Democrats Have to Choose Between Character and Power
The article discusses the dilemma faced by political parties when choosing between character and power, using the example of the Alabama Senate race in 2017. Republicans ultimately decided to sacrifice the seat rather than support candidate Roy Moore, who faced serious allegations of sexual misconduct. This situation raises questions about whether Democrats will make similar sacrifices in their own political contests.
- ▪In 2017, Alabama Republicans faced a choice between supporting Roy Moore, who had multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, or sacrificing a Senate seat.
- ▪Senator John McCain and other Republicans publicly urged Moore to step aside due to the allegations against him.
- ▪Ultimately, Moore lost the election to Democrat Doug Jones, highlighting the tension between party loyalty and moral considerations.
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| Original publisher | The Atlantic |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/democrats-have-choose-between-character-and-power/687464/?utm_source=feed |
| Publication time | 2026-06-06T12:27:00-04:00 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-06T16:48:02.723Z |
| Last seen | 2026-06-06T17:07:40.145Z |
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| Retrieval / RAG | May the content be exposed for third-party retrieval-augmented generation? | Not asserted |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
IdeasDemocrats Have to Choose Between Character and PowerJust a few years ago, Republicans sacrificed an Alabama Senate seat rather than endure an unacceptable colleague. Will Democrats do the same in Maine?By David FrumJim Watson / AFP / GettyJune 6, 2026, 12:27 PM ET ShareSave The Maine Senate race is far from the first time that an American political party has had to choose between character and power.In 2017, Alabama Republicans nominated a state supreme court judge named Roy Moore for U.S. Senate. A month before election day, The Washington Post published a report that when Moore was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney, he initiated sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl. Three other women alleged that Moore had also pursued them when they, too, were underage.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
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