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Parker Griffith on Principles & Values |
Griffith's camp accused Bentley of bad faith negotiating and fear of an open discussion of the issues. The Democratic nominee has been pushing the debate issue hard in recent weeks. Late last month, Griffith made stops around the state with a 20-foot high duck--symbolic, he said, of the governor "ducking" a forensic contest with him. The inflatable waterfowl sparked high-level discussions between the campaigns. But the camps disagreed over what sunk the debate.
Bentley had expressed a willingness to debate Griffith after his primary victory on June 3. In his statement Monday, the governor said "my opponent's actions prove he has no interest in such civil political discourse." A spokesperson noted, "What's different is our opponent is carrying an inflatable duck around the state."
Griffith said he had become increasingly uncomfortable with the liberal policies of his party and president, especially the overwhelming spending. Griffith said, " I can no longer align myself with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy and drives us further and further into debt,"
In one sense Griffith's immediate defection is no big deal. It's only one seat more for the distinct minority. But on another level such a local decision could have wider significance. Does it indicate more simmering political trouble to come among so-called Blue Dog Democrats, four score moderates and conservatives whose constituents are nowhere near as liberal as the crowd currently running most everything in Washington
The Tea Party movement is a populist conservative social movement in the United States that emerged in 2009 through a series of locally and nationally coordinated protests. The protests were partially in response to several Federal laws: the stimulus package; te healthcare bill; and the TARP bailouts. The name "Tea Party" refers to the Boston Tea Party of 1773, the source of the phrase, "No Taxation Without Representation."