Why #ALpolitics Should’ve Elected @RonSparks2010 – @GovernorBentley In His Own Words: “I had no clue.”

Having made no bones about it, I remain searingly and scathingly critical of Alabama Governor Robert Julian Bentley, a retired physician-turned-Republican legislator from Tuscaloosa, who is twice elected governor – in 2010, and in 2014.

While I wished him well after his initial victory in the governor’s race against his Democratic opponent then-Secretary of Agriculture and Industries, Ron Sparks, he has disappointed the state since Inauguration Day 2011 when he put his foot in his mouth at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, Montgomery, where on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 17, 2011 – mere hours after taking the oath of office and inauguration – he said in part, “There may be some people here today who do not have living within them the Holy Spirit. But if you have been adopted in God’s family like I have, and like you have if you’re a Christian and if you’re saved, and the Holy Spirit lives within you just like the Holy Spirit lives within me, then you know what that makes? It makes you and me brothers. And it makes you and me brother and sister. Now I will have to say that, if we don’t have the same daddy, we’re not brothers and sisters. So anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I’m telling you, you’re not my brother and you’re not my sister, and I want to be your brother.”

It was at that point that Rebekah Caldwell Mason became his Communication Director, and later, Senior Political Advisor-cum-paramour.

More to the point, however, I have maintained that among other things, as an elected official, he has been feckless, and clueless.

But, let’s let him speak for himself.

Here’s in part what Governor Bentley said in a speech to a statewide gathering of city officials in Montgomery, May 2013, “You know where I came up with that idea? Ron Sparks.

“I had no clue what a GARVEE bond was.

“I had to act like I knew what he was talking about in the debate.”

The story, as reported by Associated Press reporter Phillip Rawls, was published Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 9:20 p.m., in the Gadsden Times.

When he campaigned against Robert Bentley, Ron Sparks was then-Alabama Secretary of Agriculture and Industries, a Democrat, and in 2004, had opened significant doors of opportunity for state farmers to sell tens of millions of dollars of goods – especially poultry and timber – to Cuba.

Ron Sparks was a man who literally had his finger on the economic pulse of Alabama.

Had Alabamians elected him, the state’s economy wouldn’t remain stalled in the toilet has it has been under Bentley.

And hospitals wouldn’t have closed, because Ron Sparks would have Expanded Medicaid – and said so on the campaign trail.

It’s too bad – nay, tragic – that Alabamians elected such a wrong man for such a crtically important job.

They didn’t just shoot themselves in their feet, or in their royal derrières.

They shot themselves in the head.
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Cuba Agrees Agriculture Deal With The State Of Alabama

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Alabama products headed to Cuba – Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 6:01 a.m.
“Alabama wood products worth $2.5 million will soon be shipped from Mobile to Cuba as the state takes advantage of a narrow opening in the trade embargo with the communist nation.

“Alabama cattle, cotton and poultry will follow as part of a new trade agreement between Alabama and Cuba, State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks said Monday.

“”The people of Cuba need Alabama agriculture,” said Sparks, who led a trade delegation to Cuba last week.”
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SPARKS ANNOUNCES $18 MILLION IN CONTRACTS FOR ALABAMA EXPORTS TO CUBA – December 21, 2004

Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, left, and Alabama Farmers Federation Executive Director Mike Kilgore, right, discuss Alabama exports to Cuba with Pedro Alvarez, chairman and chief executive officer of ALIMPORT.

“Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks announced today that trade negotiations between Alabama agribusiness leaders and Cuban trade officials have resulted in approximately $18 million in new contracts for Alabama and Alabama sourced products.”
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Cuba To Buy $18 Million More From Alabama – February 07, 2005
“Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks has announced that trade negotiations between Alabama agribusiness leaders and Cuban trade officials have resulted in approximately $18 million in new contracts for Alabama products.”
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Exclusive Interview: Ron Sparks, 2010 Alabama Democratic gubernatorial candidate
Agriculture Commissioner discusses his platform – August 24th, 2009
“We had virtually no trade with Cuba when I first became the Commissioner. Now, over 50% of the poultry that goes to Cuba comes out of Alabama; 90% of the utility poles that go to Cuba comes out of Alabama. We’ve created a lot of jobs and made about $350 million in economical impact there.

“I mean, we’ve got a great relationship with Cuba. But, it’s not only Cuba. We’ve opened a trade office in India, we’ve been to Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine… we’ve been basically around the world pushing and promoting Alabama products. I think that is extremely important to push what we grow and what we make in Alabama.”
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