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DEL.ICIO.US‘Warmest regards, Sonny Perdue, Bonaire, Ga.’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Earlier this week, this space featured Gov. Sonny Perdue’s tete-a-tete with the sports gurus of radio’s 680 The Fan, over Journal-Constitution coverage of the Georgia Bulldogs.
Perdue was accused of having more important things to do than to complain about headline writers in a sports department.
“I wrote that letter as a citizen. The paper’s the one making a big deal out of it. I wrote what I felt,� the governor protested. “I signed it ‘Sonny Perdue, Bonaire, Ga.’�
Well, not really.
At least, not the part about signing it as a simple man from a simple hometown. And not the part about writing it as a citizen. Unless most citizens have a state-salaried Boswell at hand.
We talked to Dan McLagan, the governor’s spokesman And the information we’ve gleaned is useful as a lesson in how political events happen.
Fact 1: The governor witnessed an excellent first half by the Bulldogs last Saturday — in person, from the president’s suite.
Fact 2: On Sunday morning, the governor picked up the sports section, and took offense. The headline in question: “Dogs get put in their place.�
Fact 3: That afternoon, Perdue and McLagan conferred about a letter of protest to the AJC. The governor, who has been on the receiving end a few AJC headlines lately, outlined a few thoughts for McLagan to fill in.
Fact 4: McLagan sent the governor a draft. It was signed, per the governor’s instructions, “Sonny Perdue, Bonaire, Ga.� We have a copy of the draft, and hereby acknowledge that it was written during an employee’s off-hours, in the middle of a three-day weekend.
Perdue, on his way to Lynchburg, Va., to visit the Rev. Jerry Falwell, apparently didn’t like much of it. An aide sent McLagan a much-changed revision, via a campaign BlackBerry. Without “Sonny Perdue, Bonaire, Ga.�
Fact 5: McLagan bounced the e-mail to the editor of the AJC’s op-ed pages, with this message: “Gov wanted to submit this.� And no mention of “Sonny Perdue, Bonaire, Ga.�
Ever the faithful servant, McLagan has fallen on his sword in the matter. The governor thought he was writing as a simple man from a simple hometown. It was his director of communications who forgot.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Mary
October 13, 2006 6:44 PM | Link to this
Just be thankful he’s not sending emails to pages. Politicians are welcome to accept “gifts” and rewrite laws to line their own pockets but heaven help them if they stray into sex.
By GLC
October 13, 2006 8:36 PM | Link to this
Why didn’t Perdue have one of his staff members get the Editor on the phone so he could complain? Why didn’t Perdue have the draft e-mailed to him for final editing before subittal? So many other questions can be raised?
I can’t help but believe that Perdue’s motive was political, i.e., to get some attention (hopefully votes) from the Bulldog Nation. His subsequent appearance on a sports radio program hosted by Buck Belue provide further credence to my belief. If he was just venting then why extend discussion of his displeasure with the AJC by agreeing to participate on the program? Perdue’s strategy back-fired because the interview did not go his way.
The most recent Dooley/Adams matter reminds me of the fact that perdue was publicly silent during the big fight between them a few years back. Though publicly silent, word has it that Perdue let it be known to the Board of Regents that he favored Adams in the fight. The rest his history.
Members of the Bulldog Nation beware: A vote for Perdue is a vote to keep Adams.
By mike
October 14, 2006 6:41 AM | Link to this
I think the Govener did a tremendous thing for Georgia. The AJC does deserve to be called out for its recent negativity.
By Shoplift Canoli
October 14, 2006 7:47 AM | Link to this
So you’re saying that the Sonny do list is under the mascot? Bad dog!
By observer
October 14, 2006 8:14 AM | Link to this
Guys, WHO CARES? Please find something with substance to write about.
By jesus bulldog christ
October 14, 2006 8:42 AM | Link to this
how do you get the uga grad off the front
porch of the gov’s mansion at 2 am in 2007?
pay him for the pizza….
these people are morons.
and my dad would like you to know that the born again party is over. you mortals have found the missing link… it’s sonny… proof that you did evolve from a lower form of primate life.
jesus “bulldog” christ
By gtcitizen
October 14, 2006 9:15 AM | Link to this
The TRUTH hurts!! UGAly is NOT a great team. If you need the facts go to espn.com and look at the polls. It is the job of the newspaper to bring the stories. Where was Perdue when the Falcons, Hawks, or Braves were getting whipped? I don’t know!
By Rod
October 14, 2006 9:43 AM | Link to this
Simple: Purdue abused the Governor’s office when writing this letter to the AJC. He used a staff member to do most of the work. We - the tax payers - essentially paid that staff worker for writing Purdue’s letter.
That sort of arrogance needs to be kicked out of office.
By bg
October 14, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this
All I know is that the headline in question caused me NOT to buy the paper last Sunday!
By The Thin Guy
October 14, 2006 12:08 PM | Link to this
This problem could have been easily solved by having the ajc retract the original story and print that Georgia handed Tennessee a devastating defeat. It would make the Governor happy, UGA fans happy, and would be as accurate as 50% of the stories in the ajc. Assuming that UGA triumphs over Vandy today an appropriate headline would be Georgia Undefeated, Ranked No. 1, and Joe Terriblesinski wins Heisman Trophy. Remember that we have only one Governor and we need to keep him happy.
By Pink and Brown are Colors Too
October 15, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this
Help, Help Mister Private Investigator Bill King, Sonny’s purty pink panties have been found between the hedges, torn, and with ugly brown stains on the back! Oh, we fear the worst, another ravagin’ by a mutant hillbilly, just like last weekend! Oh, we warned the gov, told him not to go out, as them savages was about, but sonny had this gleam in his eye, put on only his purty pink panties, again, just like last weekend. Help us, obi wan, you are our last hope, cause Mark is a crook.
By MRS GUV
October 15, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this
OH THANK ALLAH, SONNY’S BEEN FOUND! HE IS AT THE GRADY ER, HAVING HIS BUTT PUMPED, AGAIN THIS WEEKEND! MR. KING, COULD YA BRING HIS PURTY, BUT TORN AND STAINED PINK PANTIES AROUND TO THE ER? AH’M SURE THEY’LL BE A COMFORT TO THE GOV, AGAIN, JUST LIKE LAST WEEKEND. HE SAYS HE COULD DO WITH A COUPLE BOTTLES OF THAT JACK DANIELS BOURBON TOO