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DEL.ICIO.USReed and Cagle: It’s time for a dose of Valium
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Right up to the last moment, Georgia’s race for lieutenant governor is living up to its reputation as a local, down-ticket contest with national import.
Last week, Marvin Olasky, the editor of World magazine, wrote a column for Human Events, the national conservative weekly, critical of Ralph Reed’s campaign and his relationship with Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Olasky is a Texas religious thinker considered the father of the “compassionate conservatism” that carried George W. Bush to the White House.
“Reed could have been open and honest, especially since conservatives can legitimately differ on gambling issues. Battles about gambling expansion often feature anti-gambling groups (small in size and dollars) in temporary alliances-of-sorts with existing casinos. Some anti-gambling groups accept that reality as the cost of keeping gambling from expanding. Others refuse to use gambling money. Reed could have given folks who trusted him the choice, but instead he used the reputation he then had for integrity to fool those who were too easily led.”
On Monday, Human Events published a response from Sadie Fields, chairman of the Georgia Christian Coalition, who has personally endorsed Reed:
“Marvin Olasky’s overwrought attempt at guilt by association is unfair and mean-spirited. He seems to argue that because Reed had a friend who did something wrong, he is disqualified from serving. That may sell magazines, but it does not reflect the redemptive love of Christ….
“I have been fighting for pro-family values for over 15 years in Georgia, and I do not appreciate outsiders telling us who we should choose to lead our state.”
Beyond that, both candidates executed multi-city fly-arounds on Monday, nearly bumping into each other in Macon. Each had scheduled a press conference at the city’s small airport at just after noon.
Also, Georgia Right to Life slapped Casey Cagle on the wrist for a radio ad which says “Georgia Right to Life endorsed Casey Cagle because they know he won’t sell out Georgia’s values.”
The anti-abortion group has endorsed both candidates, with no caveats aimed at Reed. “We object, basically, to [Cagle] putting words in our mouths,” said GRTL spokesman Dan Becker. “To imply that we have questions about one candidate was just inappropriate.”
Becker did tell us that GRTL is not withdrawing its endorsement of Cagle. Cagle’s campaign, by the way, blames Reed for pressuring GRTL to put out a press release on the matter.
Comments
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By Tony
July 17, 2006 5:15 PM | Link to this
Let’s see. Fields has it quite known that she’s Christian Coalition and defending a candidate in a partisan race. I wonder if that passes the sniff test of her non-profit status. After all she shut down other members of the Coalition for coming out and defending a candidate….hmmm.
By Jack S
July 17, 2006 5:34 PM | Link to this
Sadie, Casey Cagle has been an integral part of passsing all the legislation you lamely take credit for and you’ve sold him out for that fraud Reed. On behalf of social conservatives, thanks a lot for selling us down the river.
By Tony
July 17, 2006 5:34 PM | Link to this
Now Fields cements her double standard by sending out action alerts against Cagle emphasizing what the GRTL said about his endorsement. Fields…your bias is showing and it sure isn’t pretty. I’ll be sure to make a call to the powers that be to let them see your non-profit double standard only applies to county and local groups but not to you. Strange how GReed’s minions want everyone else to abide by rules and ethics but they themselves slip through those same standards and we’re still supposed to love and forgive….
Luke 17:3 says “Take heed to yourselves: if your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him, and if he repent, forgive him.�
Rebuke time Sadie….
By Meltdown
July 17, 2006 6:02 PM | Link to this
Sadie Fields Slams HomeSchool Kids “… I do not appreciate outsiders telling us who we should choose to lead our state.â€? Wow. I guess they all need to take their money and go home.
By Jack S
July 17, 2006 6:05 PM | Link to this
I’m very pro-life but who cares what GRTL thinks. they’re a group of ridiculous people who’s reputation for doing anything that actually helps campaigns is crap.
It’s one of the most ineffective groups out there which is why I stopped supporting them years ago.
By Howard
July 17, 2006 6:07 PM | Link to this
Casey Cagle became wealthy while he was a State Senator on the banking committee. Guess he forgot what public servant actually meant…
Go Sadie go.
By Tony
July 17, 2006 6:20 PM | Link to this
Ummm…Howard…the GReed spin is getting old. Cagle became wealthy when he bought up a store at the age of 20 and then sold it making a nice profit. He lived the American dream. When you nuts can actually prove something wrong or illegal was done, then we’ll give you the time of day. But as long as you keep recycling the unproven GReed trash, you’ll get in return what is due you.
GReed profited millions off of God and did nothing in return. Chinese immigrants left being forced into abortions and prostitutions…no Bibles in their hands….Indians had schools defunded and were sent to the unemployment line. Communist China benefitted from Ralph’s work. They get Boeing jets, MFN, cheap labor and goods they can call “Made in America” with the biggest loophole in American trade law. Thanks for helping the Communist Chinese Ralph. Your aid to them goes to helping oppress Christians there as well. Spreading YOUR values?
Go Ralph go….keep going…try China where you do more good for THEIR values.
By Better Choices
July 17, 2006 6:21 PM | Link to this
OR….. you could realize that BOTH Cagle and Reed are of questionable character, used their positions as “public servants” to better themselves financially, and are wholly unworthy of the public trust. You could vote for someone who cares about doing a good job for the people of Georgia instead! What a refreshing change!
By Meltdown
July 17, 2006 6:22 PM | Link to this
And Ralph became wealthy selling his list of “wackos” to the highest bidder. Oh, is that y’all? Sorry. Which one is the more cynical?
By Tony
July 17, 2006 6:27 PM | Link to this
Meltdown,
Don’t forget how GReed has to create his wide ranging base from phones in desk drawers. My guess is his vast ‘empire’ is adding all of the orgs’ memberships together even though all just share one list.
By BahamaBoy
July 17, 2006 7:14 PM | Link to this
Ran into those those homeschoolers today. They showed up at a busy intersection Cagle supporters had been sign waiving at for three days. The van driver put them out and drove away. Little kids, mind you, with a leader who couldn’t have been more than 14 years old.
Cagle supporters fanned out and commandeered three corners of the very busy intersection during rush hour drive time. The kids clung to the remaning corner — the only one with any shade at all.
Two hours later, and some 5,000 passing cars later, they loaded up and left the corner. The Cagle supporters still held their real estate until 7 PM.
Paying little kids’ managers $250 a day for such “support” puts Reed in really fine company. I have a good mind to file a complaint with some state agency so they can investigate whether such child “labor” is legal, moral or ethical. The sight was absolutely pathetic. Twelve-hour days for these little ones in near 100 degree temperature? Surely, this is not right!
Judging from the honks and waves from passers-by, Cagle should do quite well on Tuesday. I hope Reed will at least have the decency to throw a little farewell party for his “kids” before they are bussed back out of state.
By Meltdown
July 17, 2006 7:22 PM | Link to this
Interesting math - the kids “cost” $250/day, but they are only being paid $50/day. That led to an interesting logistical nightmare over the weekend. Seems that all the Reed campaign had on hand was stacks of $100’s, so the baglady for the campaign had to figure out how to break all those Franklins on a Saturday afternoon to pay the little darlings. Can’t wait to hear how she managed that.
I wonder how they’re taking Sadie’s vicious remarks? Oh well, it’s a job.
By Tony
July 17, 2006 7:41 PM | Link to this
GReed loves subjecting kids to sweat shop working conditions for his own benefit….check his record.
By Disgusted Republican
July 17, 2006 8:00 PM | Link to this
I am absolutely sicked by the negative campaign of Cagle. Who does he expect to believe his crazy charges. I doubt Reed is a saint, but to suggested Reed supports child prostitution and abortion is just stupid.
I am glad this is just about over. I plan to vote for Reed tomorrow and my family will follow suit. Cagle’s negative attacks just went too far in my book.
By Tony
July 17, 2006 8:16 PM | Link to this
Disgusted Republican,
All you have to do is check the facts. Reed protected the status quo on the Mariana Islands. This included Chinese Communists operating sweat shops that forced women and children to work in inhumane conditions. The status quo condoned child labor, forced abortions, prostitution, and allowing Chinese Communists to misuse the “Made in the USA” label. He also stopped the potential for investigations into these conditions. He also stopped mandatory inspections of shipping containers. Since 9/11 this is a demand of ALL elected officials but GReed thought this was uncalled for. GReed protected Chinese Communist interests all in the name of a quick million. And this was not the first time GReed protected and promoted the interests of Communist China.
Where were those Bibles GReed claimed were being sent back to China in hand? Did GReed do anything to send Bibles with those prostitutes and child laborers?
By Ted
July 17, 2006 9:13 PM | Link to this
Tony: Yes or No question…do you believe Ralph Reed supports forced abortions and child prostitution?
By Tony
July 17, 2006 9:28 PM | Link to this
He may say he does not. But the fact of who he worked for on the Marianas Island deal, who paid him, who benefitted from it, and what was allowed to continue unabated because of his work, that tells me all I need to know about Ralph. Had he been informed and educated on the issues rather than so eager to make a quick buck or million, he’d have seen how destructive and un-Christian his move was. He was paid millions to protect a way of life that benefitted Communist Chinese interests and repressed those Ralph pretended he was trying to help. In what Ralph did, answer me this - how did Ralph better these people’s lives either in Christian principles or conservative principles?
By Debbie
July 17, 2006 9:29 PM | Link to this
Tony , Reagan believed the exact same way as Reed did. Are you going to say that Reagan was in favor of forced abortions and slave labor too? I guess Cagle would have voted with Big Labor and Bill Clinton against the GOP position. He blasts Reed for lobbying against the bill so that means he would have been in favor of it.
Tell me did Cagle donate $ 1,000 to Bill Clinton, too?
By Debbie
July 17, 2006 9:34 PM | Link to this
Cagle increased his wealth 900% in four years as a State Senator on the Senate Banking Committee. I think that is way beyond living the American Dream. Cagle served himself instead of taxpayers.
Bahama Boy, Cagle staffer, Sadie did not attack home schoolers. Another Cagle lie and distorted fact.
Tell me, did Bill and Hillary Clinton develop Cagle’s campaign strategy?
By Tony
July 17, 2006 9:48 PM | Link to this
Debbie,
You’ve said that over and over but when I ask you for proof you have nothing to offer me. Reagan also believed in amnesty for illegal aliens but yet over 3/4 of this nation and as much in GA disagree. So your baiting on the Reagan issue is flawed in two aspects.
Bring me proof and answer my questions and I’ll take you a little seriously.
Again, Debbie, show me where Cagle did something wrong and/or illegal and/or shady in living the American Dream. I’ve yet to see ANY of GReed’s accusations stick. It’s quite humorous to see Ralph make a whole list of accusations and not a single one has been proven to be true. Why would such a good Christian man keep bearing false witness? Yep, those Ten Commandments Ralph supposedly worked to protect have one Ralph has a hard time honoring. He has a problem bearign false witness over and over. And so do you Debbie. You keep making claims and have yet to back any up.
By BahamaBoy
July 17, 2006 10:08 PM | Link to this
900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent! 900 percent!
By Meltdown
July 17, 2006 11:00 PM | Link to this
Debbie - put down the KoolAid and read more slowly. That wasn’t BahamaBoy - that was my tongue in cheek jab at people stupid enough to slam people from out of state for having an opinion. The irony was too rich on so many levels. At the risk of coming off like a pointy headed intellectual, I’ll explain it. 1) In this very space over the weekend the Reed campaign was very happy about their support from kids from 10 different states. 2) Her argument was very much like the “outside agitator” slime that Wallace & Lester Maddox used to spew.
Just an innocent question - did your Daddy have a Pickrick drumstick back in the day?
By JP
July 17, 2006 11:41 PM | Link to this
Too little Too late for Reed.
Blog and Tan
By Meltdown
July 18, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this
Another clarification for Debbie - I’m not associated with the Cagle campaign either. I’m a Libertarian ex-Republican who’s been watching Reed leave a slime trail across the country for decades. I just can’t resist reaching for my salt shaker when I see him crawl by.