Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice and United States Senate candidate Roy Moore made a visit to northwest Alabama last Friday afternoon, making a campaign stop at Homeside Restaurant in Florence.
Moore, 70, spoke in the back room of the restaurant for around an hour before opening the floor for questions from the crowd of around 30 people. The former judge hit on a number of topics ranging from the military to health care to gay marriage and LGBTQ rights.
Moore, a Republican, started off his stump talking about the U.S. Constitution and how he believes it has been misinterpreted or forgotten by lawmakers and judges.
“There is a misunderstanding of the Constitution by those in Washington,” he said. “There is intent to disparage the Constitution, and some say we can do it better by making our own form of government.”
“Our constitution is as viable today as it was back then (in 1787)."
Moore also criticized judges whom he says take advantage of their position.
“There are judges in this country, mostly federal judges, abusing their power,” he said, using the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) as an example.
In Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause guaranteed the fundamental right to marry to same-sex couples, overturning a previous ruling from 1971.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruling would be the beginning of the end of Moore’s own Alabama Supreme Court career. In January 2016, then-Chief Justice Moore issued an administrative order to Alabama probate judges regarding the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) accused him of ethics violations, arguing the order meant for probate judges to defy the Supreme Court ruling and stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Moore argued that was not the case and that the JIC had no authority to bring ethics charges, but the Court of the Judiciary ruled against Moore and suspended him for the remainder of his term. Moore appealed but the Alabama Supreme Court upheld the ruling.
Instead of serving out the remainder of his term (and suspension), which was due to end in 2019, Moore resigned and announced his candidacy for Senate on April 26.
“I have something I think is needed in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “I think I have experience they don’t have. I have experience in the military, I have judicial experience.”
“When I was suspended, it just made it a much easier decision to run because I can help out and get the country back on track."
Moore, who has been no stranger to controversy in his career, said he does not think his suspension matters to the voters.
“Look at the polls,” he said. “People know what they did to me and why they did it. You can’t fool the people and the polls indicate that fact.”
Moore appears to be the front-runner in the race, ahead of incumbent Luther Strange and current U.S. Representative Mo Brooks. In May, Brooks told the Montgomery Advertiser he conducted a six-candidate poll, which showed Moore had a 10-point lead over Strange and a 20-point lead over Brooks.
During his speech at the Homeside Restaurant, Moore said polls showed him at 8-10 points ahead but did not specify which polls he was referring to.
Another topic discussed was the military. As a West Point graduate and a Vietnam War veteran, Moore says he is the only candidate that can bring the right military mindset to the table.
“I can take an understanding of the military to Washington,” he said. “Our military is being decimated.”
Moore said he believes the military is strong but wants it to be stronger, and he supports President Donald Trump’s request to Congress for a $54 billion increase to defense spending.
While in support of increasing the defense budget, Moore blasted what he called the “transgendering” of the military. In June of last year the Pentagon announced it was lifting the ban against transgender individuals. That lift is scheduled to go into effect in 2018.
“If you’re in a foxhole, you don’t want to be wondering if the person next to you is a boy or a girl, or if they can change back and forth,” he said.
At his stop in Florence, Moore made it clear that his Supreme Court suspension and eventual resignation would not be the end of his fight against gay marriage and certain LGBTQ rights.
“It’s not done when your United States Supreme Court rules contradictory to the Constitution,” he said, again referencing the Obergefell v. Hodges decision. “Four members of the court said it was strictly unconstitutional. You understand that Chief Justice (John) Roberts said that ruling strictly disregarded the Constitution? Justice (Antonin) Scalia said that. Justice (Samuel) Alito said that. Justice (Clarence) Thomas said that.”
“So because five lawyers said it’s over, it’s done with? I don’t believe that."
At his stop, Moore also took on a subject that has dominated the national media over the last six months: Health care.
Citing rising premiums stemming from the Affordable Care Act, Republicans in Congress have been drafting legislation to “repeal and replace” Obamacare. So far, none of the bills have passed.
The problem with “repeal and replace” is the replacing part, Moore said.
“We should repeal Obamacare as quickly as possible,” he said. “Prior to Obama, except Medicare and Medicaid, there was no government in health care. The government can’t handle it.”
The free market, not government, Moore said, is best suited to handle health care.
“Let free enterprise work and your health care costs will go down, and your healthcare will be better,” he said.
Moore also talked about his faith for much of the event, weaving scripture and his religious beliefs into his platform. He frequently recited Bible verses from memory and continued to defend his decision to install a controversial Ten Commandments monument in the Alabama Supreme Court rotunda during his first stint as Chief Justice.
“Our rights come from the Creator,” he said. “Our laws are founded on the laws of God.”
Moore briefly touched on other topics, as well. He is a supporter of loosening gun laws and restrictions, he wants to eliminate federal government control over education, and he said he wants to see the IRS eliminated and for a fair tax to be implemented.
If elected, Moore says he will stand by his principles and will not take money from special interests or lobbyists.
“If you throw away your principles, you throw away everything,” he said. “I ran for Chief Justice in 2012. At the start (of the campaign) I had zero PACs, and at the end I had zero PACs.”
“My vote is not for sale,” he added.
Moore’s official campaign website is roymoore.org.
The special election primaries are set for August 15, with a runoff date of September 26. The general election will be held on December 12.
