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DEL.ICIO.USSonny on Sunday sales: ‘I don’t support that’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue broke weeks of silence on Wednesday, telling a radio audience that he doesn’t support the effort to permit grocery stores to sell beer and wine on Sundays.
Perdue made his comments on “The Bert Show” on Q100, a talk-and-Top 40 station aimed at young adults.
“Think of it this way…It really helps you plan ahead for the rest of your life — buying on Saturday, rather than Sunday,” the governor said. “Time management.”
Said state Sen. Seth Harp of Midland, who introduced the bill last week: “I’m surprised, because it’s been tremendously well-received. People came up to me in church and told me it was a good idea,” said Harp, a Methodist. “I hope [Perdue] doesn’t have his mind made up.”
Here’s the sound. And here’s a rough transcript of what Perdue said about S.B. 26:
“I think it’s going to have a tough time, actually. When you ask people generally if they want the right to vote on anything — what kind of toilet tissue the state ought to use, or anything like that — they’ll typically say yes.
“Although they like representative government, they like to have their voices heard. And that’s why we have representative government, where people elect their own legislators to come and make these kinds of decisions.
“Some things rise to the level of referendums — such as, I felt, the symbol, the flag that represented Georgia, which I felt rose to that level. But you can’t do government really by referendum. And so, I don’t support that, and I don’t know whether it will pass the Legislature or not, but it’ll have a pretty tough time getting the last vote….
“You have to always be attuned to where public opinion is, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to follow that. A good leader always leads in a way they think is the right direction for Georgia on significant issues. …
“Think of it this way…It really helps you plan ahead for the rest of your life — buying on Saturday, rather than Sunday. Time management.”
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By Janis Ian
January 17, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this
Sonny Perdue is a complete dud. His morality makes me sick. Just because he doesn’t want Sunday sales should not have one iota of meaning to it in face of the overwhelming desire of the State’s population to have Sunday sales. Republicans might be in control of Georgia right now, but if they continue this crap of legislating people’s morals, they’ll be voted out soon enough.
By Bob
January 17, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this
Thanks Sonny! But I can still drive to the bar and drink. That’s real good time management!
By Sunny Terdud
January 17, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this
Georgia is one of the most backward states left in the South. So many of the other southern states are more progressive and forward thinking.
It is amazing that Georgia trys to claim that is the capital of the south when it is so backwards…
No wonder everyone thinks of the south as backwards…
GO FISH, GEORGIA!!!!
By Al Kohallik
January 17, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this
Drunkards should just go and kill themselves.
By Kevin T. Valdosta, GA
January 17, 2007 6:47 PM | Link to this
Well thats what I would expect from Sonny, can’t believe I voted for him again. Sonny do like we did in Valdosta and let the voters vote. I’ll bet we get to bring Georgia out of the stone ages and buy beer on Sunday. Or I can just keep driving 10 miles to Florida and give them the taxes.
By MikeO
January 17, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this
Lame! Lame! Lame! When is Georgia going to join the 20th century? That’s right, I didn’t say the 21st century, that would be too much to ask.
Question: Why does everyone think Georgia is backward?
Answer: Because it is!
By john
January 17, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this
Sonny ever heard of Seperation of Church and State? If I want to buy alcohol on Sunday then I should be able to, if you don’t want to buy alcohol on Sunday then so be it. Don’t enforce your Christan Morals on me!
By Patrick
January 17, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this
This is why I didn’t vote for the man. Georgia needs to get with the program here. Sunday alcohol sales will not make us a “heathen” state I promise.
By The72John
January 17, 2007 6:55 PM | Link to this
Why are you people surprised? You voted for a religious conservative who thinks that religion and morality should be legislated. Congratulations! Georgia continues to remain at the back of the bunch when it comes to, you know, basic human rights.
Good job, religious wackos.
By The72John
January 17, 2007 7:04 PM | Link to this
For the record, it isn’t “Christian Morals”. It’s evangelical fundamentalist morals. There are plenty of devout Christians out there who don’t believe for a minute that alcohol consumption is wrong. It’s only the right-wing fanatics who think that their particular brand of Christianity should be the ONLY brand of Christianity who buy into this garbage.
By Jay
January 17, 2007 7:12 PM | Link to this
I sure hope this isn’t what Zell meant when he said we would b envy of the nation while he was campaigning for Sorry…I mean Sonny. Why do all the “anti-Sunday drinking” folks think just because someone drinks they are “drunkards” as one “Al Kohallik” said…and to go kill ourselves as well. REAL Christian thoughts there. I’d rather have someone drink at home than to drive 20 miles to get their “fix”. FREEDOM…if you don’t like the program on TV, change it; if you don’t want to buy alcohol on Sundays, don’t!
By Greg
January 17, 2007 7:15 PM | Link to this
I love the snide comment about people “loving representative government”. Translation: You don’t think the way I do, so I’m going to force you to abide by my theistic governing.
By Ella
January 17, 2007 7:23 PM | Link to this
Since Sonny wants to determine my drinking habits, I’ll also let him choose my mate, my form of birth control, where I live, how many children I have, and how much money I make.
This is why I don’t vote Republican.
By artie
January 17, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this
So much for representation. Even though polls show that the MAJORITY wants Sunday booze sales, Mr. Sonny sees to it that his PERSONAL fundamentalist beliefs are imposed on the masses. SONNY SUCKS!!!!
By Tom
January 17, 2007 7:36 PM | Link to this
SHAME, SHAME ON SONNY !!! I wish to God that I’d never voted for him! To Sonny (and everyone else) … keep your damn religious beliefs to yourself. People, is it so hard to understand that not everyone is religious, and, if they are, they may not be AS religious as you. It’s just dead wrong for anyone to think it’s a GOOD thing to impose their beliefs on others. And, for those who would … maybe you’d be happier living in North Korea where you can submit to a dictator telling you how to live your life. You people really disgust me that you don’t seem to know how lucky you are to live in a free country. PLEASE GO AWAY.
By SOUTHERNCOMFORT
January 17, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this
So much complaining about Georgia…”it’s backwards”…”get in the 20th century”…”religeous wackos”…how about y’all just pack up and get the HELL OUT OF GEORGIA! Good riddance to ya!
By VinRose
January 17, 2007 7:43 PM | Link to this
Of course Sonny doesn’t want beer sales on Sunday!!!! He’s a frickin Southern Baptists Conservative Republican!!!! Why in the hell should his backass woods beliefs dictate what I can do on Sunday. I was raised a liberal, New England Catholic and we love our beer and wine on Sundays. This is a new world. The new world is not dictated by southern baptist preachers wearing their Quaker garb on Sunday mornings. Wake up Georgia. We’re only one of three left in the nation. What the hell does THAT tell you????!!!!!!
By Jeff in Roswell
January 17, 2007 7:51 PM | Link to this
SOUTHERNCOMFORT efff off! You’re the one that’s in the stone age you moron. Sonny, I did vote for you and I am a Republican but, you are WRONG on this issue. I don’t particularly like you thinking that you know what’s best for Georgia and to Hell with the rest of us! Your comments quoted above, evidently from some radio show are lame as hell! Planning? Plan better to buy your brew on Saturday? Quit being such a damn idiot you taxpayer helicopter riding HACK!
By Joe B
January 17, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this
They let you gamble all day on Sunday w/lottery but no drinking. Strange. I just moved to Florida where they sell beer on Sunday AND..I can buy fireworks.
By Jeff in Roswell
January 17, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this
You know he’s going to get some kind of kick back with this - that’s his motive. He’s a slimeball politician like all the rest!
By Tom
January 17, 2007 8:21 PM | Link to this
Jeff in Roswell Good comment. I hope Sonny and all the other jerk-offs who want to tell others how to live their lives will get a clue. SONNY … are you listening? Do you think you can come to grips with the fact that the majority (obviously from this blog) doesn’t appreciate your “time management” crap. Sonny, you manage your time … we’ll manage ours. Really, Sonny, you’ve got me so p** right now … your B.S. is just too much. Please take your idea of “representative government” and SHOVE IT!!!
By RJ
January 17, 2007 8:29 PM | Link to this
Hey Folks, The Governor doesn’t justify his position on either religious or moral grounds. He simply feels the issue of Sunday alcohol sales does not rise to the referendum level. His reasoning is that unlike the flag, this matter does not affect the majority of Georgians. If this in fact the real reason for his postion on the matter, a better explanation of the Governor’s criteria for referendum issues would be helpful to the discussion and debate.
My other take on his comments is that real leadership requires doing what you feel is best, despite its variance with public opinion. To say the least, this position is consistent with Sonny’s steadfast refusal to answer questions about his land deals and associated tax break.
With the existence of the lottery and alcohol sales everyday except Sunday, the religious community is hard pressed to mount an effective argument on theological grounds.
By TW
January 17, 2007 9:32 PM | Link to this
The is no bigger indictment of the Georgia public school system than the reelection of Sonny Perdue. The people of a democracy get the government they deserve. We have become Mississippi…a target of jokes for the people from Alabama. The republicans have turned our Bald Eagle into a buzzard and the Bible into a bludgeoning instrument.
By Jason
January 17, 2007 9:47 PM | Link to this
TW,
Your comments are no better. Constitutionally speaking…we are a Republic.
By SOUTHERNCOMFORT
January 17, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
We should let public opinion rule everything we do! Hey…let’s take a public opinion poll to see if the public thinks the public should get to vote on all proposed laws that effect the public!
Public knows best! yeah, right.
By David S
January 17, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this
The constitution of this great nation was meant to be a limit on government power. The Bill of Rights was meant to be an enumeration of specific rights of man with the balance of power reserved first with the individual and then the state. The intent of the republic that Jason correctly distinguishes from a democracy was the protection of the minority from the majority.
What we have here is a a totalitarian theocracy that is essentially using the power of government to impose their religious doctrine on the general public - believers and non-believers alike. It is a law that embodies the tenets of a religion within the laws of the state.
This is about commerce. It is about freedom. The elimination of these laws will not force anyone to do anything. Force is what the current laws are about.
Mr. Perdue is just another totalitarian in a long line of totalitarians that have occupied the halls of power.
Sonny talks of time management while he puts forth a budget that is completely founded on the pricipal that it is ok for government to steal from its citizens. He has no concept of fiscal management, yet he speaks to us of time management.
Clearly this law is not the only thing that must go in this state. Sonny too must go.
By Jeff
January 17, 2007 11:02 PM | Link to this
It’s a “time management” issue, Sonny? Really? Well then, why don’t we do that for all sorts of items?
No milk sales on Tuesdays! Cut off eggs Thursdays! Hide the toilet paper on Saturdays!
Then watch the “time management” skills of Georgia citizens go through the roof. I’m so glad Sonny’s lookin’ out for the development of my time management skills through grocery shopping. Don’t know what I’d do without him.
By Registered Voter
January 17, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
I’m a registered voter and a drunk. I’ve never voted, but rest assured that will change. Either in the form of a vote for booze on Sunday or a vote against Purdue. What a jackass.
By Responsible Drinker
January 17, 2007 11:39 PM | Link to this
Thanks alot, to you Georgia citizens who voted for this clown. I certainly didn’t. I am responsible and can handle my alcohol no matter what day it is. If I’m drinking, we’re taking a cab.
I’m still waiting for someone, ANYONE to give me ONE good reason, that is not religious- or value-based as to why this law should continue.
Well, at least we’re trying to increase our Bass fishing. There’s something to strive for!
By Responsible Drinker
January 17, 2007 11:47 PM | Link to this
Lol, Jeff. “Cut off Eggs Thursdays!” That is hilarious. We wouldn’t want to be bad time managers!
By Homerule
January 18, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
Sonny’s whole referendum comparison is misleading. Unlike the state flag thing, this bill does not call for a state wide referendum. It simply would allow individual communities to decide for themselves whether to hold a local referendum on Sunday sales. Local governments in Georgia have referendums all the time. That is the way it already works for Sunday sales at restaurants. So there is nothing unusual or extraordinary about the idea.
By Carla
January 18, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this
I would suggest passing out envelopes addressed to Sen. Harp to all your friends and asking them to mail him $3.00 (in honor of our new Trader Joes 3 buck chuck). Mail them to the capital: Senator Seth Harp, 110 State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334.
He will be rewarded for putting the bill out there and the others, oh they will notice the money.
By Kevin
January 19, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this
First off, I’ll offer up that I work as a wine consultant in the retail liquor business. The current law would be unfair to liquor stores, offering up only the sale of beer and wine on Sundays. This benefits the grocery store and convenience store industry, the two lobbies behind the law. I also enjoy having a day off. I’d like to be able to do things on Sunday like go to the Post Office or get government services like taking care of my car tag. I’d also like to be able to see the doctor on Sundays…oh wait…they are closed…like a LOT of businesses. If the law were fair and allowed for liquor sales on Sunday, then I’d be less oppposed to it. Even if it does pass, I don’t see myself working that day. We shall see, but I for one hope it never gets passed…I enjoy my one day off.
By JB
January 19, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this
Aw Kevin. You don’t want to have to work on Sundays? I feel so sorry for you. Your state mandated day off is nothing more than a remnant of outdated, theocratic laws designed to intrude in people’s lives.
Your point of the Post Office and government services being closed on Sunday is a flawed logical arguement at best. These places have the option of being open, while they just choose not too. I’m sure if enough people complain, the government would open on Sunday. However, grocery and c-stores cannot by statute sell a legal product on Sunday.
The liquor stores arguement is illogical at the least and laughable at the most. Liquor stores talking about a day of rest and reflection?????
You’ve got to be f-ing kidding me.
By Gina Cook
January 19, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
I am an alcohol retailer in Alpharetta. Everybody likes a day of, right? Well, Sunday is mine. If that changes, perhaps the Falcons will let me replace Vick as quarterback. Eh, we’ll see what happens with this nonsense about selling alcohol on Sundays first before I decide to make a career change. You know, I sure would like to make bank transactions or mail packages on my one real day off a week, I mean, I still haven’t even mailed my family’s Christmas presents, but, gee, all the banks and post offices are closed on Sunday. I’d like to contact my local Senate and House Representative about the fact that trash piles up the weekends, why- because sanitation workers don’t collect trash on Sunday- but, golly, their government offices are closed on Sunday and I have to settle for a recording. I’d like to make a policy change on my car insurance, but I have to do that in person, and would you believe this? My insurance agent’s office is closed on Sunday. Oddly, I can’t make a doctor or dentist’s appointment on my one real day off a week either, because they all seem to be closed on Sunday. You have 6 days to stock up on booze, I have 6 days to sell to you, and 1 day to cram everything else in I need to get done, but generally can’t, because most of the rest of you have the day off, too, and YOUR businesses are closed on Sunday.
By Ryan
January 28, 2007 6:21 PM | Link to this
To Gina:
Your whole argument is based on, well, absolutely nothing. All the examples cited by you of stores being closed on Sunday and the like? They still have the legal right to open on Sunday if they wanted to. They choose not. However, as your Georgia law stands now, stores do not have the legal right to sell alcohol on Sundays. Changing the law would not force you to open on Sundays. From a business standpoint, you might be forced to in order to stay afloat, but legally you wouldn’t have to. You know what this would do? Bring your business exactly in line with all the examples you threw out to try to support your baseless argument. Your argument is amazing - you try to prove a point, but your examples actually prove the opposite point. Well done. No wonder the Georgia public school system gets ridiculed.