7th Congressional District Runoff Roundup

I don't live, work, or most importantly vote in Alabama's 7th congressional district, but I know a lot of people who do. I know a lot of people who don't have indoor plumbing, don't have access to health care, send their students to under achieving public schools and have toxic coal ash waste dumped on them. The 7th congressional district is historically and culturally important to me because thanks to the work of Dr. Joe L. Reed, it is the only African American district in Congress.

Alabama's 7th congressional district is in the heart of the black belt and the cradle of the civil rights movement in Alabama. It was the only Alabama district President Obama won in 2008. For the past 8 years the 7th district has been represented by Artur Davis, who sold them out for his own blind ambition. They deserve competent, committed, effective, courageous, experienced leadership in congress. The stakes are just too high.

Candidate Artur, I mean Terri Sewell claims she has no republican backing, her opponent is unfairly attacking her, and that she wears nine west shoes, all in an attempt to distract voters from the fact she doesn't have experience or a record to run on.

As unclesam.johnson said, this is an election for people who actually live in the 7th district.

This is truly an election for the people that actually live in congressional district 7 and for people that can actually VOTE in the district. The problem is that way too many people and organizations are trying to influence it for the wrong reasons (I'm sure that many consider this subjective but it is really not). People that do not live in the district can give high level spin for candidates, write flashy blog posts, post misinformation about candidates, put up radio ads, act as tools of outside interest but in the end it is about the people that vote. It will be about the people who's everyday life is affected by their congressional representation.


It is morally wrong for people that do not live in the district to try to influence votes, however, its a free country and free speech reigns. As supporters of constitution reform, we all know the dangers of being able to vote for issues that do not affect us (e.g. why do I need to vote on sheep herding, shrimp farming etc.. in other parts of the state).

At the end of the day, the people that actually live and vote in the district will select their choice of the candidate that they trust, has a record of experience, and the one that will do the right thing. Fortunately enough, very few on this blog will have the opportunity to do so.

I am praying the people that actually live and vote in 7th district select their choice of candidate and don't let the republicans and their enablers steal the only African American congressional seat.

How many members of Congress does Hoover need?

Ms. Sewell did not grow up in poverty. Her parents were both public schoolteachers (as were mine). While not wealthy, schoolteachers in Alabama were no longer skipping meals by the time Ms. Sewell came along. (Thank you, AEA.) She spent several years as a partner in a Wall Street law firm where per-partner profits were well over a million dollars a year. She is now a partner in one of the most elite law firms in Alabama - perhaps the most elite. Her choice of home was certainly not constrained by her income. No longer married to anyone with an interesting history, she need not worry about the size of the home or yard.

Terri Sewell is a nice, accomplished, young lady. But that doesn't mean she should be elected to Congress to represent one of the poorest and disenfranchised districts in Alabama.

Let the voters of the 7th district decide who represents them in congress, not the gop. Been there. Done that.