By Bill Armistead
Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party
Birmingham, Ala. – Senator Jerry Fielding of Senate District 11, announced today that he would be leaving the Alabama Democratic Party and joining the Alabama Republican Party effective immediately. Elected as Senator in 2010, Fielding’s district includes parts of Calhoun, Coosa, Elmore and Talladega counties. Before that, Fielding was a District and Circuit Court Judge for 26 years.
“This is another reminder of how the Alabama Democratic Party is out of touch with everyday Alabamians,” stated Bill Armistead, Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. “Over fifty Alabama elected officials have left the Democrat ranks and joined with Republicans in the past two years because they can no longer affiliate themselves with the Party of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Mark Kennedy.
“Mark Kennedy speaks out of two sides of his mouth. On one hand, he claims Alabama Democrats are different from national Democrats. On the other hand, he encourages Alabamians to embrace Barack Obama and believes that legislation such as Obamacare is the right course for our nation. As I have recently stated, this isn’t your granddaddy’s Democratic Party.
“Once again, I encourage all true conservatives to take a good hard look at the beliefs touted by Mark Kennedy and the Alabama Democratic Party, and I’m confident you’ll find that they no longer speak for you. Conservatives do not support abortion on demand, legalization of gay marriage, removing God from our party platform or redistributing wealth. Mark Kennedy and the Democrats have fully embraced the radical, liberal agenda of President Barack Obama. This most recent announcement is just more evidence to that fact and it’s time for Alabama conservative voters to come home to the Alabama Republican Party.
“Republican Senate Leadership believes that Senator Fielding will be a solid conservative vote, but as with previous members of the legislature who have joined our caucus, Senator Fielding must walk the walk, and the proof will be whether or not his voting record reflects the conservative principles of our party,” concluded Armistead.
