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DEL.ICIO.USReed’s latest mailer on Cagle
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is kind of like “The Lake House,” that movie about two lovers spaced two years apart. Difficult to follow, but not ineffective.
Ralph Reed’s latest mail piece hit the streets on Wednesday, the day after his TV ads hammered Republican rival Casey Cagle on the same topic of eminent domain. The mail piece strikes less cleanly on the issue, mixing the events of 2003 with those of 2005.
“Casey Cagle….voted for a bill allowing big government to take private property and sell it to someone else to collect more tax money,” cries the flyer. A photo of a stately frame house, half-demolished by the claw of an automated shovel, serves as the primary illustration.
The year 2003 is not mentioned. That’s the first year of Republican rule of the state Senate, and the year that Cagle — and every other Republican in the chamber — voted for S.B. 273, a bill to provide for private funding of public projects such as roads, water treatment plants and other “public facilities.”
Cagle’s people have denied the bill would permit condemnation of land for economic development purposes. But this is a campaign in which subtleties do not matter.
The bill — Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson of Savannah — passed the Senate, but failed in the then-Democratic House. Two years later, in 2005, elements of the bill were revived as S.B. 5, introduced just as the Kelo case was being argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. With the same sponsors.
At the same time, H.B. 218 rose up, proposing more secrecy surrounding economic development. Not a good moment for Republicans.
Oh, the outrage. Talk radio went into high gear. H.B. 218 was shelved. S.B. 5 was pulled without a vote, and in its place came S.B. 86, a bill to reassure those worried about property rights.
The condemnations in the Reed flyer are all from 2005, not 2003. S.B. 5 “could dissolve the state of Georgia and build everything from mountain to seashore without asking taxpayers a single time for permission,” wrote the AJC’s Jim Wooten, quoted in the flyer. “Casey Cagle voted for it” screams the flyer.
Well, something like it, two years earlier. But Cagle didn’t vote for S.B. 5.
“The most outrageously repugnant piece of legislative claptrap since the Yazoo land fraud,” the flyer quotes the Bainbridge Post-Searchlight. Again from 2005, not 2003.
Oh, and the flyer also accuses Cagle of walking out on S.B. 86. He wasn’t there for the Senate vote. It wasn’t close, and bill sponsor Jeff Chapman (R-Brunswick) has said Cagle’s presence wasn’t crucial.
Nonetheless, the flyer closes with an endorsement of Reed by Mark and Regina Meeks, the Stockbridge couple with the florist shop, who served as the centerpiece for a new Republican eminent domain package this session.
Things are getting interesting.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By GodHatesTrash
June 29, 2006 07:18 AM | Link to this
How pathetic - the GOP has come up with two whores as candidates - Cagle is a Stewart Avenue streetwalker for sale cheap and dirty, Ralphie is cut from the same cloth, except he goes to church Sundays, and his clientele has more $$$.
Trash both. Perfect for the GOP constituency.
By Former Cagle Guy
June 29, 2006 07:54 AM | Link to this
Let’s see—
Cagle with the all important AJC endorsement walks out of the most important private property rights protection bill and
Cagle joins the AJC in blasting Reed for helping to stop the spread of casino gambling, but REED GETS THE MEEK’S ENDORSEMENT for his strong stand on protecting us from eminent domain abuses
No brainer— REED WINS!
By Former Cagle Guy
June 29, 2006 07:57 AM | Link to this
Let’s see—
Cagle with the all important AJC endorsement walks out of the most important private property rights protection bill and
Cagle joins the AJC in blasting Reed for helping to stop the spread of casino gambling, but REED GETS THE MEEK’S ENDORSEMENT for his strong stand on protecting us from eminent domain abuses
No brainer— REED WINS!
By Debbie
June 29, 2006 08:18 AM | Link to this
The Reed campaign has FINALLY started giving Cagle a taste of his own medicine. Enjoy Cave in Casey!!!!!!!
It is interesting that Cagle’s ads have not been dissected for accuracy, hmmm…
Things are just getting started. You Cagle supporters are in for a rough time. Cagle is a hypocrite for pointing the finger at Reed. He sent from renting tuxedos to Bank President in four years while serving as State Senator on the Banking Committee. His wealth increased 900%. How do you really think that happened. Cagle was supposed to be serving the taxpayers and instead he was serving himself and his industry.
By Jason
June 29, 2006 08:25 AM | Link to this
Ralph Reed is showing that he has to lie to get elected. Cagle voted for the Chapman amendment to HR 1306, which would have provided better protection for property owners in Georgia.
I guess Reed missed that.
By Debbie
June 29, 2006 08:45 AM | Link to this
Jason, It is funny listening to a Cagle supporter talking about Reed lying.
Cagle lied about the Taylor contribution and the threat. Cagle lied on his financial disclosure form..
By ajc
June 29, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
You know what’s funny? Listening to “Republicans” blast other “Republicans” for increasing their wealth. Hilarious.
Cagle is the less sleazy candidate, hopefully he’ll win. Actually, one of the Democrats that don’t know what they’re doing would be a better fit. Lt. Governor doesn’t have much power, anyway.
And the Meeks’ endorsement shouldn’t mean much. They are greedy just like Ralph. They wanted more and more money for their property, that’s why Stockbridge said “enough” and proceeded with eminent domain proceedings, which have been legal for decades and not some “new” power granted by Kelo. If only people would read their history…
By Tony
June 29, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this
Reed lied to his own clients. pastors, church members, the media, the people of Georgia. Reed took church clients on and lied to them. Reed then lied to everyone about knowing anything. And then his supporters are continuing the lie.
My grandmother always said one lie snowballs into many large ones. Reed is the epitome of that saying. And the liar has the audacity to say someone else is lying and that those lies are worse than his.
And Debbie and FCG….why is the pious and noble Reed stooping so low that he has to attack his opponent? I thought he was so far ahead and has SOOOOO many good things to run on he shouldn’t need to even acknowledge Cagle. If he was so wonderful, he wouldn’t even give Cagle the time of day. Clearly this shows Ralph is hurting and he has to go on a negative offensive to win back those he lost. Ralph’s strategy is that he is the lesser of two evils. By default he admits he’s evil. Go figure.
And Debbie, you have no proof of Cagle lying. Let’s play along with you here. I think Cagle’s ‘lies’ by your standards are no where in the ballpark of lying about God’s money to churches, pastors, etc.
By Joe
June 29, 2006 09:26 AM | Link to this
I am a Republican but for the life of me, even with a gun pointed at me head, I could never vote for Ralph Reed, for anything. My gut feeling on him is that he is one of the most crooked politicians I have seen in a long time. Please don’t be fooled by him.
By John C. Fremont
June 29, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this
Although a die-hard Republican—listening to this person identified as “Debbie” is enough to make any Republican turn libertarian if not democrat. Because of this person’s rants and thinking I could never vote for this guy Ralph Reed who “Debbie” is so infatuated with. “Debbie” is there something more going on here? Because of “Debbie” I vote for Cagle July 18.
By B-boy
June 29, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this
I am a Democrat, and I may vote for Cagle. I think it is better to know what you are getting when putting a politican in office. Reed is an unknown evil, so better to go with a known evil.
By Howard
June 29, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this
John C. Fremont, Give us a break. You are pathetic. If you disagree with the things Debbie said, you never,ever intended to vote for Reed to begin with so don’t insult our intelligence!
I am glad Debbie is not afraid to speak her mind and has a in your face attitude like Anne Coulter does. I greatly admire that.
Tell me what position do you hold in the Cagle Campaign?
By Howard
June 29, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this
bboy, I am not suprised liberal Democrats are going to cross and vote for Cagle to stop Reed. Reed is a threat to your liberal ideology, Cagle is a weakling and is not.
By John C. Fremont
June 29, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this
Howard if “Debbie” looks anything like Anne Coulter I certainly don’t want that “shem giraffe” in my face. She was alright until she called the “Jersey Girls” who lost their husbands in 9/11 as “witches”. Is that opinin of “shem’s” your’s and “Debbie’s” opinion too?
By Howard
June 29, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this
Joe, if you don’t like crooked politicians then why are you supporting Cagle? Reed made his money while in private enterprise. Cagle used his position as State Senator on the State Banking Committee to become a millionaire. He went from a haberdasher to Bank President in four years. Are so foolish as to try to tell us everything was on the up and up with that?
Tony, please show proof that Reed knowingly lied to those you mentioned. You are such a hypocrite to make accusations and then not provide proof then you want to demand it of others. You are a hypocrite for critcizing Reed for going negative. Your candidate has been doing that from the beginning. Reed is just striking back.
I have to say seeing the logic and the way you Cagle people defend Cagle makes my support for Reed stronger than ever. You people disgust me and I find it hard to believe you call yourselves Republicans.
By Howard
June 29, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this
I think the wives she was referring to are using their widow status to gain publicity and gain for themselves. I would agree with her assessment. I also think Cindy Sheehan is a publicity whore of epic proportions.
By ajc
June 29, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this
Debbie and Ann Coulter share similar traits, I agree.
But Debbie is probably a woman.
By John C. Fremont
June 29, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this
in regard to coulter being a shem—i am going only by the rumour heard about the operational procedure performed on coulter from a friend who knows much about he/she/shem. it is not substantiated—although definitely imaginable on that ugly alleged woman.
By Fearful for Christians
June 29, 2006 11:17 AM | Link to this
Just as I feared. The “Good Guys” are at it slashing and burning. One bit of advice…no one should pay any attention to the endorsement received by any cadidate…THEY CAN BE BOUGHT…most often are in one way or another.
One thing you can be sure of, the AJC will not give their go ahead to any candidate with a strong Christian, ethical following. Casey’s mailer and TV ads are just as negative as Ralph’s…but only Ralph was criticised for HIS. If Casey wins they will shift gears and be critical of Casey. I wonder if they have a sign in their Editor’s Lounge, “No Christian-speak allowed.”
By Tony
June 29, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this
Howard, honestly are you that stupid and naive? Proof? Read his own emails. Reed incriminated himself. Abramoff asked him if he wanted the Indians to pay Reed directly. Reed himself said he wanted the money to go through a third party. The money went through Grover, Ralph’s other accomplice in deceiving Christians. The whole oepration is a scam. Read the Senate Indian Affairs report if you even know how to read.
Howard what is your position on Ralph’s campaign? It’s funny that you have Ralph’s campaign’s own words to recite every time a new claim comes out against Ralph. The average voter would not know that. You have to be far on the inside to recite everything you do.
Stronger than ever? Let’s flip your own words Howard. You accuse others of speaking out against Reed and being for Cagle from the get-go. Even with evidence your boss lied to churches and Christians, you STILL defend the guy. You completely amaze me. It shows that Ralph and his minions are in denial and would even lie and deny cheating God’s money and God’s people just to get into elected office.
And you say Ralph’s only responding to the negative against him? I guess Jesus’ notion of turn the other cheek is beyond Ralph as well. Ralph needs to drop out of the race and get his heart right. Going around proclaiming Jesus this and God that while doing what he’s done is a great way to get struck by lightning.
let me ask you proof Howard. You ask everyone else. How can you prove that Cagle used his position on that committee to become a nillionaire? Do YOU have proof? You make baseless claims and offer nothing. I have Ralph’s own words to back my accusations up. YOU are the hypocrite and the liar. You and your boss are an embarrassment to Christians, Republicans, and Georgians.
By Howard
June 29, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this
Tony you don’t have proof. The report states Reed refused to be paid directly by gambling interests. Abramoff did the filtering of money not Reed. The emails don’t prove any of your allegations. Just conjecture on your part.
By Joe
June 29, 2006 11:57 AM | Link to this
Calm down Howard, the last time I checked I have a right to support the candidate of my choice and not give a flying frog what mean people like you thinks about it. The fact that some crazy hot head like you supports Reed makes me dislike him more. One more thing, why do I care if somebody such as yourself believes if I am a Republican or a Demorcat, what business is it of yours anyway. Get some manners, and one more thing Ann Coulter should be ashamed of herself for some of the things she has written and any decent Republican, of which I am one of, should turn their backs to her. She has crossed the line now to where is no longer effective, she now carries a circus side show element, she can’t be taken serious. People will now just tune in to listen to how off the wall crazy she is, like Michael Moore, both are out of touch loonies in my opinion. Howard you and Ann appear to be cut from the same cloth and I don’t care for either of you or the garbage that comes from your mouths. I have been on this earth sevety-one years, you don’t tell me how to vote. Again, get some manners Howard.
By Howard
June 29, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this
Joe, you need to look in the mirror as far as being rude. You are what you accuse others of. I don’t care how long you have been on this earth.
Everyone has the right to vote for who they want to. YOU are the one that made a remark about Reed and I responded about Cagle. If you can not deal with criticism about your candidate, I suggest you stop criticising Reed.
By Pete Gordon
June 29, 2006 02:10 PM | Link to this
Following the Reed vs Cagle debate, I would point out there are sound democratic candidates you should be considering, since the republican offerings would appear so unworthy. On Ralph Reed’s corruption, we know it has been widely reported, and that he is likely to be indicted, but it is the responsibility of the AJC to be reporting what the facts are of this case. The coverage of the facts we need to make good voting decisions are simply not being reported in this newspaper, and this is one of the central responsibilities of newspapers, to give us the facts surrounding the electioneering, so that outright lies are not allowed to stand.
By Tony
June 29, 2006 02:23 PM | Link to this
Reed was asked by Abramoff if the Indian casinos could pay directly. Ralph said through a third party. This shows he knew where the money came from. When asked by the media and his clients in AL he assured them the money did not come from gambling and casinos.
Howard, I’m sorry but laundering the money doesn’t cut it. Ralph told people the money did not come from questionable sources. It clearly did and he knew about it. Why else would he have said to send it through ATR? What would be the point of sending it through another group that did absolutely nothing for this oepration. Honestly Howard, do you see nothing wrong with any of this? Abramoff did the filtering at Reed’s OWN REQUEST. So are you saying that Grover was involved in this lie and scam? Are you saying that he deceived Ralph? Why couldn’t Ralph take the money directly? Because he KNEW. But the problem is that he lied to his clients, who happened to be very devout Christians in AL. Selling out your own people….scum.
By tribalecho
June 29, 2006 04:02 PM | Link to this
Dear Joe,
Thank you for saying that. I mean about the sleaze of Reed. I’m a Democrat, but I really don’t want to hate all Republicans. After all, some of my best friends are Republicans. (uninformed though they might be(talking to you “Kimmer” listeners). If you guys elect Reed, OMG, what a disaster for this state. Compared to him, Cagle seems almost human. (just kidding)
By tribalecho
June 29, 2006 04:10 PM | Link to this
Vote Democrat.
We all know that whenever the power is all on one side, bad things happen. So vote Democrat. Keep ‘em honest. Or at least try.
By tribalecho
June 29, 2006 04:13 PM | Link to this
In fact, Vote For Nan Orrock. A Progressive who has bucked the trend for 20 years. Why? Because she represents actual people.
By Debbie
June 29, 2006 04:15 PM | Link to this
Pete, please show me in the report where it accused Reed of breaking the law. Please show me where it accused him of laundering money.
Reed will not be indicted. Do you actually think Zell Miller, Sean Hannity and Rudy would be supporting Ralph if they thought he was in danger of being indicted?
I can tell you Tony if what you say is true about Christians in Alabama, then they would be outraged at Ralph and angry and I can tell you they are not.
Reed trusted Abramoff as did the Whitehouse and numerous elected officials - both Democrat and Republican.
By Tony
June 29, 2006 04:47 PM | Link to this
They are outraged in AL Debbie. I’ve talked to several family members who were all apart of that. I know firsthand they are upset. I’ve talked to some of them. How do you get that they are NOT upset?
Debbie, here’s a simple explanation of money laundering. Abramoff works with a Indian casino. The casino needs Ralph to do some work. Abramoff asks Ralph if the casino can write a check directly to him. Ralph says no but to use a third party. It goes to Grover Norquist who then takes a little slice for himself before giving the moeny to Reed. Why couldn’t Reed take the money directly. He attempted to launder the money through a third party to give the appearance the money was not casino money. Funny but when emails show the path and admissions by Reed himself in those emails, it all comes out that what Reed claimed and what Reed did was two separate things. Reed knew exactly where the money came from. And by passing it through several groups without services rendered and to avoid certain tax restrictions, there are some items the IRS will look into. Ralph and Grover could see some revocation of tax status as well.
But regardless of the legal issues, the fact remains that Ralphie betrayed his fellow Christian. That’s so evil and far exceeds anything Cagle has allegedly done.
If you lie and sell out your own people, who WON’T you sell out? Perhaps his wife and father need to pay closer attention. They might be up on the block for the highest bidder next.
By Georgian First, American Second
July 5, 2006 10:05 AM | Link to this
Hey folks, Ralph Reed is dirty. He’s been dirty since the day he was born. He was a lobbyist, is a lobbyist and will always be a lobbyist. What a hideous representative of the Christian Coalition- an organization I once appreciated, but now am wary of due to simply due to Reed’s involvement.
Whether you are undecided, on the fence, or even deciding whether to go vote or abstain… Cagle is the way to go on this one.
Go check out this link: http://politicalvine.com/politicalrumors/rumors/are-you-supporting-ralph-reed-or-on-the-fence-consider-this/
Whether you are a diehard supporter or a fence-sitter on the Casey Cagle vs. Ralph Reed race, you should ask yourself the question of WHY are all these folks who worked for Reed in the past now working for or supporting the candidate opposing Ralph?
Specifically:
Joel McElhannon - General Consultant
Jay Williams - Direct Mail Consultant
Elizabeth Dewberry - Campaign Manager
Clint Austin (a person who was loyal to the hilt with Ralph until recently)…no position with the campaign, but, from what I understand, a $10,000 contributor to Cagle
Emily Echols Morton - Used to work for Reed at the party when he was chairman…now listed as a Host for a fundraiser for Casey Cagle this Saturday
These folks are known to be SOLID conservatives in the GOP party. They worked directly for and learned from Ralph Reed….and, yet, the thing they fear most right now is seeing Ralph Reed get elected.
Could it possibly be that they know him for the sleazy, crooked businessman that he is (because they were forced to witness it while working for him) and do not want that type of person elected?
By Thoughtful
July 5, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this
Let’s think about what Ralph Reed has done lately:
1.Ducking interviews: Ralph continues to hide from public scrutiny, meeting only with carefully selected audiences. He even refuses to meet with reporters from conservative and evangelical publications (Source: World magazine, The Weekly Standard).
2) Hiding his Schedule: The only public event currently posted on the “calendar” section of Ralph’s website is a fundraising reception from Tuesday November 8th of last year. Voters seeking to speak with Ralph Reed personally are then forced to play detective to find out where he will appear in public (Source: www.ralphreed.com).
3) Refusing to Comment: Ralph continues to refuse on the record interviews with most mainstream journalists and reporters from conservative and evangelical publications. In fact, Ralph has “declined to comment” or “refused to elaborate” literally dozens of times in the past year. And, in dozens more cases, he has only allowed a staffer to read a prepared statement into the phone (Source: Lexis-Nexis).
4) Citing Imaginary “Ethical” Issues: In response to a question from the Associated Press, Reed campaign spokesman Jared Thomas said that it “would be unethical for Reed to violate the privacy of his contracts and disclose the specific work he did for clients.” Although no such limitations exist, Ralph is using them to avoid even saying who he has worked for (Source: Associated Press, May 3, 2006).
5) Refusing to Release Tax Returns: In response to a request from the media, Ralph Reed refused to make his tax returns available for review — as Governor Sonny Perdue has done and as Casey Cagle has offered to do — saying “state personal financial disclosure records are enough.” (Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 5, 2006).