Jock Scott Says He Was Not Allowed at Bush Headquarters Opening in Monroe

Baton Rouge, LA, Morning Advocate ^ | 09-10-04 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Scott says not allowed at Bush headquarters opening

By The Associated Press

Jock Scott, the Republican 5th Congressional District candidate left out in the cold when his party embraced ex-Democrat Rodney Alexander, complains he was pushed off the platform at the ceremonial opening of Bush campaign headquarters in Monroe Friday.

Republican organizers confirmed that party officials demanded Scott be kept away, since their new favorite -- incumbent Alexander -- was going to be a featured speaker. The congressman caused a furor in August when he switched parties in the final minutes of qualifying; Scott, and Democrats, sued him, unsuccessfully.

Ed Gillespie, chairman of the Republican National Committee, present at Friday's opening, told the Moon Griffon radio program, "We have a policy of supporting incumbent Republican members of Congress."

Scott, for his part, was not amused.

"It's the same old tricks that the people of Louisiana witnessed at the last minute of qualifying back in August," he said.

Before Alexander switched parties, Scott had been the Republican favored son, with officials in Washington calling him an "excellent candidate." But that quickly changed when the incumbent unexpectedly came into the Republican camp.

Alexander, asked by Griffon about the incident, said, "I had nothing at all to do..." but did not finish the sentence.

[Theodore R.]

The way the GOP treated Jock Scott might convince me to vote for him if I still lived in that district. The man deserves better than the dish the GOP served him.