Mo Brooks hits back on Luther Strange’s ‘deceptive attacks’ in Senate primary
Mo Brooks is hitting back on the recent wave of “deceptive attacks” from opponents in the Alabama’s U.S. Senate race. Brooks’ new ad is the latest push on Sen. Luther Strange over who is the true Donald Trump supporter in the increasingly heated midsummer Alabama Senate primary to serve the rest of Attorney General Jeff Session’s term. The 30-second “Support Trump,” which launched Tuesday, reaffirms his “strong support” of Trump’s agenda, touting he voted with the president “95 percent of the time in Congress.” Strange — who has enjoyed support from the Senate Leadership Fund, linked to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — has leveled waves of negative hits on Brooks, trying to paint the four-term Huntsville Republican congressman as a tepid (at best) Trump supporter and even a “closet liberal.” “There’s only one ‘Never Trumper’ in this race: Luther Strange,” said Brooks, a member of the House Freedom Caucus. “I supported President Trump in 2016 and wrote a $2,500 check to help him win. Luther never endorsed Trump, never donated and is now helping Mitch McConnell block the America First Agenda in the Senate.” “So, who are you going to believe: Mitch McConnell and Luther Strange?” he asks. With a “proven conservative” record, Brooks finishes his ad with a list of endorsements from leading “conservative thought leaders” such as Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and Ann Coulter. Strange and Brooks are locked in a contentious primary battle, part of a nine-person GOP field that includes former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. All three are running for a place in the race’s staunch conservative lane in a state that overwhelmingly supported Trump in 2016. Other Republican candidates in the race include Dr. James Beretta, Joseph Breault, Alabama Christian Coalition president Randy Brinson, Mary Maxwell, Bryan Peeples and state Sen. Trip Pittman of Baldwin County. As for who will ultimately represent Alabama, voters have less than two weeks to decide before the Aug. 15 Republican and Democratic primaries. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is Aug. 10. If there is no primary winner — with 50 percent plus one — a runoff is Sept. 26; the general election is Dec. 12. “Support Trump” is now available on YouTube.
Mo Brooks tops in Huntsville straw poll, Luther Strange at bottom
Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks came out on top in a straw poll of U.S. Senate candidates at a candidate forum Monday in his hometown of Huntsville. AL.com reports that nine candidates took part in the event organized by the Christian Citizen Task Force, with a bipartisan audience of about 300 people. Out of 200 votes cast for Republicans, Brooks took first with 101 votes. Former state Supreme Chief Justice Roy Moore came in second with 74 votes; state Sen. Trip Pittman of Montrose received eight votes. Incumbent Republican Sen. Luther Strange — who did not attend the event — tied for sixth with only three votes. Three Republicans — James Beretta, Joseph Breault and Dom Gentile — received no votes. Democrats cast about 40 votes; leading the count was Brian McGee, who took 19 votes. According to AL.com, the candidates attending the forum were Democrats Will Boyd, Vann Caldwell and McGee; Republicans Randy Brinson, Brooks, Mary Maxwell, Moore, Bryan Peeples and Pittman. Appointed to the Senate in February by then-Governor Robert Bentley, Strange is facing a crowded 10-person field for the Aug. 15 Republican primary. A primary runoff, if necessary, will be Sept. 26, with a general election Dec. 12.
Get to know Bryan Peeples, Republican running for Alabama U.S. Senate seat
11 Republicans and eight Democrats will officially move forward to their party’s August 15 primaries to vote in the Alabama special election to replace Jeff Sessions in the U.S. Senate With a little over three months until voters head to the ballots, AlabamaToday.com is inviting all of the candidates, including appointed-incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, to complete a questionnaire we believe offers an interesting, albeit, thumbnail sketch of who they are and why they are running. If you are a candidate and would like to complete the questionnaire, email Elizabeth@ALToday.com. Today’s candidate spotlight features Bryan Peeples, President and CEO of his own consulting company who’s hoping to bring hope, optimism and change to the nation’s capital. Here he is in his own words: Significant other? Kids? I do not have a significant other or kids. Someday I hope to be a loving husband and father but that hasn’t been the plan for my life as of yet. Education background? Professional background? I started a consulting firm, Peeples Consulting, focusing on small and medium sized businesses. I have an extensive back ground in operations, managing, and IT and I am passionate about helping people succeed and giving the tools for that success. My drive is to ensure that others succeed. Owning your own business is stressful and time consuming but with the right passion and drive can be extremely rewarding. I try and stress to those that it’s not the monetary value that makes your job rewarding it is the ability to see that you were able to provide a substance or service to someone and it was beneficial to them in that time and place. Seeing that you were able to help someone is the reward. What was your first job? Burger King when I was 15. I have always wanted to work. I remember going for my interview in khakis and tie and being extremely nervous. I worked there until I moved from Denver to Birmingham. I still remember this one guest that would come in every other day with his daughter and order a Whopper and Onion Rings for himself and the chicken nugget kids meal for his daughter. In 25 words or less, why are you running for office? The voice of the people isn’t represented in Washington anymore. I want to bring hope, optimism, change, and that voice to Washington. Did you speak with anybody in your political party before deciding on running? Receive any encouragement? From whom? I spoke with close friends about the choice for running. I prayed hard for the right path to be taken. When my friends and family said that if anyone can do this, if anyone can make a difference it is you. I am passionate about this state and the people in it. Working everyday with the working men and women of this state and seeing how Washington is being run right now our voice, their voice isn’t being heard. Who do you count on for advice? Many people. I value all opinions and keep an open mind to new thoughts and ideas. Very few things in this world are solely black and white and issues of the government affect us all differently. I would say if my Grandmother and Grandfather were still alive I would lean on their advice heavily but my fathers advice has been strong in my life. When I was younger I mistakenly never took it but as I matured into adulthood I realized that a lot of what he told me was right and now we talk about issues and different points of views often. It’s important to me to know and understand viewpoints other than mine and different than mine. It allows me to see the whole picture. Who is your political consultant? Campaign manager? Currently I do not have one but I am searching for someone for that role. Who was the first person to contribute to your campaign? Why did they donate? Stephanie Jordan. I have been friends with her for years and she is an amazing strong woman with 5 wonderful children. She donated to me because she believes in me and believe I can make the difference this state needs in Washington. Who, if anyone, inspires you in state government? I think I fall in line with everyone else in this state who is tired of how this state’s government is run. It seems that there is one corruption scandal after another and it’s been that way for as long as I can remember. I like Kay Ivey and feel she is an honorable woman and I wish her all the luck and success as our Governor. Why do people mistrust elected officials and what are you going to do about it? When I am talking to people I get several responses to this question. First, most people feel all politicians are all talk. They are only self-serving and are in it for power. I’m not looking to be self-serving or powerful. I truly want to make a difference and be the voice this state can be proud to get behind that represents all people. Second, there is a divide between the Democratic and Republican parties. I hear I won’t vote for “x” party because they have failed this country. There is this visceral negativity in the media today that fuels this but I also feel it goes back to my first point of being all talk. If you listen to sound bites form our elected officials that is all they are, sound bites for news organizations these days. People feel that both parties don’t represent the people anymore and only their agendas.That’s why I’m running. I’m aware there haven’t been any results. I’m running to be a different choice in Washington and to honestly give the people of this state a true voice. I hope to bring a bipartisan perspective to the table and am changing what it means to be a Republican. I’m redefining it because it’s my right and duty to do so and someone has to do it. It’s not just words to me. I truly care about the issues and how they affect all of
Steve Flowers: Sizing up the U.S. Senate sprint
Well, folks, the field is set for the sprint to fill the open U.S. Senate seat of Jeff Sessions. The primary Aug. 15 is less than three months away. There will probably be a run-off Sept. 26, and the winner of that GOP run-off will be our Junior Senator from Alabama. In the Heart of Dixie, winning the Republican nomination is tantamount to election. The Dec. 12 General Election will be a coronation for the winner of the Sept. 26 Republican primary. It was an interesting closing day of qualifying Wednesday. It was unbelievable how many people showed up to qualify. Eleven candidates are running in the Republican primary and amazingly, the Democrats fielded eight candidates. It was like ants coming out of the woodwork. It was similar to our olden days of Alabama politics when everybody and their brother ran for an open governor’s race or a seldom seen open Senate race. We ought to refer to this race as an ant race rather than a horse race. Of the 19 candidates, only about five are viable contenders. Therefore, about 14 of these folks are running for the fun of it. In fact, we use to refer to them as “run for the fun of it” candidates. The most colorful run for the fun of it candidate in Alabama political history was Ralph “Shorty” Price. Shorty ran for governor every four years. He usually finished last. His slogan was smoke Tampa Nugget cigars, drink Budweiser beer and vote for Shorty Price. His campaign platform declared that he would change the term of governor from four years to two years. He would say if you are not smart enough to steal enough as governor in two years, you ain’t smart enough to be governor. My guess is that if someone put Shorty’s name on this Aug. 15 ballot, he would run sixth out of the 12-person GOP field, posthumously. He would probably win the Democratic nomination from the grave. The party leaders were probably glad to see them all show up. The raked in $3,400 a pop from each qualifier. You wonder what motivates those also-ran candidates to put their names on the ballot. Maybe they just want to see their name on the ballot, maybe their Aunt Susie left them $5,000 with the stipulation that they had to use it to run for the U.S. Senate, or they want to tell their grandchildren one day that they ran for the U.S. Senate. They can omit that they ran 11th. Maybe they won a 4-H speaking contest when they were in school and figured their destiny was to be a U.S. Senator. It is similar to someone trying to walk on to Bear Bryant’s or Nick Saban’s football team, and Bryant or Saban grants them permission to get a uniform if only for a day and try out. That bold soul who had to be hit by John Hannah like a tackling dummy can truthfully say to their grandson, “I played football at Alabama for Bear Bryant.” Actually, Alabama’s Sixth Congressional Jefferson/Shelby U.S. Representative, Gary Palmer, was elected to Congress by his doing the above thing while in college at Alabama. Some people suspect that his saying he played for Bear Bryant helped propel him to victory when he was elected a few years ago. Well, let’s give them just due and list them for you. I will list them in order of how I would handicap the field as the race for the Republican nomination begins. The two frontrunners are Roy Moore, followed by Luther Strange. Congressman Mo Brooks is within striking distance of Big Luther. State Senator Trip Pittman and Dr. Randy Brinson could be players if they come up with $5 million to spend on the race. Right now, they are unknown to more than 95 percent of the electorate. If Mo Brooks can raise and spend $3 million, or if Brinson or Pittman can pony up $5 million, one of these three could probably knock Luther out of the run-off. Roy Moore is in the run-off – he leads the crowded field. These six brave souls are in for the fun of it. Hopefully, their next-door neighbor or grandmother will vote for them, James Paul Baretta, Joseph Breault, Dom Gentile, Karen Jackson, Mary Maxwell and Bryan Peeples. Enjoy the race. I will keep you posted. Next week I will analyze and handicap the race in-depth. See you next week. ___ Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state Legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
