Tommy Tuberville's brother decries senator's 'hateful, ignorant rants'

Charles Tuberville said his brother's comments promote racial stereotypes and white nationalism

Sen. Tommy Tuberville has suggested that inner-city school teachers may not be able to read. (Photo courtesy of Tuberville’s office)

A day after Alabama’s senior senator made comments suggesting that inner-city school teachers may not be able to read, his brother took to social media to call him out.

Charles Tuberville, a Tulsa-based musician and brother of Sen. Tommy Tuberville, said that his sibling’s recent comments compelled him to speak out.

“Due to recent statements by him promoting racial stereotypes, white nationalism and other various controversial topics, I feel compelled to distance myself from his ignorant, hateful rants,” Charles Tuberville said on social media. “What I’m trying to say is that, I DO NOT agree with any of the vile rhetoric coming out of his mouth.”

Tuberville’s post ended with a request:

“Please don’t confuse my brother with me. Thanks, Charles Tuberville.”

During his time in Congress, Sen. Tuberville has repeatedly garnered national headlines over various comments.

During his early days as U.S. Senator, for example, Tuberville misidentified the three branches of government, listing them as “the House, the Senate, and the executive.”

Later, in early May, in an interview with WBHM’s Richard Banks, Tuberville said U.S. military officials are wrong to attempt to screen out white nationalists who may hope to serve in the armed forces.

While Democrats may believe white nationalists are racists, Tuberville said, “I call them Americans.”

Then, just a day before Charles Tuberville’s comments about his brother, the senator, in a conversation with Donald Trump, Jr., suggested that inner-city school teachers may not be able to read.

“How bad our teachers are in the inner city. I don’t know how they got degrees,” Tuberville said. “I don’t know whether they can read and write. They want a raise and less time to work, less time in school. We ruined work ethic in this country.”

Rep. Terri Sewell, Alabama’s only Democratic member of Congress, quickly responded to the remarks.

“Hey, @SenTuberville, I’m a proud daughter of two lifelong educators,” Sewell said. “Alabama’s public school teachers — rural and urban — are some of the hardest working and most under-compensated members of our community. They don’t deserve to be maligned by their senior senator.”

Now Tuberville’s own brother has waded into the conversation.

The two certainly haven’t always been on bad terms. In 2015, then-Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville tweeted a link to Charles’ newly released song, “Bangin’ the Groove.”

Charles Tuberville declined an interview with Tread.

“I appreciate you reaching out but I said everything I wanted to say about my brother in my Facebook post,” Tuberville told Tread.

A message left with Sen. Tuberville’s office seeking comment on his brother’s statements has not been returned as of publication time.