Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > August > 10
Friday, August 10, 2007
Heads up, Paul Broun: Barry Fleming’s saying suspiciously nice things about Athens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Newly elected U.S. Rep. Paul Broun may have already picked up his first Republican opponent.
State Rep. Barry Fleming of Harlem, the House majority whip, on Friday told Athens radio host Tim Bryant of WGAU (1340AM) that he’s “exploring” the idea of entering next year’s GOP primary.
Listen to the sound clip here.
“I know I think I have the leadership credentials and support from friends and my family. During the last election, I became concerned like a lot of citizens did, about the geographical barriers that maybe were built up in the district,” Fleming said.
On the live interview, Fleming — a lawyer and resident of Augusta — took pains not to pull a Jim Whitehead. No bad jokes about blowing up the University of Georgia or its often-Democratic environs. Just the opposite, in fact.
Fleming borrowed a line from Lewis Grizzard. “If you’re good and go to church on Sunday, when you die you go to Athens,” he said.
Fleming says he’ll be sampling opinions over the next several weeks before he makes a decision.
Never mind the hair color. The roots are the same.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Each fall, Sadie Fields hosts a fund-raiser to finance her group’s activities, whether it’s called the Christian Coalition of Georgia or — now — the Georgia Christian Alliance.
Last year, it was Ann Coulter, the doubter of John Edwards’ sexuality. This year, it’ll be another blonde: the calmer, more introspective Laura Ingraham, the radio talk show host and author of “Shut Up & Sing: How the Elites in Hollywood, Politics…and the UN are Subverting America.”
Ingraham will be plugging a new book at the Oct. 6 event. Tickets are $65. Click here for more info.
Maybe Hugo will send him a lovely parting gift. A barrel of crude, perhaps?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Macon Mayor Jack Ellis, with only a few months left to serve, has sent some big love to oil-rich Venezuela.
According to the Macon Telegraph, the mayor couriered a declaration of “solidarity” to Hugo Chavez, the nationalizing president who’s out to replace Fidel Castro in the hearts of young revolutionaries.
Ellis — who raised eyebrows with his recent conversion to Islam — says he made the declaration in his dual capacity as mayor of a middle Georgia city and vice president of tourism for the World Conference of Mayors.
Chavez apparently read the proclamation on the Sunday broadcast of his weekly TV and radio show, “Alo, Presidente.”
