Thoughts on the WHNT AL-05 candidate forum
All eight candidates for Alabama’s fifth congressional district participated in a candidate forum last night on WHNT.
First of all, other than David Maker (who faces longer odds than the proverbial snowball in Hell) there really isn’t that much difference between all the different candidates. Democrats will line up resolutely behind Parker Griffith, but Maker aligns much more closely with their party’s platform.
I’m just going to come out and say it, if Parker Griffith keeps staking out typically Republican positions on certain issues then he’s going to be our next representative. He stated that he was both pro-life and willing to drill for oil in ANWR. Not exactly core tenets of the national Democrat party. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he said he was packing heat to play to the NRA crowd. I know liberal Democrats want more power, but if they keep recruiting more conservative (or less liberal, depending on your point of view) members how long will it be before those individuals begin wresting away control of the party?
I thought David Maker seemed inebriated most of the evening, but he came alive to really zing Parker Griffith. I was expecting the candidates to really dig at their opponents during the candidate Q&A, but only Maker really threw a punch. He called out Parker Griffith for two of his votes as a state legislator (the biggest chink in Griffith’s armor). He asked Griffith about his votes to give all legislators a pay raise (effective immediately) and give them – remember, they’re part time employees – taxpayer funded health insurance. Griffith hemmed and hawed, but didn’t have – couldn’t have – a good retort.
On the Republican side no one really stood out. Wayne Parker seemed nervous early in the forum, providing halting, drifting answers. Once he got his feet under him he gave a solid performance. He gets high marks for calling for the elimination of the Dept. of Education – a never fulfilled promise from the 1994 Republican revolution he almost was a part of – and giving the right answer on term limits. Term limits sound great and I like the theory. But, term limits can force out both good and bad legislators. We should always default to choice and if I choose to vote for a 20 term congressman then so be it.
After it was all said and done I still haven’t figured out who I’m going to cast my ballot for.
I saw that where Wayne Parker said he was against term limits. I think he was the only one who said that. Also I found the format to be a little odd. They had them all bunched together…it just didnt look right.
I think it’s worth to mention that Parker Griffith donates all his salary (after taxes, of course) to area schools, and will do the same for anything earned during the special session in Montgomery on Tuesday.
Wayne Parker is going to have to distinguish himself for PG somehow.
I’m against term limits too – freedom of speech.
Griffith’s ‘Doctor’s find solutions’ TV ad says nothing, but implies that since “cancer is non-partisan”, maybe he’d be non-partisan. He’s definitely going to be tough to beat.
I haven’t yet decided for whom to vote in the GOP Primary. IMO if anyone can take it without a runoff on June 3, it’s Wayne Parker, but I’m almost hoping for a run-off to narrow the field.
I’m disappointed in the candidates who chose not to reply to the Flashpoint questionnaire.
Full disclosure (it’s a policy): Sean is affiliated with Parker Griffith’s campaign.
Yes, Griffith donates his salary to area schools. BUT, remember the circumstances surrounding the pay raise. It was the very first thing that legislators did after the elections (and one of the few things they actually accomplished at all last year). They didn’t say one word about it ahead of time. They tried to ram it through in a coordinated effort so as to avoid any public discourse on the matter. It was the exact opposite of open, transparent, representative government. Parker Griffith participated in this operation.
I probably would have supported the pay raise, much like I supported Huntsville officials raising their own pay, if they had done it in an appropriate manner. What they (the legislature) did was shameful and was an amazing display of arrogance and contempt for voters.
While Griffith donates his salary – and don’t get me wrong, it is a virtuous choice – I’m cynical and I view it as him having a larger fund with which to buy votes from area residents.
He also has the Parker Griffith Foundation which gave money to organizations within his senate district, i believe pretty close to and prior to the senate election. Please correct if I am wrong. I am not affiliated with any candidate