During a recent trip to Washington, D.C, Senate hopeful Roy Moore said he met with officeholders with one sole purpose: to show them who he really is.

“I went to Washington to let the senators know that the press has distorted my image and mischaracterized me,” said Moore, who was in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday for a Veterans Day program at American Christian Academy. “I can’t answer them there, so I went to meet them personally.”

Moore, who is seeking the Senate seat once held by Jeff Sessions, contended the biggest misconception people have about him is that hate guides his beliefs. Throughout his career, the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court has faced criticism and praise for his views on religion and how faith fits in with government. During his Senate campaign, he has re-affirmed his opposition to same-sex marriage in Alabama and voiced his resistance to allowing transgender people in the military.

However, Moore said that the media has him all wrong. He said that as a Christian, he does not hate anyone.

“Christians don’t hate people,” Moore said. “We don’t hate gays, we don’t hate people. We hate sin; that’s something biblical.”

On Dec. 12, voters will choose between Moore and Democrat Doug Jones, a former U.S. attorney, in the U.S. Senate election.

With about a month left until the vote, Moore has yet to debate Jones.

On Monday, the League of Women Voters announced the cancellation of a candidate forum between the two. A news release from the group said that Moore was “not interested” in participating.

Moore on Wednesday defended his decision not to debate.

“There is a great disparity between the two party’s positions, between the Democratic and Republican party, not only on social issues, but also because there is a great disparity in fiscal issues,” he said. “These issues don’t need to be disputed in public. The public can see them.”

During his time with the press, Moore disputed several stories that have been written about him in the national press. Specifically, he addressed one story published by The Washington Post, which reported that the Foundation for Moral Law paid him more than $1 million between 2007 and 2012. In addition, the Post reported that the foundation failed to report more than $498,000 to the IRS that it had guaranteed to him in 2011. Moore’s wife, Kayla, is the foundation’s president.

“I haven’t been employed by the foundation for five years,” he said. “These are being brought up to detract from the issues that face our country: health care, immigration, tax reform. These are the things I talk about and that’s what I’m here to do.”

When asked what made Moore the viable candidate for the Senate, he said his experience upholding the Constitution and working in the legal system give him a unique perspective to educate other legislators.

“I’ve been fighting for the country and for the Constitution for many years,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot lately in my dealings with federal courts and I think I can help Congress understand that judicial supremacy has no place under the constitution. That’s when judges or federal judges put themselves above the constitution they are sworn to uphold.”

At 70-years-old, Roy Moore has sought several political offices over the years. He was mentioned as a potential gubernatorial candidate before entering the Senate race and on Wednesday he declined to close the door on running for governor if his Senate bid should fail.

“If it doesn’t go my way, it’s because God doesn’t want it to go my way,” he said. “I’ll just just choose whatever is before me in whatever I select to do in the future.

“This election is God’s will, one way or the other.”

Reach Drew Taylor at drew.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.