On Wednesday, Senator-Elect Doug Jones commended the women who came forward against Moore, expressed confidence in his campaign even before the allegations surfaced, and voiced his doubt that there will be a recount. (Dec. 13) AP
Last Tuesday, former federal attorney Doug Jones was elected to the U. S. Senate in Alabama defeating Roy Moore, the twice removed former Alabama chief justice. Cast by many as a liberal versus conservative fight, it was less about political ideology and more about tomorrow versus yesterday in Alabama politics. Jones clearly represents hope for the future; Moore, an anchor to the past.
Age demographics paint a compelling picture of this reality. Voters under age 45 gave Jones a nearly 20 percent victory, while those over 65 favored Moore by an equal margin. But those between 45 and 64 voted for Moore by only a four percent margin.
In the 1960s, with the passage of major civil rights legislation, President Lyndon Johnson stated that the Democratic Party had lost the South for a generation. It has taken almost two generations for that prediction to seemingly lose its grip. Last month’s elections in Virginia, once home of the Confederacy, went Democratic. With Alabama electing Democrat Jones, this grip on the South may be waning.
Test next year in Tennessee
A real test for possible shifting voter patterns will come next November in the Tennessee senatorial race. Former, twice-elected conservative Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen recently announced his candidacy for the seat being vacated by Sen. Bob Corker. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and former Rep. Stephen Fincher - both Tea Party types and Donald Trump sycophants - together with Rolando Toyos, have announced for the Republican primary. Nashville Attorney James Mackler is running as a Democrat.
Alabama’s break with the past and its embrace of the future may have real economic benefits. In the 1950s, Atlanta and Birmingham were the two leading cities in the Southeast. With the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, their parity vanished. Atlanta became known as “the city too busy to hate.” Birmingham was labeled “Bombingham” with its dynamite, fire hoses, and police dogs. Business poured into the Georgia capital; not so much into its rival.
Toyota is in the process of selecting a southern state to build a new automotive plant. Speculation was afoot that if Moore was elected, the plant would end up in South Carolina.
Finger-pointing follows vote
The aftermath of Jones’ election has brought a torrent of finger-pointing in the GOP of what caused this defeat. Trump billed it as a referendum on his presidency. On that question, two referendums were held; the first being the Republican primary. Trump supported Sen. Luther Strange. He was soundly defeated in favor Moore. Then, with the urging of Steve Bannon, the bloviating windbag white racist nationalist, Trump backed Moore in an act of political malfeasance.
Tainted with allegations of sexual misconduct, a description that also befits Trump, Moore should have caused Trump to run as fast and as far away as humanly possible. But filled with delusional fantasies of his own self-importance, Trump threw his whole-hearted support behind the man accused of being a pedophile. Par for the course, Trump now says Moore was never his choice despite his robocalls and public endorsement. Of course, it’s somebody else’s fault.
The demographic breakdown of Alabama voters portends huge problems for the GOP. African Americans cast 30 percent of the total vote with 96 percent going to Jones. This despite a voter suppression ID law that reduced that vote by 120,000. The voting patterns of people under 65, especially those under 45, will only become more exacerbated with the passage of time. And now in the “Me Too” movement era of sexual harassment, these problems deepen.
GOP's women problem
Women make up 15 percent of Democratic senators. Among Republicans, that number is only five percent. The GOP needs more women in its Senate ranks. But women like Marsha Blackburn are not the answer. In part, she is responsible for the opioid crisis in Tennessee, a responsibility Phil Bredesen is not likely to ignore. Totally lacking in impulse control, Trump puts Republican women in an awkward position. His shameful tweet regarding Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, while personally gratifying to his misogynistic personality, places Republican women in untenable positions. The only exceptions are those like his press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who have long since lost their souls. To use a favorite Trump term: “Sad.”