Political Insider

By Political Foreskin

July 11, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this

.

VOTE FOR RALPH REED

HE HAD ME AT ‘HALO’

By Tony

July 11, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

Shocking….Ralphie and all of that big money from Nardelli, Rudy, Reynolds family, etc. is just not paying off…and a $500K candidate loan? Gambling and abortion money in the campaign…whoo hoo! It’s never too late to mortgage the country club house there Ralphie.

Cagle’s driving up in the polls and the money. Reed better start preparing to run against Saxby or something.

By RL

July 11, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

Tony, Run against Saxby? NO… lets ship him back to Florida.

That $500k is directly from the Native American gabbling interests to little Ralphie’s campaign. Oh, wait a second… I mean from the Native American gambling interests to Grover Norquist then to Reed. How could I forget that?

By AM

July 11, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this

Why is the Ethics site so useless? That deserves its own thread. Who screwed that up so bad from how well it worked before?

Sonny Did!

By Tony

July 11, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

RL,

Make sure you get the path correct. We don’t want any ambiguity on that. Laundering is an artform and we cannot screw it up. It is sinful money and must be washed in the blood of the Norquist before Ralph can dump it into his campaign.

I find it quiet on the Reed front. I guess Debbie and the gang are at Reed HQ trying to figure out the sound bites to recite to the masses. Reed’s in there reassuring them he has a few dirty tricks left to compensate for a lack of money and support. He can always sell the country club house and move in with the common man. He can trade in his expensive car as well. Get a Prius or something.

Momentum is swinging Cagle’s way. Reed’s in a tailspin on money and polling numbers. I hope someone’s tracking his money on what’s allotted to the General. I wouldn’t put it past him that he’d find a loophole to use that money to rebound.

Cagle Campaign….don’t get too confident. Reed’s people are probably planting a dead body in Casey’s back yard now. Or photoshopping a KKK picture with Cagle’s face or something….you know how the devious mind works. Reed’s not finished yet. He’s actually at his most dangerous when he’s desperate.

And to those Reed people claiming DC is really supporting Ralph, where’s all that DC support now? Where’s W with the photo ops? Where are those buddies with their millions? And what of the RNCC mystery girl who claims the GOP establishment wants Ralph? There is no RNCC and no one up there knows anyone by your name….strange.

Ralph will now be able to ‘grow up’ wherever he wants…Georgians sure don’t claim him.

By BahamaBoy

July 11, 2006 12:11 PM | Link to this

It sure is quiet on the Reed front. Where’s Debbie? (900%; 900%; 900%)

With this $500k “bet” Reed is, in gambling terms, “all in.”

But I bet he’s got a hole card we haven’t seen. I like the one about Cagle and the KKK. That’s a natural for Reed. Or a baby out-of-wedlock somewhere. That would be pretty clever. Gee! All the other attacks have only made Cagle’s numbers go up and Reed’s fundraising numbers go down.

900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent!

By Patsy

July 11, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this

Who is telling the truth? The ad that trashes Reed? Are the negative comments made about him proved to be trure of are they allegations based on what?

And the others? Where can I do my own research on these charges against all the politicians in the race Reed is in?

By RL

July 11, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this

Patsy, Check Senator McCain’s report… you will see that the Senate investigation did show money flowing from Native American gambling interests to Grover Norquist to Reed. THIS IS THE TRUTH.

It is a little strange how I’m really missing “Debbie” today.

By Bill B.

July 11, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this

Here’s the question: your headline in this post screamed Reed & Cagle at parity, but you acknowledged the “crucial question” was how much cash was on hand.

Reed COH - $1,460,659 Cagle COH - $813,283

2:1 Advantage Reed Will you post that in a screaming headline? Or will you spin it as an advantage for Cagle since the AJC and Cagle are in love with one another?

By Tony

July 11, 2006 2:19 PM | Link to this

Two to one? Fuzzy math. Also note that Ralph had to write a gambling money check out of pocket to give himself that advantage. Take his money out and not much advantage.

Bill B. go ask your boss why his fundraising died this period? Between little money and no poll movement I’d say the headline should read “Reed Ship Sinking”.

By debbie

July 11, 2006 2:32 PM | Link to this

Cagle and his supporters can stop the lies now. Cagle attacked the sitting GOP Governor of Alabama when he attacked Reed about the Mariana thing and so called sweat shops, forced labor etc.

Bob Riley is the one that hired Reed on that issue to stop big labor.

Tony, show proof that came from gambling money. Typical Cagle liar.

Reed just made himself a loan. The money can be paid back from contributions he is going to receive.

Cagle is a sleazy, slimy, lying snake in the grass. Who will voters believe? Zell or Casey?

I do expect more automated phone calls to be coming. Reed is a smart campaigner.

By Debbie

July 11, 2006 2:33 PM | Link to this

With that ad, Cagle just assured that if he wins the nomination, the Democratic nominee will win. I know grassroots activist that will either vote for the Democrat or just not show up to vote in November.

By Debbie

July 11, 2006 2:38 PM | Link to this

The elected officials that endorsed Cagle are responsible for that ad as well. They knew what he had planned and by endorsing him, they put their rubber stamp on those types ads. They should be held accountible as well. I know a lot of Reed people are calling their elected officials expressing their displeasure and I encourage all to do so.

If I were Casey, I would be VERY worried about what is coming next… Reed now has Carte Blanche to totally destroy Cagle and Cagle deserves it..

By Debbie

July 11, 2006 2:51 PM | Link to this

From Peach Pundit:

Published by Erick July 11th, 2006 in Primaries, Republicans, Lt. Governor The Reed camp has issued a hard hitting response to the Cagle ad that gives me the most qualms — the one about the Northern Marianas. I can’t find it on Ralph’s website so I’ll put it below the fold.

Cagle Ad Promotes H.R. 730, Clinton Wage Measure Opposed by GOP Congress That Granted Amnesty to Foreign Workers Casey Cagle’s latest negative ad attacking Ralph Reed actually promotes a 1999 bill backed by Bill Clinton and union bosses that would have imposed federal wage and immigration laws on a U.S. territory. The bill included a provision granting amnesty to foreign workers. Cagle is so desperate to distract attention from his own ethical problems—like voting to benefit banks while running a bank and failing to pay his taxes—that he sides with Clinton and union bosses against Ralph Reed and Republicans who opposed the Clinton plan, including Congressman Bob Riley of Alabama and House Majority Leader Dick Armey.

Fact: As a U.S. Commonwealth, the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) were covered by existing federal health and safety laws. Federal labor, health and safety laws, including the Occupational Safety and Hazard Act of 1970, apply to all U.S. territories, including the Northern Marianas Islands. Cagle’s claim that sweat shops, forced abortion or child prostitution are legal on a U.S. territory is absurd. (OSHA applicability: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “OSH Act of 1970 as amended, Jurisdictional Note,� www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.showdocument?ptable=OSHACT&p_id=2743.)

If OSHA and other labor laws were not adequately enforced, the blame lay with the Clinton administration. Labor law violations in the CNMI “are violations of federal laws, which the U.S. government has sole or concurrent jurisdiction.� Bill Clinton’s Attorney General, Janet Reno, refused to appoint an assistant Attorney General in the CNMI to enforce the law. (Congressional Record, October 2, 1997, p. E1897)

Fact: The bill Cagle promotes was backed by Bill Clinton and Big Labor, and opposed by the Republican Congress. Bill Clinton first proposed imposing federal wage and immigration law on the CNMI in a letter to the Governor of the Commonwealth on May 30, 1997.

Liberal Congressman George Miller (D-CA) introduced the Clinton plan as H.R. 730 in 1999. It had nothing to do with human rights. It was a federal wage and immigration bill backed by far-left labor unions and liberal members of Congress. It has been reintroduced in the 109th Congress as H.R. 5550, again by Miller (career AFL-CIO rating, 93%; career ACU rating, 4%).

The Clinton-backed plan did nothing to protect workers. GOP Senator Frank Murkowski declared that Democrats “respond to concerns over workers…by suggesting the answer is to raise the minimum wage. The response to allegations of abuse of workers, especially women, is not to propose raising the minimum wage. Paying a person more does not justify abuse.� (Congressional Record, Oct. 8, 1997. Page S10649)

Cagle repeats allegations against garment manufacturers in the CNMI made by a liberal coalition that included the AFL-CIO, the United Mine Workers, the United Food Workers, UNITE (the garment workers’ union), and the Sheet Metal Workers. (“Northern Mariana Island Covenant Implementation Act,� Senate Hearing No. 106-326, 106th Congress, 1st Session, p. 92 [1999])

Fact: The Clinton bill that Cagle promotes granted amnesty to foreign workers and would have wreaked havoc on the economy. The Clinton administration bill Cagle promotes granted amnesty to foreign workers. It stated that after three years, foreign workers could obtain permanent U.S. resident status, after which “the permanent resident alien may engage in any lawful activity, including employment, anywhere in the United States.� (H.R. 730, Section 10) Miller’s legislation would give “foreign workers in the CNMI a shot at U.S. residency, and ultimately citizenship.� (Pacific Daily News, June 12, 2006; USCIS, “Guide to Naturalization,� pp. 22-24)

The bill overturned the local wage for foreign workers enacted by the duly elected government of the Commonwealth. It would have devastated the local economy, unemployed thousands of workers and caused significant economic dislocation. A GAO report found phasing out guest workers would decimate the CNMI economy. (GAO Report, May 12, 2000, Report GGD-00-97/B283950) An Interior Department report concluded “the economy of the Marianas would be severely damaged� and that the “economy would be sent into a catastrophic contraction.� (Washington Times, March 21, 2001)

Fact: The mailing by the Traditional Values Coalition praised Congressman (now Alabama Governor) Bob Riley for opposing Bill Clinton and Big Labor.

Cagle’s ad criticizes a mailing by the Traditional Values Coalition printed by Millennium Marketing that praised conservative Republican Congressman Bob Riley as “one of the strongest advocates in Washington for religious freedom and liberty.� It thanked him for opposing H.R. 730 and for standing up “for the Ten Commandments…and the right of Christian ministries and organizations to spread the message of the gospel around the world.� (Traditional Values Coalition, Alabama mailer, August, 1999) The Traditional Values Coalition is a pro-family organization that works with 50,000 churches nationwide, as well as missionary groups in the Northern Marianas. Cagle is so desperate that he is maligning a pro-family organization promoting Christian missions.

Cagle is so intent on misrepresenting the TVC mailer that the version placed on his campaign website is in low resolution so it cannot be read by voters. Cagle knows that if voters can read the mailing themselves they will see that it praised Riley for opposing a liberal Clinton administration measure.

Nor was Riley alone. House Majority Leader Dick Armey wrote that the Clinton administration’s proposed changes “are counter to the principles of the Republican Party, and this Congress has no intention of voting on such legislation.� (House Majority Leader Dick Armey to Governor Frolian Tenorio, February 19, 1998) Congressman Dana Rohrabacher called the Clinton proposals “politically driven attacks� by liberal Democrats and labor unions. (Congressional Record, October 2, 1997, p. E1897) To argue that a mailing by a pro-life organization that praised a 100% pro-life Congressman for opposing a Clinton bill backed by union bosses that promoted amnesty constitutes a defense of forced abortion is absurd and despicable.

Fact: Republicans have always supported allowing the Northern Marianas to set local wages to support their economy.

The 1976 Marianas Commonwealth Covenant allowed the Islands to set local wages to support their economy, and was signed by President Gerald Ford. (Public Law 94-241, 1976). President Ronald Reagan ratified this policy by executive order in 1986. (Presidential Proclamation 5564, Federal Register, 51, No. 216, November 7, 1986, p. 40399). By siding with Bill Clinton and the labor unions, Cagle is criticizing a policy that was ratified by Ronald Reagan and supported by a Republican Congress.

Fact: Ralph Reed strongly favors human rights, and has always opposed human rights abuses like forced abortion and human sex trafficking.

Ralph Reed has always opposed forced abortion. He is 100% pro-life and has been endorsed by the Georgia Right to Life Committee. Cagle’s ad suggesting otherwise is utterly false and will be rejected by the voters of Georgia.

Reed supported the Freedom from Religious Persecution Act of 1997, which created a special White House office to monitor religious persecution around the world and authorized sanctions against nations that violated human rights. (Knoxville News-Sentinel, May 24, 1997)

Reed is the only candidate for Lt. Governor with a specific plan to combat human sex trafficking, including child prostitution. His proposal notes: “Child prostitution and sex slave trafficking is a growing and major international problem that now touches Georgia.� Reed has proposed the passage of “specific legislation outlawing the practice and making it easier for law enforcement to arrest and bring to justice those who promote and participate in it.� (Ralph Reed, “A Safe and Secure Georgia,� May 1, 2006)

By Tony

July 11, 2006 3:07 PM | Link to this

Good to see Debbie let’s Ralph do her thinking for her. All she can do is keep calling Cagle a liar but offers nothing to prove the points wrong.

Cagle is not saying anything about Riley. He is pointing out that Reed, principled conservative as he is, received money to claim all of these evil things about unions and how good the situation was in the Marianas Islands. His rebuttal release also failed to note the US Government even warned about child prostitution and forced abortions. Had Reed done his homework, he would have found that out. Instead all he did was jump at the business and compromised his own principles.

With Reed, you get a history of him jumping at the Benjamins and not bothering to do his homework. Had he done so, he would have avoided the gambling deal and the Marianas Island deal. But we see his priority is NOT Christian values but greed and love of the money.

Now all of that money he’s ripped off of groups is having to be poured into his campaign to bail him out. Debbie says he’ll get it back. Well if he was so popular, he wouldn’t NEED to even loan himself in the first place. Cagle’s not having to write a huge check this close into the election.

And carte blanche to destroy Cagle? Admission from Debbie as to Reed’s true character. His chief supporter admitting he’d be so dirty as to destroy his opponent. Doesn’t sound too Christian-like to me. And Debbie condones it. Goes to show you his fans know how low he is but STILL defend him.

By dumbfounded

July 11, 2006 3:16 PM | Link to this

Does anybody wonder if the half million $$$ that Reed is putting into his own campaign came from the Indian casinos. And will Governor Perdoofus benefit from Reed’s casino riches if they are running mates?

By Debbie

July 11, 2006 3:18 PM | Link to this

Cagle retreats from alleging threat by lieutenant governor

BYLINE: JIM GALLOWAY DATE: June 10, 2006 PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA) EDITION: Main; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution SECTION: Metro News PAGE: E2

Casey Cagle, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, is backing away from assertions that in 1999 he gave newly elected Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor a $1,000 contribution because the Democrat “threatened” GOP legislation and committee assignments.

Cagle blamed the accusation on an errant news release. “Oftentimes in campaigns, press releases get put out there — I don’t ever remember Mark quote-unquote threatening me,” the state senator from Gainesville said this week in an interview.

The gaffe grew out of an April debate between Cagle and his rival in the July 18 primary, Ralph Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition.

Prodded by Reed, Cagle acknowledged donating $1,000 to Taylor after he became lieutenant governor.

At the time Cagle was chairman of the Republican caucus. State Sen. Eric Johnson of Savannah, then minority leader, also made an identical contribution.

Both Cagle and Johnson characterized the donations as an apology for the 1998 campaign by Taylor’s Republican rival, Mitch Skandalakis. In a TV ad, Skandalakis, the Fulton County Commission chairman, wrongly accused Taylor of drug addiction.

Cagle blamed Reed for the ad’s content because Reed was a fledgling political consultant for the Skandalakis campaign.

Others in the campaign, however, said Reed had nothing to do with that particular ad.

Shortly after this past April’s debate, Cagle e-mailed an explanation to supporters and the media.

“Taylor threatened the Republican Senate leadership, of which I was a member. If we did not make a contribution to him to ‘bury the hatchet,’ then Taylor would strip all Republicans of their committee assignments and kill all Republican legislation,” Cagle was quoted as saying.

Taylor denied making any threats or soliciting any contributions. Johnson, too, said he was not threatened.

A spokesman for Reed wondered out loud why it took Cagle seven weeks to make the retraction.

As for the $1,000 contribution, Reed campaign manager Jared Thomas said, “I would have shook [Taylor’s] hand, and said, ‘Sorry, but best of luck.’ “

Of Cagle, Thomas said, “You got a get-along-to-go-along guy who defends cutting $1,000 out of his campaign fund to benefit Democrats.”

In an interview this week, Cagle said he had had a private conversation with the new lieutenant governor shortly after the 1998 elections in November — but would not give details.

“Taylor was very upset because he’d been falsely accused. He’d won, but he still had a bitter taste in his mouth. He wanted to know whether Republicans condoned that kind of behavior or not,” Cagle said.

Though the senator said Taylor issued no threat, Cagle also said Republicans thought they might be in danger.

“We as a Republican party felt there may be some retribution.

”And in an effort to resolve that issue and clean up the mess, we did it. Leadership requires you to do that sometimes,” he said.

By BahamaBoy

July 11, 2006 3:24 PM | Link to this

Debbie says Bob Riley Hired Reed to do the hatchet job on the Marianas bill, but the Washington Post (liberal media!!!) reported:

“In August 1999, political organizer Ralph Reed’s firm sent out a mailer to Alabama conservative Christians asking them to call then-Rep. Bob Riley (R-Ala.) and tell him to vote against legislation that would have made the U.S. commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands subject to federal wage and worker safety laws.”

So, Debbie? Riley hired Reed to get Alabamians to call Riley to get Riley to vote against a bill that Riley wasn’t sponsoring?

Sorry, but the record reflects that Abramoff’s law firm hired Reed, and he didn’t even bother to use nonprofits to pass through the money — he took it straight from Abramoff’s law firm.

By Bill B.

July 11, 2006 3:26 PM | Link to this

It’s now 3:30 and another blog thread has gone up. Yet no acknowledgement of the “crucial question” of how much cash is on hand. I wonder why? Oh, that’s right, the liberal AJC and it’s staff are supporting the liberal Cagle.

By Bill B.

July 11, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this

Here’s the question: your headline in this post screamed Reed & Cagle at parity, but you acknowledged the “crucial question� was how much cash was on hand.

Reed COH - $1,460,659 Cagle COH - $813,283

2:1 Advantage Reed Will you post that in a screaming headline? Or will you spin it as an advantage for Cagle since the AJC and Cagle are in love with one another?

By RL

July 11, 2006 3:35 PM | Link to this

She’s baaaaaak…

“Debbie’s” campaign meeting must have ended around 2:30.

By BahamaBoy

July 11, 2006 3:37 PM | Link to this

Bill B. Reed may have a 2:1 cash advantage, but he has nothing to left to say. Its the same ol Cagle didn’t withhold taxes (already answered); Cagle gave $1000 to Mark Taylor (already beat to death); and Cagle increased his wealth at taxpayer’s expense (totally unproven becuase it never happened).

900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent!

Keep drinking the Kool Aid.