The Montgomery Advertiser newspaper's blog on all things related to Alabama politics and state government, featuring the writings of Sebastian Kitchen and Markeshia Ricks
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Roby appointed to key committees for district
Incoming U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, has been assigned to the agriculture and armed services committees, the same posts held by her predecessor. Roby defeated U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright, D-Montgomery, in the November election. She was selected for the posts by Republican leadership in the House. "I am pleased to have been appointed to serve on two prestigious committees, the Agriculture Committee and the Armed Services Committee," Roby said in a statement. "This is great news for our area. Our district is home to significant agricultural production and a number of very important military bases, which are critical to the nation's defense as well as our local economy. My appointment to these committees will directly serve our agriculture base and the military, and is understandably a very good fit for our district.'
Two Alabama freshmen members of Congress were named by the St. Petersburg Times to the “10 House freshmen to watch,” which the newspaper considers future stars. Among the more than 90 new members of the U.S. House, the Times suggested for readers to watch Democratic Rep.-elect Terri Sewell of Birmingham and Republican Rep.-elect Martha Roby of Montgomery. The Times informed its readers that Sewell will be the first black female elected from this state to serve in Congress and that the Princeton University and Harvard law graduate comes from a family of barrier breakers. She is the only Democrat on the Times list. Roby was considered a top recruit by U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, but had a tough fight to narrowly defeat Democratic freshman U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright. The Times, unfortunately, did list Roby as a member of the Birmingham City Council. She is currently serving on the Montgomery City Council.
Congresswoman-elect Martha Roby of Montgomery has selected a senior staffer for U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions as her chief of staff. Roby, a Republican who defeated Democratic freshman U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright in the Nov. 2 election, named Stephen Boyd as her chief of staff on Friday. Boyd, an Alabama native, is currently the communications director for Sessions. He will manage the Washington, D.C., and Alabama offices for Roby in the 2nd District, which stretches from Autauga and Elmore counties down to the Florida border in southeast Alabama. He will help oversee the legislative agenda and constituent services. Boyd was chief spokesman for Sessions and managed his state and national communications. With Sessions as the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Boyd handled communication efforts for Republicans on a number of high-profile issues including the appointment of two justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Freshman U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright, a Democrat who was mayor of Montgomery, is leading Republican Martha Roby by 12 points, according to a poll conducted by Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner. The poll of 400 likely voters shows Bright with a 51-39 lead. Bright and Roby, a member of the Montgomery city council, are competing for the 2nd Congressional District. The poll was conducted Oct. 9 through Oct. 12 and has a margin of error of 4.9 percent. In two previous polls by the same firm, Bright was leading by 9 points. Roby was ahead of Bright by two points, within the margin of error, according to a recent internal Republican poll reported by The Huffington Post. Roby also easily outpaced the incumbent in the most recent fundraising period.
Republican congressional candidate Martha Roby released the following ad in her race for the District 2 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She faces freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright.
Bright: "I cannot support either candidate for speaker"
Freshman U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright said he cannot vote for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or House Minority Leader John Boehner for speaker in January because they are both too divisive. Bright has come under increasing criticism for his vote for Pelosi in 2008 and questions about whether he would vote for her next year if reelected. "Washington is broken," the Democrat said. "The leadership of both parties is too divisive, and our country is paying the price. Neither the speaker nor the Republican leader has displayed the type of bipartisan cooperation required to build consensus and move our country forward. As a result, we must look elsewhere for leadership. I cannot support either candidate for speaker and would like to vote for a conservative centrist who has a track record of bridging divides. Putting an end to partisan politics shouldn't have to wait any longer." His opponent, Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby, quickly responded and reiterated that Bright's first vote in Congress was for Pelosi. "Democrat Bobby Bright's latest suggestion that he might vote for someone else for speaker is just the latest contortion on this issue, coming only weeks after he said he had no regrets about his vote for Nancy Pelosi, and a month after he joked that she might 'get sick and die' to avoid answering this very question. This latest statement is just empty rhetoric from a flailing campaign, aimed at avoiding the larger issue: Democrat Bobby Bright's very presence as a Democrat in Congress keeps Pelosi in power. The simple truth is that Pelosi will remain as speaker so long as Democrats have a majority in the House. A vote for Bright is a vote for Pelosi." Roby said she planned to vote for a speaker who understood the values of the people in Southeast Alabama.
Republican congressional candidate and Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby released this ad in her bid to unseat freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright.
Calling him a solid defender of the Second Amendment, the National Rifle Association-Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) has endorsed Democratic Congressman Bobby Bright's campaign for re-election, according to a press release.
“His record proves he will stand up for the rights of gun owners in Alabama and across the United States,” said Chris W. Cox, chairman of the NRA-PVF said in a press release. "On Nov. 2, I urge all Alabama NRA Members and gun owners in the 2nd (Congressional) District to vote Bobby Bright for Congress
Bright, who faces Republican nominee and Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby in the November general election, said in a statement that he was honored to receive the endorsement.
“I have a proven pro-Second Amendment record in Congress and will always defend our right to keep and bear arms," Bright said. "Growing up in the Wiregrass, gun ownership was a way of life taught to us at a young age. As long as I serve in Congress, I will work to make sure it stays that way and fight any attempt to take away our Second Amendment rights."
The Alabama Republican Party had a few choice words for Democratic Congressman Bobby Bright over his comments about the possible demise of U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. But the state GOP was by no means sticking up for the oft vilified lawmaker from California.
State Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, urged voters in the 2nd Congressional District, which Bright represents, to be wary of what he called in a statement "Bright’s spineless response."
“We are facing the largest deficit in American history as well as a liberal Congress that is undermining the entire process by forcing government mandates like Obamacare,” Hubbard said in the statement. “And Bobby Bright is so scared of his fellow Democrats in Congress that he can’t even answer the question on whether or not he’ll give the gavel back to Pelosi? That’s pretty pathetic.”
“Alabamians are tired of the liberal power grab, they are tired of being told what to do by Obama and Pelosi, and they are fed up with wasteful spending and looming tax increases,” Hubbard went on to say in the statement. “The hardworking folks in the 2nd Congressional District need someone who will fight for them and help bring new jobs to their communities, not an empty suit who can’t even answer the easy questions.”
“You ask Republican Martha Roby (Bright's Republican opponent) if she’ll support Pelosi and you’ll get a ‘no’ every time, but ask Bright and you’ll get an answer cloaked in cowardice,” Hubbard said.
Former Montgomery mayor and freshman U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright created an uproar with comments he made jokingly earlier this week about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. During a question and answer session following his speech to the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Bright was asked about his support for Pelosi. After a laundry list of reasons why Pelosi might not be in the running for speaker, Bright said "heck, she might even get sick and die." The comments, made to the audience and repeated by Bright to Montgomery Advertiser reporter Cosby Woodruff, were first reported on the Advertiser’s political blog, "South Union Street," but have received attention from the Washington Post, the Drudge Report, the Associated Press, CBS News, Rush Limbaugh, and a variety of Websites and blogs. "South Union Street" had received more than 325,000 hits by 7 p.m. Thursday. The chamber audience laughed at the comments. Bright also reiterated to Woodruff after the speech that he was joking. Bright, who is facing a tough reelection campaign against Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby this fall, joked during the breakfast that Pelosi might lose her own election, decide not to run for the speaker's job or otherwise not be available. "I don't like to cross bridges until I get to them," Bright said when answering the question about Pelosi at the Eggs and Issues breakfast. "Maybe she won't even be a candidate." Bright, a Democrat, has voted with Republicans on most major issues and has been labeled as one of the most independent members of Congress, but has been criticized by Republicans in his conservative district for voting for Pelosi as speaker. "Bobby Bright's statement yesterday was an undisciplined comment at a time when America needs a disciplined approach to get our economy back on track, stop runaway Washington spending, and remain focused on creating jobs," Roby said in a statement. A spokesman for Bright said Thursday that "we're not commenting any further." Auburn University Montgomery political scientist Brad Moody said he didn’t think that Bright's comments would have much effect on his quest to be re-elected to a second term in Congress, though his opponent is clearly running against Pelosi. Moody said he does have some other things working against him including a political climate that is anti-incumbency and an economy that is still struggling. "To me that is going to hurt a lot more," he said. Moody said Bright has voted conservatively as a Democrat, but his position on the issues are not clear. "We know what he's against, but what is he for," Moody asked. "I think that's a whole lot more important than whether he will or will not vote for Nancy Pelosi for another term as speaker of the House." Bright is the first Democrat since the 1960s to represent the conservative district, which includes parts of Montgomery and southeast Alabama. His reelection battle is expected to be one of the most competitive this fall. With Bright voting with Republicans on most major issues including the health care and banking overhauls, the GOP has turned to criticism of him voting for Pelosi as speaker. Bright has refused to answer whether he would vote for Pelosi again as speaker. In 2008, he refused to answer which candidate he would vote for for president, vowing not to burn bridges and to work with whoever was elected, and would not say if he would vote for Pelosi, but did say he would prefer a conservative Blue Dog Democrat as speaker. Roby, a Republican, is in her second term on the council. "Clearly Bobby Bright will say anything and do anything to get out from under the tanking popularity of Nancy Pelosi and her job-killing agenda," Roby continued in her statement. " ... There's only one way we can put an end to the Pelosi agenda, and that’s by changing the party running Congress, starting right here in Alabama's 2nd District." One of Pelosi's most frequent critics is calling on Bright to apologize to her. "Bobby Bright's comments -- even if made in jest -- are indefensible," said Andy Sere, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a statement. The last time an Alabama congressman received so much attention because of something he said about Pelosi wasn't all that long ago. Last year, Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Saks referred to Pelosi as "crazy," "mean as a snake" and "Tom DeLay in a skirt," because of what he believed was her partisan leadership of the Democratic majority. "I personally think she's crazy," Rogers said of Pelosi, eliciting chuckles from a group he was speaking to at Auburn University Montgomery. His comments, like Bright's, were first reported on the Advertiser's "South Union Street" blog and then picked up nationally. The post garnered hundreds of thousands of comments from people all over the country, mostly supporters of Rogers' view on Pelosi. The head of the Alabama Democratic Party, Joe Turnham, immediately issued a press release demanding that Rogers apologize to Pelosi. "At some point, you have to maintain professional decorum and at least reach out and try to work with folks ...," Turnham said at the time. "She is the speaker of the House of Representatives." No such demands for an apology were issued Thursday.
-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen, Markeshia Ricks and Cosby Woodruff
Eggs and Issues: Bright's Comments about Pelosi Draw Laughter
U.S. Congressman Bobby Bright, the first-term Democrat and former mayor of Montgomery, was heard having a little fun at U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's expense during his recent participation in the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce's Eggs and Issues.
Bright, who is facing a battle against Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby this fall, joked that Pelosi might lose her own election, decide not to run for the speaker’s job or otherwise not be available.
He suggested, jokingly he insisted to his audience, that Pelosi could fall ill and die in coming months. That remark drew laughter from the crowd.
Though he has a reputation as the second most independent member of Congress, he has been routinely blasted for voting for Pelosi to be speaker.
Roby, a Republican, is in her second term on the council.
Bright is the first Democrat since the 1960s to represent the conservative district, which includes parts of Montgomery and southeast Alabama.
His reelection battle is expected to be one of the most competitive this fall.
People can view the new ad from U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright below. The first-term Democrat is facing Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby, a Republican, in the November election.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorsed two Alabama Republican women on Wednesday, the anniversary of the 19th Amendment that opened the voting booth to women. The 2008 vice presidential nominee endorsed Martha Roby, who is running for Congress, and Secretary of State Beth Chapman, who is running for a second term. Roby, a Montgomery city councilwoman, is trying to unseat freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright, the former mayor of Montgomery. Both sides expect a competitive race in the conservative district. Bright is the first Democrat to represent the district since the 1960s. Chapman is running against Democrat Scott Gilliland. Palin, in acknowledging the 90th anniversary of the 19th amendment, used her Facebook page to endorse several female candidates throughout the nation, including women running for Congress in North Carolina, Indiana, and Missouri, and for attorney general in Iowa and Florida. "Martha Roby served on the Montgomery City Council where she fought tax increases and worked hard to reduce government spending," Palin wrote on her Facebook page. "She's now running to represent Alabama's 2nd Congressional District with a strong message of reform to get our country back on the right track." Roby is still a member of the city council, where she is in her second term. "I am very grateful for Governor Palin's endorsement and her kind words," Roby said in a statement. "She is an important leader in the conservative movement, and like many others I was inspired and motivated by her leadership and grace when she took the national stage in 2008." Palin has not endorsed any other secretary of state, according to Chapman. "That is quite a vote of confidence and a great show of support for which I am grateful," Chapman said. Palin and Chapman have met twice and recently worked to try to elect former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, who was running for governor there. She lost in the Republican primary to former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal. Chapman, who also served a term as state auditor, said the endorsement is a boost to her campaign.
Former U.S. Rep. Terry Everett, who served eight terms in the U.S. House district that includes parts of Montgomery and the Wiregrass, is endorsing fellow Republican Martha Roby in the November election for his former seat. Roby, a Montgomery city councilwoman, faces freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright, the former mayor of Montgomery. "I thank Congressman Everett for his support and his guidance," Roby said. "He is a public servant in the best sense of the word and served this district well. I am grateful to have him stand with me in this campaign, and I look forward to working with him in the coming months." Everett's endorsement is not a surprise. He endorsed Bright's 2008 opponent, state Rep. Jay Love of Montgomery, and recorded commercials for Love that were critical of Bright and spoke critically of the then-mayor during the campaign. Bright was able to narrowly defeat Love in 2008 to become the first Democrat to represent the district since the 1960s. "We need to restore conservative leadership in Washington," Everett said. "Nancy Pelosi doesn't represent the values of southeast Alabama. We need to send someone who will fight for our conservative values every day. Martha Roby will do that." Bright voted for Pelosi as speaker of the House, but has voted with Republicans on almost all other major issues.
Bright scores better than other Democrats on Club for Growth report
Freshman U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright of Montgomery scored better than any other Democrat on a scorecard from the Club for Growth, which supports low-tax, pro-growth Republicans who want limited government. He also scored better than about two dozen Republicans including two Alabama Republicans, Rep. Mike Rogers of Saks and Rep. Parker Griffith of Huntsville. He also finished well ahead of Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham. Bright was in the middle of the pack among Alabama's seven congressmen. Rep. Jo Bonner of Mobile finished ahead of the pack with a score of 90 percent. Bright, with a score of 64 percent, was one of only three Democrats in Congress with a score of 50 percent or higher. The other Democrats are Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi and Rep. Walt Minnick of Idaho. Bright ranked 155th among the 435 members of the House. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, for example, scored a 7 percent. Some members, including Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Rep. John Conyers of Michigan scored 0. Alabama's two U.S. senators, Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby, finished with strong scores. Sessions had a 100 percent score while Shelby had an 83 percent. The Club looked at lawmakers' records on "pro-growth policies" including reducing income tax rates, repealing the death tax, limited government through limited spending, social security reform with personal retirement accounts, free trade, lawsuit abuse, tort reform, education choice, and regulatory reform and deregulation. Members who refused earmarks were also awarded points. The lawmakers who score 90 percent or higher receive the Defender of Economic Freedom award.
Politics magazine recently published an interesting question and answer with prominent Democratic pollster John Anzalone of Montgomery. Anzalone, a partner at Anzalone Liszt Research, works for U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright and 18 other congressmen. The well-respected firm has also worked for Senate candidates, candidates for governor, the campaign of Barack Obama, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Governors' Association and a variety of other candidates and organizations. The firm worked for the gubernatorial campaign of U.S. Rep. Artur Davis until a recent split. In the "Movers & Shakers" segment, Anzalone answers questions about health care, Eric Massa, and talks about some of his candidates including Bright, a Montgomery Democrat.
"So it's all about being prepared, having a connection with the district and having something to say. And in a lot of cases, it's about not being vulnerable to the attacks. In the case of people like Bobby Bright or Travis Childers, they aren't. It's just tough to make an argument against them just because they're Democrats, and saying they voted for Pelosi just doesn't cut it. Bobby Bright is one of the safest incumbents. Republicans will try to tell you he's one of the most vulnerable, but it's just not that way." -- John Anzalone
President Barack Obama has nominated Montgomery Police Chief Art Baylor for U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Alabama. Former Mayor Bobby Bright, who is now a member of Congress, appointed Baylor chief of police. Bright recommended Baylor for the marshal position, according to the congressman's office. Baylor must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Bright congratulated Baylor on his nomination. "Art is a very deserving and qualified candidate and he will serve his state and country extremely well in this new capacity," Bright said in a statement. "As chief of police, Art has been instrumental in keeping Montgomery safe and managing a department of over 700 employees."
The National Republican Congressional Committee included Montgomery City Councilwoman and congressional candidate Martha Roby in the top tier of its "Young Guns" program. According to the NRCC, the 10 candidates "have reached the third and final step by establishing a clear path to victory through their ability to build a formidable campaign structure and achieve important goals and benchmarks." The effort, started in the 2007-2008 election cycle, has become an NRCC effort to help elect Republican challengers and open-seat candidates nationwide. "These candidates have met a series of rigorous goals that will put them in position to win on election day," said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. "The momentum behind these campaigns is proof-positive that Americans are fed up with a Democrat majority that continues to spend too much, tax too much and borrow too much at the expense of hard-working families. These ten candidates are leading the pack as Republicans continue to send a loud and clear message that we will hold Democrats accountable for their unpopular partisan agenda." The candidates, according to the NRCC, have demonstrated "their ability to build competitive, effective, and winning campaigns." Roby has entered the Republican primary for the District 2 congressional seat. Her primary opponent is Rick Barber, a Montgomery businessman and Marine Corps veteran. The winner will likely face freshman U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright, D-Montgomery.
Dothan businessman George Flowers plans to run against fellow Republican Harri Anne Smith for her state Senate seat. Beginning in December, he raised more than $100,000 to run for the southeast Alabama Senate seat. "Our success in fundraising convinced me we would have the resources needed to run a competitive and ultimately successful race," Flowers said. "It is obvious there is a hunger throughout the district for new leadership in Montgomery, and the money we raised in just one month is evidence of that fact." Smith angered some in her party when she endorsed the Democratic candidate, Bobby Bright, in the race for congressional District 2. She lost in a runoff in the Republican primary to state Rep. Jay Love. Flowers said he recognizes the importance of Country Crossing to the Wiregrass and said he would support a statewide referendum if the legislation is acceptable and the revenues are taxed at a national standard. He criticized the incumbent for several of her votes including one on a teacher code of ethics. Former U.S. Rep. Terry Everett was among the first to contribute to Flowers' campaign.
After the loss of a U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts and polls that show Democrats are in trouble, The Rothenberg Political Report has moved 28 U.S. House seats including Alabama's District 2 in favor of Republicans as the 2010 election nears. All of the movement in the most recent report favors Republicans and Rothenberg expects the GOP to pick up 24 to 28 seats in the House. While momentum could change before the election to benefit Democrats, Rothenberg also commented "we can no longer dismiss the possibility of a Republican wave so large that Democrats could lose their House majority." The report does expect Democrats to maintain a majority of seats. Rothenberg moved the 2nd District, which is currently represented by freshman Democrat Bobby Bright of Montgomery, to "toss up/tilt Republican." Republicans Martha Roby, a Montgomery city councilwoman, and Rick Barber, a Montgomery businessman and Marine Corps veteran, have announced they are running for the seat. Barber was featured this week on ABC's "Good Morning America." People can read the Rothenberg article at: http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2010/01/28-house-seats-move-toward-gop.html
South Union Street is the blog of Montgomery Advertiser political reporters Markeshia Ricks and Sebastian Kitchen. Always check here for the latest on the Legislature, elections and other activities and players in Alabama.
