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Thursday, May 1, 2008
‘Able’ Mable Thomas declares generational war on John Lewis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
‘Able’ Mable Thomas, the state representative and Atlanta community activist, in essence called U.S. Rep. John Lewis an old fogey this afternoon, as she signed up to run against him in the 5th District Democratic primary.
“I believe that, at the end of the day, that my opponent is not only beatable, but my opponent should — right now — just get out of the race and let a new generation come forth. We’ve been with you, now why don’t you stand with us?” she asked — rhetorically, of course.
Thomas is 50. Lewis is 68, and has held the 5th District seat since 1986.
Markel Hutchins, 31, is also in the Democratic race, but Thomas made no mention of him.
Instead, she said that Lewis’ initial endorsement of Hillary Clinton for president showed that the man she called a Civil Rights icon was also “human.” And thus vulnerable.
“What it says is that he is out of touch, and did not see the movement — and he is a movement man,” she said. “We offer him an exit strategy today.”
That’s cold.
Lewis’ response? In a word, iconic. “People talk about change. I am change,” he said in a press release zapped this way.
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More on Vernon Jones and Dale Cardwell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the blink of a qualifying fee, the Democratic race for Senate has begun throwing sparks, with two candidates in particular providing most of the flint-and-steel confrontations.
Dale Cardwell, the former TV journalist, in particular has come out in aggressive fashion.
He’s attacked Atlanta attorney Jim Martin as the choice of backroom strategists. But Cardwell has truly blistered DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones in a fashion that already has editors fidgety — and should have Jones thinking about how to respond.
On Wednesday, after signing up for the race, Cardwell referred to Jones as a “crook” and a “Republican.” The latter charge was based on Jones’ admission that he cast two votes for George W. Bush.
This morning, Cardwell was on WGAU (1340AM) in Athens. He called Jones an “unindicted criminal.” Cardwell recounted the circumstances of a 2005 rape accusation against Jones — which was withdrawn, though the woman never recanted.
Politics has always been rough, but this kind of language is exceedingly rare in a campaign — even on the eve of voting, let alone the outset of a race.
Listen here to the sound clip provided by WGAU host Tim Bryant.
Jones has responded to Cardwell, but in a limited fashion and only on the issue of Republican voting.
The Associated Press had this:
Jones fired back by providing a copy of Cardwell’s voting record from the Secretary of State’s office, which shows the ex-reporter cast a Republican ballot in the 2006 primary as well as the ensuing runoff.
Cardwell explained that he took a GOP ballot in the primary to vote against former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, who was then running for lieutenant governor. Reed lost. Cardwell said he could not recall why he voted in the runoff.
But Cardwell told The Associated Press that although he voted for Ronald Reagan in his first White House bid in 1980, he’s supported Democratic presidential candidates ever since.
When asked about how he would deal with questions about his controversial tenure as the top dog in DeKalb County government, Jones has said it remains the media’s job to keep political discussion on a higher plane.
Questions, Jones told reporters on Tuesday, “will come up by you all. It’s not going to come up by my opponents, because they don’t have a TV station or a newspaper. (Or a radio station.)
“You all are going to be picking up their baseless allegations because they don’t have a record to run on,” Jones said.
But this is a prediction more than a strategy. And right now, it may be coming true.
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Rand Knight: On energy, and dishing on the other three
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rand Knight paid his qualifying fee for the U.S. Senate on Thursday, becoming the fourth Democrat in the race.
He emphasized energy — the need to produce it, and his own.
Knight, a 36-year-old ecologist, doesn’t have much money, but he has been working. In February, he was the only Democrat to set up a booth at the annual meeting of the Georgia Christian Alliance run by Sadie Fields.
“I’m not going to criticize the other candidates right now. I don’t think it’s the time. May the person who works the hardest rise to the top,” Knight said.
No matter how new you are to politics, when you say you’re not about to talk about the opposition, that’s when reporters know to open their notebooks.
Knight on Jim Martin, who was urged into the race by Democratic heavyweights:
He lacks “passion,” the newest candidate said. “I do not believe that we are picking someone just because they raised $300,000.”
Knight on Dale Cardwell, the former TV journalist:
“Getting a news reporter who doesn’t have experience, and the problems we’re facing now — water issues, energy issues, jobs for Georgia. I don’t know how a news-reporting background is going to help that.”
And Knight on Vernon Jones and his Democrats as “losers” comment:
“Basically his history kind of speaks for itself. He’s running a very divisive campaign, he’s using the race card. The things he said about our fellow Democrats are nonsensical and frankly unacceptable… I find it a matter of disrespect. You may not always agree your folks, but you certainly ought to speak well of them.”
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‘Able’ Mable Thomas to run against John Lewis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
State Rep. ‘Able’ Mable Thomas will qualify early this afternoon at the state Capitol to run against U.S. Rep. John Lewis. She sent out a fax this morning, giving Lewis the title of “Civl Rights icon.”
The question is, who does her candidacy impact most? Does she draw from Lewis? Or does she take votes away from Markel Hutchins, who signed up for the Democratic primary on Wednesday, and is counting on voter anger of Lewis’ initial backing of Hillary Clinton for president over Barack Obama?
Thomas, who had her start as a community activist in Atlanta, has run against Lewis once before, in 1992.
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Eric Johnson on Clayton County schools and the ‘civil rights battle of the 21st century’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Late Wednesday, Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson of Savannah loudly — or as loudly as e-mail allows — proclaimed his frustration with his colleagues’ recent failure to address his voucher program.
The legislation was aimed at rescuing the slow-motion train wreck that is the Clayton County school system. But it ran into trouble when parents in neighboring school systems began to fear that fleeing, voucher-wielding students would swamp their boats.
Johnson began with the day’s news:
“I was outraged to finally see the contract with Clayton County’s new part-time School Superintendent. Even though he was declared unqualified by the accrediting agency, he will now receive $285,000 and a car and driver for 133 work days a year.
“Think about that. That is more than $2,100 a day plus benefits! Think about what that could have done if it was spent in the classroom. Some legislators, including most of the Clayton County delegation, opposed my attempt to give each child in these schools a $4,500 scholarship each and every year.
“They did it because of pressure from the same people that elected the present school board.”
Johnson’s exposition continues on the jump.
“Clearly this Board doesn’t get it. I believe the debate about Clayton’s schools needs to turn to ‘choice’. Should we give parents control of their own tax dollars that are spent on their child’s education? Or should we give it to a Board that hires a Superintendent at $250 an hour?
“Should we let parents decide whether they should go to a local school that is not accredited or an independent school that is accredited? Should we force children to attend a school that threatens their ability to go to college and earn a higher income the rest of their lives?
“Or should we allow students to escape to a better school? School choice is the civil rights battle of the 21st Century. Clayton County citizens need to demand vouchers. And they should demand them from any candidate running for the State Senate or House of Representatives.
“Before you vote in the July 15 primary, find out whether they think this School Board should spend their money or whether the parents should have that right.”
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Oxendine’s two-pronged advance: An insurance bill and the ‘birthday tax’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today’s front page wasn’t good enough for state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine.
While he was picking a fight with the Legislature, and pressuring Gov. Sonny Perdue to veto legislation that the insurance commissioner says would result in a spike in auto insurance premiums, Oxendine’s minions were sending out a link to his new campaign web site.
It features video of Oxendine paying his annual car tax. Says the 2010 candidate for governor:
“The Georgia Legislature had a great opportunity to to do serious tax reform. But unfortunately, through infighting, it didn’t happen. When I’m governor, I’m going to work with the Legislature, and we are going to have serious tax reform.”
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Dear Mr. Barr: When you come, please bring a closer. Love, Bobby
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Calendar items don’t usually appear hear, but there is a (potential) presidential candidate involved in this one.
The anti-tax group Americans for Prosperity is holding a state “summit” at Turner Field on Saturday, at the 755 Club.
Bob Barr, who’s looking at a Libertarian bid for president, is on the schedule. So is Stephen Moore, the Wall Street Journal writer. Also look for House Speaker Glenn Richardson and Secretary of State Karen Handel.
Handel seems to be getting around quite a bit these days.
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