As we close in on one week from Election Day, there appear to be some confused conservatives across this state. For their own reasons, some have issues with voting for Coach Tuberville. Some have gone so far as to vote for Doug Jones instead, even though they are strong conservatives.
They reason that even though Doug Jones is a liberal, he wouldn’t really be able to get anything done with a Republican supermajority Legislature. This, however, is backwards thinking. This belittling of the executive’s power in our state is dangerous, reckless and misinformed.
Whatever your disagreements with Coach are, he has been an effective force for the conservative cause in the Senate, and will continue to be exactly that in Montgomery. We must not allow ourselves to miss the forest for the trees and vote for someone who is against our values. Yes, the Governor really does matter, and here’s why.
Appointments are among the most important and powerful gubernatorial roles. Heads of agencies are put into power by the Governor and are crucially important to all Alabamians. Those who head our institutions may not get as many headlines as other officials, but their decisions matter tremendously.
Doug Jones likes to paint himself as a moderate. That claim itself is troublesome. Even so, he will not appoint moderates to these positions. He will hand the keys over to Democrats who hold strong liberal beliefs, and he will provide air cover for them to act freely without fear of removal. These aren’t legislators who cast public votes and are easily seen; however, their importance cannot be overlooked.
Judicial appointments are yet another crucial role of the executive. Would you like liberal judges across our state virtue signaling from the bench, just as we’ve seen at the national level with rogue judges standing as roadblocks to Trump’s agenda? If so, then vote for someone who will put their liberal agenda first, like Doug Jones.
Our judges, all the way up to our State Supreme Court justices, are the backbone of our state. They hold firm against violations of our freedoms, and we cannot allow judges who prioritize their virtue signaling over the law.
Coach Tuberville has strongly advocated for, and promised to use, our National Guard to keep our crime-ridden cities from continuing to spiral into violence. This is not a permanent solution, but perhaps could provide much-needed help to our local law enforcement who are overwhelmed and stretched thin. Doug Jones would not pursue such action, and would stand by as liberal leadership in our major cities allows crime to rise with a lack of proactivity.
These are just a few crucial roles that many conservatives are overlooking. Many have stated that because our Republican Legislature can override vetoes with a simple majority, Doug Jones would be powerless. Far from it, actually.
Would you, as a conservative, prefer a leader who will work alongside our Legislature, or work actively against it? Would you rather have a Governor who shows strong leadership, acts proactively to bring forth legislation to help our state and expeditiously enacts said legislation, or someone who will stand as a constant roadblock? It is crucial to have someone in Montgomery who will work alongside our Legislature, rather than be its biggest enemy.
Lastly, I urge voters to consider the importance of policy over personality. I’ve heard many concerned Republicans state that they don’t like Coach as a person. Some are turned off by his ruggedness or his Trump-like inability to be politically correct. I would argue that these are attributes, rather than weaknesses.
When you go to the ballot box, you’re not voting for a new best friend or your new pastor. You’re voting for policy. You’re voting for an administration that shares your values and will fight for you. You don’t have to be Coach’s biggest fan, and you don’t even have to like him personally. We must not allow ourselves to overlook the crucial role of the Governor because of minor differences and shoot ourselves in the foot.
Alabama has been a Republican stronghold ever since 2010, when Republicans stormed the Statehouse and took back power from the Democrats who held it for decades. I am not saying that Republican leadership in this state is perfect; there are many issues with so-called Republicans in Montgomery who really act like Democrats.
This is not a blind endorsement; it’s a call for conservatives to think about the gravity of who we vote for as our leader. It’s an extremely consequential position that requires serious consideration of the ramifications. Don’t give Democrats in this state new life with a Doug Jones governorship. Let’s work to improve our party while having a leader to work alongside us. Move forward, rather than backward.
Justin “JP” Plott is the executive producer/co-host of “The Rightside with Allison and Amie Beth” and co-owner of Rightside Media. You can find him on X @JPRightside. Watch “The Rightside with Allison and Amie Beth” every weekday from 10am-12pm CT at www.rightsidemedia.org.
