UPDATE: Barnes gets endorsements, dubs himself an “outsider with experience”
11:19 am June 1, 2010, by James Salzer
Former Gov. Roy Barnes has been in state government off and on since the mid-1970s. But after his re-election effort was endorsed Tuesday by a trio of key Democratic leaders, he declared himself an “outsider with experience.”
Barnes, a state lawmaker for more than 20 years before serving one term as governor, was endorsed on the statehouse steps by former Atlanta mayors Shirley Franklin and Andrew Young, along with Brooke Jackson -Edmond, daughter of former Mayor Maynard Jackson. Young and Barnes ran against each other for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1990, a race eventually won by Zell Miller.
The former mayors touted Barnes as a leader who could reinvigorate education in the state.
“In my opinion, nothing is more important than an investment in education. Roy Barnes has the experience, he has the tenacity and he has the vision to help our children,” Franklin said. “That is why I am endorsing Roy Barnes.”
Barnes was ousted from office in 2002 after angering teachers by pushing through the legislature two massive school reform bills.
But in the past few years, budget cuts have brought teacher layoffs and furloughs. Many teachers have seen their pay cut. The state is paying for fewer school days next year, Barnes said.
“That’s like turning the clock back to the time when we were an agrarian society and we let kids out in October to go home and pick cotton,” he said. “Let me tell you something, you can’t make a living picking cotton anymore.”
When asked about his efforts to attract teacher support, Barnes joked, “I’ve got Governor Perdue in charge of getting the teachers back for me.”
Playing to the anti-incumbent mood of many voters this year, Barnes noted that he’s been out of office for seven years.
“The only way I get into the governor’s office is in a tour group. I guess what I am is an outsider with experience,” Barnes said. “I don’t blame them for being upset (with incumbents). I’m mad at them too. I am mad at all of them for not keeping a focus on what’s necessary.”
One of Barnes’ Democratic opponents, former state Adjutant General David Poythress, responded, “Only a career politician would try to feed us a line like that and expect us to believe it. Clearly Roy Barnes’ hypocrisy has fallen to an all-time low.”
Another Democratic hopeful, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), said, “Being voted out of office makes him an outcast, not an outsider. More ridiculous were his comments on education when it was educators he insulted who made him an outcast and who are ready to make certain he stays one.”
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126 comments Add your comment
Morrus
June 1st, 2010
7:22 am
Curiously, in a supposed anti-incumbent year, most of the departing are not retiring but seeking higher office. We may recycle more than we replace. The bad news is that a frustrating 114 seats still have but one contestant. Two of them aren’t even incumbents, meaning they will affect state policy without being vetted by voters. And I have to think that we’d be better off if many had run instead for the Legislature — and cut down on the number running unopposed. Georgia’s problems are numerous. They aren’t going away. There’s too much stale thinking at the Capitol, on both sides of the aisle. New voices would be welcome.
mee too
June 1st, 2010
7:31 am
I can’t believe anyone would ever consider bringing back Barnes! He needs to go out and find a job!
Georgia voter
June 1st, 2010
7:33 am
Those are three real good reasons NOT to vote for Roy Barnes!!!!!
Greer
June 1st, 2010
7:36 am
‘Mee too’, Roy Barnes has and works at a law firm. Think before you speak. lol
TheBigCat
June 1st, 2010
7:37 am
The Black “leaders” endorsing a Democrat? What’s the “news” in this news article?
Gay Blade
June 1st, 2010
7:38 am
3 reason for NOT voting for King Roy.
Charles jackson
June 1st, 2010
7:40 am
Yawn Who the fu**k cares?
fulldawg
June 1st, 2010
7:41 am
I ask just one question. Can ‘Ol Roy really be trusted by anyone?
fulldawg
June 1st, 2010
7:41 am
I ask just one question. Can ‘Ol Roy really be trusted by anyone?
fulldawg
June 1st, 2010
7:41 am
I ask just one question. Can ‘Ol Roy really be trusted by anyone?
Mark
June 1st, 2010
7:42 am
He will focus on education? Remember that is what got him out of office. He bad mouthed teachers and berated them for his own political gain and it backfired no doubt. What a joke. He made an issue of a dumb flag as priority when he should have been focused securing our water and shoring up the economy for an eventual downturn. I would have as much faith in my 7 yr old governing the state of Georgia than Mr. Barnes.
God Bless!!!
King Roy
June 1st, 2010
7:48 am
Please, please, please…give me one more chance.
Lance
June 1st, 2010
7:50 am
I am a Republican and Roy Barnes is a complete joke. I will admidt that Sonny Perdue hasn’t done a damn thing either but at least Sonny did stand up in opposition towards the health care bill, just like 70% of Americans did. Do you think Roy Barnes would’ve backed the health care bill? Damn right he would’ve. Get lost Roy!!! You’re a typically Democrat Roy! You would sell your Mother for a vote.
Will
June 1st, 2010
8:02 am
You can claim that Roy’s courage in addressing the terribly embarassing state flag issue was “dumb” but calmer, business-oriented people know otherwise.
It was a politically brave thing to do, something that the sainted Zell Miller thought about doing but ducked. It was also one of the variables that cost Roy his re-election.
With a very shallow republican pot to dip from, if any democrat can regain the Governor’s Office, it will be Roy. A long shot no doubt in a blood red state but I suspect this race will be very competitive.
You may be right about the damage he did with the teachers eight years ago but public school employees will never forgive nor forget what the republican majority, including Governor Perdue, had done to public education over the last eight years. This group of republican candidates, rather than supporting public education, are falling over themselves with promises of making it much easier to abandon public education rather than supporting public education.
Edwin
June 1st, 2010
8:03 am
I totally agree with Franklin. However, the State of Georgia should hire back the Outsourced IT departments and put Georgians back to work! It is a shame to fire tax paying Georgians and send their jobs to INDIA and other States in the US. If Barns wants more State employees to vote for him, he should make it a point to get OUTSOURCED employee’s hired as State Employees?
Gary
June 1st, 2010
8:04 am
Go Roy Go … Sonny did do something during his time in office .. he lined his pockets with gold .. talk about selling your mother for a vote, Sonnny would sell his mother ,wife and children for a dollar .. I wish I could laugh at Sonny BUT what he has done to this state is NOT A JOKE .. Barnes in 2010..
Gm
June 1st, 2010
8:09 am
Let see, under Sonny no raises for teachers or state employees in 8 years, Georgia is still looked at as a racist state, education is next to last, Sonny had 1 million dollar land deal while teachers take a pay cut. And you wonder why Georgia is looked at as a backward good old boy state.
jbeggs
June 1st, 2010
8:15 am
Sonny did nothing for education I know but I’d vote for the devil over a dem at this point. Until that clown in Washington is ousted the dems are screwed. Enjoy the ride dems!!! Georgia will not go dem – bank it!!!
cm
June 1st, 2010
8:17 am
Thanks Mark. I was afraid that I was the only one who remembered how King Roy bashed education! No educator should EVER put him back in office. We voted him out before, why would we ever put him back in?
realistic101
June 1st, 2010
8:19 am
Sonny Perdue just like George Bush was backed by anti-black and other anti-minority whites. Just because a Democrat is not as RACIST as the rest of you white folks he is a bad guy. When you stop raising you kids to HATE each generation, then a candidate like Roy Barnes will not be an issue.
PoliticalDog44
June 1st, 2010
8:20 am
Barnes is a washed up good ol’ boy lawyer. Why step in s%$#@!!!! twice and get the same results.
Alex Phillips
June 1st, 2010
8:25 am
@ JBEGGS, you’d vote for the devil, WOW, looking at the condition of this state, I’d say you did. I look at some of these negative comments and I just have to ask what state have you guys been living in for the last 8 yrs. People please stop voting against your interests, that is unless your interests don’t align with the welfare of all of Georgia and only a certain demographic of white southern rascists bigots. I really hate that you people are in the majority, so sad that this state will be in the tank until all you all die off.
Renee
June 1st, 2010
8:25 am
Roy Barnes did more for education in the state of Georgia in 4 years than Sonny Perdue could even dream about…especially with that joke of a Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle at his side. It is clear that neither of them understand the importance of educating the youth of Georgia–that became very clear with all of the tax breaks that he gave to bribe industries to locate in this fair state. And did it work? Not very well, I fear. Look at the state of Georgia’s economy and look who profited from Sonny’s time in office. Clearly, Sonny & Casey are looking out for their own selves, aren’t they? They are the only ones coming out of the last 8 years on top financially! And as I recall, during Sonny’s second term he ran on a platform of bettering education in Georgia. Well, how did that work out for us all? If anyone can pull the state of Georgia out of this mess that we find ourselves in, it would be Roy Barnes!
Barnes Receives Endorsement Of Key Atlanta Dems; Sun Rises In East — Peach Pundit
June 1st, 2010
8:36 am
[...] The coronation of Roy Barnes to be the Democrats nominee continues: Former Gov. Roy Barnes’ re-election effort will be endorsed this morning by a trio of key Democratic leaders, Barnes’ campaign said. [...]
Conservative Democrat
June 1st, 2010
8:36 am
Sometimes I wonder who in the heck elected the fools we have suffered for the last 8 years…Sonny using a public office for private gain at Oaky Woods, etc., ….Glenn Richardson using power to seduce female lobbyists out of their drawers…I could go on. Then, I read some of the uninformed people on this blog and realize who elected ths sorry junta of Republican bozos.
Roy
June 1st, 2010
8:40 am
It’s funny how 8 years go by & peoples memories become obscurred. While I do not think Gov. Barnes was dishonest or crooked, there can be no doubt his administration had its share of questionable motvies by its people. Even WSB-2, the mouthpiece of the democratic party in Ga would call his administration “the most corrupt”. So while I think Barnes has some good ideas & is capable, this recent endorsement by the same old people who want paybacks of sorts (like my friend needs an appointment, etc) is just unaceptable. I would’ve hoped Ga. would’ve progressed beyond this. This state is in dire need of radical change! Here’s the first start, sell that oversized
white elephant on W. Paces Ferry; no civil servant needs such an elaborate residence!
4 Jacks
June 1st, 2010
8:50 am
Barnes and the same ole political establishment and good ole boy network. When are people going to learn this nation needs to get rid of ALL the incumbents both dems and repubs and washed up outdated political boobs like Barnes. When this state really needs a leader of education I can’t help but remember the way ole Roy screwed our teachers and educational system…please Georgia and the nation for that matter, throw all the old guys and the incumbents who refuse to hear what the majority of Americans want, out of office…and tell the new ones if they do not listen we will vote them out also. Lets take the country back and get some responsible fisical soundness back in place.
I'm a Realist
June 1st, 2010
9:11 am
Maybe its because of the holiday weekend and folks haven’t used their brains in a few days, but there is a strange collection of comments giving reasons to be against Roy.
Lance: You are a Republican and Roy is a joke. How does your political afflilation make Roy a joke? It’s your logic that is a joke. You admit Sonny has been a disaster, but he stood up against the healthcare bill so somehow that makes everything alright. The healthcare debate is a national issue and really not a factor in the Georgia Governor’s race. And because Sonny opposed healthcare, you want to give him a free pass for all of the documented corruption the man has been involved in? Voters like you scare me.
Mark: “He will focus on education…that’s what got him out of office”. So I guess its safe to say you are happy with education in Georgia under the GOP reign. All Sonny has done is gut education, furlough teachers, and stack the Board of Regents with his political cronies. All while test scores continues to make this state the laughing stock of the country. And you say Roy spent too much time on the “dumb flag issue” while he should have been worrying about the state’s water needs. You and every other Georgian need to thank Roy for having the political courage to do the right thing about the flag and make it a non-issue for our state. As for water, did you even realize that it was Roy who planned 7 resevoirs YEARS BEFORE the drought, and had actually sold the bonds to construct them. All of which was canceled by Sonny. Then AFTER the lakes ran dry and AFTER a federal judge ruled against Georgia, Sonny figured out the state had a water problem. I’m worried that you are going to warp your seven year old. Consider calling DFCS and self-reporting.
Mee Too: Roy needs to go find a job? The man is one of the top attorneys in the state and he just released his financial statement showing a net worth of somewhere arounf $16 million. I don’t think he really needs to worry about a job. In fact, the better question would be why would a man with $16 million in the bank want to waste his time being Governor? The answer is Roy Barnes geniunely cares about his State and he sincerely believes we can do better. Sonny and the GOP has left one hell of a mess to clean up, and there is no a Republican in the race who has the ability to get the job done.
rod
June 1st, 2010
9:13 am
has bubba barnes released his african american church going schedule for this campaign?
NORMAN RAVITCH
June 1st, 2010
9:18 am
The more the Black Mafia supports Roy Barnes the more sunk are his chances. The Democratic Party in Georgia is here just to express black grievances, not to represent the people of Georgia. The Republicans know this and therefore they can ignore the Democrats. Unfortunately this gives Republicans the luxury of being irresponsible. We need a white Democratic primary again.
lester
June 1st, 2010
9:20 am
Former mayor shirly franklin isn’t much of an endorsement to brag about. her reigh as mayor was a joke. i may register to & vote against roy barnes. him not giving the public a choice in the changing of the flag was a slap in georgians face. maybe the flag should have been changed but not giving the public the chance to vote on it was WRONG! ofcourse like most democrats he’s pishing for the black, gay & hipanic vote(illegal & legal).
Politics as usual
June 1st, 2010
9:25 am
To all the Dems out there that spout off about how bad the Republicns are …. Your hero former Speaker Murphy never did anything for personal gain did he? And least we not forget Barnes, Porter, Baker, Jones, Franklin and a bunch more. ANd we should all rememeber the “best” Prez we ever had that does not know what constitues “sex” Bill Clinton. They are all crooks ….. face it. If they are not crooks when they enter politics they will be before they are up for re-election ….Right Mr. Deal?
DemFolks
June 1st, 2010
9:25 am
Way to go Lester, spoken like a true biggot! They should take votes away from people like you. I mean come on, a vote to change the flag? That’s the most important issue to you? Really?
I'm a Realist
June 1st, 2010
9:26 am
Rod, Norman and Lester:
What time does the Klan meeting start?
You three are an embarassment to this state. Let me buy all of you a one-way bus ticket to Mississippi.
Scruffydawg
June 1st, 2010
9:37 am
It’s amazing to me that we are still suffering in education because of Barnes last term. His commendably was ” yes I destroyed education in Ga last time, but let me try again and I promise I will do better”. What ? GA you are smarter that that.
The lesser rats just lined up to endorse the King Rat. Come on Ga it’s time for some honest ethical politicians in GA. Why in Hades would we re-elect someone that did such a miserable job last time.
JD in Marietta
June 1st, 2010
9:38 am
I don’t see how getting the endorsement of Maynard Jackson’s daughter is considered a plus to any candidate. Maynard’s dead, the daughter’s alive, but is known for nothing more than being Maynard’s daughter…How can this help?
The Race is Done › Blog for Democracy
June 1st, 2010
9:38 am
[...] Ed on Jun 1, 2010 at 9:38 AMThird verse same as the first. Former Atlanta mayors Shirley Franklin and Andrew Young, plus Brooke Jackson -Edmond, daughter of [...]
Strom
June 1st, 2010
9:45 am
last time roy lost the vote of the liberal school teachers, the flaggers, and the gamblers. what a combo IT’S ALL ABOUT COLOR. the white folks still out number the blacks. andrew is as phoney as they come. this will only help the right.
U like it???
June 1st, 2010
9:52 am
In a day where we need real change going back to Roy Barnes is NOT the answer. He screwed Georgia before why should he get a second chance? People keep talking about wanting something different but you keep supporting the same career politicians. None of the Republicans are anything but career politicians and will toe the Republican line which means nothing new or nothing better for Georgia.
Can’t vote for Roy! http://www.poythressforgovernor.com
Scott
June 1st, 2010
9:55 am
Roy hasn’t a chance regardless of who endorses him. He is simply an ambulance-chasing trial lawyer – nothing more, nothing less. We need someone who has actually produced something to lead the State.
Steve
June 1st, 2010
9:58 am
**All the Candidates so for are just about Platitudes we need someone who is willing to Standing up for what we believe and do the right thing. Cutting the budget to balance it is not just a matter of prioritizing. The state already spends the vast majority of what it collects on its priorities. The governor’s proposed FY 2011 budget expends 96 percent on the following:
Education (K-12, Board of Regents, Technical College System, etc.)
Health (Department of Community Health and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities)
Public safety agencies, including corrections
Department of Human Services
Department of Transportation Debt service (a legal obligation)
All other state agencies comprise only four percent of the budget; we spend only $691 million on 21 agencies. Most have already been cut twenty percent or more since the pre-recession FY 2009 budget. What will happen if they are cut another 5, 10, or even 20 percent more?
We will save only a relatively small amount of money; nothing near the amount the state needs to close its current or future shortfalls.
Will we endanger agencies’ ability to accomplish their core functions, resulting in negative outcomes in the areas of health and safety regulation, consumer protection, economic development, environmental protection, as well experience greater inconveniences through longer lines for driver licenses and fewer park facilities?
Sonny left whoever gets to be Governor a mess.
Mario
June 1st, 2010
10:00 am
Yes, conservative Democrat at it’s best. He certainly has my vote!
Mr. Grumpy
June 1st, 2010
10:03 am
Here we go again with that same group of ignorant, low-class racists and flaggers whose legacy promoted how poorly this state has done in just about every area of government and commerce. Barnes tackled the flag issue because big business in Georgia — Republican big business — correctly knew how much that flag hurt commerce in Georgia. Even Zell Miller was afraid to take the flaggers on. Barnes tackled education because Georgia has NEVER, EVER gotten near national average standards. You don’t deal with those kinds of issues by doing the same stuff over and over again. Sonny Perdue had 8 years to do something. He did something, alright. He kept our education system where it’s always been — at the bottom of all states. A Republican controlled legislature has had that same amount of time to do something about education and they helped Sonny keep it at the bottom. Well, good riddance to the flag of hatred, a flag that kept parts of Georgia looking like Tobbaco Road. And good riddance to Republican policies which continue to support the status quo and do even more damage to this beautiful state. VOTE BARNES FOR GOVERNOR AND CLEAN OUT ALL THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE!!!!
I'm a Realist
June 1st, 2010
10:05 am
Scott:
I love you folks who hate lawyers, right up to the time when you need one. You are the first one to call Ken Nugent when you slip and bust your ass coming out of the Wal-Mart.
While you have the floor, I’d love for you to name the candidate who in your opinion, who “has actually produced something”. Karen Handel has “produced” a GED; Nathan Deal has ‘produced” an ethics investigation in DC that was about to call for an indictment of his crooked ass; John Oxendine has “produced” one hell of an ethics scandal that is not over yet; Eric Johnson has ‘produced” an ethics disclosure with more holes in it than Sonny’s boxers.
So Scott, old wise master, please impart some of your wisdom for us.
retired teacher
June 1st, 2010
10:06 am
Why should we trust him? We learned not to trust Roy or Sonny on their promises. We are a big voting block, but we and our students get handed crumbs from the table. No thanks! Need to look at other Democratic candidates in race who do the right thing when push comes to shove and we also don’t need to be looking at just one issue.
Lance
June 1st, 2010
10:06 am
@ I’m a Realist…… You need to wake up. Anybody who hides behind a phony name like that really means, I’m a LIBERAL!!!! You can spin it anyway you want but the fact is, I admitted Sonny Perdue hasn’t done much of anything at all. Did I ay just because he voted in opposition to the healthcare bill, he gets a pass? No I didn’t. See the problem with liberals is, they could and never will admidt when they are wrong. It’s always the finger pointing and I’m so much smarter than you morons like yourself.
Wild Turk
June 1st, 2010
10:29 am
Let’s not forget about King Roy’s previous term as an out-of-touch dictator who was going to push the Outer Perimeter through regardless of what the voters wanted…. Flaggers??? If it weren’t for the OP, he would have served a second term. Just a few questions to ponder:
1) He wouldn’t listen then, what makes you think he will listen now?
2) If he’s such a strong gubernatorial candidate, why didn’t he take on Sonny four years ago?
3) Doesn’t ANYBODY remember King Roy’s arrogance?
4) And how much stronger of a role would Roy demand for teacher unions?
Put a teach in the governor’s office and you get unchecked influence from a labor union that is more concerned with its labor force than the education of children. What ails Georgia’s public schools? Union teachers who become pro-union administrators. Remember, they still have a vested interest in those holding onto their retirement. Sure, Sonny didn’t have the guts to take on the teacher’s union, but Roy won’t just embrace unionized labor, he’ll roll out the red carpet and try to crush any opposition to it.
Vote for that scuzzball Barnes at your own peril. There’s nothing worse than an arrogant politician scorned. Don’t let his smiles, play-nice attitude and platitudes (”Oh, I’ve learned my lesson…”) fool you. Put him back in office and you will have an absolute nightmare on your hands.
Roy Barnes is a BOZO
June 1st, 2010
10:35 am
If Roy Barnes did all these wonderful things (create 235,000 jobs?)during his one-term as governor as his TV commercial suggests, why did he get his ass-kicked in the election by an unknown Republican candidate?
Can’t Georgia do better than what is being offered the electorate?
Fauntle-ROY Barnes
June 1st, 2010
10:40 am
I gave Georgia a new state flag nobody wanted, pissed off the teachers, and made grits the official state food.
What more could this ‘ol country lawyer do for the people of Georgia?
NoWayRoy
June 1st, 2010
10:41 am
Doesn’t matter, Roy won’t win anyway. No matter how many times he promises not to change the flag. lol