ON TARGET COMMENTARY

 2/27/16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      by Dave Gunn

Deceiving With the Truth

     If I tell you that I played quarterback in high school, what image does that plant in your mind?  No doubt you think I was the quarterback on my high school football team.

     The truth is that I did play quarterback in high school, but it was in some of my Phys Ed classes.  I was never on the football team.  What I told you was the truth.  However I knew it would leave an impression in your mind that was not the truth.  I deceived you with the truth.

     In like manner Congressman Bradley Byrne is deceiving the people of the First Congressional District of Alabama with the truth – a truth that he knows will leave a false impression on the minds of the voters in the Republican Primary.  How so?  I’m glad you asked.

     In commercials airing on radio, the claim is made that Congressman Byrne’s bill to defund Obamacare passed the House of Representatives.  That is the truth.  Byrne did author a bill to defund Obamacare and it did pass the House.

     However, Byrne knew that his bill was what is known as a “showboat” bill, a bill designed to look good without actually accomplishing anything.  What he did not tell you is that the bill had no chance in the Senate and he knew it.  Of course, if by some fluke it should pass the Senate, Obama would veto it immediately.  Bryne knew that too.

     Another thing Congressman Byrne did not tell you was that he did vote for the large federal spending bill that included funding for Obamacare –the bill that did pass the House, the Senate, and was signed by the President.  So when it mattered Bryne voted to fund Obamacare, and when it did not matter he voted to defund.

     The same happened with a bill to defund Planned Parenthood.  Byrne voted for a massive spending bill that included funding for Planned Parenthood, which passed the House and Senate, and was signed by the President.  After the damage was done, Byrne voted for another stand-alone “showboat” bill to defund Planned Parenthood.  Again, it was a bill that he knew would go nowhere.

     Do you feel deceived yet?  What does it say about the integrity of a man who would try to obfuscate his record?  What does it say about Byrne’s opinion of the people of the First Congressional District if he thinks he can so easily fool them?

     Will Congressman Byrne get away with his duplicity?  We will find out on March 1^st, when the people of the First Congressional District vote.

     Two year ago, Byrne was elected by using shady tactics, shamelessly appealing to Democrats – with whom he must have a closer affinity than he admits – to vote for him in the Republican Primary.  This time he seeks reelection by hiding his record from the voters.

     There is a saying that goes like this: “Fool me once – shame on you.  Fool me twice – shame on me.”

[Dave Gunn is the nom de plume of Dr. David E. Gonnella, Pastor of the Magnolia Springs Baptist Church in Theodore, Alabama.  The opinions expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the church or its membership.]