Follow The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's political team as it reports this week from the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Stay on top of the developments by following our special convention page at http://www.myajc.com/2016-democratic-convention/. You can also follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GAPoliticsNews or Facebook at https://facebook.com/gapoliticsnewsnow. To see coverage from last week's Republican National Convention in Cleveland, go to http://www.myajc.com/2016-republican-convention/.
The head of the Georgia GOP is calling on U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, to resign after the five-term lawmaker was quoted likening Jewish settlement policy in the disputed West Bank to “termites.”
“Thanks to President Obama’s failed leadership and reckless foreign policy, our relationship with Israel is strained,” Georgia Republican Party Chairman John Padgett said in a statement. “Congressman Hank Johnson’s comments were wildly offensive and undermine efforts to strengthen ties with our closest friend and greatest ally. Time and time again, Rep. Johnson has proven himself to be an embarrassment to our state. He should resign from public office immediately and allow a public servant with a heart for Israel to take his place.”
Padgett’s comments came a day after Johnson was quoted saying the Israeli government’s policy in the West Bank was “almost like termites (that) can get into a residence and eat,” according to the conservative news site the Washington Free Beacon, “before you know that you’ve been eaten up and you fall in on yourself.”
Johnson’s comments quickly drew heat on social media, including from the Anti-Defamation League, which asked the lawmaker to retract his remarks.
Johnson rapidly apologized, and his office released a more thorough statement Tuesday that said the congressman had made a “poor choice of words” while adding that he still wants to “promote policies that support a two-state solution.”
— Tamar Hallerman
Georgia a ‘battleground state,’ Jason Carter says
Former state Sen. Jason Carter of Atlanta, in introducing the videotaped remarks of his grandfather Jimmy Carter at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, opened with news about a potentially significant role for Georgia in this year’s presidential election.
“Greetings from the battleground state of Georgia,” said the younger Carter, the party’s candidate for governor in 2014. Georgia Democrats believe that with Donald Trump at the top of the Republican ticket this year, they have a chance to turn the state from red to purple.
Speaking about his grandfather, Jason Carter said, “I promise he is itching to get on the campaign trail and elect Hillary Clinton.”
Then came the former president’s videotaped address, one in which he contrasted Hillary Clinton’s message of working “to hold people up” with Trump’s acceptance speech.
“To all of you young Americans I say: Stay engaged, stay involved and be sure to vote in November,” Jimmy Carter said on the tape.
— Greg Bluestein
Mississippi flag removed after protest
The City of Brotherly Love has no apparent love for emblems of the Confederacy. At least while the eyes of the world are watching the Democratic National Convention and its host city.
The Associated Press and local media reported that the Mississippi state flag was removed Monday after demonstrators protested its presence because of the conspicuous presence of a Confederate banner in its design.
Philly.com reported that the flag had been put up on a lighting standard on South Broad Street about two weeks ago as part of a collection of state flags.
Brian Abernathy, a deputy managing director for the city, told Philly.com that the flag will not make another appearance on the streets of Philadelphia. “The Confederate flag raises strong feelings in our city,” Abernathy said.
The local CBS affiliate reported that the newly minted “Avenue of the States” stretches down South Broad Street and features two flags from all 50 states. Not anymore.
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
Benghazi survivor assails Clinton
Kris “Tonto” Paronto is one of three survivors of the 2012 Benghazi attack who said earlier this year while visiting Atlanta that they hoped the issue would not be politicized.
Their harrowing ordeal — when Islamic militants besieged an American diplomatic compound and killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others — was cause for national unity, not political points, Paronto, Mark “Oz’ Geist and John “Tig” Tiegen told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution during a promotional tour for the Michael Bay film “13 Hours.”
That seems to have changed, at least in Paronto’s case.
“Starting Monday in Philadelphia, politician after politician will be trotted out to tell us that Hillary Clinton is a strong leader who will make us safer,” Paronto said in a message posted on his official Facebook page. “They’re dead wrong. As a survivor of Benghazi, I’m living proof. So I’ve decided to go right into the lion’s den. I’m going straight to the Democratic Convention to push back and tell the truth about Hillary Clinton in person.”
— Jennifer Brett
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