A Twinkle in Judge Roy's eye

Roy Moore has asked Alabama Republican Party chairman Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh to resign, contending that she has compromised her impartiality by saying nice things about Gov. Riley.

(B'ham News) At a Tuesday press conference, Moore handed out copies of a Republican newsletter, The Elephant Trunk, in which Cavanaugh praised current Republicans in office.

"During the past year, Alabamians have benefited from the strong Republican leadership of President Bush, Governor Riley, Senator Shelby and Senator Sessions in building our economy and handling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina," Cavanaugh wrote in the two-paragraph chairman's message.

Moore said he sent Cavanaugh a letter asking her to step aside until after the primary.

"Republican voters feel betrayed by the chairman of our party who is clearly using her position to favor a particular candidate in the June primary," Moore wrote.

Moore also took issue with another article in the newsletter that quoted Riley calling Alabama's economy "one of the strongest in America."

"This is clearly an endorsement of my opponent using her position as chairman," Moore said.

Now, that's a stretch if I ever heard one. It might be different if Mrs. Cavanaugh had singled out Gov. Riley in her statement, but she didn't. She referred to "the strong Republican leadership of President Bush, Governor Riley, Senator Shelby and Senator Sessions." It's part of a party chairman's job to praise the party's elected officials and draw attention to their accomplishments. Mrs. Cavanaugh is doing a pretty good job of that, as far as I can tell, and Ol' Roy should stop being a crybaby.