Jessica Taylor: Don’t be fooled

The way I see it, the race for U.S. Senate will come down to the classic matchup: outsider versus establishment insider — us versus them.

Pro-Katie Britt Super PACs have spent over $10 million attacking Mike Durant. Watching the establishment use their money and political crony networks to successfully manipulate the image of American hero and successful businessman Mike Durant has been nothing short of campaign mastercraft, and it disgusts me. Do not let them fool you.

I was and remain committed to making sure the next senator from our great state is not part of the establishment. They are the problem. They are the reason Alabama is last in the country by most standards. Even when Republicans had control of the House and Senate, they did nothing to reduce the size of the federal government and reverse our ill-fated course. Republican leadership has failed us. They are losing the battle to restore fiscal conservatism and small government principles. They go along to get along to stay in power and help their cronies prosper. Spineless, weak-kneed, establishment Republicans have allowed liberals to take control, and they are rapidly destroying our economy and clawing away at our freedoms. Ask yourself why the people responsible for this mess want Katie Boyd Britt elected so badly. The answer is clear; it’s because they want the status quo. It has served them well.

Mike Durant is a fighter. He is tested and proven. He put his life on the line to fight for our country. For our freedom. Mike spent 11 days as a prisoner of war after his Black Hawk helicopter was shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. After being tortured and held captive, he still served out his term in the military before settling down in Huntsville, Alabama, where he built a successful business from the ground up and raised six kids.

During my 15 years of working in Montgomery, I have seen more instances than I can count of lobbyist and insider cronies manipulating candidates and votes. They think they are in control, and truth be told, they have been. But I’ve had enough of their back room deals and incompetence. We cannot let the establishment candidate be crowned our next senator. Someone brought up and trained in the ways of the Swamp won’t know how to drain it.

Well-funded super PACs have blanketed the state with mailers designed to subtly shift your impression of Mike Durant. They say Mike doesn’t live in Alabama and that he hasn’t been campaigning. Both are lies. Mike has lived in Alabama over 20 years. He still has a child in high school in Madison County. As for campaigning, check out his social media accounts. He is on the ground working as hard as any candidate in the race.

They said Mike doesn’t support the Second Amendment because of a dismissive sidebar comment made while speaking to the Army War College about military tactics to disarm a community. Mike has spent more time with firearms than all his opponents combined. No one in this race knows the importance of the Second Amendment more than Mike Durant. He risked his life to protect our right to bear arms. He owns over 20 guns including an AK-47 and AR-15, and he won’t let anyone take them.

They said Mike isn’t tough on immigration. Mike Durant is the strongest candidate on border security in this race. Mike knows that President Trump was right: They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. And we stop it all by building the wall. They said Mike is backed by liberals. Mike’s disdain for liberals is clear every time you hear him speak. He wouldn’t accept their money. Mike Durant’s biggest donor is Mike Durant! Like President Trump and Coach Tuberville, he can’t be bought by anyone. Mike’s only priority is to serve the people of Alabama. That’s it.

Let’s give Mike Durant a third tour of duty. He is the only conservative outsider in this race, and we know we can trust him to fight for change. Do not be fooled into electing a phony conservative who won’t fight for our values.

I encourage every Alabamian to get to the polls on May 24 and vote to send American hero Mike Durant to drain the Swamp!

Jessica Taylor is an Alabama businesswoman and former candidate for U.S. Senate