After patiently and meticulously reviewing the sexual harassment and assault allegations against Roy Moore, and his response, the editors of Yellowhammer News spoke strongly against the judge and questioned the credibility of his denials.
Will other conservative writers and broadcasters in Alabama declare their positions, as well?
“Most of our elected leaders may wish to sit comfortably on the sidelines, saying little or nothing, but opinion writers and radio talk show hosts owe their readers and listeners their honest opinions,” said the site’s editor, J. Pepper Bryars.
Bryars initially questioned the Washington Post for its article, claiming that the substance, timing and undisclosed originating source all point to it being an attack on our election. Bryars maintains that belief.
But, as more women stepped forward and Moore’s defense fell flat, Bryars published an article yesterday stating that he came to the “uncomfortable but firm conclusion: the judge is lying, and the accusers are telling the truth.”
After citing the judge’s implausible denials and the fourth victim’s credibility, Bryars called for the governor and state GOP leadership to intervene in the special election.
The article was noticed nationally and shared widely among state and national conservatives … even making its way into liberal circles, including a segment on MSNBC’s top-rated Rachel Maddow show.
Quin Hillyer, a contributing editor to Yellowhammer News, wrote in an earlier article on the website that the Washington Post’s article was believable.
“It is perfectly logical for objective observers, at this point, to tend to believe the allegations against Moore – as long as they don’t yet say their conclusions are hard and fast,” Hillyer wrote. “To recap, it is logical because the Post story met good journalistic standards, because it does not have the attributes of a last-minute smear, because it is a fallacy that Moore’s background has been thoroughly vetted by press and opponents before now, and because of the commonality of the sources’ reports about the idiosyncrasies of Moore’s alleged behavior four decades ago.”
Other conservative media figures across the state are also making their positions clear.
“For those that have observed Roy Moore’s self-destructive pathology for years, this newest controversy is more of the same,” said Leland Whaley, host of the Leland Live program on 99.5 FM in Birmingham. “He hangs himself on a cross, plays the role of martyr to a cause and propels himself politically with his very intense base.”
Whaley said Moore would be an ineffective senator and would harm the conservative movement’s chances to advance our interests in Congress.
“Roy Moore will be as radioactive as a nuclear dumpster fire the day he is sworn in,” Whaley said. “The Democrats will make him the running mate of every other GOP Senate candidate in the midterms next November, putting our slim majority at great risk, and Alabama will continue to suffer from an undeserved stereotype.”
In the Huntsville market, WVNN 92.5 FM’s Dale Jackson has been covering the Moore issue during his morning program.
“I was very skeptical of the allegations against Roy Moore when all of this started,” Jackson said. “But with each allegation and conversations I’ve had with lawmakers and others, my gut tells me there is something here, I refuse to do what Clinton defenders continue to do for him and look the other way or make excuses.”
Bryars said that he would gladly publish op-eds from any media figures and elected leaders in the state wishing to make their opinions known.
