Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2006 > April > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSonny Perdue’s new bodyguards
Democrats Cox, Taylor try to slam the lid on a negative TV attack on their Republican opponent
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A small but important battle erupted within Democratic ranks on Monday.
It featured an odd sight: two Democratic candidates for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor and Secretary of State Cathy Cox, throwing themselves in front of Sonny Perdue, to protect the Republican governor from a negative TV attack.
Then it got stranger, with a demand by Taylor that the state Democratic party sever ties with one of its best fund-raisers, in an election year.
The drama began last week, when Democrats discovered a new group in the state’s political mix, calling itself “Georgians for Truth.” (Remember Swift Boat Veterans For Truth?)
The group’s leader is Ralph Knowles, a prominent Atlanta attorney. Another officer is Kristin Oblander, who has the biggest Rolodex of Democratic money in Georgia. Oblander was the state finance director for presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004.
More research showed the group with $45,000 in hand. And some relatively small TV buys — $4,000 on WGCL-TV (Channel 46) and $17,000 on WSB-TV (Channel 2).
Over both their signatures, Taylor and Cox sent a hand-delivered letter to Knowles, dated April 12.
“It has come to our attention that your organization, Georgians for Truth, Inc., is raising money to produce and air broadcast advertising attacking Gov. Sonny Perdue,” the letter said. “We respectfully request that your organization refrain from such activity.
“While both of us understand that electoral politics can be a ‘rough-and-tumble’ business, we do not approve of organizations that are set up and funded specifically to attack a particular candidate. We believe the public good is advanced when the candidates themselves are responsible for political advertising, and are answerable to the voters for its content.”
The letter’s kicker: “We believe that an effort by an outside organization to attack Governor Perdue will likely backfire against Democratic efforts in this critical election.”
Both Taylor and Cox appear to be concerned that a small attack on Perdue — we hear the content of the TV ad was to be about the governor’s tax history — would give the Republican incumbent the excuse he needed to launch a well-funded, retaliatory strike against one or both Democrats.
Apparently, the warnings went unheeded. On Monday, Mike Mikus, manager of the Taylor campaign, issued a written ultimatum to the state Democratic party. He wanted the head of Oblander, who last week brought in $100,000 with a lunch featuring former vice presidential candidate John Edwards. The money went to state House and Senate races.
“We have demanded that [the] advertising not be aired, apparently to no avail. Apparently, this does not concern Ms. Oblander at all. Therefore, we urge that she be relieved of her duties today. Failure to do so only makes every Democratic elected official look complicit in their plans — and we are not,” the Mikus letter said.
One reason why Taylor may be more concerned is the fact that, on Tuesday, he’s set to launch the first big round of TV ads in Georgia’s political season.
Late Monday, we had yet to talk to Knowles, Oblander, or anyone else associated with “Georgians for Truth.” But state party officials considered the matter important enough to raise an ax over the woman who fills one of their many wallets.
“Kristen Oblander has been told she cannot work for the state party and the third-party group,” said spokesman Emil Runge.
And the “Georgians for Truth” ads have yet to run.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By D. Henson
April 18, 2006 12:37 AM | Link to this
That’s no way to treat someone who has contributed so much over the years. Those who live on islands shouldn’t burn their bridges.
By Hunter
April 18, 2006 07:32 AM | Link to this
So, do I understand that we have Georgia democrakkks turning on Georgia democrakkks? Further indication the democrakkks are crumbling everywhere…STRIVE to be SMARTER than a democrakkk…and dont EVER vote for a democrakkk, they keep us ALL oppressed!
By Democrat
April 18, 2006 07:37 AM | Link to this
Republicans are stupid! Perdue, Bush, have ruined this state and country. Bush’s approval is only 30 percent, so that says alot about his ability. Vote the republican fools out of office
By Nan Garrett
April 18, 2006 07:41 AM | Link to this
Isn’t the bigger question why do the democrats attempt to protect the Georgia voters from the Truth about the Republicans? Georgians should leave both parties in droves if they want to hear the Truth about what goes on in state government or down at the capital.
Nan Garrett Georgia Green Party
By
April 18, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this
A large element of the Democratic party is under the illusion Republicans have built a majority because we are more willing to be absolutely cutthroat in terms of campaign tactics. They think the reality is that if they can only be just as nasty they will win.
Not true. The real problem the Democrats have is that they allow the fringe single issue voters in their coalition to dominate their message. Until they get the left-wing nuts under control, no amount of negative hits will change the reality that Georgia Republicans have assembled a solid governing majority.
By Nicholas
April 18, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this
If anyone ever wondered why Democrats keep loosing elections this certainly clarifies things. There scared! How dare they try to stop free speech. If they disagree with the adds just say so, and join the Republican party if they wish. This is an election year and if they can’t stand up to the guy in the Governors mansion then they don’t deserve to be Governor.
By
April 18, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this
Nicholas=case in point.
By Chad
April 18, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this
You folks do a lot of talking about parties… I travel this state as a matter of business. Many folks I meet don’t care to be associated with either party. They just want good Government. I am hearing the rumblings that elected Sonny, but they aren’t for him this time. Money isn’t a factor. People will cast votes on the perception that single party control with little bipartisan production isn’t healthy. Mark my words!
By Kate
April 18, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this
Chad, Prior to Sonny getting elected, how long was Georgia under Democratic control?
By Chad
April 18, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this
Did you hear what I just said? Not an issue. I suppose you think Sonny was elected more than Roy Barnes unelecting himself? Sonny was in the right spot at the right time. A productive public servant, “Politition” will function well in any party.
By Stacy
April 18, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this
I guess giving the straight facts about a politicican is taboo. Kudos to Ms. Oblander for not selling out.
By james
April 18, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this
People who are ‘slaves’ to political parties are always looking to do damage to opponents rather than work for the common good.
And didn’t Sonny used to be a Democrat?
By Markus
April 18, 2006 02:08 PM | Link to this
To the mindless liberal lemming who said Bush’s approval rating is low: I don’t remember you liberals opening your pathetic sewers when your boy Clinton had a low of 38 during his presidency, or when Carter’s dropped to 26 during his presidency.
Everything is relative, pinheads. Besides, the media is always in your corner of the jackass left. You don’t hear about record high home sales, record low unemployment, record high durable good sales, etc. The liberal socialists would have us believe that only the “rich” are benefiting and the middle class is being left behind. Oh really? Then who the hell is doing all the purchasing of the above? The RICH? The POOR?
Liberalism truly is a mental disorder.
By Nicholas
April 18, 2006 02:54 PM | Link to this
If we are mindless ones why can we come up with a more effective way to disagree than call names? And as I remember Clinton left office with a pretty high approval rating, I don’t think President Bush (I won’t call him your boy out of respect for the Presidency) will.
By ReddytoRule
April 18, 2006 11:43 PM | Link to this
Isn’t this much ado about nothing?
By Perdoo
April 19, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this
Markus -
I think the left wing media is keeping a tight lid on the “good news” about the economy and conservatism in general. Take our beloved Cox Communication - who would never allow a couple of conservatives like you and I to blog the truth on their website. Cox should let Hannity, Bortz and Savage, who are all on their radio network, in on the conspiracy as well. I am sure Jim Wooten is in the know too - I mean that school voucher thing in yesterday’s paper surely must of slid by the censor. Those pinheads.
Perdoo in 06