Some of Alabama’s lawmakers who are serving on Capitol Hill made the issue of crime a priority while campaigning and have made it clear they have low tolerance for criminal activity. However, all of them except Sen. Katie Britt have endorsed former President Donald Trump.
They are supporting his efforts to attempt to be elected president of the United States once again.
Alabama’s Republican delegation in Washington DC includes Rep. Robert Aderholt, Rep. Jerry Carl, Jr., Rep. Barry Moore, Rep. Garry Palmer, Rep. Dale Strong, Rep. Michael Rodgers, Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Britt.
Trump is still the frontrunner in the race for the GOP nomination, and the support of the state’s leading legislators is undoubtedly helping him maintain his lead.
WAAY 31 questioned Alabama’s lawmakers about why they seem to be overlooking the civil and criminal cases against Trump. Some of them were outspoken in meetings, publicly defending Trump as Democrats worked to make a case to support their position that Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol Building.
Most of Alabama’s lawmakers continue to support Trump even now.
“He’s a true American, and I’ll stand beside him 100 percent,” said Tuberville, a Republican.
WAAY 31 emailed and called these legislators to request interviews or statements explaining their positions. Most didn’t bother responding with an explanation and others said they were too busy to discuss the matter.
Tuberville’s media team declined to comment, citing the inquiry as a campaign matter. She advised our team to seek out comments that Tuberville posted on his social media platforms in support of Trump.
Strong’s media staff did respond to WAAY 31’s inquiry, but told the station Strong was too occupied with trying to help his colleagues reach an agreement on who should become the next speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democratic Congresswoman Terri Sewell said she didn’t have anything to share on this topic.
Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job in an extraordinary showdown — a first in U.S. history, forced by a contingent of hard-right conservatives. It threw the House and its Republican leadership into chaos.
Voters in our region are on both sides of the debate when it comes to their sentiments regarding Alabama’s leading lawmakers’ level of loyalty to Trump despite his legal challenges.
One resident didn’t want to be identified, but said, “President Trump did a fantastic job for the people, and if we were going to indict everyone over everything then all of the politicians would probably be indicted.”
Brent Smith of Hartselle told WAAY 31 he did not feel comfortable with the possibility of Trump becoming president again because of the charges against him.
“With the nature of them having to do with the presidential office and the nature of which he’s handling them, I don’t feel comfortable with him being in a position of power again,” Smith explained.
Dr. Stacy Carter, who’s the interim chairman of social sciences at Alabama A&M, shared his thoughts with WAAY 31 News about Alabama’s lawmakers looking the other way and disregarding the civil and criminal case against Trump.
“They will need to go before the people and get reelected, and a lot of the people who they will go before are Trump supporters,” Carter explained. “They can’t speak ill because they understand that they will have to turn around and ask those same Trump supporters and Trump voters for their support in their upcoming election.”
Trump maintains an impressive lead over his contenders, showing more than 50 percent of the GOP’s support in spite of looming cases involving hush money, classified documents, and election interference.
“Political pundits, sometimes we get it wrong, but we are predicting that Trump will be the Republican nominee, and so you’d have a former president running against the incumbent,” Carter said.
In most polls, a presidential race in November 2023 between Trump and President Biden would be very close.
Recent ABC polls by Langer Research Associates indicate Biden’s approval rating is somewhat dismal. People who participated expressed disappointment in his handling of the economy and immigration.
Three-quarters think he should not seek another term because of his age. Biden is 80 years old. He will celebrate his 81st birthday on Nov. 20.
Forty-four percent of U.S. citizens believe they’re worse off when it comes to their finances.
Thirty-seven percent approve of Biden’s job performance. Fifty-six percent disapprove.
Thirty percent agree with the way Biden is handling the economy right now.
Some people appear to be feeling more positive about Trump now than they did in the past.
In January 2021, 38 percent approved of his work as commander in chief.
Now, 48 percent say they approve of the job Trump did while in office.
Out of the 56 Americans who disapprove of Biden’s work in office, 75 percent of them now say they approve of the job Trump did while in office.
Thirty percent of Americans still think Biden did not win the election legitimately.
SURVEY QUESTIONS
Do you agree with Alabama’s lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate endorsement of former President Donald Trump?
Do you think civil and criminal charges against former President Trump should be a determining factor of lawmakers’ support of former President Trump?
Will your sentiments regarding their support of Trump likely influence the way you intend to vote?
