AEA vs. Alabama GOP
Birmingham, Ala.(WVTM)—-GOP gubernatorial runoff candidate Bradley Byrne has been the target of negative ads. Now he’s calling for an investigation into what he says are lies about him.
Both Byrne and the state Republican Party blame the Alabama Education Association and the state Democratic Party for the negative ads. But the AEA said, it’s just protecting public education.
The state Republican Party has fired a Marengo county committee chairman for his part in a political action committee that funded attack ads against Bradley Byrne. Now, Byrne believes that committee has changed it’s name and he’s calling for an investigation.
The ads connect GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Bradley Byrne to President Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama and liberal views. The “True Republican PAC” - paid for them. And now a new political action committee called “Conservative Coalition of Alabama” is following the same lead. Both Byrne and the state Republican Party blame the Alabama Education Association and the state Democratic Party for the ads.
GOP Gubernatorial Candidate, Bradley Byrne said, “These people are hiding behind phoney pacs, telling lies about me and trying to swing this election to elect somebody who fits the profile of the democratic bosses.“
Republican Party spokesperson, Philip Bryan said, “It’s really being used as a political slush fund for heads of the democratic party and that’s the unfortunate thing.“
The AEA said it was protecting public education when it gave money to the “True Republican PAC”, but denies any connection with the democratic party.
AEA Public Relations Manager, David Stout said, “AEA staff has not had any operational duties with the PAC. We contributed money which Dr. Hubbard told the press months ago that we gave money to the True Republican PAC.“
Two men said to be connected to the True Republican PAC ad are Dr.‘s Paul Hubbard and Joe Reed. Both are employed by the AEA, but the Democratic Party denies it employs either of the men. However, Reed is chairman of the state Democratic Caucus.
The AEA said it never paid the Marengo County Republican Chairman, who resigned, and the