the news cycle compresses
Sep. 24th, 2002 07:38 amIn Alabama, Heston's Endorsement of Democratic Governor Riles His GOP Hosts
The Alabama Republican Party thought it had scored quite a coup last week when Charlton Heston, the actor and National Rifle Association president, took a barnstorming tour with GOP candidates. It was Heston's first campaign trip since his announcement last month that he has symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease, and the buzz in the hunting-obsessed state was palpable.
But during the trip, which was paid for by Republicans, Heston found time to get together with Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, who happens to be a Democrat. In a Thursday meeting at a Mobile hotel, Heston agreed to endorse Siegelman in his hotly contested reelection campaign against Republican Rep. Bob Riley.
As the NRA President, it seems, he has to endorse any incumbent who has an A rating, and Siegelman does.
So I'm reading this, and I say to myself "Hey. I wonder how long it takes some person of rightist tendencies to make the obvious tasteless comment."
A couple of paragraphs, as it turns out.
Heston's Republican hosts accused Siegelman of taking advantage of their guest. State GOP Chairman Marty Connors told reporters that the endorsement was "suspect" and represented "a gross manipulation of Mr. Heston."
Riley campaign spokesman David Azbell said, "You have got to wonder if people are acting in Mr. Heston's best interests."
NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam responded yesterday that such comments were "in poor taste"
Particularly since he raised $90k for the Alabama GOP on the trip.
The Alabama Republican Party thought it had scored quite a coup last week when Charlton Heston, the actor and National Rifle Association president, took a barnstorming tour with GOP candidates. It was Heston's first campaign trip since his announcement last month that he has symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease, and the buzz in the hunting-obsessed state was palpable.
But during the trip, which was paid for by Republicans, Heston found time to get together with Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, who happens to be a Democrat. In a Thursday meeting at a Mobile hotel, Heston agreed to endorse Siegelman in his hotly contested reelection campaign against Republican Rep. Bob Riley.
As the NRA President, it seems, he has to endorse any incumbent who has an A rating, and Siegelman does.
So I'm reading this, and I say to myself "Hey. I wonder how long it takes some person of rightist tendencies to make the obvious tasteless comment."
A couple of paragraphs, as it turns out.
Heston's Republican hosts accused Siegelman of taking advantage of their guest. State GOP Chairman Marty Connors told reporters that the endorsement was "suspect" and represented "a gross manipulation of Mr. Heston."
Riley campaign spokesman David Azbell said, "You have got to wonder if people are acting in Mr. Heston's best interests."
NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam responded yesterday that such comments were "in poor taste"
Particularly since he raised $90k for the Alabama GOP on the trip.