by Ellie Kreidie
Two weeks ago, it seemed as if Alabama was about to get a new Republican senator, filling the remaining Senate seat vacated by current Attorney General Jeff Sessions. After Sessions’ appointment, Luther Strange was given the Senate seat and was projected to win the election to take on the remaining years of Sessions’ term. Strange, a favorite from the Republican Party establishment, lost the Republican primary to the Steve Bannon-endorsed, anti-establishment candidate Roy Moore.
Moore has always been controversial in both his statements and views, so his nomination as the Republican candidate surprised the country. It looked as if he was destined to win the special Senate election on December 12. However, seven women have come forward alleging unwanted sexual advances and assaults made by Roy Moore to young teens decades ago. The most publicized allegation was that of a 14-year-old girl harassed by the then district attorney and 32-year-old, Roy Moore. More women have followed, opening up about their experiences with Moore. “A person who has a history like that shouldn’t be given any position of power,” said Becky Schuman (‘21)
A National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) poll, conducted days after the allegations against Moore became public, found that Moore trails Democratic candidate Doug Jones by 12 points in the Alabama special Senate election. Such polling has caused some apprehension in the Republican Party, as they are already concerned with their Congressional majority being threatened in the 2018 midterms. Shortly after allegations against Moore were published by the Washington Post, the NRSC cut support from Moore. Many Republican leaders have retracted their support of his nomination and asked for him to step aside. Moore has refused to do so, instead blaming the media and the establishment and calling all of the allegations false.
There are two ways Moore could be eliminated from the race: either the Alabama Republican Party can disqualify him, though the chances of this happening are slim, or Donald Trump could personally convince Moore to drop out, though this is also unlikely. “The thinking is, if he doesn’t get out, we’re sunk,” said a Republican senator who requested anonymity in an interview with The Hill.
“I feel as if everyone needs to be held to the same standard, especially when accused of something as horrific as sexual assault or pedophilia. The Republican party preaches family values and the importance of God and the likes, but are hypocritical in the sense that they won’t hold sex offenders, pedophiles, or mass murderers accountable for their ‘sinful’ mannerisms,” said Tima Alabbas (‘21).
