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DEL.ICIO.USThe implications of an Obama visit to Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Consistent but non-specific rumors say that Barack Obama, currently the sliced bread of presidential politics, will find his way to Georgia sometime this month.
For certain public servants, a visit can’t come soon enough. Obama is the one fellow who can put an end to the several ruptures that have coursed through Democratic Georgia as a result of the knuckle-splitting, 12-round bout between Hillary Clinton and the now-undisputed winner.
When you think about who in Georgia might benefit most from an 8x10 glossy of themselves with the Democratic nominee, his long arm wrapped around a shoulder, two names come immediately to mind: John Lewis of Atlanta and John Barrow of Savannah.
Both Democratic congressmen have picked up opposition in the July 15 primary, in large part fallout from the racially divisive fight in the presidential stratosphere.
When Lewis’ opponents, pastor/activist Markel Hutchins and state Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas, entered the race against the Civil Rights war horse, they specifically cited the Atlanta congressman’s tardy switch from Clinton to Obama this winter.
An Obama who embraces Lewis would seriously weaken the emotional underpinning of their challenges. Asked if the Democratic nominee would endorse him, Lewis replied, “There’s not any doubt. I would love to have his support, I would love to have his endorsement.”
In a sense, the congressman said, Obama has already given it. “In his last book, he said he had three heroes. One was Martin Luther King Jr., the other one was Abe Lincoln — and John Lewis,” said Hero No. 3.
This spring, Lewis said, he has called Obama “from time to time” to encourage the candidate. The last time was after Obama resigned from his Chicago church. The two have swapped voice mail, but haven’t connected lately.
But when Obama sets foot in this state, which his national campaign now considers in play, Lewis will be there to greet him. “As the senior member of the Georgia delegation, I couldn’t be any place else,” he said.
This raises another factor in Lewis’ favor. A part of Obama’s strategy must now be geared toward governing, should he win in November. One does not cultivate Congress by ignoring one of its more senior members.
Barrow, the the two-term congressman from Savannah, faces a challenge from state Sen. Regina Thomas of the same community. Barrow is white. Thomas is African-American.
Barrow endorsed Obama back in February, shortly after the Illinois senator won the Georgia primary. In explanations of her candidacy that have reached Atlanta, Thomas hasn’t mentioned Obama.
But her surprise candidacy against Barrow — who has built a $1.3 million war chest to fend off aggressive Republicans, not fellow Democrats — would have little footing without the racial divide created by the Clinton-Obama fight in Georgia.
In past primaries in the 12th District, black voters have cast nearly 70 percent of the ballots.
Within weeks of Thomas joining the race, Barrow, a conservative Democrat, was placed at the top of a list of 14 national co-chairs for Obama’s massive, 50-state voter registration drive — along with the likes of singer Melissa Etheridge and the Rev. Joe Lowery.
“Getting people involved has been something I’ve been about since I can remember,” Barrow said.
Obama recently came to a meeting of “blue dog” Democrats in Washington, Barrow said. But photographic evidence has gone missing. The congressman would appreciate another shot.
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Comments
By Mother of Exiles
June 8, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
I am Lady Liberty, the Mother of Exiles. Listen American Heart: “Vote in huddled masses despite that Bush has left you tired and poor, homeless and tempest-tossed. Vote out the storied pomp of those elite brazen conservative giants. American Heart, I feel your yearning to breathe free of being the wretched refuse on your own teeming shores.”
Listen American Heart: “Obama can bring justice back to America. McCain is Bush with a mask and a prettier wife. Dont be fooled. It’s not nice to fool Lady Liberty!”
By Churchill
June 8, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this
What kind of stupid, liberal, touchy feely garbage is that Mother? If this is the kinda of gobble-dee-gook we have to look forward too from Obama supporters, I may feel a little better. It sounds like some stupid Maya Angelou poem. I did notice the prerequisite Bush bash (they can’t think with out it). Yeah, that’ll fly in GA! Peace.
By Abe
June 8, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
It’s sad when someone thinks his fortune comes not from using his God-given talents but from government.
If Bush left you “tired and poor, homeless and tempest-tossed” (whatever that is), what do you expect from Obama? A McMansion and a Chrysler 300 with twenty-fours? And from whom will he get the money?
Liberals’ faith is in government and the zero-sum game. Someone has to lose in order for someone else to win. That explains the way they divide the country: rich vs. poor, black vs. white, and with Hillary, female vs. male.
With Obama, we will all be equal: equally poor.
By DaninMacon
June 8, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
He sounds like a Marxist.
By Bitter EX democrackkk
June 8, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
SO, did John Lewis call NObama ‘a few times’ before or after he gave Hitlery the shaft?
By citizenfortruth
June 9, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this
I guess he’ll get the money from the same place Bush/McCain will get $3,000,000,000,000 (boy that’s a lot of zeros) to pay for their ill-fated search for weapons of mass destruction.
Why is it the right can find all the money in the world to fund a war, but can never seem to find money for infrastructure or the needy. The last time I read the Bible, it said over 300 times that we should profide food, care and shelter for the poor. Are there any Christian Republicans or are they all Godless atheists?
By Republatard
June 9, 2008 12:44 AM | Link to this
Mother,
I’m picking up what your putting down, Neoterds are so beholden to mighty whitey they refuse to consider a philosophy other then govt. is bad/capitalism is good. Personally, I think Reagan and Clinton governed beautifully. Bush used religion and patriotism to fool all the lemmings like Churchill to go over the cliff. They (republicans) value hate and division over unity and compromise. Sad really. Life is not black and white-we are all shades of grey. Obama will win you can feel it in the air. The beauty of America is the shifting sands of power. Neither party or philosophy is perfect. Repubs remind me of mindless followers repeating b.s. to please their gay lovers who they love to bufu but won’t give them healthcare, dems can’t find peace in the main due to the hate, anger, and division of repub- cons. . Godspeed and feel free to mock the brilliance of my rant because like “swill u probably went to uga got a animal husbandry degree and make sweet love to farm animals. U can’t follow my wisdom, so go tell it on the mountain.
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By John Lewis
June 9, 2008 4:19 AM | Link to this
Why is Barack Obama going to Carrollton first????? Who is Herman Ayers anyhow?????
By Craig
June 9, 2008 4:40 AM | Link to this
“zero-sum game.”
Do any Republicans think for themselves? Nothing more than a repeat of dumb talk radio jocks.
And “Christian” and “Republican” are oxymorons, citizen. With today’s Repub party, you can’t be both.
Good luck to you Church. AS Obama wipes the floor with McCain, I expect you to get increasingly unhinged. Started already.
By Copyleft
June 9, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
I think it’s optimistic (to put it politely) to consider Georgia “in play” for the upcoming elections.
Much as I’d like to BELIEVE Georgia could finally struggle out of its backward ignorance and self-righteous, oh-so-Christian bigotry—I just don’t see it happeniing this year. Georgia, sadly, is likely to remain red.
As in, bankrupt and covered with innocent blood.
By Churchill
June 9, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
Blah, Blah, Blah, republicans bad, libs good. Same ole’ garbage from the left. Hey, you forgot to blame Bush, Copyleft. An oversight I’m sure. Having you considered moving to a blue state. I bet you’d be happier. Peace.
By Copyleft
June 9, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
Nope, Georgia is MY property, and I’m working to reclaim it from the radical right idiots. I’ll be happy once Georgia is solidly blue, smart, and liberal—the way it deserves to be.
But if you want to help my cause, YOU could move….
By Churchill
June 9, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
Reclaim? You have to had claimed it first. The control of the state by Democrats in the past was by blue-dog dixiecrats. Not the liberal, marxist Democrat party of today. Big difference! Remember Zell said, “the party left me.” You have to claim something before you can “reclaim” it. Peace.
By votechange
June 9, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
it would be great for georiga to turn blue again like it did when clinto was running back in ‘92 and it may take someoe like a Obama to obamanate the thought of Georiga staying a red state.
By votechange
June 9, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
it would be great for georgia to turn blue again like it did when clinton was running back in ‘92 and it may take someone like Obama to obamanate the thought of Georiga staying a red state.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
June 9, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Excuse me, but last time I checked, the people who used stalinist communist propaganda were Rephuchlycans.
By Churchill
June 9, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
Aaron, it is obvious that you know nothing about political philosophy. You’re excused.
By Ted
June 9, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
I have figured this out and arrived at one major conclusion: Barrows needs to win this primary.
The most important goal of this political year in Georgia is get Obama the numbers to win this swing state.
There is a risk that Obama beating Clinton; Jones beating a bunch of white guys and then Thomas beating Obama supporter Barrow win trigger a white reaction of “…..if Blacks are race-based voting, then so shall we.”
The above becomes the rural battle cry and McCain wins Georgia and the election.
By Ted
June 9, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
I have figured this out and arrived at one major conclusion: Barrows needs to win this primary.
The most important goal of this political year in Georgia is get Obama the numbers to win this swing state.
There is a risk that Obama beating Clinton; Jones beating a bunch of white guys and then Thomas beating Obama supporter Barrow win trigger a white reaction of “…..if Blacks are race-based voting, then so shall we.”
The above becomes the rural battle cry and McCain wins Georgia and the election.