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DEL.ICIO.USPeace groups at war with Johnson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rep. Hank Johnson, a DeKalb County Democrat, has been feeling the love on Capitol Hill ever since he replaced the bombastic Cynthia McKinney in 2006. At home, former McKinney supporters are lining up behind Johnson.
Yet, now there’s talk among anti-war groups of another Democrat challenging Johnson in 2008 -someone other than McKinney, who is flirting with the idea of running again.
No names have surfaced, but Congressional Quarterly is reporting here that anti-war groups like Code Pink are angry over the Democratic Congress’ failure to pull U.S. troops from Iraq and are targeting six Dems, including Johnson, to make their point.
“There’s a lot of anger, especially in districts where people won in 2006 on an anti-war platform,” Medea Benjamin, the leader of Code Pink, is quoted as saying. “They deserve to be challenged.”
Johnson has spoken out against the war and said he supports withdrawing troops. But he voted against Democratic legislation that set a strict timetable or target date for a speedy withdrawal, saying it ties the hands of military leaders and announces our intentions to the enemy.
Johnson has said he expects to have opposition in next year’s race in one Georgia’s most liberal districts. But he didn’t mention any names either.
Comments
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By Janet
September 20, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this
I agree with Medea Benjamin. How do I get in line? Being a relative newcomer to GA (although my home base for a number of years, I was living and working overseas) I’m trying to figure out if there’s any possibility of breaking the stranglehold that the Republican Party has on this state, so my little voice is represented. Having weak Democrats in office doesn’t help in that effort.
By RL
September 20, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
Janet, Welcome to… well… he—!!
I have been in GA for 10 years (yankee transplant… I really miss my poeple) and I can tell you that there isn’t much hope for Democrats in this state… almost ZERO. The Dem party here is a complete mess. I am so disgusted that I have started to vote libertarian.
If you want your voice represented I would suggest moving… far, far away.
By Craig also
September 20, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
The Dems in GA need to actually stand for something, not just try to be Republican lite. “The Big Guy” - whatever his name was - was an embarrassment.
Get a backbone, guys and gals, and we’ll work and vote for you. Offering us the same garbage that the Repubs do, just without the snarl that most of them have, won’t do the trick.
By Skeffington
September 20, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this
Nothing personal Hank, it’s strictly business.