In remarks on Thursday, Democrat Jason Carter invoked his delicate relationship with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed to explain his support for Atlanta mayoral candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms.
The mayor and Carter have had a strained history that was tested during the former state senator's 2014 gubernatorial bid. He acknowledged their past differences while addressing the backlash Bottoms has faced for her close ties to Reed.
Sometimes it seems that people have taken the most superficial aspects of Keisha, and made judgments without looking at the facts.
He had this to add on the implication that because she's close to Reed she's also tainted by the federal corruption probe into City Hall:
But I have also been embarrassed and disappointed at the number of people who are willing to assume—with no evidence whatsoever—that Keisha is somehow complicit herself. There is literally no evidence—none—that Keisha has been involved in any the activities that are rightfully being investigated.
You can read his entire remarks below.
Insider's note: This item was ripped and expanded from the Morning Jolt
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But let me tell you why I support Keisha Lance Bottoms.
At this moment in our country's history, I wake up almost every day and I look at the news, and I can't believe what is going on.
Every day, I feel like we are fighting for what it means to be an American. Every day, I feel like something I cherish is under attack.
And at this moment in our country's history, in these battles that we fight every day, the Mayor of Atlanta's voice is just too important to put it at risk.
The Mayor of Atlanta really is the "crown jewel" – it is the most important progressive voice in Georgia, it is the most important progressive voice in the South and it is one of the most important voices in this country.
This election is bigger than just our City. In this age of Donald Trump, this election matters in the battles that we fight every day—that's why you see national leaders like Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren begging the people of this city to elect the right candidate.
I live in Candler Park, and I love my neighborhood and I love my kids' public school. If I thought Keisha wouldn't treat my neighborhood right, I wouldn't vote for her. She will be there to fight for our neighborhoods.
But she will also be there—every time—to stand up for our values, to represent us every day, to stand up to the President and others on the broader issues that we care about: climate change, discrimination, healthcare, education, welcoming immigrants, avoiding division, the impact of destructive tax giveaways to the rich can have on our poorest citizens.
On these issues, Keisha will never have divided loyalties.
I know this because I have seen it with my own eyes. When I ran for governor, we were fighting to expand Medicaid and provide healthcare for 687,000 Georgians. Keisha stood with me and advocated for those 687,000 people. Her opponent refused.
Again, Keisha will never have divided loyalties—and she will always stand with us.
Let me say a word about "corruption." Like many of you, I have been embarrassed and disappointed by the federal indictments in the current City Hall corruption scandal.
But I have also been embarrassed and disappointed at the number of people who are willing to assume—with no evidence whatsoever—that Keisha is somehow complicit herself. There is literally no evidence—none—that Keisha has been involved in any the activities that are rightfully being investigated.
Almost every day I beg politicians in Washington to make choices based on actual facts. We have to do that here too.
Keisha is committed to rooting out corruption. Read her ethics proposals—she is talking about drastic action—not just to root-out the corruption that the federal investigators have found, but to eliminate even the appearance of corruption in contracting and elsewhere. Not one of her campaign contributors will get a city contract without independent vetting.
That's far more than her opponent has proposed. And she will do it. Given the names that she has been called, the accusations that she has endured—with no evidence at all (imagine that for a minute!)—she will tackle this.
She will restore the transparency and accountability that this city needs.
I have also heard that she is too close with the current Mayor. Let me say this: the current Mayor and I do not always seen eye to eye. But Keisha is not Kasim Reed and the idea that she is somehow a weak puppet is offensive to me.
Sometimes it seems that people have taken the most superficial aspects of Keisha, and made judgments without looking at the facts.
Talk to her. Read her story. See how she has faced adversity in her life, see where she has been and where she is today. And decide for yourself if you think she is her own person. Again, I urge you to make your choices based on actual facts.
In conclusion, this election is important to all of us. The Mayor of Atlanta is important not just in our neighborhoods, but in our country and in our world. Keisha has proven to be the right leader for these times. And I hope you will join me in supporting her.
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