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Friday, September 26, 2008
ABC News comes to Valdosta: ‘Let’s not let them make any hay…or dirt,’ says the mayor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Charlie Gibson and ABC News are headed down to south Georgia next week, to gauge the impact of the presidential race.
When Big Media comes to a small town, mayors get nervous. At least John Fretti in Valdosta did.
After a conversation with an ABC producer, Mayor Fretti was unimpressed. He fired off a Sept. 18 memo to the Valdosta City Council that has been circulated widely:
Gentlemen, it is obvious that ABC news is trying to create and report on a social and political train wreck in our community that isn’t happening (as far as I know).
I don’t offer any advice than this: talk to them or don’t talk to them if they call, but be very wary of their premise and tactics. She seemed disappointed that I haven’t noticed a fervor, yard signs or “fighting in the street” and I told her that she’s not going to portray our community as a Small Town in the South that is socially and politically split over a National election and that we are always cordial and polite here and our community is intact. If any of you choose to say otherwise, then that is your choice….
Let’s not let them make any hay…or dirt.
The entire e-mail can be read on the jump, as can the local Chamber of Commerce’s attempt to get the facts and smooth things over, and ABC’s declaration that they come in peace.
One thing you need to note for context’s sake: Fretti is white. Mayor pro tem Willie Head is African-American.
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From: John Fretti
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 7:04 PM
To: VLD-City Council; Larry Hanson; Mara Register; Sementha Mathews
Subject: ABC News-Charlie Gibson
Council,
I received a call today from [Caren Zucker] of ABC news wanting to come to Valdosta to supposedly take the pulse of the community regarding the upcoming Presidential election. As the conversation continued it was easy to recognize that ABC news is attempting to and I quote, “see how divided our community has become over the election”. It is also apparent that without knowing how Mayor Pro Tem [Willie] Head or I personally feel about the election that she wants to pit us against one another because, as she said “we are a mixed community and a mixed Mayor/Mayor Pro Tem and we certainly must be overtly disagreeing on this race” I was insulted. She also said that the local democratic party has stated in a youtube spot that the election will change our community forever.” I haven’t seen that spot and I certainly think that Dr. Marks and Attorney Gaskins meant that in the most positive way — if they even said that.
Gentlemen, it is obvious that ABC news is trying to create and report on a social and political train wreck in our community that isn’t happening (as far as I know).
I don’t offer any advice than this: talk to them or don’t talk to them if they call, but be very wary of their premise and tactics. She seemed disappointed that I haven’t noticed a fervor, yard signs or “fighting in the street” and I told her that she’s not going to portray our community as a Small Town in the South that is socially and politically split over a National election and that we are always cordial and polite here and our community is intact. If any of you choose to say otherwise, then that is your choice. She is asking to speak to Willie and I asked Sementha to give Willie her number — not Willie’s number to her. That is normal protocol.
If this is disturbing to you, then try to pre-[empt]this by talking to your constituents and friends.
I find it so distasteful when people try to portray us in a negative fashion as they either see in Hollywood or in their mind-having never been here. ABC news is hoping to come to Valdosta next Friday and Charlie Gibson the following Friday. Let’s not let them make any hay…or dirt.
I will try to have a follow up if needed next week.
Sincerely and respectfully,
John
From: “Myrna Ballard” [president, Valdosta Chamber of Commerce]
To: “John Fretti”
Subject: The Latest on ABC News…PLEASE READ
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:55:06 +0000
Hello everyone!
Well….if our Mayor is concerned…the Chamber is concerned.
When I received the Mayor’s email, I contacted the News Director for the ABC affiliate in Tallahassee (Keith Wheeler), who was in town earlier this week with ABC World News Producer Sean Smith and Stu Schutzman to scout anchor venues for Charlie Gibson’s broadcast on Oct. 3. I did not share the Mayor’s email with Keith (or anyone else), but I did share with Keith the Mayor’s concerns regarding ABC’s plans for Valdosta. Keith also was very concerned, and arranged a conference call with Caren Zucker, the ABC producer who spoke with the Mayor. I just got off the phone with Keith and Caren.
Caren assured me that Valdosta was chosen because we are a well-integrated community racially, which makes us a good, representative community for ‘checking the pulse’ of voters in the upcoming elections. ABC was looking for a progressive, vibrant, racially balanced community, and we fit the bill. I believe she is sincere.
Caren asked me, “How can I fix this?” I asked her to write me an email, outlining her plans for Valdosta. She seemed genuinely concerned and sorry that she had given the impression that ABC was looking for a negative story. She seemed to understand that her use of the term “battleground” could easily be misinterpreted. Please see her email below. Thanks, John, for looking after your City.
I’m ready to welcome ABC to Valdosta. Let’s show them just how progressive, vibrant, and hospitable we really are!
Myrna
BELOW IS THE LETTER FROM ABC NEWS
Dear [Myrna],
Thank you so much for contacting me and letting me know that there may have been some misunderstanding about ABC’s plans for coming to Valdosta.
Charlie Gibson and some of his producers will be taking a bus tour to some of the battleground states reporting on the upcoming Presidential elections - for example: Orlando,Florida, Dayton, Ohio, and numerous other states including Valdosta, GA. We are excited about coming to Valdosta as it is a beautiful, diverse community - that stands out in Georgia as a cosmopolitan southern town.
I was planning on coming next Friday to do some preliminary taping of general scenes of town , scenery, etc.” The Director of the Board of Elections Deb Cox suggested that I come and shoot at her headquarters as there has been a HUGE increase in voter registration. I was also planning to shoot the Wild Cat Football team Friday night, as it is a great example of how a community comes together to have the winning most HS football team in the nation.
Our plan is to come out and shoot some of the beauty and landmark areas of the town and get a sense of what the election means to this community. At this point in time we think we may have Charlie do the show in front of Valdosta State University on Friday the 3rd.. I was also hoping that you might be able to set me up with some people that Charlie could chat with on that Friday morning to get their feeling and thoughts on the upcoming election. He is looking forward to talking to people in the community .
I hope we can talk soon and set all of this up.
Many thanks for your help,
Caren
Caren Zucker
Producer
World News with Charles Gibson
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A conservative, female call for Sarah Palin to drop out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a piece now posted on National Review Online, conservative and nationally syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker is advising Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin to drop out:
Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.
No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I’ve been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I’ve also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted.
Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage and there’s not much content there…..
If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself….
McCain can’t repudiate his choice for running mate…..Only Palin can save McCain, her party, and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first.
With this, and with Mike Huckabee saying that McCain made a “huge mistake” by raising the possibility that he wouldn’t show up, you’ve got to wonder if some lug nuts aren’t coming loose on the Straight Talk Express.
Photo credit: Chris Hondros/Getty Images
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McCain says tonight’s debate is on; Huckabee calls his dithering a ‘huge mistake’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This just in from the Republican presidential campaign of John McCain:
“The McCain campaign is resuming all activities and the Senator will travel to the debate this afternoon. Following the debate, he will return to Washington to ensure that all voices and interests are represented in the final agreement, especially those of taxpayers and homeowners.”
Read the building story here.
CNN has just posted an item in which Republican Mike Huckabee, who won Georgia’s presidential primary, called McCain made a “huge mistake” by raising the possibility that he wouldn’t show up.
“You can’t just say, ‘World stop for a moment. I’m going to cancel everything,” Huckabee told the Associated Press.
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Gas prices, economy making Georgia’s GOP leadership a little less likeable
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gas prices and the economy have resulted in a significant drop in approval for the state’s Republican leaders, according to a poll touted by InsiderAdvantage.
Gov. Sonny Perdue has an approval rating of 52 percent. Usually he’s at 60 percent or beyond.
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss is at 49 percent (Democrat Jim Martin at 38 percent); U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, 47 percent; and the General Assembly, 29 percent.
Perhaps sensing an opening created by the financial turmoil in New York and Washington, the Democratic leadership of the Legislature late Thursday again called for a special session to handle budget woes — and demanded that the governor cancel a trade mission to Europe that begins Saturday.
“Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle say a special session to address the collapse of state revenues and the perverted spending priorities spawned by the governor’s budget choices would be too costly. But now the governor, just off the plane from a trip to Texas, is jetting off again to Europe,” said state Sen. Robert Brown of Macon. “I wonder how many of Georgia’s war veterans could be cared for with the money being used to fly the governor’s party to China, Europe, and other exotic locales.”
Bert Brantley, a spokesman for the governor, said Perdue considered “all the options that were there” — which presumably included canceling the trip.
“We actually reduced the size of the delegation going because of the budget concerns, and because of the budget cuts,” Brantley said. “But this is an essential function. There are projects in Europe that we are working with very closely. Literally, we could announcements of jobs and investments in the next few months.”
“There’s not much we can do about the timing, but it’s still the right decision to go,” Brantley said in an interview on WGAU (1340AM) in Athens.
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The Insider is all a-Twitter
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Want instant notices on new postings? The Political Insider can now send you instant links to your cell phone or BlackBerry via Twitter.
Go to http://twitter.com/politicalinsidr (in this poor economy, the letter ‘e’ has gotten far too pricey) and sign-up as a follower.
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‘Drill here, drill now’ has paid off — for McCain, and for Gingrich’s group
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich hosts his second annual American Solutions gathering at the Cobb Galleria on Saturday.
Gingrich touts his group as a non-partisan, intellectual clearinghouse that just happens to provide Republican candidates a good many talking points.
Look for the Wall Street bailout to be a big topic at the free event, even though John McCain has profited more by chanting American Solution’s mantra of “Drill here, drill now.”
Gingrich hasn’t done that badly by it, either. Says the Center for Public Integrity:
The slogan “Drill here. Drill now. Pay less.” is fueling Gingrich’s American Solutions for Winning the Future, a so-called 527 group not subject to federal campaign finance law and its limits on donations. So far this election cycle, it has raised $13.1 million; only two other 527 groups, both liberal, have collected more money, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
While the sum pales beside the cash amassed by the largest of the 527s that so dominated the political landscape during the 2004 presidential race, American Solutions has raised more funds than the best-known unregulated conservative political group raised at the same point four years ago: Swift Vets and POWs for Truth. The Swift Vets, which ultimately spent $19.3 million on TV advertising attacking Democratic nominee John Kerry’s military record, had raised only $8.8 million by the end of September 2004.
Las Vegas casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson remains Gingrich’s biggest financial backer. He’s donated $4.6 million — of that, $750,000 came in August.
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