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DEL.ICIO.USThe Kudzu debate between Jones and Martin, sound chunk by sound chunk
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A first impression of Sunday evening’s U.S. Senate debate on Kudzu Vine:
When candidates are linked only by a telephone line, and don’t see each other face to face, the attacks are a little sharper.
The entire, Internet-only engagement between Democratic run-off rivals Vernon Jones and Jim Martin lasted an hour. Go here to listen to the entire broadcast.
But the Insider spent much of the morning chopping and dicing the debate into more digestible chunks.
On policy, there was not that much that Martin and Jones disagreed on.
Neither would commit to foregoing fund-raising during their first six months in office, should one of them knock off Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.
Both mentioned the possibility of going into debt by November, and said the bills would have to be paid.
Both verbalized Barack Obama’s contention that troops should be shifted from Iraq to Afghanistan.
Jones’ favorite phrase was “I have a record.” Martin’s was “I never voted for Bush.”
Martin made mention of the Bush issue in his introduction, when explaining why he could make a stronger case against Chambliss, but didn’t mention Jones by name. Click here for the evidence.
Jones was more forthright in his introduction, and made a direct attack on Martin. Click here to listen.
The first clash on issues occurred on the generally boring topic of the state’s water war with Florida and Alabama. Martin chided Jones for a parochial answer on regional water availability that focused on DeKalb County.
It generated this response from Jones. “It shows Mr. Martin’s lack of experience,’ Jones said. “You can’t just wait on the state or the federal government.”
In this clip, Martin explains his vote for John Edwards, and is pressed by Jones on the issue.
And here, Jones explains his bipartisan approach to politics — and says he would not vote for President Bush a third time, if he had the chance.
Jones found himself on the defensive on two particular issues.
In this sound bite, the DeKalb County CEO explains that a $1232 check he wrote to the Georgia Republican party in early 2001 was for inaugural tickets necessary to bipartisan politicking.
And toward the very end of the debate, Jones was asked if Georgia were ready for a U.S. senator who had openly engaged in a ménage a trois. Click here to listen.
Comments
By Rick
July 28, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
These two are the best the Democrats could come up with?? They make Saxby look almost presidential!
By Craig Spinks /Evans
July 28, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
Whatever happened to Democrat elected officials of the caliber of Dick Russell, Carl Vinson and Sam Nunn?
By Gary
July 28, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Craig……they became Republicans because of the leftist tilt of the Democratic Party. Because of the Left and Right, those types of leaders are hard to find.
By michelle44
July 28, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
I know some of you can’t imagine an African American as the next senator from Georgia just like a lot of you could not get behind Barack Obama because he was an African American. You need to wake up and realize the African American are just as good as anyone else and Jim Martin only represent the “good ol boy politics in Georgia” We are tired of being looked over by the Democrats and the Republicans!!
By Conservative Dem
July 28, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
Michelle, you are ignorant to the issues directly in your face. No one has a problem with an african american being elected if he’s like Harold Ford, Barack, MIchael Steele, etc…but Vernon is a joke and will get destroyed in a general election. If he’s the nominee, he’ll get beat 65-35 by Saxby. His office is hoping its Vernon b/c there is so much dirt on him.
By Tom Ga Hunter
July 28, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
http://lucididiocyblog2.blogspot.com/2008/07/strike-two-martin-campaign-misfires-on.html
With this latest fabrication, I now endorse Vernon Jones for the U.S. Senate.
I’ve had enough of the lies from the Martin Camp.
By Ga Values
July 28, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
Tom Ga Hunter, I am so sorry that I stole your name But G T Republican, Churchill & I were drinking & doing what tech Men/boys do & I got carried away.. My Dad, Saxby, was proud of me because I am a thief..
By GT College Republican
July 28, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
Actually after I finished up my paper for my American History class, I was reading the blogs when I came across this entry…how low will Jim Martin go?
http://georgiaunfiltered.blogspot.com/2008/07/jim-martin-for-senate-tommy-irvin.html
By RJ
July 28, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this
Conservative Dem, You are absolutely right. michelle44 comments put a face on America’s need to launch an aggressive civic education initiative.
Character does matter in judging talent for elective office and Vernon Jones has too many questions surrounding his character.
Bi-partasanship is one thing and party loyalty is another. Voting against the Democratic Party’s Presidential Nominee twice,publicly announcing it, attending that Republican President’s inauguration, then asking to be the Democratic Party’s Nominee for US Senator really takes some imagination and illusion to try and pull off.
The votes that put Vernon Jones in the run-off says more about an inattentive electorate than it does his suitability to be the Democratic Party’s Nominee for US Senate.
By Operation Yellow Elephant
July 29, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
GT College Republican, WHEN ARE YOU SHIPPING OUT? I know you’re not one of those young people who’s been cheering the occupation of Iraq from the sidelines while our soldiers are doing three, four, and five tours of duty now are you? Surely you are willing to put YOUR life on hold like our soldiers have, and spend time away from YOUR family and friends to risk your life every day, because you’re a GOOD REPUBLICAN, right? Right? Please let us know when you’re shipping out so we can thank you properly for your service to this nation. Thanks!
By DaninMacon
July 29, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
Here they go. In order to support the war, or the mission you must serve in the military. OYE you should be very careful with this line of argument. Obama did not serve, McCain did. By you logic Obama has no right to call for a troop increases to bolster the troops Afganistan? Right. Have you served? If not I am not interested in your opinion. In fact since Obama has no experience to speak of he is not qualified to run anything. Is that how it works, OYE? Liberals like to be fair right? I just want to be fair.
By Mrs. RepubLady
July 29, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
DaninMacon is right! I support the troops. I put a $2 magnet on my Lexus SUV and I voted for Bush, Isakson, and Chambliss — all good war-loving Republicans! War is good for the troops. I support the troops, so long as my taxes aren’t raised to support nonsense like that GI bill Saxby rightfully voted against!
By Crystal
July 29, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
DaninMacon is right. The snarky witch above notwithstanding. Liberals have been trying to use that trick for years. It should apply to Obama. The man was a community organizer for crying out loud. Maybe he should run for president of his Homeoweners Association, that is the only thing he is qualified to run.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
July 29, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
All he is qualified to run?
As compared to Bush?
Which all Republicans except Ron Paul still defend?
40 Senators vote in lock step with Bush on every issue.
You voted for a Maverick for your candidate…and he won’t attack Bush either.
Right.
By DaninMacon
July 29, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
You are dissembling, Aaron. We can talk about Obama and his lack of experience all we want to. You guys on the left (media included) and the Ron Paul supporters have made a cottage industry of slamming Bush. (please reference your post, above) If it is cool to bash Bush, then it is cool to point out that Obama is wet behind his, considerably large, ears. What has Obama done? How well did he organize in Chicago? I hear that he did very little. He had his face out there and speechified on a regular basis, but it was others that did the grunt work. Not much has change with Obama, eh? And another thing, if he is so great, and the country hates Republicans so much, then why oh why is Obama unable to make it above 50% in the national polling?
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
July 29, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Why look, DaninMacon used a big fancy word.
“Dissembling.”
Why I know big words too, “Antidisestabllshmentarianism” “Supercalifragilisticexpialodocious.”
And the real cottage industry is the cottage in wackyland that Bush and the 40% without the Empathy gene live in.
You keep harping on experience, but Kerry had experience and you swift boated him.
Gore had experience and you stole the election from him.
It isn’t about experience, its about what kind of people you want running the country.
This IS about Bush, because Bush is the kind of person Republicans want in office.
If ALL republicans vote the same on almost all issues, then the way ONE republican acts in office reflects the way they ALL will act…and if McCain is sounding more and more like BUSH then the only real question is this
Do you want 8 more years of the same?
If you do, if you want Bush and his buddies to get away with it, vote McCain.
If you don’t, if you want even a small chance that people like Rumsfeld and Gonzales will face trial then vote Obama.
Obama is a coward (see FISA bill) but he might, just MIGHT have the balls to go after Bush.
With McCain there is no chance at all.
And as for why Obama can’t make above 50% in the polling its because 40% of this country are psychopaths who think Children should starve and that the Market is a magic fairy that will solve any and all problems and the other 10% have the attention span of a rhinosaurus.
It wouldn’t matter if Bush burned the flag, kissed Osama Bin Laden or raised taxes 20%, the 40% will not break, bend, yield or reason.
By The Truth Comes Out
July 29, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
Your boy NObama is the one who is going to raise taxes MORE than 20% ABVM but I am sure havent researched that.
By DaninMacon
July 29, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
Aaron, I do not know where to start with you. But I will try. If you think that dissembling is a big word then that says alot about your vocabulary and education. It also explains why you vote the way you do.
As for John Kerry, he lost beacuse the men who served with him did not support him. These men were honorable, and simply stated their points of view. If you recall, the Kerry camp did not respond to those attacks because they couldn’t. How could they refute that many veterans that were there. (BTW John Kerry served less time in country (Vietnam/Cambodia) than Barry Obama served in the US Senate before he decided to run for President.) In short Swiftboating= Telling the truth about Democrat candidates.
Gore lost the election by 400 + votes. Get over it.
All Republicans do not vote on the same issues. That is an idiotic assumption. No wonder you guys keep losing Presidential elections.
No matter how many times you say it McCain is not Bush. This election will be about Obama in the end. He has his media buddies to thank for it.
We agree, Obama is a coward.
And lastly, You blame a large chunk of the American people for your candidate’s weaknesses. This is nothing new and will be the reason you guys will blow it in Nov.. Your disdain for this country is on full display. Obama illustrated best with his idiotic Bitter-Clinger comment. The arrogance and superiority of the left is its soft spot. The American people are proud of this country. They do not see this country as the force of evil in the world like you and your clones on the left. Contrary to your point of view, the American people are smart and see your and Obama’s hate for this great nation. (Obama apologizes to a bunch of Germans for our behavior?)
This will, no doubt, tick you off. But the truth hurts. Don’t believe me? Ask John Kerry.
By No Way VJ
July 29, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
As a longtime DeKalb resident and friend of DeKalb police officers, I’ve seen Vernon Jones ruin what was a fine police dept. Four chiefs in five year. A personal police bodyguard patrol that taxpayers pay for. Constant micro-manageing of the dept. Constant problems with code enforcement and the county animal shelter.
When it comes to public safety, Vernon has been miserable. There’s no way this guy should hold any elected office, let alone US Senator.
By martinwillnotwinasusual
July 29, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
JIm Martin is a party good ol boy. he went to the state democratic meeting and voted with all the Party insiders for no african americans candidates for DNC Board Members. now they have six members (five white and one african american and he didn’t get elected to the DNC. he is there by virture of him being a vice chair of the Party as well as the chair, Jane Kidd.) Why should African Americans support Jim Martin when he won’t even support African Americans in leadership roles.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
July 29, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
Bush won by 400+ votes after the private firm hired by Jeb Bush ejected thousands of legitimate voters from the voter lists.
Election=Stolen.
And the Republicans have voted the same on all the issues that matter: Terry Shaivo, Energy, Housing, SCHIP etc etc.
No matter how many times you say McCain is NOT Bush it doesn’t change the fact that they think the same. The McCain who opposed Bush is DEAD. Name any issue that McCain disagrees with Bush on….Name one.
Think hard on that one.
And finally, regarding Kerry the ‘men who served with him’ is a total lie. All the men who served under his COMMAND endorsed him. Some of the men who were his PEERS were opposed to him.
I have not one person who served UNDER HIS COMMAND who has gone against him at all.
By Stop Lying, Vernon
July 29, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Why? Because VERNON JONES IS NOT A DEMOCRAT! Being black does not make one a Democrat any more than being white makes one a Republican. But VJ is using his skin color to perpetuate a lie, glean donations, and build a network of people who mistakenly believe he looks out for them. Peach Care is just one way Martin looks out for working people of Georgia. Vernon Jones should stop lying and run as a Republican or an Independent. He only cares about himself — ASK ANYONE WHO KNOWS HIM! Absolutely anyone.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
July 29, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
Martinwillnotwinasusual….are you someone who approves of Mr. Jones slapping his picture together with Obama on a pamplet like they were best buds?
“I have a dream” meant eventually being color blind, and if Mr. Jones were white he’d be seen as the most incompotent buffoon ever to run for office in this state since Zaxby Chambliss.
Martin is indeed a ‘good old boy’ vanilla boring moron but at least he’s an HONEST good old boy vanilla boring moron.
Jones is a crook beyond measure and if African Americans vote for him at all I’ll be sadly disappointed in them.
By Churchill
July 29, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
Keep lying to yourself there Aaron. All but three that served with Kerry agreed with the Swiftboat Verterans for Truth. How do explain Kerry’s silence on the issue? Was he stupid? low? Or could he not refute their claims?
Name one issue? Earmarks!
Peace.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
July 29, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Really? Because Bush has come out against Earmarks too. McCain and Bush are both ‘against’ Earmarks.
And you’ll pardon me if I believe Snopes.Com before I believe whatever Viral Video/Ann Coulter Book/Fox News report/You.
Explaining Kerry’s Silence: Simple. He was a @#$@#$ moron. Yes. He was stupid. He is stupid. He will always be stupid.
He is also a human Ent.
By Churchill
July 29, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
Bush has not vetoed one bill based solely on earmarks. McCain will not sign any bill with any earmarks. You stand corrected. I trust you are comfortable standing that way. Peace.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
July 30, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this
Richard Nixon will get us out of Vietnam.
Barack Obama will get us out of Iraq.
George H.W. Bush will not raise new taxes.
John McCain doesn’t support torture.
And the language “Bush has not based on bill solely on earmarks” is so full of loop holes its pathetic churchill. Bush has threatened to veto legislation because of Earmarks, and just because he hasn’t vetoed a bill for no other reason besides earmarks doesn’t mean that he hasn’t come out ‘against’ earmarks just like John McCain has.
Your issue is pathetic. Find another.