The Alabama Republican Party loves to use national wedge issues. They are relentless in their attacks. If a liberal from another part of the country says something that the ALGOP knows will be ill received in Alabama, you best believe that they will try to tie Alabama Democrats to the unpopular opinion. Sometimes they go as far to make up flat out lies about Democrats. Sadly, I hate to admit it, but it's pretty effective at times. Other times, it's down right ridiculous at some of the accusations they can throw out...
I went to the Alabama GOP site to see how much net progress they have made. On the front page of the Alabama GOP site, they have a story regarding Alabama State Senator Lowell Barron's recent remark on APT's For The Record. State GOP leaders state that they are upset over the "reprehensible", "outlandish", and "outrageous" statement Barron made on the show. In an exchange with Republican leader Jabo Waggoner, Barron stated that national Republicans have "got us in war." Somehow, GOP leaders have found this remark to be offensive and have demanded that Barron apologize.
Of course, the story leaves out the context of the remark. Barron was commenting on the non-conservative fiscal policy of the Bush administration - not the legitimacy of Iraq war. Actually, context really doesn't matter. The Bush administration did lead us into war. As Commander in Chief, that's his job. Yes, some Democrats, including myself, did support Bush's plan, but the Bush administration was clearly the mastermind of the operation. No matter how the GOP spins it, there is no way that Barron's statement can be found offensive. He made no judgment on the decision - he simply gave recognition where recognition was due.
It's also interesting that the ALGOP wants to give Democrats credit for the decision to invade Iraq. Republicans usually relish in being the party that defends America. I'm sure we've all heard how Ronald Reagan brought down the Soviet Union. If they were proud of the way things are going, one would think that the GOP would want to take exclusive credit for getting us into war.