Grassroots activists are not happy with Alabama Republican congressional candidate Mo Brooks, who endorsed — and then reneged his support for — a national Tea Party-backed agenda after taking heat from his Democratic opponent over the document’s opposition to earmarks.
Brooks on Sunday was listed as a signer of the “Contract from America,” a Tea Party manifesto of 10-legislative desires. But by Monday, his name was removed from the document’s website.
Ryan Hecker, the Houston activist behind the “Contract from America,” told The Daily Caller that Brooks had his name removed as a supporter after “his democratic opponent put pressure on him for not supporting earmarks.”
The “Contract from America” includes a plank calling for an end to earmarks until the federal budget is in balance, and Democrat Steve Raby said Brooks’ support of the document shows that he’s for rejecting federal dollars for the district.
But Brooks told The Huntsville Times that he thought he was just signing on to a “no pork” position — and didn’t see the provision banning earmarks. He says he supports federal dollars for his district. “He is knowingly misrepresenting my view,” Brooks said of Raby.
But that didn’t stop several on the “Contract from America” Facebook page from expressing their displeasure.
“To ‘unsign’ the Contract is worse than not signing it,” said John Guill. “Mr. Brooks apparently lacks the decisive leadership skills necessary to be a Congressman.”
Another supporter, Dave Hatcher, wrote, “Vote him out next chance. Some folks need to have an example made of them.”
But one woman, Jenny S. Martin, defended Brooks, calling him a “a fiscal conservative of integrity.” She said that Brooks, as a county commissioner, “doesn’t even utilize a county vehicle at taxpayers expense even though the rules allow him to do so.”
Brooks defeated incumbent Rep. Parker Griffith — a former Democrat who switched parties before this year’s primary — to win the GOP nomination with support from local Tea Party activists.