Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice came out Monday against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore by encouraging Alabama voters to “reject bigotry, sexism and intolerance” when they vote Tuesday.
Rice never named Moore or his Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, but her statement, published by AL.com, is a clear message against Moore, who has faced several allegations of sexual assault and pursuing teenage girls when he was in his 30s. Others have charged Moore with being a racist for saying America was at its best when slavery was still legal.
Rice, a Birmingham native who served under former Republican President George W. Bush, said voters should “insist that our representatives are dignified, decent and respectful of the values we hold dear.”
“It is imperative for Americans to remain focused on our priorities and not give way to side shows and antics,” Rice said. “I know that Alabamans need an independent voice in Washington. But we must also insist that our representatives are dignified, decent and respectful of the values we hold dear.”
“I encourage you to take a stand for our core principles and for what is right,” she said. “These critical times require us to come together to reject bigotry, sexism and intolerance.”
Moore currently leads Jones by 2.5 percentage points, according to a Real Clear Politics average.
The race between Moore and Jones tightened after the Washington Post last month published last a report in which four women accused the conservative judge of pursuing sexual and romantic relations with them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s. One of the women said Moore initiated sexual contact with her when she was 14 years old.
Three more women said the Republican Senate candidate pursued them when they were teenagers, including one who said Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old.
Moore has also been accused of repeatedly trying to date one woman when she was in her early 20s, and of groping a woman in his office when she was 28 years old. The conservative judge has denied the allegations against him.
