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DEL.ICIO.USThe world watches West Virginia, but it’s Mississippi that matters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tonight, forget about West Virginia. The contest there between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is fraught with as much tension as a soccer match with 4-year-olds.
They’re just kicking the ball around. Any goals will be meaningless, and even the loser gets a trophy at the end.
No, turn your eyes South. The real political hacks will be watching northern Mississippi, where Democrats will try to snatch a third U.S. House seat in a row from Republicans.
And Republicans will discover whether their third attempt to tie Obama — and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright — to the local Democrat is the charm.
The Mississippi combatants are Democrat Travis Childers and Republican Greg Davis. Both national parties and their 527 associates have been pouring money into the First District race. Here’s the Wright-Obama-Childers ad issued by Davis, as posted on YouTube.
The Obama link didn’t prove effective in Illinois or Louisiana, prompting Newt Gingrich to warn GOP leaders of a disaster in Congress come November. But today’s New York Times says the tactic may have found traction in this most Republican state:
In advertisements and speeches, Republicans have repeatedly associated Travis Childers, the white Democrat threatening to take the seat away from the Republican Party, with Mr. Obama.
Republicans say Mr. Obama’s liberal values are out of place in the district. But for many Democratic veterans here, the tactic is a throwback to the old and unwelcome politics of race, a standby in Mississippi campaigning.
Former Gov. William Winter, a Democrat, expressed shock at the current campaign. “I am appalled that this blatant appeal to racial prejudice is still being employed,” said Mr. Winter, who lost the 1967 governor’s race after his segregationist opponent circulated handbills showing blacks listening to one of his speeches. Mr. Winter went on to win the governor’s office 12 years later.
“I had thought we had gotten past that,” Mr. Winter said. “That was a tactic that was used against me in the 1960s.”
The risky nature of a political tactic can often be judged by whether the top brass in the party participate. And when Vice President Dick Cheney was in Mississippi on Monday, he made no mention of Obama.
According to the Washington Post:
Cheney … sought to tie Davis’s opponent, Travis Childers, to Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and other congressional Democrats.
“What we need in Washington is a strong conservative congressman from Mississippi, not another Democrat going to bat for Nancy Pelosi,” Cheney said to a crowd of several hundred at the DeSoto Civic Center here.
Comments
By Baker
May 13, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
Forward-thinking and Investment Make Sense
No one wants tax increases! No one wants people laid off from their jobs! These are always tough options for a leader to consider, however, toughness is just what the city needs right now. I believe Mayor Franklin is performing well in dealing with these issues and those who have chosen to criticize those efforts truly have not thought about the consequences of inaction.
For some reason, it seems that you have forgotten that Atlanta is not the only city in the country facing tough financial times. Many of America’s cities are also experiencing similar problems. One difference it seems is that we have someone in charge that is willing to make the hard decisions that will allow us to continue to grow after the economy rights itself. It would be much easier for her to “look the other way” and point fingers while waiting for her final term to end without any substantial action. She has decided that, even though it will be unpopular now, it is better to invest in our city’s future through replacing our long outdated sewer system, ensuring public safety by maintaining police and fire protection and putting our city in a better financial place – investments that will long outlast her mayoral term. It actually seems selfless, something you don’t often see in today’s political world, which also may help explain why it may be difficult for some to understand.
In other cities across the country, leaders are facing tough financial times, but how many of them will do the right thing by making the tough decisions now? How many of them will choose to instead do what sounds good and may make them popular for the moment without regard to how their actions will affect their cities in the future? Fortunately, we do not have to ask that question. We have a leader that has decided to make a tough stand and I applaud her for it.
Finally, it also seems that you are equating the institution of a new era of efficiency with something seen as bad. Even if you unfairly blame Mayor Franklin for the growth in city jobs, you certainly can’t blame her for correcting it. Unlike some, I don’t expect government to be perfect; I expect it to work hard at doing what is right for the people it serves. I know that will mean sacrifice at times. I accept that and understand that now is one of those times. In the future, I will be able to look back on the actions taken today, when our city sits on a better foundation than it does now, and be able to understand that our sacrifices were well worth it.
Sure, Mayor Franklin will get blamed for many of the city’s problems, unfairly I believe, but our city will be much better off with the courageous actions she is taking. Every elected official wants to leave a legacy, most by some visual monument of sorts, but Mayor Franklin has chosen to do the dirty work – by replacing our aging sewers and putting us on track for a more stable financial future.
Thank you, Mayor Franklin.
By Voter
May 13, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Maybe Mississippi is tired of being a Red state at last and does not want to be at the bottom of the list or near the bottom when it comes to education, healthcare, jobs, and income. Republicans keep the money in the hands of the few (those making over $250,000 per year) and Democrats give everone a chance to make money, receive an education, get health care, own a home, and retire. Maybe someday Mississippi will really understand the true meaning of the word Democrat. Keep electing Democrats Mississippi!
By Stephen Gianelli
May 13, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
Reasonable people could conclude that it is unfair to link either Obama or Childers to the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
However, every political expression against Barack Obama is not “racist” or racially motivated.
By DaninMacon
May 13, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
Reasonable people could conclude that it is perfectly fair to assume that Obama liked what the Rev. Wright said and agreed with it. He was a member of the church, after all. Reasonable people can also conclude that Obama disavowed his religious mentor only when it was politically expedient.
By DaninMaconisafool
May 13, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
@DaninMacon
You’re a fool. I go to church, and my pastor says abortion is murder. Yet, I don’t believe it. I’m pro-choice. What your pastor says is NOT reflective of the person.
Additionally, McCain sought the endorsement of a man who said that America is around to DESTROY the religion of Islam. He is far more radical than Mr. Wright, and yet, the media refuses to cover it. There is a ridiculous double standard.
Reasonable people will conclude you are an idiot. Guilt by association is a real stupid way of gaguing who a person is. Religious figures can say things you disagree with. You can’t assume people at Hagee’s church all hate Muslims, nor can you assume Obama is a racist, particularly since he’s HALF WHITE!
By DaninMaconisafool
May 13, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this
@DaninMacon
You’re a fool. I go to church, and my pastor says abortion is murder. Yet, I don’t believe it. I’m pro-choice. What your pastor says is NOT reflective of the person.
Additionally, McCain sought the endorsement of a man who said that America is around to DESTROY the religion of Islam. He is far more radical than Mr. Wright, and yet, the media refuses to cover it. There is a ridiculous double standard.
Reasonable people will conclude you are an idiot. Guilt by association is a real stupid way of gaguing who a person is. Religious figures can say things you disagree with. You can’t assume people at Hagee’s church all hate Muslims, nor can you assume Obama is a racist, particularly since he’s HALF WHITE!
By DaninMaconisafool
May 13, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this
@DaninMacon
You’re a fool. I go to church, and my pastor says abortion is murder. Yet, I don’t believe it. I’m pro-choice. What your pastor says is NOT reflective of the person.
Additionally, McCain sought the endorsement of a man who said that America is around to DESTROY the religion of Islam. He is far more radical than Mr. Wright, and yet, the media refuses to cover it. There is a ridiculous double standard.
Reasonable people will conclude you are an idiot. Guilt by association is a real stupid way of gaguing who a person is. Religious figures can say things you disagree with. You can’t assume people at Hagee’s church all hate Muslims, nor can you assume Obama is a racist, particularly since he’s HALF WHITE!
By Clayton Childers
May 13, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
An interesing fact of this race that has gotten little attention is that only Childers, out of four main candidates involved, favors bringing the troops home from Iraq over the next 18 months. He clearly stated a position that this war has been a horrible mistake. Voters, even in conservative Mississippi, are responding to that message.
By What
May 14, 2008 12:58 AM | Link to this
Do people seriously think we’re gonna read articles for comments? Dont waste your time!
By GodHatesTrash
May 14, 2008 6:23 AM | Link to this
Even some of the knuckledraggers are getting tired of the GOP.
Let’s face it - there’s a lot of stupid inbred trash in Mississippi, just like Georgia, and the GOP can’t be happy losing their base…
By SharonH
May 14, 2008 6:47 AM | Link to this
So the Republican ran ridiculous ads attempting to play on the emotions of voters(a tried and true strategy for Republicans) while the Democrat ran ads on the issues.
And the Democrat won. Kudos to Mississippi voters for your insight. I’m glad you get it.
Mississippi has progressed as much as Georgia has regressed. How long before Georgia voters get tired of Republicans running this state into the ground and embarrassing us nationally? Time will tell…..
By Craig
May 14, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
SharonH,
Let’s be honest here - full disclosure. You failed to mention that race-baiting mailing done by the Dems accusing the GOP candidate with ties and support of the Klan. Odd how in all of the reporting on this election not a single network reported THIS part. Odd how it’s fine for Dems to race-bait.