Having been born and raised in the South, I still bristle at some of the unfair stereotypes portrayed in cartoons and movies of anyone who uses the term “y’all” or thinks white sauce with sausage crumbs makes everything taste better.  Yet for every Nobel laureate or Pulitzer Prize winner from below the Mason-Dixie line, there is always someone stealing the spotlight who sets us back a century or more.  The most recent recipient of the “What New South?” award is the Republicans’ chosen candidate for the U.S. Senate from Alabama.

Over the best efforts of the Republican establishment (or what’s left of it post Trumpism), twice ousted, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Roy Moore was nominated to fill Jeff Sessions unfinished term.  Just in case you’re not familiar with Judge Moore, here are a few of his greatest hits.

• Terrorist attacks and mass shootings “are sparked because Americans are losing acknowledgment of God.”
• When reminded Vladimir Putin shares his view of same-sex marriage, said, “Maybe he is more akin to me than I know.”
•  Still believes Barack Obama was born in Kenya.
• “[Islam is] a faith that conflicts with the First Amendment of the Constitution.  The Constitution and Declaration of Independence has a direct reference to the Holy Scriptures.”
• Muslims should not be allowed to serve in Congress.
• “There is no such thing as evolution. That we came from a snake? No, I don’t believe that.”

On September 26th, Moore garnered 54.6 percent of the 480,000 votes cast in the Republican runoff election, not surprising in a state Comrade Trump carried by a margin of 28 percent.  On December 12th Moore will face Democrat Doug Jones, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.  Jones first came into the national spotlight when he prosecuted the two remaining Ku Klux Klan members responsible for bombing the 16th Street Baptist Church resulting in the death of four African-American girls.

Both parties are pouring money into this campaign and the latest polls suggest the race may be more competitive than it should be in such a scarlet red state.  However, this race should NOT be Moore versus Jones or a referendum on Trump or Steve Bannon’s coattails.  This is a chance for the voters of Alabama to show Americans who they really are.  Yes, an alt-right loony won the Republican nomination.  But that victory resulted from 262,000 Moore ballots out of the current total of 3.3 million registered voters.

Rather this is chance for Alabamans to make a statement and demonstrate that Southerners can be conservative without also being cruel or ignorant.  My hope is a majority of Alabama voters will consider the following as they enter the voting booth.

I may be pro-life, I may believe in trickle down economics, I worry about my right to own a firearm and I fear single-payer health care is just one more step on the path to socialism.  But, most of all, I still believe in the First Amendment, that facts matter and America’s future depends on a system of justice where all are treated equally.  And that’s why I’m voting for Doug Jones.  Not because I agree with him on policy.  In fact, if the Republicans put up a responsible candidate in 2020 when Jones runs for re-election, I am likely to switch my vote.  But NOT TODAY.  We are better than this.

So to the 3.1 million Alabama registered voters who have not yet cast a ballot for a disgraced, xenophobic, homophobic supposed defender of  the rule of law, you have a choice.  On the morning of December 13, I will have one of two reactions to the option you select.

Damn!! The decent people of Alabama stood up for American values.  They showed us Southern conservatives do have a conscience and country does come before party.

-or-

DAMN IT!! I guess I was wrong.  Maybe there is more truth to the Southern stereotype than I want to admit.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP