Tone-Deaf Luther Strange Mocks Out of Work Americans

One of the most off-putting moments in Thursday’s debate between Alabama run-off populist front-runner Roy Moore and establishment favorite Luther Strange came when Strange mocked Moore’s supporters for looking “like the unemployment line.”

“In fact, many people that are supporting you look like the unemployment line at the White House. They were fired,” Strange said in the closing minutes of of a debate that often had him on the defensive.

Mocking someone for being out-of-work might have sounded clever to Strange but it is likely to strike a sour note for many in Alabama. Not too long ago, Alabama had double-digit unemployment. Even today, Alabama has an unemployment rate a full point above the national rate.

Which means, many hard working Alabamans have themselves been on “the unemployment line” in recent memory. They aren’t likely to appreciate Strange’s line of attack on Moore’s supporters.

Strange’s unemployment line gaffe may also highlight his own role in the devastating loss of thousands of jobs in Alabama. Strange helped bring about those losses through his role as a lobbyist for corporate forces looking to ship jobs to Central America and Mexico.

A politician who helped but many voters on the unemployment line should probably avoid reminder voters of that fact.