GOP Sens Dump On Roy Moore: There Are Enough ‘Creepy Old Men’ In Congress

MONTGOMERY, AL - JUNE 20: During a press conference, Roy Moore announces his plans to run for U.S. Senate in 2020 on June 20, 2019 in Montgomery, Alabama.  Moore lost a special election in 2017 for the Senate seat against Democratic Senator Doug Jones.  (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)
MONTGOMERY, AL - JUNE 20: Roy Moore announces his plans to run for U.S. Senate in 2020 on June 20, 2019 in Montgomery, Alabama. Moore lost a special election in 2017 for the Senate seat against Democratic Senator D... MONTGOMERY, AL - JUNE 20: Roy Moore announces his plans to run for U.S. Senate in 2020 on June 20, 2019 in Montgomery, Alabama. Moore lost a special election in 2017 for the Senate seat against Democratic Senator Doug Jones. (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

“Why is there such a fear, such an anger to somebody running?” former judge Roy Moore mused during his second Senate campaign announcement on Thursday. “The mere mention of my name causes people to get up in arms in D.C.”

He’s not wrong.

As Moore, an accused child molester, announced his bid on Thursday, Senate Republicans across the leadership ranks dumped on the former Alabama judge, who was twice kicked off the bench for ethics violations, including for issuing an order not to give out same-sex marriage licenses.

“Give me a break. This place has enough creepy old men,” Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) told Politico on Thursday.

“There will be a lot of efforts made to ensure that we have a nominee other than him and one who can win in November,” Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD) also told the publication. “He’s already proven he can’t.”

The opposition to Moore is coming from the top of the Republican Party. Not just from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who told reporters Republicans would “certainly” oppose Moore “vigorously,” but President Trump and his eldest son have been actively discouraging Moore from running as well.

Even his would-be colleague in Alabama distanced himself from Moore and suggested the GOP could “do better” than such a candidate.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) said he’s communicated with former Attorney General Jeff Sessions about running for his former seat, one of the few possible candidates considered to have enough support to beat out Moore. Sessions has given no indication that he’s considering or would take on the role. In fact, he said in December that he didn’t intend to make a decision about a run anytime soon.

Moore’s announcement puts him in a crowded primary field. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL) and former Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville are already running and Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) has said he was mulling the possibility.

Moore suffered a devastating loss in 2017 amid allegations that he molested and pursued teenage girls when he was in his 30s, handing the ruby-red Senate seat to a Democrat for the first time in a quarter century.

Latest News
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: