Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > July > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBroun weighs in on the Athens-Augusta feud
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You know that on Monday, Jim Whitehead, the front-running Republican candidate in the 10th District congressional run-off, declared that the July 17 vote was a contest to see which city would stay in the driver’s seat: Athens or Augusta.
Whitehead complained that he couldn’t get a fair shake in the Athens newspapers, who treated him as a spawn of Satan.
Today, the editorial page of the Athens Banner-Herald disparages Whitehead’s characterization of the race as a “shameless attempt to get votes.”
Meanwhile, Whitehead’s opponent, Paul Broun of Athens, also a Republican, said Whitehead’s remarks “prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mr. Whitehead is a regional candidate who is not interested in representing all of the people. I got my M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta,” Broun said. “And thoroughly enjoyed the time I lived there.”
As far as Whitehead’s treatment in the newspapers, Broun reminded all who would listen that one of Whitehead’s political consultants said after the first round of voting last month, “We are coming to Athens and bringing hell with us.”
Broun has two tasks over the next 12 days: First, to generate outrage among disaffected Republican voters and move them to the polls. Secondly, to do the same among Democrats who think they have no dog in the hunt.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Joseph
July 5, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
Jim Whitehead is whats wrong with elected officials.He is living in a tunnel. How can he represent only half of 650,000 people with his most comment about taking care of Augusta.
By hyatt
July 5, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this
Excuse me, fellows. But aren’t the newspapers in Athens and Augusta owned by the same company?
By Athens, GA
July 5, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
We have no dog in this fight. Paul Broun’s views are beyond reactionary, when he can properly articulate them and Jim Whitehead is wholly unacceptable, personally and ideologically.
The best thing for Athenians to do is go to the polls, insert the card into the machine, and remove without casting a vote, which would register a “non-vote” vote, if that makes sense. I.e., it’s clear that they intended to vote, but not for either one of these clowns.
By kepper
July 5, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this
There is no way in hell the The Athens Herald Banner will ever give Whitehead a fair shake. They just don’t like him. Fairness or objectivity doesn’t mean anything to them. They have never used his complete quotes or have they taken the time to get the complete message from an interview. They will pick and choose quotes and manufacture an opinion from it. Want an example?
He gave Jeff Winders an interview (I think, or it could have been Aued or Thompson). In it, he was asked what the issues for this election would be. Jim’s response was (paraphrasing): We hired a company to poll the district and ask people what the most important issues were for them in this election. The results of the poll were #1: Illegal Immigration, #2: Taxes, and #3: Education. The war weighs heavy on their minds, but compared to the other issues, it’s not that big of a deal.Now, what did you get from that interview from the Herald Banner? “Whitehead says war in Iraq is not that big of a deal”. That’s irresponsible journalism and it makes me sick. The Athens Herald Banner is a joke.
As for Paul Broun Jr., he is a nut job too. He is on his fourth marriage. He finished near the bottom of his graduation class at MCG. The big kicker about Paul Broun Jr. is that he, according to some sources, is not allowed to practice medicine in a hospital in the state of Georgia (Hence, his “home visit” persona). This is word of mouth and I don’t have a reference. It has been said that you can pick any senior level doctor in the Georgia Medical Association and they will tell you the same thing. I’m not going to mention the reason he’s not allowed to practice. Besides, his dad helped bury that a long time ago.
Jim Whitehead is a very smart businessman and a great public servant. He has done far more for Georgia than Paul Broun Jr. has. Before you criticise the man, go hear him speak or just call him. See for yourself. Don’t be a sheep led by an evil shepherd (a.k.a the Herald Banner). I recommend the upcoming televised debate that’s coming up soon. That will be broadcast on GPTV.
By tony robbins
July 5, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this
Paul Broun is just looney tunes. Seriously folks, this guy is crazy. Say what you want about Whitehead, but he’s a solid guy, good leader, good businessman, just a good decent guy. There’s no contest here.
By Bo
July 6, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
They are both awful candidates.
As far as Whitehead complaining about his treatment by the Athens Banner-Herald, the newspaper is owned by Morris Media, the same company that owns the Augusta Newspaper that has lavished Whitehead with undeserved praise. Besides, the Athens newspaper did little more than publish direct Whitehead quotes.
By Tony
July 6, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
Wow. Kepper - I mean Mrs. Whitehead was there and heard the exact conversation. Somehow Mrs. Whitehead heard everything that was said or automatically assumed what Whitehead said and does not believe anything a reporter said. If a guy who can’t even make a speech without saying something stupid is a smart businessman, then our economy is in trouble.
Whitehead wants to blame his own failures of winning in this whole area on a little ol’ newspaper? Boy that little insignificant liberal rag sure has some pull….and over Republicans as well.
By Craig
July 6, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
Simply put if Whitehead cannot even handle a little heat from a district newspaper honestly how can he take on the Democrats in the majority of Congress? Whitehead cannot handle school level ABH but expects to handle Pelosi? Come on. He lost in just about every county in this area. Surely he’s not saying every Republican reads and believes in everything the ABH says about him?