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DEL.ICIO.USOne robocall away from a corker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Who is Orlando Jones? In a few hours that could become a burning question.
All the heat and light in the lieutenant governor’s race has been on the Republican primary, which will be decided one way or another very shortly. But with five candidates in the race, the Democratic primary appears headed for a runoff, just when it’s getting hot.
Orlando Jones is the name used in a robocall, purportedly from Jim Martin’s campaign, which asked voters to touch the screen for Martin because of his support for gay and lesbian rights. You can hear it in this recording from the Blog for Democracy site.
Dan Browning, a reader in Decatur who emailed us after he got the call Sunday night, said he became suspicious this was a “stealth� call when “Orlando Jones� spoke of Martin’s efforts to “legalize sodomy.�
“That’s just not the way it’s presented from that side,� Browning said.
Billy Horton, Greg Hecht’s campaign manager, has taken full responsibility for two mailers sent out last week (see the Aug. 13 archives), over which the Martin campaign cried foul, and said Monday they were “absolutely true.� But he denied any connection with the Orlando Jones call.
“It’s just a little bit funny to me they knew about it as soon as the call went out,� Horton said.
Will Martin, Martin’s communications director, said the campaign became aware so quickly because dozens of supporters from around the state called in to ask whether the call was for real. He said Rep. Jim Marshall has taped a robocall for Martin, who’s also enlisted former Mayor Andrew Young as a telephone voice.
If Hecht and Martin are the two contenders left standing Wednesday morning, we’ll be hearing a lot more about this.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By hecht a loser
July 17, 2006 7:34 PM | Link to this
Hecht should be ashamed. First horribly misleading, unethical ads, and now this. Anyone supporting this man should be shamed; any person on his campaign with any integrity should resign.
Martin may not be perfect, but at least he’s honest. That’s more than anyone can say for Hecht.
By toggle
July 17, 2006 8:14 PM | Link to this
Here’s a link to a bio of the real Orlando Jones - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Jones
Nonsensical for Martin to have solicited an endorsement from him.
By Elisabeth Huhn
July 17, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this
HECK with HECHT… these tactics are lower than Reeds. Guess that’s were Hecht learned them? Seriously, something tells me Hecht will be caught with his sly, misleading games-phone calls, nasty mailers, and ghosting the blogs as 2 different people. Sad , I had thought Hecht would know better. Better find these things out BEFORE he gets elected not after. I’m sorry I can not trust Hecht to represent me.
By BO_DOG
July 17, 2006 10:08 PM | Link to this
I listened to the robo call-fake gay. Pllllleaaaseee dont stereotype us on the phone-they did a bad job of acting on the phone. 2 Thumbs Down For the gall to fake Martin’s campaign-another 2 Thumbs down the mailers were already rebutted-Hecht lost again. Lets just get 10 thumbs down for all that BSruff
By Paul
July 19, 2006 12:22 AM | Link to this
Forget whether this guy sounds “gay”, but that has to be one of the worst I’m-faking-a-Southern-accent-attempts I have ever heard. If someone thinks this is what you’ll hear strolling the corner of Piedmont & 10th Street in Atlanta, listen again. Pathetic, whether it is Hecht’s campaign or not, it makes him look really bad.
By Suzanne Thornton
July 22, 2006 7:04 PM | Link to this
AJC said: “Hecht’s low blows…cannibalized the quote to butcher Martin’s intent… Hecht is not the only candidate with dirty hands” Need I say more? If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and smells like a duck…well, Hecht dirty tricks may have included the fake accent, anti-gay comments etc. Geez he needs a better speach writer for that and his ads…
Fringe is no longer in Maureen Downey - Staff Thursday, July 20, 2006