Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) said Monday that he would support “the alternative” to Republican Alabama Senate Candidate Roy Moore if he lived in Alabama, presumably referring to Democrat Doug Jones.
“I certainly don’t want to see Roy Moore win. That means, obviously, that I would be supporting the alternative,” Baker said, according to WBUR.
Baker, who governs a state with a completely Democratic congressional delegation, said in November that Moore should step down from the race. Moore has been accused of initiating sexual contact with a 14-year-old and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old when he was an assistant district attorney, in addition to a slew of other misconduct and assault allegations.
Moore is also known for his extreme comments and views, such as arguing in 2011 that nixing constitutional amendments after the Bill of Rights would “eliminate many problems” or asserting in 2006 that Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) shouldn’t be allowed to serve in Congress because of his Muslim faith.
WBUR noted that Baker claimed to have left the presidential choice blank on his 2016 ballot.
The governor has come under fire by some in Massachusetts for not severing his state party’s fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee, following the RNC’s renewed financial support of Moore’s campaign.
“If I thought raising money for the Mass. Republican party had anything to do with Roy Moore’s campaign, I would not do it, OK?” he said Monday, WBUR reported. “I said from the beginning that I didn’t think he was fit for office.”
Baker added that he’s “voted for Democrats before.”
“Non-partisan elections, local elections in places I’ve lived, I’ve voted for Democrats,” he said. “But I do believe that competitive politics is a good thing. And I believe we’ve had an opportunity to create a more competitive climate here in Massachusetts over the past couple of years.”
Just can’t say the word. I’ll pass on any congratulations.
This is why Charlie Baker is the only elected Republican I like right now, and folks like him are the path forward for the party once it emerges from the current rubble. He is an overwhelmingly popular GOP governor in a state with no Republican reps at the federal level. That says a lot. He is such a contrast to the grandstanding, hypocritical Susan Collins in Maine.
I’m fascinated by the Republicans who aim to survive the Trump experiment and be standing when it all collapses. They remind me of a football-player acquaintance in college who knew a bit about bar fighting and told me his pro tips were to “know where the door is, and always have a plan.”
To be fair, as much as I’d like to see him kicked to the curb by another competent Dem like Patrick was, he’s a MA Republican, which puts him in the same sort of place on the spectrum as Manchin. Add in that the Dem legislature effectively neuters any real GOP leanings and he ends up having to behave in a half-competent manner.
We wouldn’t have him if the Dem machine hadn’t tried to stuff that imbecile Coakley down our throats.
If it’s so obvious, will you please just say it? Say “I support the Democrat, Doug Jones”.
Are they so afraid of getting sound-bite’d by a primary opponent? Are they actually unwilling to have the words on tape, even though they’re making it abundantly clear what their position is? I mean this as an honest question.