By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Monday, June 19, 2017, some of the GOP US Senate candidates participated in a Republican Women of Huntsville candidates forum at Huntsville Botanical Gardens. North Alabama radio talk show host Dale Jackson moderated the forum.
Congressman Mo Brooks emphasized that the Senate needs to change the rules to keep the Democrats from blocking the Trump agenda. “I am going to do everything in my power to eliminate that filibuster rule. If we don’t change the process we have lost this historic opportunity.”
Businessman Dom Gentile said that his priorities would be to: support our President; never take special interest money; will break the Blue Cross Blue Shield monopoly so we all have choice in our health care; protect our second amendment rights; and draw a line in the sand to protect veterans benefits. Gentile said that as Senator he would fight for all Alabamians; the Whites, the Blacks, the rich, the poor, and the gays if elected. Gentile blamed big pharma throwing its weight around for the stalling of Republican health care reform.
Businessman Randy Brinson said that we have a lot of problems in the world and that we need a senator who understands those problems. Brinson emphasized the war on terror and his experience dealing with governments in other parts of the world. Brinson attacked US Senator Luther Strange for accepting Governor Robert Bentley’s nomination, while he was investigating Bentley. Brinson said that he is not controlled by the Washington establishment and promised to bring honor to the office.
Senator Strange did not attend the Huntsville forum.
Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore (R) emphasized his experience as a judge, a journalist, a prosecutor, a lawyer, as Chief Justice, and serving in the Vietnam War. Moore said that to make America great again we must go back to the recognition of the principles on which the country was founded. Former Chief Justice Moore said that the country was founded on God. God is the source of right and wrong and without God there can be no right and wrong. Moore said that he was very concerned about the judiciary of the country not going by the Constitution and making it up as it goes.
Randy Brinson said that he can get the consensus to get the votes to repeal and replace Obamacare and he has the only plan that can build that consensus.
Judge Moore said that he would defend the right to keep and bear arms.
Rep. Brooks said that having just experienced an attack, “If we had a gun to defend ourselves in that dugout we could have defended ourselves and taken that shooter out before those police officers were shot.”
Brinson said that we have to stop illegal immigration; but that we need to do it sensibly.
Moore said that we need to stop the flow of illegals at the border and supports building the wall and using the National Guard if necessary.
Brooks said that if we allow people to come to this country illegally and then say that they can stay if they have children because then they are going to have children. “We don’t have the financial ability to continue to do what we are doing.”
Brinson said that Donald Trump wants to run the country like a business; but that Congress is filled with career politicians. We need more business people in Congress that know how to make a payroll and get things done.
Brooks said that the Democrats have engaged in rhetoric designed to divide the people based on skin color, income, and ethnicity because they are losing the debate on public policy. Brooks said that that leads to attacks like last week in Washington and last year in Dallas where a gunman was targeting police and Caucasians.
Moore said that we need to repeal Obamacare and open up health insurance to sell across state lines.
Rep. Brooks said repeal Obamacare and go back to the best health care system in the world which is what we had in 2009.
Gentile said that Blue Cross Blue Shield has 93 percent of the healthcare market in Alabama and that needs to change.
Dr. Brinson said there is a tug of war between Donald Trump and the Congress because our own Republican congressional leadership is supporting the status quo.
Judge Moore said that we need a strong military.
Brooks said that we need to elect more Republicans who act like Republicans.
Gentile said that as a businessman the only thing that keeps him up at night that could put him out of business is the Department of Labor.
The vacancy was created when US Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, III, (R) was confirmed by the Senate to be US Attorney General.
The special major party primaries are on August 15. The Special Election is on December 12, 2017.
