Barnes Responds to President's Endorsement

Press Release

ALABAMA SENATE NOMINEE BARNES RECEIVES PRESIDENT'S ENDORSEMENT,
ALTHOUGH APPRECIATED, SEEKS THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE PEOPLE ON NOVEMBER 2ND

William G "Bill" Barnes, Alabama's Democratic Nominee for the U.S. Senate, today (Oct. 30) received the endorsement of President Obama for the race. Barnes appreciates the offer of the President and his staff, however, considers it a distraction at this point from obtaining the approval of Alabama voters on November 2nd.

As "The People's Candidate" in his election against incumbent Republican Richard Shelby, Barnes has vowed to stand by the people of Alabama and still seeks the endorsement of the people on November 2nd.

Although I stand by the President, and respect the Commander in Chief whom the people chose to lead our nation, it sends the wrong message to accept this endorsement so late in the campaign," said Barnes, an attorney, Vietnam vet and longtime employee of the military/federal government who overwhelmingly won his party's nomination in the June primaries. "I went to Washington last week to seek answers from the White House, EPA and Justice Department on tough questions affecting the lives and welfare of my fellow Alabama residents. Rather than receiving a personal endorsement by the Obama administration, I would have much rather received answers to the hard questions Alabama has been seeking".

The endorsement offer from the President shows we're making progress by fighting for the people's agenda in regards to the Gulf health hazards, jobs and a better justice system. But this election is about fundamental change. That means replacing Shelby after his nearly quarter of a century serving the elite, and helping the Obama administration make the bureaucracy more effective and accountable -- Our campaign message remains steadfast. Our campaign endeavor has been for and about the people of Alabama. Democracy cries out for fair government. It's much more than simply receiving large sums of contributions or accepting approval from the top.

Barnes is spending Saturday in Mobile greeting voters at the Mobile State Fair. Earlier this week, he made news by releasing his letters (available from the campaign upon request) to the White House and Environmental Protecting Agency seeking better assurance on their oversight of BP's Gulf oil disaster. Also, he released a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder (http://www.scribd.com/doc/40086037/Barnes-Holder-Letter) seeking answers to persistent questions about the Justice Department's operations in Alabama in such matters as the current gambling corruption scandal and more oversight of some of the nation's most controversial prosecutors assigned to Alabama.

Video excerpts from the Barnes news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC Oct. 22 are here. In them, he calls for more accountability (http://www.youtube.com/user/andrewkreig#p/u/9/e2I5hWAaEX8) for BP's Gulf Oil disaster and his "disappointment" (www.youtube.com/user/andrewkreig#p/u/3/KeYdExPGnMg) with Washington officials that he needed to inform Alabama voters of their lack of response. Coincidentally, this was the same day his opponent Shelby contacted Mayor Kennon of Gulf Shores to possibly address the claims of the victims of our oil disaster. http://blog.al.com/live/2010/10/kennon_shelby_discuss_claims_p.html

"Normally, a politician would welcome any support, especially from a President," Barnes said of today's offer of an endorsement. Acknowleding that the endorsement is appreciated, but his focus remains unwavering on staying grounded on the "real issues" of Alabama. Getting the people back to work, ensuring victims get their justice and restoring the American Dream. The only agenda in this uphill battle to unseat Shelby after 24 years in office, is to sustain our democracy.

I look forward to working with the administration after Nov. 2nd, but I am ending this campaign as I began it: independent, unbought by any substantial funding -- and unabashedly pro-Alabama in fighting without compromise or diversions for the public interest of all the citizens of Alabama. Reminding everyone: if we keep voting the same way, we'll keep getting the same results. Thank you for your confidence in me. I hope together on November 2nd, we can finally begin moving Alabama in a better direction.

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