In a Tuesday interview on Talk 99.5’s “Matt & Aunie Show,” Governor Kay Ivey criticized her Democratic opponent, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, for the disconnect between his rhetoric and his actions on pro-life issues.
Maddox has consistently said he is pro-life throughout the campaign, including in a campaign ad released on Saturday, however, he opposes a pro-life state constitutional amendment and a separate pro-life Alabama law that faces a possible appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
“He says one thing, but his actions say differently,” Ivey remarked.
“He’s definitely close to Planned Parenthood,” she added, before pointing directly to his opposition to Amendment Two, which will be up for constitutional referendum on the November 6 general election ballot.
Besides Maddox, Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and the Feminist Majority Foundation have all come out against this amendment, with Planned Parenthood’s state PAC poised to spend a whopping $800,000 in Alabama over the coming weeks.
For Ivey, leadership is defined by actions rather than merely talking the talk.
“[H]e just has not acted like he is pro-life at all,” Ivey said. “He’s also brought under question his support for gun rights, too. He’s been endorsed by Moms Demand Action, and that’s a gun-control group. So, he talks one way and does other things, and that’s just his style. He is more liberal for sure.”
Ivey’s comments came in response to a question about her campaign previously pointing out what they view as Maddox lying twice – on being both pro-life and pro-Second Amendment – in his new ad, which ends with him promising never to lie to the people of Alabama.
“Walt Maddox promises not to lie, yet he just told two lies in 30 seconds,” the Ivey campaign said in a statement on Saturday. “That takes lying to a whole new level – even for a politician like Walt Maddox. When you look at his true position on abortion and the gun grabbing allies he pals around with, it’s clear Walt Maddox is too extreme for Alabama.”
Following her comments on Maddox’s self-contradictions, Ivey made it clear that her values guide her actions as governor.
“[B]eing conservative fiscally, morally, ethically – doing what’s right because it’s the right thing to do. And in every decision I make as governor, I always try to do what is right and best for the people of Alabama. It may not be the most popular road to take, but in my heart of hearts, it will be the right and best thing for the people of Alabama,” Ivey outlined.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
