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DEL.ICIO.USThe one-exception rule strikes another candidate
Georgia Right to Life PAC puts out its list of endorsements for the July primary
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Right to Life’s political action committee on Monday released its list of endorsements for the July 18 primary.
It’s often a crucial ingredient in Republican contests - though not so critical among Democrats.
Among Republican statewide candidates, the winner may be Bill Stephens, the only GOP candidate for secretary of state to get GRTL’s stamp of approval.
Karen Handel, Stephens’ primary rival and the Fulton County Commission chairman, lost out. “She didn’t meet our criteria,” said Caryl Swift, the GRTL president. She wouldn’t elaborate.
It looks like Handel ran afoul of the group’s “one-exception” mandate, adopted four years ago. Handel opposes abortion, but supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger.
The only exception sanctioned by GRTL is the life of the mother. Two years ago, the group withheld its endorsement from Johnny Isakson in the race for U.S. Senate. Isakson, of course, won without a run-off.
In the Republican race for lieutenant governor, GRTL endorsed both Casey Cagle and Ralph Reed. That wasn’t unexpected, but it does lend fuel to speculation that evangelical conservatives are fracturing over this one.
The group also endorsed two Republican candidates for commissioner of agriculture: Gary Black and Brian Kemp. And Gov. Sonny Perdue, of course. And Perry McGuire for attorney general, who’s running against Democratic incumbent Thurbert Baker.
Only one statewide Democrat received GRTL’S imprimatur of approval. That went to Walter Ray, who’s running for secretary of state. Ray is a former state legislator who went on to become chairman of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Along with fellow board member Bobby Whitworth, Ray was forced from his position by Gov. Roy Barnes during a corruption investigation. Whitworth was convicted of taking a $75,000 payoff to influence legislation that could financially benefit a private probation company.
Ray was not charged.
Swift, the GRTL president, said the group was aware of Ray’s travails when they made the endorsement.
Go here for GRTL’s complete list.
Comments
By Josh
June 12, 2006 07:02 PM | Link to this
What does this issue have to do with Secretary of State or Commissioner of Agriculture
By Dave
June 12, 2006 08:10 PM | Link to this
Great - now I have a list of the biggest right-wing nuts to vote against. No exception for rape or incest? Seriously, are all of you insane? Thanks for gathering the info, GRTL.
By Gary N.
June 12, 2006 08:23 PM | Link to this
How many of these uppity politicans (or even leaders of the GRTL) would allow their raped daughter to give birth - especially if fathered by a black rapist? NONE. Show me one example involving ANY of the endorsers or endorsees that contradicts this belief. Until then, you’re all lying hypocrites.
By FormerCagleGuy
June 12, 2006 09:49 PM | Link to this
Actually, the GTRL endorsement is very much automatic for candidates who answer their questions the way the group wants.
But that is not all Republican voters will consider. In the LG race they will also consider the fact that Cagle’s entire campaign has been about joining in with the liberal media to destroy Ralph Reed, a Republican icon. Cagle will not be foregiven for that.
Nor will he be forgiven for his own hypocracy. Cagle’s response to charges that he used his chairmanship of the banking committee to enrich himself as a banker brought the response, “they all do it.” I hope that is not the case.
And now he is backtracking on his charge of intimidation by Mark Taylor to whom he gave a $1,000 campaign contribution.
Cagle is toast. His campaign looks a lot like Cathy Cox’s at this point. While some of us supported him at first, we have taken back our support because of his hypocracy.
No we hear Atlanta gays will cross over to vote for Cagle against Reed and Cagle welcomes this. It is clear where Cagle is coming from.
By Savannah Thinker
June 12, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this
This organization of intolerance and hate has no credibility… It’s insane to think that rape or incest are not justifiable reasons for a women to decide to terminate a pregnancy if done responsibly.
Some of the most adament pro life people I know are pure hypocrites and I doubt this organization is any different…
By Tony
June 12, 2006 11:36 PM | Link to this
Ahhh….Former Cagle Guy….our favorite guy who one time said Cagle never did a single thing. But then his name suggests he used to support someone he says never did anything. So Former Cagle guy…a guy you can believe and take as a credible voice to base your vote on. And ‘hypocracy’? Is that a part of the Reed education program? I’d like to see this so-called evidence Cagle is joining with the liberal media. I guess working for casinos and then pretending to be a devout puritanical Christian is fine to support. I guess attacking your opponent after saying you’d focus on your own issues is fine? I guess making million dollar deals without checking where the money comes from or where it goes means Reed is a competent businessman? What is his record as a consultant? Will he pledge not to have any of his little companies get contracts with the state or state contracted businesses during his potential reign? Who wants someone who will constantly bring a black eye with hearings and investigations to GA?
So GA, keep listening to Former Cagle Guy. Look what he says he used to support and can’t even make a credible case why. Then look at the Reed record. What has he brought? Not much of anything productive to average people. Plenty to fatcats, DC, corporations, and his nice gated community house locked away from the rest of Georgia. And Cagle is controlled by banking???
By me
June 13, 2006 01:06 AM | Link to this
so, well, ummm.. .. who REALLY asked about ‘them’ anyhow. i mean, i’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but… they. Wow… i dont know that my real faith cant let me say this…
By me
June 13, 2006 01:28 AM | Link to this
yeah… but, i’d like to eXplain. but, to make My learned Wisdom shorter….
THEY’RE JUST A fAKE FRONTED, (and, (umm at least STRATEGICALY_ half-assed) well, at best at least)).
yikes, and if they (hE) wants to hide behind zHell.. tell him to tell that ‘ole’ bah’ that I am a far, far BIGGER ( and GREATER )redneck than his mountain-goat, true honest-to-god-‘teacher-wanna-be’, flim-flam, sell-out (well, fraknly i’m sad for his ‘this-world’ sell out self, since he coulda had so much more meaningful than these pork rinds that he’s crumbled to) individual that he is.
well, anyway.. that s just My insignificant piece.
but, if, trust Me. If ZZ Mhzell has a problem with It, i’m MORE than eager to square his gold-mine-diggin eyes to The Table.
(dang, i really wanted to like/respect ya. i looked up to ya a lot o my life… but, Sir, the money and power really isn’t worth that…).
now, come on, RIGHT? now, lets be honest here.
By Bowersville
June 13, 2006 02:17 AM | Link to this
GRTL, Furnish me with the right answer to the “one exception” rule. I am confused. Is it the victim of rape or incest, or is it the life of the mother is in danger? Tell my which of these three should not be decided by the mother, the doctor, and with the family with prayer to God for answers?
By me
June 13, 2006 02:37 AM | Link to this
wait. you guys mispelled that. it’s s’posd to be the ‘Georgia We’re a Big, Fat, real-Christ sacrificing (as if the 1st time wasn’t enough) Lier’ (but,in His own Name) (just because we want to rule the World) PAC.
boys, you need to snap it up a notch. if you’re gonna pimp yourselves out this way, you GOTTA be able to see beneath their eVil.
By me
June 13, 2006 03:45 AM | Link to this
well, actually, i suppose the boys could use their connects to snoop me out and try to arrest me. i might even end up in guantanamo (with the real terrors).
but, then, look how paul’s life ended out.
justice is one thing. attaining power is one thing. i can’t see how one could, in this world, blame another for attaining power. but, wow, how you use it once you get it…
imagine. niether Barbara nor Laura have a clue to the eVil that they lie beside at night. that is sad. after all, they are both Mothers.
(but, then, Mothers whose husbands have selfishly sent U. S. men to kill both other soldiers and innocent civilian lives to die for the sake of the further establishment of their own selfish, narrow beliefs (which, coincedentally (must be), lie quite, QUITE parallely aligned with that of the world’s OIL plays.)
but, then, we do have to remeber to forgive. perhaps, in their own tiny, twisted minds they have let themselves believe that they hold the high ground).
hmm.. my Grandmother (not even a full elementary education) used to joke about the fallacy of ‘trickle down economics.’)
they are so proud that they have accomplished such dominance.
but, DUMB. YELLOW.
real men (check history) reject Earth-success for the real thing.
well, but then, it is true that they are, in the final analysis, helpless, ignorant, pitiful, sad, hopeless (no i take that one back),… frankly way too eager to PIMp their name… well…
rednecks.
(i just have to keep reminding myself… ‘IT’S NOT THEIR FAULT THAT THEIR MOTHERS/GRANDMOTHERS VALIANT, ATTEMPTIVE rearing EFFORTS toward greater purity didn’t impress upon them more than their apparently insurmountable tendancy toward craZy greed does.)
God Bless, em.
By me
June 13, 2006 03:49 AM | Link to this
no, really. they do try so hard.
after all, we all know that all this is really about the fact that the Bushs’ have the shortest ones.
(kinda like zHeLL. he lived most o his adult life just tryin to make up for the fact that Murph’s was the bigger and better).
MURPH… WHAT A MAN!
By me
June 13, 2006 03:51 AM | Link to this
and, RReed, you’re an afterthought.
i SOOOOOOOOOOOOO hope you win the primary.!!
SO SO SO.
By me
June 13, 2006 03:56 AM | Link to this
well, ok, i have to remind myself sometimes to just back away. RRee, really, you can’t help yourself.
i mean, where the rubber meets the pavement you just have a fundamental weakness/lack of understanding/lack of comprehension/ and certainly incapability for grasping Ultimate Power.
(but, i REALLY do hope that you win the Priamry. matter of fact, could your peeps shoot me a yard sign, bumper sticker or two??)
By Bling Bling
June 13, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this
GRTL PAC IS making endorsements.
How many organizations are sitting on the fence?
Thanks GRTL for making choices.
By dumbfounded
June 13, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this
Congratulations to Governor Perdoofus and all the others who won this endorsement.
By RepublicanDawg
June 13, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this
Kudos to Georgia Right to Life. The first person asked why do they endorse for Ag Comm or Sec of State. I’d ask them to look no further that current SOS Cathy Cox. She’s using SOS as her springboard for Governor. She is trying to have everything her way (i.e. gay marriage). Without groups like GRTL to hold politicians to the fire, they’ll continue to say one thing and do another. A person’s core values and beliefs shouldn’t change whether they are running for state house, Secretary of State, Governor, or the county line.
By Edward Beazley
June 13, 2006 06:26 PM | Link to this
Why does the Georgia GOP NOT list RAY McBERRY on the GOP web-site. He paid the same money Sonny did to run.Do not they support ALL Republicans.It seems not. Why don’t they change the name to THE SONNY PERDUE PARTY OF GEORGIA.?