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DEL.ICIO.USSpeaker to recruits: Be careful what you put your name to
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
House Speaker Glenn Richardson has sent out a memo to new Republican candidates to the House, warning them away from surveys by special interest groups that may lock the new recruits into positions they — or the speaker — may later regret.
Richardson doesn’t mention any names, but at least two organizations come to mind.
The speaker has feuded with Georgia Right to Life over its push for a state constitutional amendment to declare that human life begins at fertilization. And, as an advocate of remaking Georgia’s tax system, Richardson has occasionally found himself at odds with Grover Norquist and his Washington-based group, Americans for tax reform.
Read the memo here. But these are the paragraphs that matter:
Now that you have qualified for office, you will no doubt be receiving many pieces of advice and counsel. In addition, you will be receiving requests from many various and sundry organizations to fill out questionnaires, signed commitments and pledges.
I highly recommend you not respond to any questionnaires and definitely do not sign any pledges or commitments until you have sought counsel from your consultant, other elected representatives and me. Too many times I have seen people who sign pledges and commitments, not fully understanding what they are signing, only to have the action used against them later.
Some of the groups distributing surveys are very good and reputable, but many are not. Many that participate in this process are somehow, some way getting money to advance their cause. Their only goal is to use these documents to advance such a cause, not help you.
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Comments
By Dan Becker
May 19, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
As President of one of the organizations mentioned in this article, I would like to take the opportunity to respond to the Speakers comment, “Many that participate in this process are somehow, some way getting money to advance their cause. Their only goal is to use these documents to advance such a cause, not help you.”
As one of this state’s largest Political Action Committees we would like to point out that our questionnaire is marked “Confidential” and will go on file at our state headquarters. We have never used a candidates response to solicit funds for our cause.
With an identified database of over a quarter of a million pro-life households, Georgia Right to Life is able to provide between 3% to 6% margin of advantage among single issue voters. This was verified by Fox News in the election of Governor Sonny Perdue where 5.85% of ALL Georgia’s voters voted for him because he was pro-life. This advantage handed him his 2002 margin of victory.
Our endorsement is sought and awarded to candidates and incumbents that respond to our questionnaire with a pro-life position. Because of scientific advances in the fields of genetic engineering and human experimentation, we require a current questionnaire that determines where a candidate stands on the emerging issues of life in the 21st century.
That the Georgia Right to Life endorsement helps candidates is a proven fact. “Pro-life Wins” over the last three election cycles is an indisputable fact. I would respectfully suggest that the Speaker hurts his own cause by encouraging this kind of political irresponsibility.
Daniel Becker President Georgia Right to Life
By B.S. Detector
May 19, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
CANDIDATES: Don’t trust these “Right to Life” jackals! Get in bed with them, and neither your own body nor your votes in office belong to you anymore. Truth.
By Wow
May 19, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
Does the speaker really expect voters to warm up to candidates who are not willing to state what they believe in public or on a survey? It may be time for this guy to find another job, because I thought the GOP did not run on smoke and mirrors. What is wrong with believing in something and letting others know about it. This was just a weird letter from the speaker. Way to go Dan Becker
By Jesus
May 19, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
I’d like to support the right to live of the government
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