Political Insider

By Pat Durham

August 3, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this

Could not find the correct AJC Email comment button. Ms. Mckinney is an embarassment at best. Vote her out pleazzzzze

By Franklin

August 3, 2006 10:56 AM | Link to this

Just look at Gary Black’s Contributions and Supporter List. There are dozens of Poultry Producers on Black’s disclosure and supporters list from around Georgia. I know as I travel around NE Georgia I see several Poultry Farms with Gary Black signs in front of them.

By Mitch

August 3, 2006 11:01 AM | Link to this

I would argue that all Farmers are solidly behind Gary Black. Just ride around Georgia, there are Gary Black signs in front of all of them.

By Debbie

August 3, 2006 11:08 AM | Link to this

I believe poultry producers are part of the Georgia Agribusiness Council. Gary was President. http://www.ga-agribusiness.org/

I like Brian Kemp and think he has been a great State Senator, but he is not qualified to be AG Commissioner.

The AG Commissioner is a down ballot position. Not everyone will be voting on it but the AG Community will. It is important to have their support.

Think of the tough questions the AG community will be throwing at the candidates. Who is best qualified to answer those questions? Gary Black is.

By Billings

August 3, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this

Gary Black is a LIBERAL DEMOCRAT SPECIAL INTEREST LOBBYIST. He is bought and paid for by big business and is bad for Georgia. He is opposed to cutting spending in the department and said he may want to raise it, he voted in the ‘04 democrat pres preference primary, he is a special interest lobbyist and the special interest group he was part of was one biggest opponents of anti0illegal immigration bill this session.

By Franklin

August 3, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

I just checked my mail and the COWARD Brian Kemp has attacked Gary Black again. I guess after that beating that Kemp took in that debate last night that he just has to keep attacking Gary Black for being a Lobbyist. I have one question from Brian Kemp.

HOW MUCH MONEY/GIFTS HAVE YOU RECEIVED FROM LOBBYIST?

ANSWER: THOUSANDS

http://www.peachpundit.com/2005/10/14/gary-black-and-senator-brian-kemp/

Not to mention free Football Tickets and $100 Steaks

http://www.ethics.state.ga.us/gaethics/Reports/Lobbyist/Lobbyist_byExpenditures.aspx?LastName=&POName=Brian%20Kemp&GroupName=&Association=&DateFrom=2003&DateTo=2006&Amount=&Description=

By michael

August 3, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

Gary Black is a special interest lobbyist just like jack abramoff. He is bad for Georgia.

Brian Kemp has been a legislative leader on agriculture and homeland secuirty issues and is the only candidate in the race that can beat Tommy Irvin. He also has the endorsem,ent of over 300 elected officials across the state, i saw on a mail piece i got the other day.

By Steve

August 3, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this

Brian Kemp is the clear choice in this race. He is the Conservative Choice. He has the RIGHT PLAN. The RIGHT VALUES. The RIGHT EXPERIENCE.

The only candidate that has been elected to represent Georgians and hasnt been paid to represent and special interest group and is not being paid by that group to run for office.

THe only candidate that has supported and passed the toughest anti illegal immigration bill in the country.

The only caniddate to proposing cutting the departments budget and Gary Black wants to raise the budget by 20% meaning he will have to RAISE our TAXES just like a democrat.

VOTE KEMP. THE CONSERVTIVE REPUBLICAN STATE SENATE LEADER ON AGRICULTURE AND HOMELAND SECURITY.

By Debbie

August 3, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this

The endorsement of over 300 elected officials will not help Brian with the AG community.

They want someone that knows their issues and knows Agri Business. That is Gary Black.

Gary is supported by the farmers and can defeat Irvin.

Billings, you are forgetting that Kemp also voted in the Democratic Primary.

Brian Kemp’s Voting Record:

1998 Primary – Democrat 2000 Primary - Democrat

By Debbie

August 3, 2006 12:40 PM | Link to this

Raising the Dept. Of Agriculture budget does not mean raising taxes. Gov. Perdue increased the education budget and gave the teachers a pay raise and he did not raise taxes.

By steve

August 3, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

Well, he was an old democrat and the first thing he did was try to raise taxes and gary will do the same. Democrat, Democrat, Democrat, Democrat.

By Debbie

August 3, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this

Gary is not a Democrat. He has the support of many elected Republicans and party members. http://www.votegaryblack.com/default.asp?pt=doc&doc=supporters

Gary’s response to Kemps attacks:

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your support as we moved into the Republican Primary Run-off. My supporters have called over 15,000 of their friends, family and neighbors in addition to the thousands of postcards we have sent to the address books of our supporters. We are moving towards victory thanks to your help and hard work.

However, today marks a sad day in this race. My opponent sent a dishonest mail piece to many of you distorting my career, my values and my opinions. It is sad to see his campaign stoop to such desperate antics but it can only be expected after his disappointing performance in the Primary. Let me set the record straight to you.

The truth is I have voted for every Republican presidential nominee since I could vote, casting my first vote for Gerald Ford. In 2004, I was an active member of the Bush/Cheney Farm and Ranch Team and actively participated in the Great American Farm Breakfast at the Republican National Convention.

I am a proud conservative. I have worked over the years to elect some of our state’s greatest leaders including Governor Sonny Perdue and Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. I have earned the endorsements of Congressmen Nathan Deal, Charlie Norwood, John Linder and Lynn Westmoreland, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, State Senator Chip Pearson, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee Rep. Tom McCall, Governor’s Floor Leader Rep. Jay Roberts, and Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister as well as a host of state and local officials. They know my values and my record, and they support me because I am the only Republican who understands agriculture and its needs.

I fully support cutting wasteful spending. No one has reviewed spending in this agency in 37 years. My opponent has said he will cut the Department’s budget by 10%. After reviewing spending, we may be able to cut it by 20%. However, at this point, without any investigation, throwing out an arbitrary number is only a campaign gimmick. You have my full pledge that I will completely eliminate wasteful spending and return excess revenues to the taxpayers of Georgia.

I asked my opponent to join me in pledging to run a positive campaign based on the issues. Today, he made it clear that he would rather run on dishonest negative personal attacks. I will continue to run a campaign based on the issues and the need for change in Georgia agriculture.

-Cut wasteful spending by expanding the role of technology. -Protect Georgia’s food supply from attack or contamination by providing the best trained, well-equipped front line defenders. -Conserve resources by promoting and growing the bio-fuel industry in Georgia, giving our farmers new markets. -Work with Georgia’s Congressmen to seal our border and work to have a real, enforceable immigration plan.

I’ve appreciated your help and support throughout this process. I hope you’ll help me negate these negative attacks in your community. Most importantly, I hope you will vote for me on August 8 and cast a vote for a new vision in agriculture backed by experience and passion.

Sincerely,

Gary W. Black

By Tony

August 3, 2006 1:30 PM | Link to this

Who is more up on the budget process? Who is more up on legislation affecting this department? Who is more up on the laws, committees, elected officials? Who has done more to buy influence on legislation affecting one specific group? I see a lot of Big Oil and banks who are members of this group Black worked for. I wonder how Debbie feels about those evil banks that were friendly to Cagle now being behind Black’s lobbying efforts? Why is it OK for Black to contribute to Democrats but not Cagle? I’m seeing some double standards here.

As for the claim on Kemp with accepting lobby money have you seen what Black and the AgriBusiness Council did? A lot of food and flowers….a whole lot of money being dished out.

By Demonbeck

August 3, 2006 1:51 PM | Link to this

If it has to do with chickens, ask Abit Massey.

By HJ Bailey

August 3, 2006 2:14 PM | Link to this

Debbie, it easy say that you aren’t a democrat but you cant get rid of the facts. Gary Black is a 2-faced snake. His true face is that of a liberal democrat special interest lobbyist who has been working with people like roy barnes, tom murphy, tommy irvin, and tyrone brooks for years and the other face is a mask. THat is the mask of being a “Republican” and a “coonservative” that has two ag-ag-ag-ri-ri-cul-cult-ure-ture tee-een-a-a-g-ers and is a farmer.

THe mask is the lie. If you want to run for political office you have to live with the choices you make, so if you dig yourself a hole, bury yourself in it.

By Debbie

August 3, 2006 2:19 PM | Link to this

Gary also worked with Republican elected officials as well. And he is supported by GOP Congressmen here in Georgia and many other elected Republicans and party officials. Are you saying all those support Democrats? He represented Agriculture interests and you have to work with the elected officials, including Democrats.

Kemp voted in the Democratic Primary, do you think it is wrong for Black to do so but ok for Kemp?

By Mitch

August 3, 2006 2:30 PM | Link to this

DOES BRIAN KEMP TOLERATE HIS SUPPORTERS MAKING FUN OF HIS OPPONENTS CHILDREN? THAT IS JUST TOO MUCH. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.

By Billings

August 3, 2006 2:41 PM | Link to this

I dont think anyone was making fun of them Mitch. I think they were making fun of Gary and the fact that he spends more time talking about his kids then about what he plans to do.

By Tony

August 3, 2006 2:50 PM | Link to this

So what distinction is there between Gary and Tommy? Gary’s been a lobbyist to essentially get Tommy’s department to do specific things. If Gary complains about things Tommy hasn’t done, then does that mean he’s an ineffective lobbyist and his group is ineffective as well? If he can’t even lobby the agency his group has to deal with so much why should we elect him to run it?

By Debbie

August 3, 2006 3:13 PM | Link to this

You make no sense. You can just lobby elected officials. You can’t force the elected official to enact anything. You know that.

By Mitch

August 3, 2006 3:22 PM | Link to this

I have heard Gary talk his Plan in detail on more than one occassion. I still dont see why you make fun of a man because he loves his children.

By Tony

August 3, 2006 3:42 PM | Link to this

How is lobbying elected officials getting the Department to do what you want? You’d figure after how many thousands of dollars of lobbying and such a highly skilled man like Black, there would be no issues with agriculture. Frankly I’m not seeing much difference between Black and Irvin. Both are so plugged into the process and special interests getting nowhere, I’d say both are on equal footing of being ineffective.

By Farmers love Black

August 3, 2006 8:17 PM | Link to this

Black knows our issues inside and out. Kemp is a nice guy, but is not in touch with farmers. In fact, he is about the richest person in state politics. Look at his personal financial disclosure on the state ethics site.

Kemp is worth over six million dollars. He is too rich to understand the problems of the family farmer.

By SOUTHERNCOMFORT

August 3, 2006 9:29 PM | Link to this

Kemp is a personal friend and that is why I will vote for him, but that is the only reason to support him. This has been good statewide experience for Kemp and he will be back one day I hope.

By Tony

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

Too rich to understand….that sounds a little like Democratic class warfare mumbo jumbo. Someone reading some agrarian Trotsky pamphlets?

I figure a guy going around writing checks to buy votes courtesy of corporate farms would be a little too rich to understand the family farmer. I look at who Black worked for and all I see are a lot of large corporations. So “Farmers Love Black” try digging up something better than that. Your Clinton class warfare garbage really smells.

By sundawg

August 4, 2006 7:43 AM | Link to this

The special interest that Gary Black lobbys for is AGRICULTURE!!!! That is what GAC and Farm Bureau have paid him to do over the last 25 years. The rhetoric and accusations about his political views is sickening. Brian Kemp and his people have lost credibility in the last week. I am still waiting for Brian to answer the peanut question from the debate???? Gary won the debate hands down.

By Debbie

August 4, 2006 8:03 AM | Link to this

Southern comfort, I think Brian has been an astounding State Senator but chose the wrong office to campaign for.

We need someone that can answer tough questions on the campaign trail from farmers. We need someone that has the support of the Ag community to defeat Irvin. The AG community likes Gary and will vote for him in November.

There are conservative voters in AG business that still vote Democrat in local and statewide races. These voters like Gary and his new ideas. Gary will help bring these new voters into the GOP fold.

By Tony

August 4, 2006 8:08 AM | Link to this

New ideas? I’m just not seeing them. The only difference I see between Irvin and Black is that they don’t want the other to win. I’m just not seeing a distinction.

Has Gary accomplished anything in his lobbying career besides fattening up some legislators with steak dinners?

By debbie

August 4, 2006 2:44 PM | Link to this

Georgia Outdoor News Has Not Endorsed Brian Kemp for Tuesday Run-off Elections

Peach Pundit broke this story:

http://www.gon.com/article.php?id=827&cid=158

By Steve Burch Posted Friday August 4 2006, 11:05 AM

GON has not endorsed Brian Kemp for Agriculture Commissioner in the Tuesday, August 8 run-off election. A mailer is being circulated indicating that GON has endorsed Brian Kemp.

GON had never seen the flyer until a reader faxed it to GON on the morning of August 4. Our only comments on this or any other race are published in the GON July issue.

If the Kemp campaign took those comments as an endorsement, they did so without our knowledge and in error.

GON does believe the Republican Party has fielded quality candidates for the post of Georgia Agricultural Commissioner and does plan to endorse either Brian Kemp or Gary Black in their campaign against current commissioner Tommy Irvin this fall. If the Kemp campaign took that information as an endorsement, it was premature.

By Dave

August 5, 2006 11:27 PM | Link to this

I dunno, wasn’t even Governor Perdue a Democrat until 1998? Mike Bowers? Nathan Deal? Pretty much most current-day Republicans who were in power and/or “connected” before 2000?