AEA/Tim James Attack

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Paul Hubbert and the AEA are fighting tooth and nail to defeat arch enemy, Bradley Byrne, from winning the Republican gubernatorial primary. And, you gotta admit, Tim James makes a pretty good battering ram. 

Saturday's Press-Register editorial:

Editorial: Hubbert tries to hijack primary

By Press-Register Editorial Board

May 23, 2010, 5:16AM


POLITICS MAKES strange bedfellows, but the marriage of convenience between state teachers' union chief Paul Hubbert and Bradley Byrne's opponents in the Republican primary for governor is one of the most disreputable political liaisons in recent Alabama history.

Campaign finance reports show that political action committees funded by Mr. Hubbert's Alabama Education Association have contributed heavily to a negative television advertising campaign against Mr. Byrne. Judging by the polls, Tim James has been the chief beneficiary of the attack ads sponsored by the ironically named True Republican PAC. According to the reports, this so-called Republican PAC has gotten most of its contributions from PACs funded by the AEA.

Republicans rarely make common cause with Mr. Hubbert, a long-time powerbroker in the state Democratic Party, and vice versa. But the AEA superlobbyist obviously is glad to help any Republican who can block the political progress of the AEA's arch-enemy, Mr. Byrne.

Tim James says there's no link between his campaign and the AEA-funded True Republican PAC. But he has suggested that Mr. Byrne reaped what he sowed in taking on Paul Hubbert and the AEA.

Republican primary voters need to know more about Mr. James' view of the AEA and his take on the influence of Mr. Hubbert in Alabama politics.

If Tim James thinks crossing Paul Hubbert is a bad idea, it's likely that, as governor, he wouldn't challenge AEA-endorsed policies linked to corruption, such as double dipping by legislators. He might ignore outrages such as the law that allowed a Washington County teacher convicted of enticing a student for sex to draw state paychecks while sitting in a federal prison.

In response to the Washington County case, the Legislature passed a law cutting off pay for teachers convicted of major felonies and sex offenses. But the AEA-approved Fair Dismissal Act, the tenure law that enabled Charlene Schmitz to continue her employment appeals from a prison cell, is still in place and still providing protection for education employees convicted of crimes.

As chancellor of the state's two-year college system, Bradley Byrne battled the AEA over double dipping and the nearly ironclad job protection enjoyed by members of the teachers' union. Mr. Byrne prevailed in some of those battles -- a fact that must really sting a man like Mr. Hubbert, who is used to getting his way in Montgomery.

Mr. Hubbert hopes to get his way in the Republican primary for governor. It appears the AEA plan is to stop Bradley Byrne at all costs.

Republican voters must not let Paul Hubbert hijack the GOP gubernatorial primary. If he succeeds in stopping Mr. Byrne, his already enormous power will grow exponentially, putting him in a position to block proposed government reforms as well as undo the two-year college system reforms adopted under the former chancellor.

It doesn't matter whether or not there is an explicit connection between Mr. Hubbert and the other Republican candidates; it's obvious he would have tremendous influence over a GOP nominee who benefited from the AEA's anti-Byrne campaign.

So beware: Don't vote for a Republican for governor and end up electing Paul Hubbert emperor of Alabama.