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Wednesday, June 7, 2006
A pot-luck dinner from Gwinnett
Quick quotes from both Democrats and Republicans, for lieutenant governor and secretary of state
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Following are notes from Wednesday evening’s political forum at the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce. Consider them rough drafts of the first draft of history.
We’ll link you with sound from the event ASAP.
Casey Cagle, one of two Republican candidates for lieutenant governor, invoked the ghost of the late Gov. George Busbee. No doubt he was also trying to cope with the reams of policy statements issued by rival Ralph Reed.
Said Cagle: “In a political campaign, you hear a lot of political rhetoric. People put a lot of fluffy things out there that sound real good. But at the end of day, you don’t want a show horse, you want a work horse. You want somebody there who can deliver, who has led in the past, and delivered for you in the business community.�
Allen Buckley, the Libertarian candidate for lieutenant governor and a self-described “atrocious public speaker,� may have had the most honest plea ever heard from a candidate.
Said Buckley: “Does anybody out there think that the world would come to an end if I were elected lieutenant governor of the state of Georgia? Anybody?�
Ralph Reed, the other candidate for lieutenant governor, demonstrated the eagerness with which many Republicans intend to disassociate themselves with Washington.
Said Reed, in explaining his demand that state budget surpluses be returned to taxpayers: “One of the two major parties is really good at raising your taxes and spending your money. The other party, my party, is good at cutting taxes, but not always good at controlling spending. I really think we need to do both.�
The bravest might have been Rufus Terrill, a conservative Democrat who stressed limits on government.
Said Terrill: “This gay marriage ban. I’m against it. You cannot make your faith stronger by taking rights away from people. It’s not going to work. It didn’t work in Germany.�
The Gwinnett chamber also hosted candidates for secretary of state. (Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Walter Ray sent representatives.)
Said Shyam Reddy, a Democrat: “I believe our political system is broken. I believe it has been hijacked by extreme elements of society.�
Pay attention to what was said by Bill Stephens, a Republican candidate for secretary of state. It smacks of the future.
Said Stephens: “The secretary of state of Georgia ought to fight for Georgia, not apologize for Georgia all the time. When it comes to the Voting Rights Act, Georgia ought to be treated with the same dignity as other states in the nation. We’ve been punished for years now — allegedly, temporarily — for our sins in the ‘40s, 50s and 60s. “I will seek out and enforce Georgia laws. …without regard to race, creed color or persuasion. If Cynthia McKinney shows up again at a Dekalb County polling place with a bullhorn, screaming at people, I’m going to put her in jail.�
And there was a reminder that not all the world revolves around two political parties.
Said Scott Holcomb, a Democratic candidate for secretary of state: “July 18 is the biggest day on my calendar this year for me for two reasons. The first is the primary. If you’re a Democrat, I’d love your support. If you’re a Republican, I’d love your vote in November. And, I’m also an expectant father, and the due-date is July 18.�
Makes you wonder where he’ll be election night.
Teachers shun Cox for Taylor
But their Republican endorsements — Kathy with a 'K' and Casey Cagle — are just as interesting
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The big news of the day, of course, is the endorsement of Mark Taylor for governor by the Georgia Association of Educators.
For newcomers, the teachers organization is probably the most important Democratic constiuency, after African-Americans.
Endorsements are often instances of politically savy groups betting on likely winners. Jeff Hubbard, president-elect of the group, cited Taylor’s long track record with educators. But the timing suggests that the current downturn of the Cathy Cox campaign made the GAE decision easier.
The GAE also gave clean bills of health to all three major Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor: Greg Hecht, Jim Martin and Steen Miles.
But the surprises were the two Republicans the group endorsed. Casey Cagle, in the primary race for lieutenant governor. And Kathy Cox for school superintendent.
Think about that last one. The GAE withholds its approval from Gov. Sonny Perdue, who truly holds the reins on education in the state. But the group endorses his chief lieutenant. It damns Perdue for cuts to education funding, but compliments K-Cox for doing well with the remander.
“Superintendent Cox has faced tough economic challenges with cuts to education funding and has worked hard to implement the cumbersome No Child Left Behind law in Georgia,” GAE said in its endorsement statement.
Odd, but perhaps not overly so. If an endorsement is a bet, where do you think the better odds are in a general election? A race between Mark Taylor and incumbent Sonny Perdue? Or Democrat Denise Majette versus Kathy Cox in the race for state school superintendent?
