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DEL.ICIO.USThe real mud flies on Wednesday
Hecht gets nasty with last-minute mailings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While everyone’s been watching the mud fly in the Republican lieutenant governor’s race, what had seemed a relatively civil Democratic lieutenant governor’s race has erupted this week into a pretty nasty affair with two mail pieces from Greg Hecht’s campaign that are right up there with the other team in terms of negativity.
Over a photo of a wan-looking girl on the first piece, a blotter-type headline says “72 children died when Jim Martin was the head of Georgia’s DFCS… why should we trust Jim to be protecting our kids now?â€?
Billy Horton, Hecht’s campaign manager, acknowledged the piece was “a more visible escalation,� but said the race already was becoming more negative, and in any case, the piece was “tame� compared to what Martin might expect from either of the Republicans.
“It’s just been his chipping away at us for the last three, four, five weeks, and saying one thing after another, that brought us to the point where we felt like we had to respond,� Horton said.
He cited what he said was Martin’s misrepresentation of one of Hecht’s Senate votes on a SPLOST issue, and his “outright, blatant misrepresentation� of Hecht’s record on abortion issues.
“If that’s what they’re calling an attack, judge that in comparison to this mail piece,� said Will Martin, Jim Martin’s communications director. “Jim’s position is that every child’s life is precious. For Greg’s campaign to attempt to score points over their deaths is outrageous.�
The timing is critical here. The DFCS piece was mailed at the beginning of the week, timed to drop in mailboxes less than a week before the primary. But Horton didn’t mention, and Martin didn’t know about until late Thursday afternoon, a second piece that went out Wednesday – the last day the post office guarantees a political mailer will be delivered before next Tuesday.
It screams even louder.
“2000 women are raped in Georgia every year. Jim Martin said some of these women ‘should have known better’,� a headline says, over a color negative of a frightened woman with a hand over her mouth. Quoting Martin from an AJC story, it says “She was in a bar, should have known better, wore a short skirt.�
This has to do with a 1994 bill sponsored by Martin when he was in the House which failed to win passage. It would have created different categories for the crime of rape, and was favored by many prosecutors and rape counseling groups.
As for the quote, we’ll give you the full version from the AJC and let you judge for yourself. Martin is talking about how the Georgia law made it hard to prosecute rape cases:
“If there are any factors – such as, she was in a bar, should have known better, wore a short dress – some juries are unwilling to prosecute the crime as rape. The hope is we will get more convictions.�
Comments
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By skewedpositive
July 13, 2006 7:35 PM | Link to this
Oh, my …
I just hope that this is a sign that Martin is on top of the heap. Even my Red friends have conceded that he is the best candidate in the field for Lt. Gov… they’re holding their nose when having to choose between reed and cagle.
By Brian K
July 13, 2006 7:55 PM | Link to this
Greg Hecht taking Jim Martin’s comments so out of context like he did in that second mail piece show he is not worthy of being elected dog catcher, yet alone Lt. Governor. It is despicable and disgusting.
By Rome, GA
July 13, 2006 8:46 PM | Link to this
It’s truly despicable to see Greg Hecht stoop to such lows. As a Martin supporter, I was willing to vote for him the general should he have won the primary, but now I feel obligated to write-in a candidate if he makes it out of this primary, which would be a sad, sad testament to the Democratic Party. Greg Hecht’s actions reflect that of a desperate man willing to sell out good politics for tactics that smack of Ralph Reed and Mitch Skandalakis. I hope Mr. Hecht remembers that Skandalakis lost badly after his vicious personal attacks on Mark Taylor. To imply Martin supports rape and feels apathy towards the families of dead children is nearly criminal and such attacks deserve a harsh rebuking from the electorate.
By Nick
July 14, 2006 12:25 AM | Link to this
That quote is taken so out of context it is absolutely disgusting. I can only hope that this political ploy blows up in Hecht’s face. Shameful.
By FormerRep
July 14, 2006 12:53 AM | Link to this
I served in the House with both Greg and Jim. Both are very capable and very bright. Jim is one of the most hard working and decent men I have ever met in or outside of politics. If I was unsure before, I am no longer. Greg, you have always been ambitious, but you have gone too far. You should be ashamed.
By Colin
July 14, 2006 9:26 AM | Link to this
Greg,
You just lost my vote and the votes of all my friends, family, co-workers, etc. I work in politics and I’ve launched my fair share of attack ads. But there is a line and this goes too far (especially the second piece which is so grossly out of context). If this is the only way you think you can win, you ought to get out of the race. Believe me, I’ll be spreading the word to everyone who will listen to vote for Jim on Tuesday. Shame on you.
By Ms. Anthony
July 14, 2006 9:44 AM | Link to this
This piece will certainly diminish Jim’s support among women. What kind of man who claims to be a progressive candidate could offer up a bill that would divide rape into different categories. No means no! I cannot believe that Martin would offer up such a measure. Plus, as a defense attorney why would he be concerned about how many rapists are being prosecuted? He made his living from representing them and making sure they got off! I am thankful to have this new information. I was prepared to vote for Jim but now there is no way he will ever get my vote or those of any of the women I know. Shame on him!
By PROSEC.
July 14, 2006 9:50 AM | Link to this
I’m sickened as I gave money that most likely was used for these ads. Even worse, I voted early. Greg - pull the mailing if you can. This is low and will hurt you.
By Nicholas
July 14, 2006 9:52 AM | Link to this
Hecht just lost a voter with the DFCS hit. The was below the belt. As someone who works at DFCS to protect children, to use their deaths politically is one of the lowest things I have seen in politics. I was supporting Hecht, but no longer.
By Jake Taylor
July 14, 2006 10:31 AM | Link to this
I have read the entire story that is referred to in the 2nd piece about rape and every professional that is quoted said it was a horrible piece of legislation. How is what Greg did taking anything out of context. My opinion is that Jim Martin was defending a bill that he wrote which would have created categories of Rape and taken into consideration the environment a rape occured in or what a woman was wearing! He was defending that piece of legislation and commented that “if there are any factors such as she was in a bar,should have known better, wore a short dress - some juries are unwilling to prosecute the crime as rape.” that is the complete quote and it was an opinion he was voicing. Under exactly what circumstances does Mr. Martin think a woman should have known better? This is pertinent information concerning a person who wants to serve a heart beat away from the Governor’s office hiw is this out of context?
Jim has a record that clerarly is out of line with the thinking of most Georgians and he obviously could never be elected Lt. Governor in a General Election Campaign — Greg Hecht did us a favor any Democrat in their right mind should not be able to support Jim Martin after reading and investigating the facts contained in these two pieces.
My vote on Tuesday will be for the only candidate that is obviously tough enough to beat Ralph Reed — Greg Hecht!!
By FormerRep
July 14, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this
The bill would have meant more rapists in jail not fewer. Prosecutors wanted it and women’s advocates wanted it. Prosecutors found it difficult getting convictions of rape when the accusors knew the perpetrators as in “date rape” situations. Women groups felt like getting more convictions would result in more women coming forward and ultimately fewer women being harmed. I was lobbied extensively by both groups in favor of the bill’s passage. Greg knows better, or at least he should.
By DidntCareTilNow
July 14, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this
I could’ve cared less who won in this primary for LT Gov and didn’t know who was running on what issues and furhtermore would’ve probably just voted on a gut feeling on Tuesday, BUT… now I know that I won’t punch my ballot next to Hecht’s name. Pretty frickin classless if you ask me. I remembered his name by the billboards and signs and I probably would’ve voted for him, now I’ll remember Hecht’s name from the disdain in my mouth from his tastelessness. I could only pray that the majority of voters feel the same way and that the political gods can exact the same fate as they did for Mitch Skand..
By red clay dem
July 14, 2006 4:32 PM | Link to this
It’s incredible that Hecht supporters are on here defending this piece. Your candidate got caught taking a desperate cheap shot. Suck it up.
My bet is that Georgia voters will support Jim as the candidate that gives voice to our hopes, not our fears. The contrast between him and Reed, or Cagle for that matter, will be striking.
Thank you FormerRep for clarifying the record, and hopefully after this race we’ll leave the Swiftboating to the GOP.
By Jake Taylor
July 14, 2006 4:57 PM | Link to this
Let me ask One question Former Rep. if prosecutors were for it why is the Preosecutor of the year quoted in the AJC article saying it is the worst piece of legislation he had ever seen. Where were all of these advocates when the bill could not muster enough votes to get out of committee? And if you are a rep and you were there why don’t you tell evryone in here who you are and come forward and produce all of the prosecutors and rape crisis people who supported the measure because there is not one positive quote on behalf of Mr. Martin’s measure in the AJC article. I would believe that if prosecutors were behind this bill it could have certainly gotten out of committee but maybe you can provide more enlightenment since you were there
By Elisabeth Huhn
July 15, 2006 11:28 AM | Link to this
DUH ! if you read the entire numerous AJC articles, you will find thre things: (1) Hecht misquoted and misrepresented info (that to me is an ethical breach)We need someone who cares, not whines like a wimp. (2) The rape law was trying to INCREASE rape convictions because JURIES (= not Jim Martin) see women as ‘asking for it’ (3) The bill would have made sodomy (any sexual act except missionary style man on top women on bottem) not a crime between CONSENTING ADULTS. At that time the Hardwick case kept sodomy on the books as a way to discriminate against gay and lesbian ( and many hets who did it other than missionary)
By Lawrence
July 15, 2006 11:31 AM | Link to this
Is that Hecht campaign manager “Billy Horton” thinking he’s come up with the “Willie Horton” ad of 2006?
Shameful. He wonders if others can get any sleep at night probably because he can’t sleep. Sorry Greg, you wind up the loser.
By BO_DOG
July 15, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this
‘Rape Crisis Group Presents Award’ Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault awarded Jim Martin U.S. Sen. Max Cleland’s Public Servant Award (1) * They believe he does GREAT WORK* So HECK with HECHT! Hecht is worried and uses scare tactics to make us afraid =that is just like Reed. BTW Hecht wrote to Christain Coalition: ” I grateful for your hard work … I appreciate your service…Christain Coaltion’s work … I thought the paper took an unfair shot at you last year(2)
HECHT is not the MAN he says he is!
(1) DATE: April 18, 2002 PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)EDITION: Home; SECTION: City Life Midtown PAGE: JN4 (2) http://www.radicalgeorgiamoderate.org/2005/02/22/kudos-to-governor-perdue/
By PC
July 15, 2006 5:58 PM | Link to this
Greg Hecht shows the moral valus of Ralph Reed in the use of these ads. Should Greg win I sit this one out and vote for Reed
By Suzanne Thornton
July 16, 2006 7:48 AM | Link to this
Sadly, Greg Hecht Sent out 2 Mailings Using Reed’s Nefarious And Fallacious Attacks Tactics With Smart Voters. Luckily These Intelligent Voters Researched The 2 Negative Ads And Found The Truth: (1) Jim Martin has always supported women’s and children’s right. Hecht’s voting record doesn’t. (2) Read the stats about child abuse at georgia.gov search “Child Abuse” statistics deaths. Martin took responsibility and made changes-he didn’t just whine about it. How can we trust Hecht now that his true malicious, do anything to win personality came out. But HECK most of us knew this about Hecht. Sad but true.
By Suzanne Thornton
July 16, 2006 7:50 AM | Link to this
Hecht Ghosting as Ms Anthony and Jake Taylor? LIke Reed’s followers-they believe anything he says.Say HECK with Hecht!