Political pundits and observers and political players have espoused the long-held belief in the mantra “all politics is local.” I have changed my tune on this well-known adage and belief. My observation is that today it is the opposite, “all politics is national.”

Folks either vote straight Republican or straight Democratic. Most, about 90%, of all white Alabamians vote straight Republican, they may not pull the straight Republican lever, but they only mark Republican names. They would come as close to voting for a Communist as they would voting for a Democrat and most of them are of the belief that Democrats are Communists. 

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at steve@steveflowers.us.