TV and the Atlanta mayor’s race: Crime, kids and a murdered boxer
Two of the three leading candidates in the Atlanta mayoral race have new TV spots up today.
Council President Lisa Borders new 30-second spot features five women around a home lunch counter, talking about crime.
According to the last two polls, Borders is bleeding support. This ad looks like an attempt to recoup, at the expense of front-runner Mary Norwood :
The ad touches on the crime that has hit Atlanta’s college campuses, including one homicide. Here’s the portion of the script that takes a large swipe at Norwood:
First woman: I’ve been in Atlanta a long time. And it’s time for these things to change.
Second woman: We need new leadership.
First woman: What we need is a Democrat.
Third woman: We need Lisa Borders.
Norwood, of course, admits to dallying with Republicans long ago, but says she’s now a confirmed independent. (Borders and Reed have their own GOP associations.)
Meanwhile, the Kasim Reed campaign is out with an ad intended to soften the former state senator’s image – the candidate begins it with a smile and a phrase: “I love Atlanta. I grew up in this community.” Reed is the leading male in a race dominated by female voters.
His topic of choice is kids:
How much money is behind either of the two ads above is a matter of speculation — until later this week, when a last round of campaign finance documents is made public.
You’ll recall that, earlier this month, Reed called on the Norwood campaign to pull an ad that gave TV viewers a tour of recent crime scenes in Atlanta.
The family of one of the victims, slain boxer Vernon Forrest, wishes Norwood would have called them about it first, according to my AJC colleague Eric Stirgus.
“If [Norwood] would have informed us, it would have been more respectful,” said Evonna Forrest, the boxer’s sister. “[The family is] dealing with a lot at this moment.”
Forrest, you may recall, was gunned down in July during a robbery attempt in southwest Atlanta. The family wasn’t aware of the Norwood ad until they saw it on television.
“A world champion boxer was shot eight times in the back right here,” Norwood says at an interstate overpass.
“It threw me to the couch,” said Evonna Forrest.
Norwood says budget errors at City Hall were largely responsible for the furloughs of police officers. Norwood’s opponents say the councilwoman’s refusal to back a property tax increase is to blame.
But Evonna Forrest said she understood Norwood’s point.
So should the ad have been pulled?
“I don’t feel it should be taken down,” she said.
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44 comments Add your comment
Blain
October 26th, 2009
6:30 pm
Norwood should be ashamed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS0ekhf6PHM
Krooked Kasim
October 26th, 2009
6:31 pm
http://www.notkasim.blogspot.com New Post Today! Thugs of a Feather Flock Together!
Mary
October 26th, 2009
6:32 pm
Mary Norwood’s ad was political opportinism at its worst. Sad!
THE REAL Shin Jasher
October 26th, 2009
6:33 pm
Meh…Kasim’s ad is kinda blah. Not impressed.
Betsy
October 26th, 2009
6:57 pm
Borders’ ad is…interesting. I guess it serves that female demographic well, as well as takes a jab at that worm Norwood.
Reed’s ad is interesting….he’s trying to appeal to women through kids, probably because word got out about teenage female choke-slam he pulled at Howard University. I can’t wait for the media to sink their fangs into that.
Reed's Dirty Little Secret
October 26th, 2009
7:06 pm
I really wonder if I’ll come out the closet. Howard University is hiding a 20-year-old assault to protect their favored son that’s on the brink of becoming Atlanta’s next mayor. What do you think? 40 years old with no kids and a string of loose women behind him? Don’t vote for Kasim “hip-hop mayor” Reed.
ATL fo life
October 26th, 2009
7:06 pm
these polls do nothing to show the true weight of the candidates. why we given these hacks all this time and not focusing on real issue and real people…i only know one in this race and she is real atlanta, from atlanta and loves atlanta…GO BORDERS
Politics At Its Finest
October 26th, 2009
7:47 pm
Mudslinging and slander are obvious Karl Rove tactics (that don’t work anymore). It’s pretty sad that you have to continue to try to tarnish the guy to take attention off of your candidate lacking a real record.
Oh, Krooked Kasim, if you would spend your time putting reasons on here why we should support your candidate vs why we shouldn’t vote for her opponent, you would probably garner more votes that way.
You are actually kinda pathetic. Get your ‘blog’ game up. Your notkasim blog should be a little more accurate.
and… if you want to paint him as a criminal, please do so with real facts, arrest records, court docs, etc.
Politics At Its Finest
October 26th, 2009
8:08 pm
one more thing:
Entertainers (Atlanta natives) have done more for Atlanta than you might think.
You point out Luda and TI… look what they just did….
10/1/09 LUDACRIS & T.I. RAISE OVER $100K FOR ATLANTA FLOOD RELIEF
My thing is this… President Obama said he liked Ludacris and has him on his iPod…. he got flack for it too…. I am not the biggest fan but luda DOES have about 250k followers on twitter and he has been tweeting his little heart away about Sen Reed…. so if that turns in to any votes you will just have egg on your face. The young people (who listen to TI and LUDA) elected our President…. you don’t think they can elect a mayor?
Betsy
October 26th, 2009
8:11 pm
PAIF, I like a little discourse — it keeps your blood red and makes your teeth white. Why so serious?
SFG
October 26th, 2009
8:14 pm
Mary Norwood Unfiltered Part 1….yikes!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS0ekhf6PHM
Politics At Its Finest
October 26th, 2009
8:28 pm
Betsy… Calling someone a women-beater and a thug is just silly.
Do better…
Betsy
October 26th, 2009
8:44 pm
It’s not silly if it’s true.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
October 26th, 2009
9:24 pm
Reed’s forty and never been married: Ergo something’s messed up in his head, above and beyond being a “mouthpiece for hire” to “protect” major corporations by convincing juries other Blacks aren’t victims of racial discrimination.
Interesting “calling.”
“Uncle Tom” and “Judas Goat” come to mind.
The Howard U. story has the ring of truth. Reed is male and all have the same wiring. He’s doing something deeply wrong along the lines of Vernon Jones. Sure, you can say there’s much dysfunction to overcome from historical oppression and racism – particularly against Black men, but Atlanta needs to make elect someone who’s managed to overcome obstacles, not hide them in a closet of psychoses, sublimations, and over-compensations.
And now Mary Bush Norwood, after “not being able to recall” publicly for whom she voted, through a spokesperson, asserts she voted Perot in ‘92 (against her JFK-killing cousin GHWBush – who also wasn’t “able to recall” his whereabouts upon hearing of President Kennedy’s assassination), and straight Democrat since 1996 (voting against her younger cousin George W. Bush), while her employer and husband made campaign contributions to Republicans.
Unless she goes on camera and makes a convincing presentation herself and takes a confirming polygraph test, I say she’s a liar…for the same reason she won’t go on record where she worships or what her religion is.
Atlanta’s being gaslighted by Big Money’s fascist plutocracy.
Obama’s election poses a direct threat to the Spirit of Evil we all know has been on Our Land, and for which Mary Norwood voted.
Lisa Borders, a native and known quantity, is the only candidate close to being real…and that’s what Atlanta’s all about.
Let’s get real Atlanta, and toss Reed and Norwood “to the curb” – both fakers – and make elect Lisa Borders, one of our own.
Civilization pivots on urban culture. If we insist on Truth and Justice from those we make Elect, America will be pivoting on Atlanta, all the more.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
October 26th, 2009
9:29 pm
GPB link about Norwood’s inability to recall for whom she voted…before “remembering”: http://www.gpb.org/news/2009/10/26/party-politics-in-atlantas-mayoral-race
CJKatl
October 26th, 2009
9:39 pm
Borders’ ad is hysterical. It looks like cheesy homemade porn – obvious set-up that doesn’t seem the least bit real or natural, women wearing too much make-up and bad music. If the spot went on another fifteen seconds clothes would have been coming off!
When things get tough a real leader regroups. A poser starts flailing. With this ad, Borders has officially stopped being a serious candidate and is flailing like wind sock in a hurricane.
Thanks for the good laugh, Lisa.
AngryVoter
October 26th, 2009
9:43 pm
Borders have been pushing the crime issue and she keeps sinking lower in the polls. So why is she running a new commercial harping on the same issue that has gotten her nowhere? It’s a clear sign that she has a wooden ear when it comes to listening to what the voters are telling her.
Electing her would be a huge mistake. But apparently most voters have come to realize that already.
CJKatl
October 26th, 2009
9:47 pm
One more thing on the Borders commercial – having the old lady say “We need a Democrat” makes me think the old lady is senile. It’s a Democratic Primary and all the candidates are presently Democrats. Having the older woman say “We need a Democrat” makes me think “Someone needs the special memory floor at the retirement home” more than making me think the other candidates aren’t Democrats.
CJKatl
October 26th, 2009
9:51 pm
Sorry, but one more thing…the old lady saying “We need a Democrat” also seems to be so senile that she doesn’t realize the Democrats – Franklin, Campbell, Jackson, Young, Mansell – have gotten us into this mess. Does the old lady suggest the only way to change is to get more of the same?
What a poorly thought out ad. Desperation makes people careless, I guess.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
October 26th, 2009
9:59 pm
Thanks for leaving the pro-Bush “scent trail” on the internet, “CJK,” so we know it’s a Gay Old Pervert party partisan slamming an opponent of the Roman Anti-Christ’s candidates, Norwood and Reed, in the upcoming “nonpartisan” General Election.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
October 26th, 2009
10:05 pm
And to the other pro-Norwood GOP liar: Norwood’s mansion on Habersham Rd.’s “tony” section, is 3,028 square feet, according to public records, not the “under 2,000″ you made up.
Chris
October 26th, 2009
10:22 pm
These ads do nothing for me! I really would love to see one where they ride with the police in the SWATS and show them get out of the car and start speaking about crime right when some gun fire is going off! Now that would be some S&Yt3 to see …. Really ads this late is just a waste of money.
Why not use the money to feed the hungry or hold a job fair. Really Reed making himself smile was funny so that would made me giggle.
Sarish
October 26th, 2009
10:22 pm
It’s funny that Borders has all of her friends in the commercial who translate into Shirley’s WNBA buddies. they all sit in my section at the games. Mary Long is the old woman and is one of the Mayors closest friends, so I guess she will endorse Lisa soon enough. The other woman used to play basketball, I don’t think anyone one would come up behind her… and what’s this about walking a dog on campus? This happened to her too? Who does that? Video Editor needed !!!!! Mary Norwood can take on Mary Long, is she related to Ralph Long?
Truth be told
October 26th, 2009
10:32 pm
Exhibit A for why Borders is sinking. She is a craven, opportunist who depends on pandering to get ahead. Notice the one female who doesn’t get to speak. Enjoy being manipulated?
Halle
October 26th, 2009
11:06 pm
Has anyone seen Borders out and about, in the trenchs campaigning anywhere? I didn’t think so. She could give 2hoots about the citizens of this city. The “taking care of my parents” plan early into her campaign was a crafty political stunt that is now blowing up in her face.
Morrison June
October 26th, 2009
11:24 pm
Shirley do us all a favor and SHUT-UP!! The more you talk the angrier people get. You had your chance to BARK at pennington, rob hunter and others under your adminsitration. It’s too late now. Your legacy was your vision for choosing loosers and standing by them at the expense and safety of the city.
MC W
October 26th, 2009
11:54 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ8bdfn09Pk
Lisa Borders Injects Partisanship Into A Nonpartisan Election » Blog for Georgia - A Fair & Balanced Look At Georgia Politics
October 27th, 2009
6:29 am
[...] commercial, Long says, “What we need is a Democrat.” [Galloway, Jim (2009-10-26). TV and the Atlanta mayor’s race: Crime, kids and a murdered boxer. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved on [...]
Southwest City Lover
October 27th, 2009
7:10 am
I agree with Morrison June. Shirley has been totally incompotent. Anyone Shirley doesn’t like…I like. Go Norwood! When Mary wins, I see Shirley going to jail for her years of frauds. Just watch.
ty law
October 27th, 2009
7:15 am
Kasim Reed is going to beat Mary Norwood in the runoff hands down.
confused
October 27th, 2009
7:35 am
Borders campaign has just been horrible. If anything, she needs to be going after Reed and not Norwood right now.
AngryVoter
October 27th, 2009
7:54 am
Borders doesn’t seem to understand that just putting more patrols on the streets is deemed as crime response, not crime prevention. She has not articulated any plan to address the root problems that cause crime. She only seems interested in doing the quick, showy, sound bite thing.
It’s like trying to solve a mouse infestation by killing every mouse that you see, instead of plugging up the holes that let the mice in and fixing what attracts them. It’s like putting a band-aid on every new lesion as it pops up instead of curing the disease that causes the lesions. It’s like trying to solve consumer credit issues by putting money in rich bankers’ pockets. (Oh, wait, different rant.)
Everyone sees right through that. She is the Emporer with no clothes. The more she addresses the crime issue the more everyone sees she’s naked.
CJKatl
October 27th, 2009
8:05 am
Sarish – thank you for the info on who the old lady is in the ad. I cannot stand the divisive message she puts forward and cannot help to think – as much as I don’t want to – that it’s code. I’d rather think it’s a memory and/or reasoning disorder and that hopefully her family will take away the car keys and keep her away from open flames.
It seems some “leaders” in the “community” are stunned to find out that the average man/woman on the street doesn’t look to the “leaders” for marching orders. So much of what passes for “racial politics” is really a small group trying to keep power for themselves and has nothing to do with helping out the average person. It appears us “little people” have finally caught on to this.
So many people look at the “success” of Jackson and Franklin and see nothing positive for them. They see no reason to keep these people in power, which is why neither Reed or Borders has caught on. Those two candidates seem like more of the same.
I cannot understand why these people have chosen to flock to Norwood instead of Spikes, who seems like an intelligent, capable, outsider, but I can understand why they are running from Borders and Reed.
Jim
October 27th, 2009
9:00 am
Ms. Franklin should be ashamed. After a failed second term (and I voted for her both races), she would do well to remain silent. We do not need more of the same for the next four years.
Jackalope
October 27th, 2009
9:24 am
Borders’s ad: OMG hahah terrible. Too bad she has NO MONEY to get it out. It would actually be funny to see that on broadcast television.
Reed’s ad: Not bad. They needed to soften his image a little. But it’s not addressing any voter concerns like crime and the like.
Norwood’s ads: The ones she has all over TV are 10 times better than these.
Reed is #1!!!
October 27th, 2009
9:38 am
Who can’t see that Kasim Reed is the BEST candidate in this election??? I think the AJC should just interview TI and Luda and let them explain to our uneducated urban voters, why they support my man, Kasim Reed. That will show all of you haters! We need a true leader who will pick up where Campbell and Franklin left of! Elect Reed to continue Atlanta’s rise to greatness!! Who knows, under Reed’s leadership we might even surpass Sandy Springs in attracting new business! Haters just need to be quite in this race and let the uneducated masses vote in Reed so that we can get more Luda concerts and might even get FREAKNIC back!!! thats what I’m talkin bout!
newA
October 27th, 2009
9:45 am
Reed definitely comes off as a community activist in the commercial. When the votes come out on Nov 3rd, Norwood may come in second place. I think there are a lot of voters that Reed has that do not show up in the polls for the following reasons:
-Do not have home phones (I am a super voter w/o a home phone)
-Are not considered “likely voters;” however due to Obama are registered
Reed is #1!!!
October 27th, 2009
9:53 am
Good post newA….come to think about it, most of our voters won’t even answer a number they don’t recognize! The polls are skewed against the urban voter for this reason. Think about it….an unrecognizable number could be a bill collector, the police, defax, or any other white people trying to get in our bizness!
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
October 27th, 2009
10:03 am
There is a divide in Our Society, between individuals, “the many,” who by the Creed is intended to be the sovereign People in America, under G-d alone – never before proposed or achieved in human history, and a spiraling concentration of wealth gained by nefarious means, through intrigue, assassination, corrupt government and tax policy, coordinated illegal immigration and offshoring to de-industrialize, to profit “the few” through alliance with foreign “de facto” slave “elites” to reduce, relatively, the American Middle Class’s wage power and opportunity while debasing the currency (inflation to pay for the Bush Wall Street Bailout due to 9/11 treason and false war – condoned, tolerated, or ordered by this fascist plutocracy – to further diminish the strength of the Middle Class and heighten police state powers).
Atlanta, Dr. King’s hometown, claimed New Jerusalem, and Wheelhorse of The Nation, doesn’t need or want a proponent of Satan in America – The Roman Anti-Christ’s “Fifth Column” – as mayor.
On the record, live with a reporter, Mary Bush (Norwood) “can’t recall” who she voted for president the same way her cousin George H.W. Bush “can’t recall” his whereabouts upon hearing of President Kennedy’s assassination, though two FBI memos put him, at the time of the assassination, in the area of the “hit” and in the organization a Federal Jury judged committed the treason (Viz, ‘Hunt v. Marchetti/Liberty Lobby’), and the next day Mary Bush has a spokesperson lie to make her out to be a longtime Democrat though her employer and husband – and neighbors in Atlanta’s “Gold Coast” – all voted their wallets for Palin, Bush, Nixon, and all the other “stars” of the Gay Old Pervert traitorous, racist, fascist faction.
She even gained a cherished seat as an elected delegate to the state “Republican” convention after she claims to have voted for Bill Clinton for president.
Do we know any other Bushes who are liars?
Reed is #1!!!
October 27th, 2009
10:06 am
You tell them Will! REED will take care of our mortgages and gas in our Cars!!!
pleasenot mary
October 27th, 2009
10:31 am
some of your bloggers are absurd and completely ignorant of politics and policy. when you resort to base accusations you are only doing the other campaigns a favor and your candidate probably has not record. i guess if you had the mental wherewithall to digest and understand the issues and records in question then you wouldn’t be writing all these disgusting things. crawl back under the rocks and the lives of misery from which you came. RECORD RECORD RECORD!!
Reed is #1!!!
October 27th, 2009
11:03 am
Breaking news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mary Norwood just caught watching FOX news!
Get the word out…this is a republican at its worst! How can anybody watch FOX news and claim to have voted for Obama (my man!)….
I can’t believe she even qualified to run for mayor…she doesn’t have near the experience in cronyism and corruption that has built our great city!
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
October 27th, 2009
11:13 am
If we make elect a known liar, why should G-d bless us?
Look what happened when Mary Bush Norwood’s cousin, a draft-dodging closet-queen and false religionist hypocrite, was cheated into office by the Roman Catholics on the Supreme Court, to lie us into false war after committing 9.11…virtual bankruptcy on top of the shedding of the blood of innocents.
Let us seek only Truth and Justice, letting the pursuit of Righteousness guide us.
Norwood is a liar and a fraud. Reed is a Judas Goat and Uncle Tom.
Borders is the only right choice for Atlanta.
Sick of it...
October 27th, 2009
2:17 pm
This should be Norwoods campaign ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koAFMYEvzXc