By Bill Britt and Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Flamboyant Chief Justice nominee Harry Lyon was officially removed from the November ballot by The Alabama Democratic Party on Friday.
Lyon had recently taken to Facebook to unleash a sometimes incoherent diatribe against Alabama Democratic Party chairman Mark Kennedy, Republican opponent Roy Moore and a host of others. Lyon’s remarks were used as evidence in show-cause letter to Lyon earlier this week.
The Alabama Political Reporter began reporting on Lyon’s Facebook rants on August 13 reporting. Last Sunday the outspoken Alabama Democratic Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Candidate wrote (in all capital letters), “I HAVE HEARD THAT MARK “WALLACE” KENNEDY WANTS TO REPLACE ME WITH SOON TO BE “FORMER JUDGE ROBERT VANCE” BY THE FORCES OF DEMONIC DEMOCRATIC “INSIDERS WHO STAY INSIDE JUST LIKE THEIR HOMOSEXUAL BRETHREN”…THESE FOLKS HAVE SHORT MEMORIES OF THE 1986 DEMOCRAT DEBACLE WHICH LED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR ALABAMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY BUT HISTORY DOES TEND TO REPEAT ITSELF, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR SINFUL PRIDE IS EXPOSED TO THE TRUTH. AMEN, PRAISE THE LORD!”
On Saturday, Lyon’s posted, “I BELIEVE A FEW CORRUPT DEMOCRATS ARE BEHIND THIS EFFORT AND IF THEY SUCCEED, THE EFFECTS WILL BE 100 TIMES WORSE THAN THE AFTERSHOCK OF THE 1986 DEBACLE OF THE GRADDICK/BAXLEY EVENT WHICH LED TO THE ELECTION OF FORMER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR GUY HUNT. PLEASE PRAY THIS SUNDAY THAT DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN MARK KENNEDY KEEPS HIS WORD TO ME BOTH VERBALLY AND BY LETTER. THE WRATH OF GOD WILL BE ON ANYONE WHO “BEARS FALSE WITNESS”.
Mr. Lyon said he was also staunchly opposed to gay marriage and the homosexual agenda, “Only sick perverted persons believe in homosexuality or lesbianism though there are a lot of them, thank God a minority, in America as well as drug addicts which makes this country weak and shows a lack of morality. AMEN.” “I DO NOT WANT THE VOTE AND SUPPORT OF THE GAY AND SAME SEX MARRIAGE VOTERS AS THEY ARE AN ABOMINATION OF GOD. AMEN.”
Similarly Mr. Lyon expressed disdain for his opponent, former Chief Justice Roy Moore (R) from Gallant whom he called, “My law breaking and reprobate opponent who holds himself out as one of the false prophets of God as described by our Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament by toting around his COPYRIGHTED impression of the Ten Commandments which he himself doesn’t follow but follows him in his quest for political office and money for his “foundation” which pays salaries to members of his family.”
In a statement, the Alabama Democratic Party said Lyon had failed “to conduct himself in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.”
Lyon says he plans legal action against the Democratic Party over the move.
“I went before a Communist Politburo today, and they hand pick who people can vote for,” he said.
In response to the Alabama Democratic Party’s decision to remove their Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee, Harry Lyon, from the ballot, Bill Armistead, Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, released the following statement:
“Judge Mark Kennedy and the Alabama Democratic Party have been trying to find a path to relevance in Alabama. Today they decided to remove Democratic Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee Harry Lyon from the ballot, thinking that would help their cause. Unfortunately for them, it will not work. It will only show Alabama voters what a farce the once powerful Alabama Democratic Party has become.
“First they tried to remove Mr. Lyon with a trumped up charge that he was in violation of the Fair Campaign Practice Act. That charge was completely bogus and thus Judge Kennedy had to find an alternate excuse.
“The second attempt to remove Mr. Lyon shows that Democrats are truly liberal and out of touch with Alabama values. In a 16-page document that was used as ‘evidence’ to remove Mr. Lyon from the ballot, the Alabama Democratic Party provided copies of 28 separate Facebook postings by Mr. Lyon. In 15 of these postings, Mr. Lyon expresses his disagreement with President Obama’s position on same sex marriage and he continually asks Judge Mark Kennedy and Lucy Baxley their position on the issue.
“Let me be clear, the Alabama Republican Party affirms its support of traditional marriage and stands in opposition to President Barack Obama’s order to the Department of Justice to ignore the ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ and the Democratic Party’s position in support of gay marriage. However the Alabama Republican Party encourages all individuals engaged in this discussion to enter into it respectfully. We do not condone hateful speech by anyone engaged in this debate.
“Democrat support of gay marriage became a national issue when President Obama came out in support of gay marriage. That was followed by the announcement by the Democratic Party that they were going to endorse same sex marriage in their platform. Since then numerous Alabama media outlets have attempted to get a reaction from Judge Kennedy and the Alabama Democratic Party, to no avail. With the removal of Harry Lyon as the Democratic nominee because of his opposition to the Democratic position in favor of gay marriage, it should be clear to every Alabamian just how liberal the Democratic Party has become.
“It should be obvious, now more than ever, that the Alabama Democratic Party has wholeheartedly embraced the extreme leftist views of President Barack Obama and other national Democratic leaders such as Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank. They no longer represent the conservative, traditional views that most Alabamians hold. It is time for all conservatives to unite behind the only conservative Party in Alabama, the Alabama Republican Party.
“I would also like to offer a warning to any candidate that considers qualifying with the Alabama Democratic Party to fill this vacancy. Do so and know that you are joining the election as a member of the Party that supports same-sex marriage and that the Alabama Republican Party will stand shoulder to shoulder with Judge Roy Moore to defeat you and support conservative Alabama values.”
Shana Kluck, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Republican Party, said the party did not condone Lyon’s choice of words for gays and lesbians.
“Language like that showing obvious disrespect for someone is unacceptable,” she said.
However, Bradley Davidson, Executive Director of the Alabama Democratic Party said the disqualification was not about Lyon’s stance on same-sex marriage.
Saying that Lyon’s had held himself below the standards required of judicial nominees. “He’s defamed almost every person he would come in contact with,” Davidson said.
The Democratic Party plans to open a new qualifying period starting Monday at 8 a.m. and going through Wednesday, August 22 at noon.
