Riley, Everett express support for Love

Gov. Bob Riley and Congressman Terry Everett say they’ve seen the future, and it rests in the hands of Rep. Jay Love.

“Jay is just a remarkable young man, and I couldn’t be happier for someone like him to over himself for election,” Riley said on Thursday at a fish fry honoring Love. “I’ve worked with this young man for the last five years, and to be as young as Jay is and have as much leadership capability as he does really is remarkable. And one of the great things about Jay Love is he’s doing it for all the right reasons.”

Riley, Everett and Alabama Republican Party Chairman Mike Hubbard all expressed their support for Love’s bid for U.S. Congress at the event, which drew 217 people to the Stokes Activity Barn at Landmark Park.

Riley and Everett have already begun giving Love advice on how to deal with politics at a national level.

“Try to be bipartisan, but don’t give up your principals. I really do have a great repuatation of being bipartisan,” Everett said. “Don’t let other people try to kidnap those values when they really don’t have anything to do with them. It’s a lot different (in Washington, D.C.), but I maintain somebody that’s operated in the state house is much better qualified than someone who’s been the mayor of a city.”

Riley has warned Love about the sacrifice he must make if elected.

“We’ve had several conversations. I’ve always thought of public service as a sacrifice. Jay is going to sacrifice time away from his family and bis business to be able to do this, and that’s what I think our founding fathers really envisioned,” Riley said.

According to Love, advice from the likes of Riley and Everett is a valuable asset.

“I’ve talked to both of them about the way Washington works and the way you deal with the legislative process,” Love said. “It’s different for everybody. Whatever your strengths are, that’s what you want to play to, and it’s just working with people, and that’s what they have emphasized more than anything else.”

All three men share a particular interest in this year’s elections.

“I’m very proud to have the support of Congressman Everett and Governor Riley, and they understand how important this election is,” Love said. “Both of them having served in Congress, they know how important it is that this seat stays in the hands of a Republican and a conservative, and that’s why they’re out here supporting Jay Love.”

The reason for that importance is what Riley calls a growing divide between the Republican and Democratic visions for the nation.

“I can’t remember a time, except maybe when (Ronald) Reagan ran the first time, that there was a bigger difference between the parties,” Riley said. “There is a gulf between Democrats and Republicans, and you’re going to have to choose a side.”

Riley and Hubbard awarded Everett a lifetime achievement award on behalf of the state Republican party.

“Terry Everett has been a staunch Republican, and I can’t think of anyone who would have served better,” Hubbard said.

Riley and Love also weighed in on the upcoming presidential election, firmly siding with their party’s expected nominee, Sen. John McCain.

“I’m anxious to get to St. Paul, Minnesota, to cast my vote for John McCain for our candidate for president,” Love said. “We need someone like him, tried and true.”

Riley joked that the McCain camp may not have to do much to win the election.

“Everybody keeps talking about the Democratic National Convention and the bump that (Sen. Barack) Obama should get. Well, just before I walked in here, someone said that John McCain went up another two points today, so if they keep the convention going for another week, I think the race is over,” Riley said.