Imagine that you’re a state legislator. You’ve just opened your email… when you see a forwarded email containing this photo:

via AL.com:

On Jan. 23, [Democratic AL state representative Richard] Laird sent an email to a group of recipients that included House Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, state Rep. Duwayne Bridges, R-Valley, and state Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison. Also copied on the email was Mellie Parrish of Lineville, a member of the Randolph County Democratic Party Executive Committee.

See the email.

Laird, who has represented his district since 1978, announced Monday that he is leaving the Democratic party to become an independent.  Laird told the Associated Press that he doesn’t like the policies of the president or U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and that his disagreement with Democratic Party politics is the reason he became an independent.

I’m leaving the party because I think it left me a long time ago,” Laird said….