"I Don't Give A Sh**.." - I Do, Mr. Alabama House Speaker

Opinion

When Party Leadership Stops Caring, Grassroots Republicans Must

Recently, the Alabama House Speaker made headlines for saying he doesn’t “give a [sh**]” about the Republican Party. Well, I most certainly do.

And so do thousands of grassroots conservatives across this state.

At a time when we should be laser-focused on advancing the America First agenda, strengthening election integrity, securing our borders, defending life, and protecting our children from radical gender ideology, this kind of rhetoric is not just careless, it’s destructive.

Across the country, Democrats are storming streets, excusing chaos, welcoming illegal immigration, and pushing policies that defy common sense and biological reality. In moments like this, Republicans must be unified, disciplined, and focused. We cannot afford leadership that dismisses the very party structure that delivered historic conservative victories in Alabama.

The Alabama Republican Party is not a nuisance. It is the backbone of our conservative movement in this state. County chairs, executive committee members, grassroots volunteers, and primary voters are the reason Republicans hold supermajorities. Ignoring them, or worse, mocking them, sends a dangerous message.

That same disregard appears evident in the ongoing Public Service Commission battle. The effort to eliminate the people’s right to elect PSC commissioners and instead move to an appointment system has sparked overwhelming backlash. Poll after poll and grassroots conversations point to the same conclusion: Alabama voters want to keep their right to vote for the PSC.

Yet instead of listening, Alabama State House leadership appears determined to ram the legislation through.

The sudden move to oust Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen — a solid, reliable conservative — raised serious eyebrows. He was replaced by Rep. Chip Brown, the sponsor of the PSC legislation. That’s not a coincidence. That’s strategy. And it looks less like reform and more like a calculated move to whip votes and satisfy powerful utility lobbyists.

Alabama Republicans ran against “the swamp” in Washington. We criticized backroom deals and insider politics. If we’re honest, what we’re seeing in Montgomery feels uncomfortably similar.

Even within the party itself, tensions are boiling over. Temporary Chair Joan Reynolds is a kind and longtime Republican who has served faithfully. But the past two weeks have left the Alabama GOP in visible turmoil, and it may be time to consider new leadership to restore order and unity.

This isn’t about personalities. It’s about principles.

Republican leadership should reflect Republican values: accountability, transparency, and respect for the will of the voters. If 99% of the grassroots are against something, ramming it through anyway is not bold leadership — it’s arrogance.

The party doesn’t need to be dismissed. It needs to be strengthened.

It needs unity. It needs leaders who respect the base. And it needs a renewed commitment to the conservative principles that gave Republicans control of this state in the first place.

Because while some may not care about the Republican Party, many of us still do.

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