You know what they say,
That’s Politics
Rocket City Democrats
Rocket City Democrats May 19th 2004 with Senator Jeff Enfinger
Rocket City Democrats Reminded Politics Still Local
Party official says Alabama needs to change its priorities
01/22/04
By STEVE NOWOTTNY
Times Staff Writer eintern@htimes.com
Huntsville Democrats following the presidential primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire should also stay focused on politics in their own state, according to the political director of the Alabama Democratic Party, Jim Wrye.
"Presidential politics is great," said Wrye, speaking to the monthly meeting of the Rocket City Democrats in downtown Huntsville on Wednesday evening. "But while the media is concentrating on the national stage, we have a real problem here in Montgomery."
Wrye lambasted the GOP - which he said stands for "Give Out Pork" - for spending cuts he said had taken $11.5 million out of the state troopers' budget, could force teachers to pay for health insurance they could not afford, and caused the early parole of 5,000 prisoners.
He also criticized former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, who's battling a federal court order to remove a copy of the Ten Commandments Moore had installed in the state judicial building soon after taking office.
"He's cost the state $2 million so far in police overtime and so on. Meanwhile the courts are laying off 400 employees. Where are the priorities?"
As political director, Wrye explained, it is his job to spread the Democrats' message, both through conventional media and through the party newspaper, The Alabama Democrat, which he edits and produces. "As Democrats we're never going to outspend our opponents," he said, "so we need to out-think them and out-work them instead."
Part of his job, he said to sympathetic groans from the partisan audience, was to listen to conservative talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly every day. "I have to figure out the phrases that pay on their side," he said. In particular, he criticized the Republican emphasis on religious language. "I would never be so vain or so proud as to think that God favors one political party."
Several members of the audience complained that Montgomery-based Democrats ignore the concerns of North Alabama. "Nobody cares about anything up in Huntsville," said one woman. "To them we're just southern Tennessee."
Wrye acknowledged the criticism, agreeing that "without the Tennessee Valley, this party is nothing."
Despite the focus on state politics, the hot topic among the Democrat faithful who turned out was Monday's Iowa caucus. Although supporters of several presidential candidates were present, it was a candidate who didn't participate in the caucus, Wesley Clark, who seemed to draw the greatest praise.
"He's without doubt the most qualified candidate," said one man,
who said he had served with Clark in the 1st Armored Division. "He's the
man most likely to beat Bush."
Rocket City Democrats will meet again, Wednesday, June 16th ( and every 3rd Wednesday) 6:00PM at the Jazz Factory, North Side Square, Huntsville, Alabama.
Everyone’s invited, no membership, no dues, and no officers…just adults discussing the issues that effect our everyday lives.
Jim Wrye speaks to the Rocket City Democrats, January 21, 2004
Copyright Pam Miles 2003