Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > December > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USA snubbing at a senatorial victory party?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Concern over getting U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss across the finish line apparently kept some intra-Republican tensions from breaking out into the open.
But with the election a thing of the past, so is discretion. Most disturbing to many GOPers was the snubbing of state Republican Chairman Sue Everhart at Tuesday’s victory party in her home county of Cobb.
This is from an e-mail now circulating among the GOP grassroots:
The blight on this Victory was when Tom Perdue, Campaign Manager and another Saxby employee physically blocked our State Party Chairman from going on the stage to share in this great Victory for Georgia Republicans.
Everhart was livid, we hear. And Mike Duncan, who’s running for another term as chairman of the RNC, was left hanging in the wind. He was allowed on stage, and given a speaking role. But he was asked to remove any mention of Everhart from a list of people who required Chambliss’ thanks.
Everhart is one of 168 people who will decide in January who the next RNC chairman will be.
Read the entire e-mail on the jump.
Update at 3:30 p.m.: Just got off the phone with the above-mentioned Tom Perdue, chief campaign honcho for the Chambliss campaign.
Perdue swore there was no attempt to show disrespect to anyone, and explained the events that unfolded Tuesday night this way:
— Alec Poitevint, former state GOP chairman, was given the task of opening the evening speeches because he’d had that role in many of Chambliss’ events, and because he was head of the McCain/Palin campaign in Georgia — which paired with the Chambliss campaign through the general election.
— Michael Duncan, chairman of the Republican National Convention, was assigned the honor of introducing Chambliss because of the heavy financial role the RNC played in the four-week runoff.
— Moments before the event began, Chambliss campaign and GOP leaders held a small, impromptu meeting at which it was decided that only members of the Chambliss family would be on the stage while the re-elected senator spoke. Chambliss would then introduce Republican Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, who had just won the Public Service Commission race.
— Says Perdue: “As we all walked out [of the meeting], a long line of people were following us, and then when I got to the platform, then I stopped. I didn’t physically block Sue Everhart. I basically blocked everybody from going up on the platform. But I held Bubba McDonald’s hand so he couldn’t get away — because Saxby was going to introduce him.”
— Poitevint and Duncan were to exit the stage on the opposite side and leave the Chambliss family to enjoy the moment alone, but a riser had been moved and they couldn’t get down.
— Perdue said he did try to discourage the public thanking of individuals by Chambliss. “Once you start, where do you stop? [Chambliss] ended up mentioning a name or two, and then he stopped,” Perdue said.
— The campaign strategist said he was ready to apologize to anyone who was offended, and said he’d talk to Everhart “probably before the sun sets.” “But it was only an honest oversight,” he said.
From: Bettye Chambers
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 12:50 AM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient
Subject: Sue Everhart, GA GOP Chairman, snubbed at Chambliss Victory Rally
Dear Georgia Republicans
Monday night, December 2, was a great night for Georgians, Saxby Chambliss won re-election to the US Senate blocking the Filibuster proof Senate. Lauren Bubba McDonald was elected to the Public Service Commission. These wins were due to the hard work of the Republican Grassroots’ network, the RNC, The NRSC and last but not least the Georgia Republican Party headed by Sue Everhart, Chairman. Hundreds of ground troops from 42 other states came in to make this happen.
The blight on this Victory was when Tom Perdue, Campaign Manager and another Saxby employee physically blocked our State Party Chairman from going on the stage to share in this great Victory for Georgia Republicans.
Sue represents all of us who under her leadership worked so hard to make this night happen.
It was Sue, not Tom Perdue, who called RNC Chairman Mike Duncan to get Sarah Palin and John McCain down here. If Saxby’s team had done what they should have for the last six years, he wouldn’t have been in a runoff to start with and he would have had the necessary funds for his campaign.
BTW the former Chairman Alec Poitevint was included with the entourage on the stage Monday night at the Palin event in Gwinnett County and also flew around the state with Governor Palin all day.
The handwork of all Georgia Republicans made this Victory possible. Lauren McDonald recognized this Victory as a Victory for the Georgia Grassroots’ network. He thanked all Georgians for his Victory and said that he could not have done this without us, the Georgia Republican Party and it’s Chairman Sue Everhart. Lauren is truly a humble and appreciative candidate.
RNC Chairman Mike Duncan had words of praise for Sue and Linda Herren in his speech. The Chambliss campaign told him he didn’t need to mention this as Saxby would thank them. Saxby did not mention their names. Word has it that he was prepared to do so, as protocol would dictate, but was told not to at the last minute.
A side note to all of this — our Georgia National Committee Woman Linda Herren was not allowed to attend the Palin event on Sunday night preceding the state fly around. When she called for information on where to meet up with Sue and Alec to greet Governor Palin ( as protocol would also dictate) she was told by the Chambliss campaign that her name was not on any lists and the stage was full.
Reports from attendees reveal that the Chambliss campaign was getting people from the audience to fill stage positions . Both Sue and Linda have worked MANY years at the grassroots level to grow our GA Republican Party and should be treated with more respect than this!!
WE Georgia Republican’s did what no other state did, we won all of our races.
Way to go, Sue Everhart, her staff and all Georgia Republicans. We are so proud of all that you have done during this 2008 election year. Personally, I would not have been involved in the runoff election if Sue Everhart had not convinced me that I should get on board in order to help keep liberal Martin from playing havoc in our U.S. Senate.
At her encouragement, I went to numerous rallies, made tons of digital photos, created event photo web pages and e-mailed all across the state to my huge Republican e-mail list encouraging everyone to get out and VOTE — which most did.
Now I plan on writing a personal letter of complaint to our newly re-elected Senator who is now insured six more years in the U.S. Senate — thanks to the hard work of Sue Everhart and many Georgia Republicans. The least he can do is apologize to Sue and make a statement to the world about all that she and the state party have done for his and many other candidates’ behalf.
I have known Sue and Linda for many years and have worked with them on many Republican projects where I witnessed up close their dedication to our Party and Georgia.. Sue has done an excellent job as chairman, has raised tons of money for the Party and visited Republican groups (large and small) all across this state where former GA GOP Chairmen had NEVER visited.
If you feel as I do about the snubbing of Sue, I hope you will forward this e-mail (or send your own) to your list of Republicans and let the Chambliss people know how you feel. Rumors and blogs are speculating that perhaps the reason behind this is an orchestrated effort to keep Sue from being re-elected Chairman in 2009. Sorry to ramble on so, but I am upset !!
See the Senator’s Contact info at the bottom.
Bettye Chambers
Grassroots Website Builder and E-Mail Activist
Buford, GA
9th District Republican Party of Georgia
Greater Gwinnett Republican Women
Georgia State Committee Member
Georgia Women for McCain-Palin Coalition
National Federation of RW Board of Directors
Comments
By wini
December 5, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
That should come as no surprise to anyone—— Republicans do not like women and children. Look at their voting record, look at SSS’s voting record and find one vote in favor of children or women.
Women keep hanging in there hoping to be accepted by their Republican party. Who did the Republicans chose to be VP? A woman that would have been called a blonde bimbo in the past.
By Alistair
December 5, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
Yeah, wini, that makes a lot of sense. That’s why so many Republicans are anti-abortion: because they hate children. They nominated Sarah Palin because they hate women. (Of course, Democrats snubbed Hillary Clinton, for both the presidency and veep nomination, because they love women.)
By GOP Girl
December 5, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
I was at the event and the Perdue version only happened in his mind. As any mother will tell you, that story has all the credibility of a child’s version of how something got broken, someone got hurt, etc., i.e. completely made up after the fact and doesn’t even sound like it could have happened that way.
By wini
December 5, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
Most Republicans I have encountered(including Saxby Shambless) are PRO-_BIRTH, they are all for getting the baby born but not for health care, post natal care, or help for the child should it need special education after it is born. The group is anti-abortion because the Republicans do not believe that a woman has the right to decide what to do with her own body. A large group of the Republican do not believe that a woman’s health insurance should pay for her birth control pills but gladly pay for Viagra and other sexual enhancement drugs for men. Again,Republicans can’t produce any evidence that they care for women and children.
By Dr. Aborto
December 5, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
Republicans should want to kill babies like wini and all the other democrat voters.
By RJ
December 6, 2008 12:59 AM | Link to this
Tom Perdue is a Sleaze Ball responsible for Chambliss’s sleaze victory.
He has a long history of causing strife so this incident, which is beleivable by those who know him, is no surprise.
Saxby’s re-election is a reward for six years of poor performance. True to color, Tom Perdue redirected attention away from this fact with the soundbite that Saxby is needed to keep Obama from becoming King of America. That kind of stuff still plays well in Georgia, but its quickly fading. Enjoy Perdue because this is the last time.
By Georgia Girl
December 6, 2008 3:17 AM | Link to this
This sort of whining is ridiculous!
Although hundreds of volunteers and many special volunteers aided Saxby’s victory Tuesday, sending a whiner email on behalf of your friend who didn’t get the recognition you think she deserved is pathetic. Political service is not for the recognition, but for the beliefs and principles you are fighting for.
Also pathetic is AJC’s Political Insider’s attempt to lend credence to whiner Bettye in an attempt to promote their own political objective of consistently demonizing the Republican Party of Georgia as a bunch of dirt-dwellers.
By mickeyd
December 6, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Tom Perdue is a tough old bird that has been around Georgia politics a long time. He leaves piles of bodies wherever he goes. So this snub of the GOP State Chair is in perfect keeping with his ruthless nature. If the GOP faithful wants to keep Perdue out of their business they should not encourage anyone to hire him. Let him go back to his bankrupct real estate company.
By clued in
December 6, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
Georgia Girl, when a political hired gun disses the unpaid grassroots organizer who was responsible for generating hundreds of thousands of dollars and votes, it’s a big deal. Political service is for recognition, and a thank you is generally not too much to expect. This was a petty move by a small man, and Saxby will be hurt for it in the long run with his most valuable assets, his volunteers.
By Pedro
December 6, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
someone should ask lynn westmoreland about how tom perdue treats women - as in women in his family.
last I heard, perdue likes to grope and won’t even come in a room where lynn is.
By Ticked Off GOP Woman
December 7, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
Nice attempt of Perdue to cover his butt. He showed disrespect to National Committee Woman Linda Herron as well. No one should be surprised at Perdue’s actions. He has a history of disrespecting women…
To say GOP women are angry would be a vast under statement.
Perdue and Poitevint are part of the group that thinks women have their place but let’s leave the real power to the men…Poitevint will have hard time getting the votes of women GOP delegates next time he runs for Committeeman.
By Ticked Off GOP Woman
December 7, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Nice attempt of Perdue to cover his butt. He showed disrespect to National Committee Woman Linda Herron as well. No one should be surprised at Perdue’s actions. He has a history of disrespecting women…
To say GOP women are angry would be a vast under statement.
Perdue and Poitevint are part of the group that thinks women have their place but let’s leave the real power to the men…Poitevint will have hard time getting the votes of women GOP delegates next time he runs for Committeeman.
By Ticked Off GOP Woman
December 7, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
Georgia Girl, I am no friend of Bettye and do dislike her a great deal, but she is just expressing the emotions many women feel.
Women are still upset at the way Palin was treated. Sexism was pretty evident during the last election cycle and now Perdue and Poitevint have shown their sexist side.
I can tell you that I will never volunteer on a campaign that Perdue is associated with.
By Ticked Off GOP Woman
December 7, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Georgia Girl, I am no friend of Bettye and do dislike her a great deal, but she is just expressing the emotions many women feel.
Women are still upset at the way Palin was treated. Sexism was pretty evident during the last election cycle and now Perdue and Poitevint have shown their sexist side.
I can tell you that I will never volunteer on a campaign that Perdue is associated with.
By Ticked Off GOP Woman
December 7, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
Georgia Girl, I am no friend of Bettye and do dislike her a great deal, but she is just expressing the emotions many women feel.
Women are still upset at the way Palin was treated. Sexism was pretty evident during the last election cycle and now Perdue and Poitevint have shown their sexist side.
I can tell you that I will never volunteer on a campaign that Perdue is associated with.
By Ticked Off GOP Woman
December 7, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
Georgia Girl, I am no friend of Bettye and do dislike her a great deal, but she is just expressing the emotions many women feel.
Women are still upset at the way Palin was treated. Sexism was pretty evident during the last election cycle and now Perdue and Poitevint have shown their sexist side.
I can tell you that I will never volunteer on a campaign that Perdue is associated with.
By Al
December 7, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
Saxby ran a low life campaign. His personal attack on Jim Martin was over the top. His votes on immigration, bail out, etc. shows that he is out of touch with Georgia. Am I suprised at his campaign’s treatment of those two women…NO. p.s. I voted for the jerk.
By BarBee
December 7, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this
Bettye has done the women of the GAGOP a HUGE service. In future elections our memories will not fail us…we have had it with the politicos taking advantage of our ability to get them elected and then being shoved in the background if they see some of us are assuming leadership positions. We have had it! Look for a woman to run in the NEXT U.S. SENATE RACE…maybe even for Governor! How about it Karen Handel? Sarah Palin has shown us the road and the guys are shaking in their smoke-filled rooms.