Tuberville Playing to the GOP Cheap Seats

The former Auburn football coach speaks the former president's language

Tommy Tuberville traded his college coach clipboard in 2020 for a US Senate seat representing Alabama. He has been one of the former president’s most consistent and vocal supporters.

Speaking at a Trump rally this past weekend, he showed an affinity for racist, nativist sentiments shared by his favorite president.

While attacking Democratic positions on crime, he said this

"Some people say well, they're soft on crime. No, they're not soft on crime. They're pro-crime. They want crime. They want crime because they want to take over what you got. They want to control what you have. They want reparation because they think the people that do the crime are owed that. Bull----! They're not owed that."

Such racist dog whistling is not surprising. This is because the former president’s allies are easy to spot. All you have to do is listen for someone who is racist, sexist, homophobic, and xenophobic running for office anywhere in America. Without much effort, you can guess their political party and know that they are allies of His Orangeness.

Tuberville’s comments drew ire from Democrats while fellow Republicans provided political cover. Appearing on NBC’s Meet The Press, Nebraska congressman Don Bacon said,

“I’m not going to say he’s being racist. I wouldn't say it the same way, but there is a problem in our country with crime.”

You couldn’t ask for a better argument for greater diversity among college and professional football coaching that Tuberville. It’s a sickening thought that this man was charged with molding, mentoring, and leading young men of Color knowing that he is a virulent racist.

Hearing him spew such prejudiced drivel lets you know that they were in dangerous hands. Who knows what evil seeds he planted in their minds?

But he is par for the course as the former president’s acolytes go.

He represents the very worst of our fractured society.

And he is one of many reasons why the November vote is so important.

Because the question before us is, “Do we need more or less officeholders like Tommy Tuberville?”

How you answer this question says everything about whether you want to live in a diverse, equal society or whether you want to live in a homogenous, 1950s-era bubble.