not going to discuss any conversation because, as a campaign manager, I have a confidentiality agreement I signed with her,” Harris said. “Unless Sen. Smith allows me to say anything, I’m not at liberty to confirm or deny anything.”
and this one:
Smith denied having any conversations with Bright about money in exchange for an endorsement. When asked if she had any knowledge of a conversation between Harris and Ross about her endorsement, she declined to comment.
“I’m not going to get in the fray,” Smith said. “I’m going to be above that.”
Unless you sat on the O.J. Simpson murder trial jury, I do not understand how you cannot see she is guilty and caught red handed.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:24 pm
Jay Love is a liar. That’s why.
He has a record - a long one - of untruth.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
EWWWWW!!! The Alabama GOP just lost this one for Love. This is something they can not go back on now. Bright did not pay for this endorsement and it can be proved. Thanks GOP
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
People who - on the record - have accusedJay Love of lying:
1) Ronnie Gilley
2) Harri Anne Smith
3) Bobby Bright
4) David Grimes
5) Bob McKee
You will notice that 3 of those 5 are people elected to public office as REPUBLICANS
Jay Low. It fits.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
It’s over, Bright. “The Fat Lady Has Sung” today !!!
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
Post #14, please see Post #12.
Comment by Reading Comprehension is Fun — October 20, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
# 15….you forgot one
#6 George Jones
“jay love is just a plain ole liar” lol
Comment by CC Dollar — October 20, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
#15 Oh, you forgot ole No Show George Jones !!! You spent a whole lot of a money on him trying to convince the district that Jay Love was lying. Didn’t work, did it? Only someone with an ego as big as yours would insist on getting your name on this thread. AND, in the number one spot, no less.
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
If Mike Hubbard thinks Harri Anne sold her endorsement he should kick her out of the GOP! Twinkle would if she still ran the show! She wanted to kick some out b/c they took money from AEA!
Comment by J — October 20, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
This would not be a big deal except HARRI ANNE’S OWN CAMPAIGN MANAGER said this happened. and HARRI ANNE DID NOT DENY IT.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Maybe George and Harianne can do a duet now. HAS is finished in district 2 for any office she seeks. She has her “so called friends” to thank for it.
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
This is going to burry Love. I do feel bad for the guy. I wonder if J. Ross or Hubbard even asked Love before they released this. This is going to be so easy for Bright prove money did or did not change hands.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
Has Harri Anne received a dollar from anyone for debt retirement?
Comment by Love Campaign Done — October 20, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
I truly hope Harianne is kicked out of the party. It’s always, always about the MONEY. Just follow the trail. According to the Federal Election Committee’s campaign finance report, HAS is over $400,000 in debt for the campaign. She’s got $$. She doesn’t want to spend HERS.
She reminds me of Colin Powell in switching parties. Her records of upcoming donors will most likely be in some sort of PAC. Much like Obama’s mysterious donors. She has switched to the Democratic party now. Good riddance from the Republican Party. I , too, wish Twinkle was in charge. Go Twinkle and Jay !!!
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
Harri “Ms. Piggy” Anne Smith is a complete hipocrite! She has no morals and no convictions. You can bet your sweet A– that she is a democrat at heart. Yes, she started out as a democrat. In the late 1980’s and into the 1990’s she was chairman of the democratic party in Geneva County. She “hung out” with the likes of Don Siegleman, Paul Hubbert and Jim Folsom Jr.
Only after the “Republican Revolution” that took place in 1994, when Republicans nationally and especially here in Alabama, were elected in record numbers, did she think about “jumping off” the sinking democratic ship. In 1998 she switched parties to run for the State Senate seat that she currently holds. The “original Dothan Five” got behind her then some how or other. The “five” made a HUGE ERROR IN JUDGEMENT thinking that she was congressional material this year.
She’s Pis–d in her own bucket today! She is a complete and total joke. If she had any convictions she would resign her seat effective immediately!
Comment by LD — October 20, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
Whether money has changed hands yet or not is irrelevant. She shopped around her price, the ALGOP turned her down and Bright took her up on it. The deal has been made, her debt will be retired and Bobby gets his very expensive endorsement.
Even Harri Anne’s own campaign manager has said he had the conversation with the Party’s executive director on her behalf. How much more evidence do you people need?
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 3:58 pm
Did anyone not expect this from the State GOP?
Comment by Dan R. — October 20, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
Everyone needs to calm down!!!!!! This is going to be so easly proved if money did or did not change hands. If money did change hands then Bright is down, if money did not change hands then Hubbard’s statment is completely false and Love is done. Let us all just calm down and wait for the proof.
It is coming
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
Smith has not been able to deal with the fact that District 2 just plain out DIDN’T WANT HER. She can blame her loss on Jay all she wants to, but the simple fact is, she would have lost the election PERIOD because of the Country Crossing debacle. Schmitke almost beat her in the initial primary.
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
#27 It is all about if money changed hands. If Love and Smith talked so be it. The accusation from Mike Hubbard is what is in question.
“It is unfortunate that Bobby Bright is so desperate for support that he is willing to pay top dollar for it” M. Hubbard
They had better be able to prove money changed hands or Love and Hubbard are done.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
HER OWN CAMPAIGN MANAGER SAID THE CONVERSATION TOOK PLACE!!!! HELLO!!! CAN ANYONE READ????
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
I doubt any money has exchanged hands yet. Maybe won’t now. The channel it was coming through probably hadn’t been worked out. Details, that is. Hope HAS loses out on the money. She’s already lost respect.
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
That was a ballsy statement by Mike…especially since he did not include proof.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
CAN YOU PEOPLE NOT READ….Hubbard said Bright paid for it. SHOW US THE PROOF
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
Calm down, Gunny (Gilley), the truth will come out.
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
The money is probably in a “swiss account” or in a “Cayman Islands account.”
“Ms. Piggy” is pretty dumb but you can bet that the money was exchanged before the “endorsement.”
My God, this is a “mini-Watergate.” The national press will probably get wind of this soon! — BYE, BYE BOBBY AND MS. PIGGY! What a great twosome you are! You deserve each other!
Comment by LD — October 20, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
y’all have lost your minds, the statement said bright was “willing” to pay for it, and that has been proven via bill harris, whether he does or not is irrelevant, he was, at one time, “willing.” read people before you break a thumb on the blackberry. fact is, these 2 brainiacs (smith/bright) thought they had a big deal worked out, but it turned out to be a bust. smith is finished, bobby is crashing and burning everyday.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
#38….So Hubbard pretty much put out a statement that alleged something he has no idea happened or not to put out the fire?
Sounds like political BS that the Love group has been full of
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
Who are the idiots on here that think money has changed hands and will show up on an FEC report. Are you guys new? I mean SH*% The point is, she had her campaign manager shopping her endorsement around. When asked by the press, he would not deny it, nor did harri anne for that matter - she just wouldn’t comment. This has been in the works with harri anne whining to folks about her debt for quite some time now. she could personally pay it off but hell no she is not doing that. She got called out - and so did Bright. End of story.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
uh, since when has HarriAnne Smith worried too much about following the federal election laws?
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
Miss Piggy-Anne is so desperate, and she proved today that she’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Thank goodness the people of this district voted her down, and you can be assured that we will NEVER vote for her in any election again. This isn’t the first shady deal that’s surrounded her trough.
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
yeah, 47% of the vote in the runoff NO ONE LIKES HER!
And the slimy statement by Hubbard just shows they will do anything to beat Bright.
I bet they are worried sick about what he has in store for the rest of this Truck Tour - probably get endorsements throughout the District!
Comment by Love Campaign Done — October 20, 2008 @ 5:16 pm
i bet he will get more endorsements, just like the one he gave to Obama a couple of weeks ago. Bright/Obama ‘08 - change is a’ comin
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
The ONLY reason Smith got 47% of the runoff was because of her hastily called press conference, aka scare tactic, with some lame commissioners. They TRIED to scare the Wiregrass about losing Ft. Rucker.
Her voter turnout in the primary was very telling about what her constiuents thought about her. How bout pulling up those records.
I saw Bright’s truck tour today. Even saw Piggy-Anne standing in the truck. Proper place , I guess, for the last song. She only needed Bumpkin Crossing Gilley singing “Short-cut Home” to finish out her trip back to Slocomb. Permanently, I hope. She should resign immediately. What a let down she is to people who have supported her and the Republican Party in this district. We voted her in, and we’ll vote her out. The last thing we need is another one in Washington in Obama’s corner. We need every vote we can get to vote against his social policies.
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 5:24 pm
That comment about her scare tactics at the end of the run off are totally true. It was ridiculous and almost as shameful as what she did today.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
Bright’s not broke…he’s a millionaire…remember?
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 6:01 pm
reliable rumor is that Bright is coming down off the air or possibly a very reduced buy.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
Five dollar five dollar fooootlong
Comment by Progressive E — October 20, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
It’s absolutely ludicrous to think that anyone is going to give 150k to Harri Anne Smith for her endorsement.
Put this former campaign manager under a lie detector test.
Comment by Progressive E — October 20, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
Wait, wait, wait, wait . . . No.44, did Bright endorse Obama??? When???
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
I’ll bet anyone on here $150,000 that Bright doesn’t come down off the air, and airs more ads than Love the final weeks of the campaign.
He’ll win walking away.
Comment by Love Campaign Done — October 20, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Bright endorsed Obama when he cast his Democrat Primary ballot swearing to support the ticket.
Comment by JD — October 20, 2008 @ 7:54 pm
uh, he endorsed obama not only with the D behind his name, but also the other day at that breakfast i attended at AUM, that is for sure. matter of fact, he looked pretty pissed off that anyone would think otherwise
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 7:59 pm
Bright lost 8 votes today in my family. And, we contributed to his campaign.
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
Next question: Bobby Bright just endorsed Barack Hussein Obama, the most liberal member of the United States Senate, someone who voted against a bill protecting the children of botched abortions and someone who has guaranteed a tax hike . . . why are we talking about the meaningless endorsement of a washed-up primary loser?
Comment by No. 51 — October 20, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
What’s with everyone saying Jay Love has negative advertising? Have you seen Bright’s Freedom Watch ads? Don’t tell me he’s had no part in it. They’re filthy and lies. Bobby Bright has lied, and Harianne Smith is a joke and liability for District 2. I can’t wait to see her out of the picture. She needs to REjoin the Democratic party. Bobby Bright plus Obama plus Harianne Smith. Just put Hussein in the back of the truck, too.
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
you hit on it 56, harri anne has nothing to do with the liberal agenda bobby will be pushing if elected, especially after he said he supports obama and has taken all that money from the national democrats - whew, cd2 better look out.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 9:32 pm
All you Jay Lovers need to quit your whining and just go ahead and accept the fact that Mr. Bright will be our new Congressman on November 4. Love is getting exactly what he and his mentors deserve after running the most disgusting and crooked campaign they could have run in this race from the jump start. Go Bright and know that you have solidly set the stage to become the winner of this district on election day. We, along with all the Harri Anne Smith supporters are now behind you and will be very proud to support you on that day!
Our new slogan is “Vote Bright and be right in 08″.
Comment by 02 Voter — October 20, 2008 @ 9:33 pm
you’re right 59, and since you say it, it is true. since bobby bright’s friends, relatives and staff say that jay has run a “crooked” campaign, then it is fact. you know, jay and his supporters might as well just appeal for bobby to pay off all of their credit card debt, home mortgages etc…and they will endorse him like harri anne, then he will be the only guy on the ballot. he will have just as much integrity as he has now, which is zero, but then ghe will know that his say anything, do anything campaign paid off and he will get what he has been so desperate to achieve…congress.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 9:53 pm
One of the big reasons Rs are doing poorly in polls (and looking more likely to show poorly in the Election) is because they lace their comments with intolerant language like Barack “Hussein” Obama (and locally with the Miss Piggy Anne). Every single person on here that claims morality and uses this type of fear-laden or hateful language should be absolutely ashamed. Why would people want to be associated with people that stoop to this level? On the lighter side, did anyone notice that the GOP Executive Director misspelled “publicly.”
Comment by Trvld — October 20, 2008 @ 10:06 pm
Oh lighten up 61. How many Jay Lows, McSames, Quaylin, Failin, Peanut Parker, Mike Rogers hair comments, and variations on Repooplican or Refublicans are out there? Aren’t the liberals all about politically correct? Isn’t that the same thing? It’s not poor morality, it’s politics, go have a beer and get over it.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 10:29 pm
150,000………………priceless
Is Bobby bringing in ACORN next?
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
It would be interesting to see who Schmidtke and Woods would or would not endorse …
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
The big question from me I have is that no one from the Love side will address; why haven’t those “good Republicans” that ran in the primary endorsed Love or !!!!!, wait a minute!!!! My God!!!! OOOhhh my goodnesss!!!!! They may not even be Republicans at all!!!!!!!!!!!!! That has to be it !!!!!!!
Surely they must be !!! but why oh why haven’t they endorsed the candidate that won the primary????
Maybe they all know that Mike (triple dipper) Hubbard
selected the “annointed one” (LOVE) so JUST MAYBE they felt they got hosed and decided to let the Two Boys finish the job themselves… Interesting also that Bush isn’t coming to Alabama campaigning for these guys this time. Hey Rogers, Why haven’t you asked Air Force One to fly down to Auburn and you and Hubbie get up on the stage with him this next week… I am sure it would really have an effect on Love and Roger’s numbers to have “W” down here campaigning for them.
Comment by the big question mark?? — October 20, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
The big question from me I have is that no one from the Love side will address; why haven’t those “good Republicans” that ran in the primary endorsed Love or !!!!!, wait a minute!!!! My God!!!! OOOhhh my goodnesss!!!!! They may not even be Republicans at all!!!!!!!!!!!!! That has to be it !!!!!!!
Surely they must be !!! but why oh why haven’t they endorsed the candidate that won the primary????
Maybe they all know that Mike (triple dipper) Hubbard
selected the “annointed one” (LOVE) so JUST MAYBE they felt they got hosed and decided to let the Two Boys finish the job themselves… Interesting also that Bush isn’t coming to Alabama campaigning for these guys this time. Hey Rogers, Why haven’t you asked Air Force One to fly down to Auburn and you and Hubbie get up on the stage with him this next week… I am sure it would really have an effect on Love and Roger’s numbers to have “W” down here campaigning for them.
Comment by the big question mark?? — October 20, 2008 @ 11:07 pm
I think their silence speaks VOLUMES!
Comment by anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 11:22 pm
Things are getting a little loopy at the Bright campaign offices, I see. Guys - shut down for the night and go to bed. Sleep=good. Watching campaign go down in flames at 11 PM=bad.
Comment by Anonymous — October 20, 2008 @ 11:31 pm
if there was not truth to this bill harris or harri anne would have denied it. NEITHER did.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 7:13 am
Hmmm . . .first Bright was “broke” . . .now he has $150k to “buy” an endorsement . . .then his opponent has the candidate who got almost 50% against him in the GOP primary endorse BRIGHT . . . .and not one of the other GOP candidates has endorsed Jay Low . . .and BRIGHT’s Campaign is “going down in flames?”
Riiiiiight. “Five dollar foootloooong . . .”
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 7:15 am
Bright denied it. Harri Anne (who actually did deny it) and Bill Harris are GOP just like Jay low. Birds of a feather I suppose . . .
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 7:17 am
Love is beat. He is getting desperate. I am willing to bet Love soon comes out with an ad claiming Bobby was the shooter on the grassy knoll in Dallas.
Comment by Tim Banks — October 21, 2008 @ 7:18 am
“He’s broke . . . no wait he paid $150K for that endorsement . . . .I passed tax cuts . . .well the official record is WRONG . . .I didn’t ask for Gilley’s endorsement . . . .I didn’t run a false ad against Bob McKee . . .”
What is the over/under on Jay Low lies in one campaign?
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 7:41 am
Hey here is a fresh Jay Low Lie (from today’s Montgomery Advertiser):
“The second example involves a slick mailout from the National Republican Congressional Committee on behalf of Jay Love’s campaign in the 2nd Congressional District race. The ad attacks Love’s opponent, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, a Democrat.
It contains a lengthy quote that attempts to link Bright with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and then is labeled “Montgomery Advertiser, 9/11/08.” But we cannot find that quote or anything like it anywhere in the newspaper published that day.”
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 7:44 am
Why do people believe Bill Harris? I refused to vote for Harri Anne the day I heard he came on her campaign. He ran a smear campaign against a good person, Mac Gipson, and refused to accept that he lost. I still hear that he telling people of his ideas of crazy conspiracies that happened during the campaign.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 7:58 am
Love can’t ever get his facts straight therefore his only recourse is to resort to the continued lies and deceptions. Love is a joke!
We need Bright as he does have the morals and character that we need to represent us well in Washington!
Comment by anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 7:59 am
Yeah - Bright has morals and character. Is that why he paid off Senator Smith?
Sorry, I have to go, Mayor Bright is wanting me to get ACORN on the line….
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 8:46 am
Bright flatly denied paying off anyone. No waffling. Now Jay Low , on the other hand, hasn’t explained the going-on-a-dozen documented lies (including a new whopper in this morning’s Montgomery Advertiser editorials)that he has told so far in this race . . .
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Ummmm yeah….the Montgomery Advertiser is really non biased! Give me a break.
And Bright denied it? Ummmmm yeah….he was going to say “Yes, indeed I did pay for this endorsement”
Give me a break.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 9:04 am
While it is interesting to watch this Republican circular firing squad you all should take note of the root cause of this little hate fest. When party leader Hubbard took sides in the primary, he was the first to betray a fellow Republican. The fact that Smith did not support him in his run for party leadership should not have made any difference, a party leader has to rise above past differences when it comes to the primaries. This disaster is a direct result of Hubbard making the race about loyalty to him rather than his loyalty to the party. The Republican party needed to maintain this congressional seat to show that it was worth becoming the majority party in state politics.
When we look back on a new Democratic majority at the state level as well as the national level, Mike Hubbard’s failed leadership will serve as a textbook example of how destructive a party leader’s rewarding personal loyalty and punishing those they see as personally disloyal can be.
Comment by Pecan Jim — October 21, 2008 @ 9:16 am
Jim, this has zero to do with Hubbard. This has everything to do with Smith being bitter at Jay Love and also bitter that she had to spend $150,000 more of her personal money than what she committed to do (she only committed to put up $300,000) This issue has been going on for weeks in the Wiregrass and everyone has known she was shopping around whining about the $150,000. It is not new news. She told Jay Love that, she told the Republican party that, she told any Republican that called her about it. She also told Bright that. What is new news is that she got Bright to take the deal. End of story.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 10:16 am
There is no prrof that Bright gave her a dime. None.
If Jay wouldn’t pay her, what else was there to do for HAS but spite him? Doesn’t mean Bobby gave her anything and I doubt enormously he did. No reason for him to.
And remember you guys INSISTED he was BROKE.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 10:26 am
This is a very very desperate attempt on behalf of the Republicans! Very Desperate and Very Sad! As a result of this, I am ashamed to say that I am a Republican in Alabama.
Comment by BamaRepub — October 21, 2008 @ 10:52 am
LOL. Good Lord, do you think there is a cancelled check somewhere? Bright promised to get her debt of 125,000 paid if he is elected. It’s not like he gave her the cash in a briefcase before she jumped in the back of his truck and read from her legal pad how evil Love is and how great Bright’s money….I mean Bright is.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 11:10 am
No one has ever caught Bright in a lie. Jay Love, however . . . .
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 11:30 am
Jay Love has not lied. No matter how many times you guys try to scream it…it doesn’t make it so.
If you guys have not seen the video of Smith on back of Bright’s pick up….you have missed a real treat!
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
OK. So how is it that Harris can tell Hubbard/Ross/The Dothan Eagle that if the Repubs don’t pay off Smith’s debt she’ll endorse Bright. When it goes public Harris suddenly hides behind a “confidentiality agreement” that existed before he spoke to Hubbard/Ross/The Dothan Eagle. Something shady going on here. Hum?????? Bright has denied it,Smith has denied it, and Harris has no comment.
Comment by sickofsleazyads — October 21, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
Republicans are going to lose this seat and they are desperate.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
#86 - Jay has manipulated facts to misrepresent the truth- therefore they are lies. 84% increase in unemployment - a lie, the appreviated Obama video - a lie, and the lies goes on and on and on…..
Here’s a good example - Jay Love and the Republican Party want to give tax cuts to wealthy wife-beaters and child molesters.
That statement is factual, but not truthful - so it is a lie. Surely there are wife-beaters and child molesters that have sufficient income to qualify for tax breaks for the wealthy.
Jay Love lies!
Comment by sickofsleazyads — October 21, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
POST 87 - HARRI ANNE SMITH DID NOT DENY IT. READ THE DOTHAN EAGLE ARTICLE. IF SHE REALLY WANTS TO TRUTH TO COME OUT, LET HER RELEASE HARRIS FROM HIS CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. I ASSURE YOU SHE WILL NOT DO SO.
$150,000 SOLD!
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
this is sad on behalf of the repubs.
Comment by McCain/ Sessions/ Bright 2008 — October 21, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
Sad? Yes, it is sad when Harri Anne Smith decides to sale an endorsement to Bright. Very sad indeed. She has not denied it, nor has her campaign manager that was going around trying to set it up.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
Nope … our candidates are sad.
Comment by anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
i’m still waiting on proof Harri Anne sold her endorsement to Bright…..can the “liars for the liar love” show us the proof? I doubt it….
Comment by CC Dollar — October 21, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
#90 - She did deny it. WSFA 10:00 news, last night.
Comment by sickofsleazyads — October 21, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
She has not denied it nor released Bill Harris to talk about it. People in Dothan see this as a total joke after reading this morning’s paper. It is ridiculous.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
Yeah, right. How is Bright going to pay off her debts when he has only a fraction of that on hand? He can’t write a check that big to her campaign anyway. If he were going to raise that kind of money, he’d raise it for his own campaign. This is a ridiculous farce of a non-story.
Comment by Wiregrass Native — October 21, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
I just posted because I wanted to see this go over 100 posts of back and forth between Love’s campaign and Bright’s campaign…. come on, just a couple more…..
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Harri Anne is in seclusion. You will not be able to get a comment from her until after the election is over. Word has it that she has taken to the bed.
Bobby is riding around on that truck with that poor ole sickly dog and his wife. You want get a comment from him on this issue either. When the press starts hounding him, he’ll just jump in the truck and continue the “magical mystery tour.”
The truth will come out soon. Be patient you Brightites, O.K.?
Comment by LD — October 21, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Smith sold herself out way before this last sale. The Wiregrass showed her what they thought of her in the primaries. She’s queen of the flip-floppers, and this last sale will be as costly as her first. Jay Love will win the Wiregrass mainly because of Smith now.
Comment by anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
I’m in a glass case of emotion!
Comment by bob weaver — October 21, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
Guys, dial it down a bit. I’m one of you, Love supporters, but you’re stooping to the dem’s level with the personal attacks. All will be well friends. Two more weeks.
Comment by GOPgirl — October 21, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
Love is a huge disappointment. This sealed November for the Democrats to take the seat.
The constituents of District 2 need to hope that Love doesn’t represent them. Love’s campaign has been a disgrace to the entire state of Alabama in general.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
Love’s campaign a disgrace? ummmm…..are you paying attention? He is not the one buying endorsements.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
See #103. Personal attacks because there is nothing of substance and they are “poking” and hoping that the Love campaign will poke back.
Tell all the Bright people to look at the poll numbers and feel sorry for them because they are falling and like all failing campaigns, they are trying to take you with them. Love is a good person and he represents the values of the vast majority of the people in his district, despite the whining and pleading of Bright’s people to tell you otherwise.
Instead of “having the last word,” on this blog or over coffee, let the Bright campaign’s noisy but baseless attacks hang like a fart in the elevator.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 3:58 pm
It is interesting that this is all Republican hearsay!
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
What is more interesting is that Harri Anne has not denied it nor has her campaign manager. Everyone knew she was shopping her endorsement around, the surprise it she was called out on it.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
99, so now you are resorting to attacking the Bright’s family dog in your posting.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
Shop till u drop harri anne. no stopping until you reach 150 K woo hoooo! Go Team Bright.
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 8:41 pm
The Montgomery Advertiser said it well today as they pointed out lies in Love’s “slick mailout.” In describing Love’s lies, the Montgomery Advertiser said, “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.”
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 8:44 pm
110,
I agree 100% with your comment. It is a sad day in Alabama politics when Love has stooped as low as gully dirt already and just keeps the lies flowing about Bright in an attempt to gain a vote. He is nothing short of being a hypocrit and he knows he is lying in those ads. This is the most sad part about his whole deal. Bright will be victorious because people know that he is much more professional and has the maturity level that Love can’t attempt to match.
Comment by anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
Let us who have family pets unite against those campaigns who threaten democracy (see Montgomey Advertiser editorial, 10/21/08) and those who post nasty things about Bright’s beloved family pet. Dog lovers everywhere, stand up and be counted..Vote for Bobby Bright!
Comment by Anonymous — October 21, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
Anytime the Bright campaign sees something they dont like they scream and whine. LIES LIES DAMN LIES. It is so amusing.
But hey, if I just paid $150,000 for an endorsement and I got called out on it by the press, I’d scream LIE LIE LIE too. You go Bright.
Comment by Anonymous — October 22, 2008 @ 7:49 am
If this endorsement was not a big deal do you think Mike Hubbard would have gotten as fired up as he did? Why in the world if this endorsement is not a big deal is ALL the GOP supporters focusing on their attention on the allegation which they simply can’t prove. Two reasons: One the Love camp is desperate. They see the race trickling away. Two this situation turns attention away from Bright’s strongest ad to date (or to be correct the DCCC ad) that points out Love is supported by a Las Vegas gambling owner who just happens to be the biggest investor in China. Seems to me if Love was solidly up as he claims he nor the party elite would be putting 99% of their energies into a claim that can’t be supported with any evidence.
Comment by Tim Banks — October 22, 2008 @ 8:06 am
This is a big deal because Bobby Bright bought an edorsement. Wow. Wake up.
Comment by Anonymous — October 22, 2008 @ 8:38 am
looks like harri anne is on the front page of the dothan eagle this morning disproving the love lies..
Comment by CC Dollar — October 22, 2008 @ 9:01 am
so when exactly will bright switch parties??
Comment by CC Dollar — October 22, 2008 @ 9:27 am
CC - I just read today’s Dothan Eagle. Ummmmm…..she didn’t deny anything and certainly didn’t “disprove” anything. In fact, yet another person has come out saying they were approached by Bill Harris with the same ultimatum. Pay up as Bright has agreed to do, or Smith will endorse Bright. Apparently, CC can’t read. Go back to work on country crossings buddy.
You know, your precious harri Anne could clear all this up and “disprove” as you say by allowing Bill Harris to talk about it. Seems she will not. Wonder why?
Comment by Anonymous — October 22, 2008 @ 9:32 am
Is Bill Harris the same Bill Harris that ran a dirty campaign against Wendell Mitchell? If so, the folks in Autauga/Elmore/Montgomery counties who had to put up with his garbage against Walking Wendell probably won’t put much faith in his word.
Comment by 1moreanon — October 22, 2008 @ 9:54 am
All of this is a big deal to Mike Hubbard because he made this mess for the Republican party in this district by personally hand picking Love to be the Republican favorite son. Just ask all the good people who faced Love in the primary — not just Smith.
Comment by Anonymous — October 22, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
Hubbard’s sad attempt at countering the endorsement. Bad idea, Hubbard. He really stuck his foot in his and Love’s mouth on this one!
Comment by Anonymous — October 24, 2008 @ 5:42 pm