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DEL.ICIO.USOxendine: He’d be ‘hard-pressed’ to describe benefits of GOP rule
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After seven years of Republican rule in the state Capitol, the GOP — at least the top layer — has become something to run away from, if state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine is any measure.
The Thomasville Times-Enterprise has this account of a trip the 2010 candidate for governor made to south Georgia:
The 46-year-old Republican told a small gathering at The Plaza that he has grown disenchanted with his party and its lack of accomplishments.
“If I had to articulate why Republicans are doing a better job of running the state than the Democrats did, I’d be hard-pressed to find the words,” he said.
Oxendine, a lifelong conservative, swept into office in 1994, becoming the first Republican to head a major state agency in Georgia. He was the leading Republican vote-getter in his last two elections.
“What I liked about the Republican Party is that I believed it was more democratic than the Democratic Party,” Oxendine said. “It was truly run by everyday Georgians. It was the grassroots.
“The people ran the party.”
Oxendine, however, said too many Republicans changed their philosophy while currying favor with corporations and lobbyists.
“Large corporations and lobbyists — not all of them, but most of them — go with the power,” he said. “If the Republicans are in power, they’ll be with the Republicans. If Democrats are in power, they’ll be with the Democrats. So why should we change our party just to make them happy?
“We need to stay with the people who brought us to power.”
Comments
By GoOX
February 10, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this
My man OX, call’s them like he sees them
By Texas Reader
February 10, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this
Both parties need to figure out that it’s our money not theirs and quit stealing it.
By Tony
February 10, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
For someone who has been in office for so long, what has Oxendine done? Has he been an outspoekn leader on anything in 15 years? I don’t seem to recall him being vocal and aggressive in challenging the party at any level. He tells the truth in what he says now but a few speeches right before running for Governor shows little backing up the rhetoric in his 15 years in office.
By Where I stand
February 10, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this
Don’t steal, the government hates competition!
Sure you can trust the government, just ask an Indian!
I love my country, but fear my government!
What does a Vampire and the government have in common? Both will suck you dry!
By Republican Revolution
February 10, 2009 12:57 PM | Link to this
This is the correct message, but from the wrong messenger. Oxendine is a political hack who will never be Governor. Having Oxendine as the spokesmen for accountability and principles for Republicans is about like Barney Frank pontificating the merits of traditional marriage.
By ClueLess
February 10, 2009 1:01 PM | Link to this
Ox is attacking republicans for “selling out” when he has taken over $125,000 in contributions from insurance industry organizations and people. He also has the head of AFLC on his campaign committee
Who’s he sold out to?
By Patriots Act
February 10, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this
Oxendine is sending spin up the flag pole to see if anybody salutes. That’s how the right is building a new platform. Oh brother.
By sd
February 10, 2009 1:22 PM | Link to this
Hypocrit! This man has sold out worse than any politician I know.
By Jeff
February 10, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this
I’m a life-long Democrat, but Oxendine hits the nail squarely on the head. Government should be representative of the people—not the lobbyists and corporations. Individuals elect the government—not the corporations. Somewhere many years ago, our government quit representing us and turned to the those with money. Is it any wonder we’re in the mess we’re in???? Is it going to take massive protests and strikes to make those in power wake up? We Americans like to make fun of the French for their strikes and 35-hour work weeks, but they sure as hell are not allowing their government to run over them like we Americans have allowed ours to run over us.
By Judy
February 10, 2009 1:44 PM | Link to this
Thank you, Jeff!
I can no longer tell a difference between Democrats and Republicans. For too long Americans have been sqabbling over petty matters while the government (ALL of them) set back and did basically what it wants to do. As long as we are pointing fingers at each other nothing will ever change. After all, whether it’s a Reupblican or a Democrat they are both politicains FIRST!
By sd
February 10, 2009 1:52 PM | Link to this
Its nothing partisan to me. Oxendine is the insurance commissioner. i hardly care what party the insurance commissioner comes from, so long as he/she is competent. But Oxendine gets tons of campaign contributions from Insurance companies. That, in itself, isnt’ bad. Insuance companies have to apply for certain things, like new products and rate changes. Many feel that the only way to get those through his office are to make a contribution and then voila’ its through.
By MrLiberty
February 10, 2009 1:55 PM | Link to this
Republicans finally coming out and admitting their past failures is only the first step in the real healing process that must go on if the party is ever to be taken seriously again by anyone, including republicans.
Whether in the State Capitol or the Nation’s capitol, the behavior of elected republicans has been shameful (excluding congressman Ron Paul). The willful destruction of the constitution under Bush and the complicit votes by republican toadies has set the stage for even greater abuses by the current administration (and don’t think they aren’t coming). At home, we have a governor who prays for rain rather than proposing long term solutions to drought and begs for Depression-producing bailout funds to waste on overpriced “infrastructure” improvements. To say that the elected republicans in this nation despise the free market would be kind. Despite state and national platforms that give lip service to the sound economic and small government principles that the Democratic party abandoned well over a century ago, the republicans can’t manage to vote with any conviction other than toeing the party line.
Oxendine has certainly been closer to the action under the dome than I have, and it is certainly hard to believe that he is the man without sin that now casts the stones, but I have no doubt that anything bad he wishes to say about his party is likely worth reflecting on.
That is not to say that there are any positive comments to make about the democratic party either. Though they abandoned the concepts of small government and free markets back in the mid 1800’s, they were at least the champions of peace and personal liberty. Now all of those pretences are gone as well, with Gitmo and Iraq war cheerleaders well represented among their ranks too. Even the drug war, which selectively targets people of color that they claim to “speak for, etc.” gets a consistent pass by virtually the entire party despite its obvious failure and its egregious violations of both privacy and personal liberties.
Americans can no longer look to either party to support the constitution, the bill of rights, or in many cases even their owm party platforms. The republicans have at least enshrined small government and the free market in their own documents. As we now face an economic calamity that was the direct result of federal government actions (the Federal Reserve, runaway spending, etc.) and not the free market, the proper actions of republicans are more important than ever. Now its high time they stopped worrying about how “marketing” can win them future elections and start voting and supporting the kind of sound economic principles they claim to support.
By Z
February 10, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this
I remember Mr. Oxendine reading a letter to the Gwinnett GOP Saturday breakfast in ‘93 or ‘94 describing why he resigned from the democrat party. Well from what I’ve just read I wonder if a letter is forthcoming describing his disenchantment with the republican party as well.
I think Mr. Oxendine will do well to remember that you have to have principals that you are willing to stand by.
I’m a fair tax person myself. I hope he remembers that that is an issue that both parties can vote for.
By Sick of fingerpointing
February 10, 2009 3:13 PM | Link to this
MrLiberty - the problems with our country don’t rest entirely with the Republicans both parties have done a fine job of screwing things up.
Jeff & Judy - you both summed it up nicely. Our government is and has been in bed with big business for a long time and forgot who they’re supposed to be representing - that’s not just a Republican or Democrat thing - they both did it and still do!