Posted by On the subject of Blue Dogs and endorsements as we were… oh… two weeks ago already?
One Alabama politico believes that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsement of Democrat Bobby Bright and awarding him their Spirit of Enterprise Award before that are key moments in the race for the 2nd Congressional District.
Getting the stamp of approval from the Chamber is critical. Small businesses are increasingly seen as the economic engine that will drive economic growth, and this award from the Chamber gives Bright a great proof point that he’s on the right side of economic issues and is a great pushback to inevitable Republican attacks that he’s not a “real’ conservative.
And the chamber is a big funder of Republicans, so their approval of Bright ensures they won’t be helping the Republican nominee come after him.
I think this is one of those moments that doesn’t seem huge right now, but looking back in November it’s stuff like this that will have gotten Bright re-elected.
Bright faces Republican challenger Martha Roby who in recent weeks has announced her own endorsements from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Bright’s Republican predecessor in Congress Terry Everett.
Your thoughts?
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This year endorsements from the likes of alfa, the chamber, etc will not matter as much. voters in al 02 are tired of democrats controlling the presidency, the senate and the house. they also are anti incumbency. bright is having a very tough time and it will just get worse. an endorse – or not – from the chamber, means very little.
Bright also has ALFA. He pretty much has a perfect voting record with the Chamber and National Federation of Independent Businesses as well as other business groups. Should see the endorsement of all. It must make it tough for his opponent to try to paint him as a lib.
Bright is endorsed by ALFA and now the Chamber, both conservative organizations that typically back Republicans. Roby’s endorsement list seems to be just Republican politicians nothing more. The Chambers endorsement just gives further proof that Bright is a true conservative and that he is good for business.
Let’s put all this endorsement silliness to rest — look how much good Byrne’s endorsements did for him. Probably hurt him more than they helped him.
Voters see Bright as a Democrat that voted for Pelosi. And if Bright keeps telling voters that his vote for Pelosi was no big deal because the Speaker is only “ceremonial in nature” then he deserves to get whooped. Yes, he has said just that… “ceremonial”
If Bob Riley endorses Bright, Roby will win by a mile.
Bright voted for Pelosi to be speaker after he promised he wouldn’t…that is all we have to look at to see fault with his decision making.
PS: You do not even know what you are talking about….
ALFA and The US Chamber backed Jay Love in 2008 and Bright still beat him. Bright should be much more concerned with the fact that black voters no longer like or trust him, and that he turned his back on nearly everyone that got him where is today.
Can you name one Democrat in Alabama that cares if Bobby Bright wins or loses? His Republican supporters “like” him, but if he lost to an actual Republican it would be no skin off his back.
This is an under the radar race to watch. Don’t be surprised if Bright is retired to Elmore County in November. Oh yeah, he doesn’t live in Montgomery anymore. During the biggest recession in anyone’s memory, Bright built him an estate out in Elmore County. Most of my friends that have moved three times since the recession started went from a house to an apartment to being on the street. Bright went from Wynnlakes to a fancy loft downtown to an estate in Elmore County.
Hopefully, Pelosi will be Speaker for only a few more months, or at least be totally crippled by the results November election. I am not a pollyanna, and I do not hold out that the Republicans will win 45 seats to take control of the House. From what I have seen however, Bobby Bright has not fallen into lockstep with Peolsi, and remains somewhat of a maverick. I’m not saying that he won’t fall into step at some later date, just that the last session of Congress pretty well showed that Bright is actually listening to his constituency, and trying to help Alabama on the Federal level.
Bright stated during his initial run for congress if you recall that he was his own man and he would vote for what was right for his constituients. If you review his voting, he has done just that and is right on target with what he said and feels will benefit our country and district. I feel very comfortable with his voting record and haven’t seen him ever walk lockstep with Pelosi at any time!
seems to me that in tough times, its an asset have an independent thinker like Bright in office who is committed to business, jobs and growing the economy. this should be a good thing no matter which side of the aisle you are on.
Bright does what is good for constituents? hogwash. he rides the fence and will not stand up against the liberal policies of the house and the obama administration. when you ask him why he is not a leader and a fighter for us he just says “hey, let’s not be so partisan” It is a total joke. Bright is boxed in and a fraudulent conservative. he told the Washington Post the Arizona immigration law was “an affront to the constitution” and when he was called out on it by the local press, he changed his story. sort of like when he said he disagrees with states like ALABAMA that are suing to prevent obama health care mandates from bankrupting our state. what does bright say? he says there are good parts to the bill and states should not sue. Wow….I guess we are all “too partisan” for wanting someone to be a leader and a fighter and truly represent our interests in fighting the ever increasing growth of the government and government spending. Bright is, however, an absolute pro at sitting on the fence in the shade while others have the guts to fight and speak out. Bright would not even say in 08 if he would vote for Obama or Pelosi. But I think we all know where his votes are…the same place his bread is buttered. It’s pathetic.
2010,
You post the same ole rethoric about Bright. But the real deal is Bright is his own man, is straight forward, has a good voting record in Congress and works to create jobs. He wants to deal with the immigration problems, strengthen the military, better education and help small businesses. Now anyone without blinders on can see the truth in the matter, just the facts.
I’ll take him over most others anytime!
02 Voter – you have your Democratic talking points down well. Unfortunately, they are a total and complete fraud. Bright stands on the sidelines and is scared to speak out and fight for us. Period. And for him to try and convince people that the Speaker of the House is only ceremonial in nature and thus his vote was not a “big deal”? Telling that lie alone is reason enough to send him packing.
1 question to ask Bobby Bright
If it is his vote to decide Nancy Pelosi keeps the gavel… does he make that vote?
“anonymous
August 17th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
PS: You do not even know what you are talking about….”
You’d be suprised what I know about…
If Bright is such an “independent thinker”, why doesn’t he just declare himself an Independent Candidate? Oh, his expediency won’t let him or maybe he is seeing how badly Harrianne Smith who tethered her political future to him is now diving in the polls. Funny how Harrianne keeps polling but doesn’t release the results anymore….hmmmm.
I offer the same comment that I posted as #16 on Danny’s “Two of Our U.S. House Seats Among 64 Most Likely to Switch Parties”.
well Don you are wrong and lazy
I love all the “anonymous” Bright staffers on here.
District2Voter,
My son-in-law worked on Bright’s house in Elmore county. He says the house is about 2400 square feet. How is that an estate? I think you may be inflating the truth just a bit. Shame, shame.
@2010, could your name be Jay Love? You seem to be vindictive enough to fit the bill. Keep spouting that ol’ Republican line because that attitude showcases that you think that you do not/will not have to change, which will be your downfall. Remember, incumbents, whether Republican or Democrat are going to be blamed for the mess that both this country and our state are experiencing.
I voted for Bobby Bright, and personally, I think it was one of the better votes that I have made in a long time. Sure I was concerned because he is a Democrat, but as I said above, he has not voted with the Pelosi machine on all of the issues. This was a pleasant surprise. Sorry, but I just couldn’t vote for Jay Love. He was so obviously owned by the Alabama Republican party and would have done everything he could to cause more gridlock in Washington, D.C.
It just further shows that the Alabama Republican Party thinks that is can control politics on the Federal level. Heck, it can’t control politics on the local level, which is shown by the lack of good and meaningful legislation in the last session.
I have been waiting 2 years to cast a vote against Nancy Pelosi and Bobby Bright. Now is the time! I do not understand how one of the most conservative and Christian districts in the nation elected a representative of the north east liberals.
Steve Raby for Congress 2010
Alabama’s 5th Congressional District
Fellow Fifth District citizens: a Senatorial Chief of Staff reports directly to the Senator and oversees everyone in the office; from unpaid interns to key legislative assistants, the Chief of staff has overall responsibility for evaluating the political outcome of various legislative proposals and constituent requests. “A Chief of Staff ensures the Senators office operates smoothly and efficiently, this includes overseeing the activities of the other members of the Senator’s staff. What better on the ground training and experience can one have to represent the citizens of Alabama 5th Congressional District as our Representative? Steve Raby was Senator Howell Heflin’s Chief of Staff, his closest adviser and right hand man for 10 of the 14 years he worked for him.
Senator Heflin was one of the most powerful and respected U.S. Senators in Washington. There is no one in the 5th District race with as much Legislative experience as Steve Raby, certainly not Parker Griffith who currently holds the seat.
North Alabama voters have been real Democrats over the years. We have been Democratic by not only tradition but also philosophically, beginning with FDR’s New Deal. It has been a bastion for progressive, pro labor Democrats more so than the rest of Alabama. In fact, until Parker Griffith changed to the Republican Party shortly after winning the seat as a Democrat, a Republican has never represented the Fifth District in Congress.
The Fifth Congressional District is very independent minded. We are the epitome of Jacksonian Democrats; the most illustrative of this independence could be found in Jackson County, the home of my friend, Robert E. “Bob” Jones; Representative Jones was an ardent champion of public works as an instrument for the creation of essential community and regional facilities. Some of his more significant achievements are his principal sponsorship of the landmark Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, the Economic Development Act, and the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965. He was a major moving force in the creation of the Federal highway program and TVA. This included the Interstate Highway System, hailed as the greatest single public works project in history. Representative Jones was the co-author of this bill and the Accelerated Public Works Act of 1959. In 1984, the Legislature of Alabama passed a resolution to “express deep gratitude to Congressman Robert E. Jones for outstanding service both to the Fifth Congressional District and to all of Alabama.” Ronnie Flippo and Bud Cramer followed in Congressman Jones footsteps until their retirement.
Democratic Candidate
*Steve Raby has (14+) years Legislative experience in Washington. 10 Years as Senator Howell Heflin Chief of Staff one of the most powerful and respected men in Washington.
Republican Candidate
*Mo Brooks has (0) ZERO years Legislative experience in Washington.
This is neither the time nor place for someone that would require on the job training.
Steve Raby will follow in the footsteps of legendary past Congressmen – John Sparkman, Bob Jones, Ronnie Flippo and Bud Cramer. I ask that all voters Democrat and Republican consider who has the experience and qualifications too immediately effectively represent the many needs of our District.