We are two days away from the historic Alabama's 7th Congressional District Democratic primary. The winner between Shelia Smoot and Terri Sewell will be the first African American Female representative from Alabama. This is a PVI +18 seat that was drawn to be a Congressional Black Caucus seat.
Shelia Smoot is hands down the more progressive candidate and the one who has been fighting for the least of these. Carol Moseley Braun, the African American Female United States Senator, has just endorsed Shelia. Smoot has also gained the endorsements of the labor unions in this race. Sewell simply touts the endorsement of Emily's List which seems overly smitten by her Ivy League credentials and "ties" to the Obamas.
I'm an unpaid advisor to the campaign. However, I can personally attest to the fact that Shelia Smoot is on our side and somebody that would be on our side in Congress. She's not afraid to get into the trenches. She is not someone who will be a silent Freshman, she would go right to work.
This race is not about the endorsement or connections to the Oval Office. It's about a vision for a district with some of the highest rates of poverty and unemployment in the entire nation. In a debate last monday night, Sewell was critical of Smoot and her leadership style which she characterized as confrontational
Smoot had this to say
I don’t mind raising my voice and making certain the needs of the 7th Congressional District do not go unheard or unaddressed. My opponent has made it crystal clear that she is not going to rock the boat when push comes to shove. And we really shouldn’t expect anything differently from someone who touts her Selma roots and so called Black Belt values, but has not been in the trenches.
We all want to see thriving communities across the 7th Congressional District with flourishing job opportunities and other quality of life enhancements to be enjoyed by all citizens. If it takes raising my voice and being confrontational to achieve this, I am not afraid to stand up for you --- all of you! When I go to Congress, we all go to Congress.
You see this isn't new, Shelia Smoot has been fighting for folks her entire life.
Right on point. We don't need anymore weak Democrats in Congress. We don't need any more representatives that will vote against health care and will be an impediment on financial reform (Sewell was a former Wall Street securities attorney). We do not need any more politicians who will not stand up on environmental injustices.
We need a fighter like Shelia Smoot who is a proven fighter and a lifelong Democrat. Shelia Smoot has taken a lot of heat in this race and I believe that is because she is vocal and willing to stand up for what is right. If it takes being outspoken, then I'm for Shelia Smoot because I know she will be for us when it counts. I'm sick of politicians that are not willing to rock the boat from time to time on the important issues.
If you want similar Representatives like Artur Davis, the current AL-07 rep and the member from the most Democratic District to vote against healthcare, then you might like Terri Sewell. If you want someone who is likely going to be more centerist and more of a CorporateDem then you might like Terri Sewell. If you want a fighter, someone who is going to stand up on Financial reform, Social Security and improve the quality of life for people in her district then you will like Shelia Smoot. She's going to be outspoken but she's going to be on our side.
The election is in two days, but we still need a little more financial support to make sure our voters to get to the polls. Check out our Grassroots for Smoot Act Blue Page