Sex scandals and lies aside. Here's something that I know about Alabama's John Merrill

“I'm not talking to refute what Brutus spoke.
But here I should speak what I know.“”

– William Shakespeare

Very early in the 2022 campaign cycle for the US Senate here in Alabama, I led my first interview with John Merrill.

My first impression of Merrill was that he was a very talented politician – almost too talented In his self -confident charm, the boast and the eerie ability to interweave facts and figures with popular stories to answer every question – and I told him just as much.

“John, you are really good at it,” I said to him at the end of the interview. “So good that I suspect that you are doing something. I hope it's something good.”

“Yes, you silver -ranging devils!” My co-moderator Jack Campbell threw a wink and a smile.

It is an eternal irony that the best characteristics of men can also lead to their downfall. So it was with Merrill. Merrill's self -confident charm and path not only opened up opportunities for political power, but also opened up the possibilities for certain temptations that go hand in hand with the pursuit of power.

A few months after our interview, Merrill was involved in a massive public lie and sex scandal regarding an extramarital affair.

After Merrill had publicly contested any affair, his lover, who seemed to be bitter and despised, provided a conversation between himself and Merrill for the media about his attempts to end their dalliance. Unfortunately, for everyone who listened, the conversation was full of criminal, creeping details of her sexual relationship.

The silver -lazy devil had actually done something.

When Merrill was caught, he did not resign from his position as Foreign Minister of Alabama, but he pulled his name from the consideration for a political office in this election cycle.

I made fun of the affair in the Radio Airwaves for a day (the jokes almost wrote itself) and then switched to the next message cycle. It was not personally scandalizing for me or so surprising that Merrill was caught in the biscuit glass with his hand, just another dirty political story that was as old as the time.

After driving out of the public stage in public shame, I soon forgot Merrill until a personal tragedy unexpectedly arrived at my door.

The man who calls Merrill “a silver-quarried devil” co-moderator Jack Campbell (who undoubtedly was a bit like a silver-tonic devil) soon his own silver tongue after suffering a big stroke.

I remember how I visited Jack in rehab. I hadn't been released into the hospital because of Covid protocols. He was short of despair, a shell of himself. It was heartbreaking to see how a man who is known for his mind lost the order of his voice. When he tried to communicate with me and failed, Jack would be frustrated and disappointed. It was even more heartbreaking how few people came to Jack when he was sick.

Until then, I had known Jack as someone who couldn't go to dinner without being interrupted by an old friend, a colleague or a political opponent. He was a man who seemed to know the whole city and everyone in it. But in his lowest and loneliest moment in life, Jack on the one hand could hardly count those who had stood by his side in his time.

Finally Jack told me who had Come to see him. To my surprise, a certain long -forgotten name returned: John Merrill.

I will never forget how much Merrill's gesture meant for Jack. Never underestimate the extent of a small act of kindness, people.

I do not tell this story this story to the Foreign Minister Wes Allen's recent public statements about Merrill's “obscene sodomy scandals and repeated lies”, but I am here to speak what I know: when my friend was sick, Merrill visited him.

And I will always be grateful for that.

I just tell this story to remind the hard, unforgettable political world that those who fall famous still have a private grace.

To be clear: that does not mean that my heart is running again for political office with Merrill. It is not.

In fact, it is my undesirable advice to him, as for almost everyone who is looking for political power, uses his many talents, something – everything – to do everything.

Do you necessarily give a graceful, private, good act to an ugly, public?

NO.

Should this story restore your trust in Merrill to keep a political office again?

NO.

Are Merrill's earlier public failures in a nationwide political campaign with high commitment, in a nationwide, political campaign?

Yes, of course. Don't be naive.

It is ultimately that it is ultimately that Merrill really regrets or not whether he has discovered enough habitual grace to prevent him from falling back to the same temptations.

In the meantime, depending on what Merrill the next step, Alabamians may have to pass their own lower judgment on whether they will again trust Merrill with political power.

And only God knows how the people in Alabama awarded in 2026.

Joey Clark is born in Alabamians and currently moderator of news and views of News Talk 93.1 FM WACV from Montgomery, AL, MF from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. His column appears every Tuesday in 1819 news. To contact Joey for the media or speaking appearances as well as any feedback, please send an e -mail to [email protected]. Follow him on X @thejoeyclark or take a look at the Livestream radio broadcast.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect politics or position of 1819 messages. To comment, please send an e -mail with your name and your contact information to the information [email protected].

Don't miss! Subscribe to our newsletter And get our top stories every weekday morning.