A mixed message

As you are aware, our Republican congressional election has come down to two people, Alabama Sen. Harri Anne Smith and Rep. Jay Love.

Several national GOP officials, including U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt (Missouri) and Rep. Tom Cole (Oklahoma) are holding a $500-per-ticket fundraiser for Jay Love in Washington, D.C.

I am upset because there are still two Republican candidates in this race. That’s why it’s called a run-off. Believe me, I have no issues with GOP leaders raising money for or endorsing Republicans in states other than their own. However, I don’t understand why officials from other states think they can decide OUR candidate or lobby for one Republican candidate for the 2nd District of Alabama over the other.

National officials should not become involved until the Republican candidate is decided by local constituents. I also feel Jay Love should not accept any of this money, as it would appear he is already “for sale” or “sold out” to Washington. Furthermore, I attempted to send e-mail to several of the congressmen involved in the fund raiser. The two who are cohosting the fundraiser, congressmen Blunt and Cole, had auto-reply e-mails advising me they could not respond to persons who were not their constituents.

I find it convenient they can tell us who they think is the candidate for our district, even though they can’t respond to our e-mails because we are not their constituents.

The people of Alabama’s 2nd District should let them know we, and only we, should be able to decide who we want to be our Republican representative for our district. Please write, call and e-mail all of the congressmen who think they know what is best for Alabama and be sure to tell them to let Alabamians decide.

Jason DeVane
Dothan