The Democratic attack on Mary Norwood
Cover image of Flyer sent by Democratic Party of Georgia declaring Mary Norwood a Republican
The first sharp, negative attack of the Atlanta mayoral race hit the mailboxes of voters on Thursday, declaring front-runner Mary Norwood’s Republican past to be “the elephant in the room.”
The flyer, paid for by the state Democratic party, urged voters: ”Vote for Kasim Reed. Vote for Lisa Borders. Vote for Reuben McDaniel.”
Reed and Borders, of course, are mayoral candidates trailing Norwood in the polls. McDaniel is a fresh candidate for the Atlanta school board, apparently added to give the flyer a multi-race dimension required by campaign finance laws governing the Democratic party’s unusual decision to enter the contest.
The dominant image of the mailer can be seen above. Download the entire piece here.
Text includes the following:
Norwood’s campaign is financed by the same Republican money men who funded John McCain’s hate-filled campaign against Barack Obama, and who have given to George Bush, the Republican National Committee, Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Republican Party.
Her television ads try to hide the real facts, but since 1992 Norwood has voted for Republican candidates 70 percent of the time. She was even a delegate to the Republican convention. We can’t trust her as mayor.
Norwood opposed putting police and firefighters back on the streets to protect our community – she didn’t think we could afford it. But she had no problem spending $106,445 from a city council slush fund.
Democratic chairman Jane Kidd said the party had entered the race because Norwood was being duplicitous about her loyalties. After a Sunday debate, a reporter asked Norwood if she had voted for President George W. Bush. Norwood said she couldn’t remember — though a day later an aide said she had not.
The response of the Norwood campaign to the Democratic attack was quick and heavy.
In a TV ad that begins airing today, Norwood acknowledges her attendance at a state GOP convention in 1999 as a delegate, but “disliked it so much” she’s never been to another. “I believe in President Obama’s call for change and accountability,” Norwood says.
See the ad here:
Roman Levit, campaign manager for Norwood, said the “slush fund” spending cited by the Democratic flyer were Norwood’s legitimate expenses “to communicate with constituents.”
And as to the campaign contributions from GOP givers, Levit said “both Lisa Borders and Kasim Reed have collected donations from people who have given money to Republicans including, someone who served as former senator [and 2008 presidential candidate] Fred Thompson’s finance chair and raised Lisa over $250,000 in one fell swoop.”
“Before making false accusations, and authorizing expenditures without executive committee approval, maybe Ms. Kidd should have checked the voter file first and we would have all been spared these false attacks,” said Levit, a former state Democratic party staffer.
The Norwood campaign manager also provided this screen-shot below, which he says came from the “VoteBuilder” program used by the state and national Democratic parties to identify sympathetic voters. It scores Norwood as two-thirds Democratic and one-third Republican — or leaning Democrat:
Editor’s note: Given the impending Atlanta mayoral election, instant commenting has been closed on the Political Insider blog. Readers are invited to submit comments on all posts, which will be published as soon as possible after review.
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© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
184 comments Add your comment
Bert
October 30th, 2009
7:30 am
Her new base: Uncle Toms for Norwood.
embarrased
October 30th, 2009
7:56 am
So this is the democratic party of Georgia’s way of losing again. Paint the white candidate as a Republican to make black people automatically not vote for her. Great strategy (sure). 70% of the time she voted for a republican, please do tell us how and also tell us how this affects our city. (Looks like they made that up). Her top two campaign officials both are/were heavy democratic party staffers. Please do tell? Black people not only get played by the GOP Party but also for years get played by the Democratic Party also.
A Political Demographer
October 30th, 2009
8:03 am
Ms. Kidd:
I have been a registered Democrat in Georgia for 15 years. Before that, I was a registered Democrat in the great state of Maryland- the ONLY state to vote for McGovern and the heart of the Democratic Party of this country. I was raised on politics at the knee of my mother who worked on all the “Kennedy boys” campaigns and dragged herself to the rotunda to see the body of President Kennedy though she was 9 months pregnant with me. My first experience in the voting process was waiting 3 hours in the voting line with my mother for the 1972 presidential campaign where she violated the election law telling everyone in line not to vote for “that crook Nixon”. I have voted in every election since I was 18 and proudly call myself a “bleeding heart liberal”. I am pro-choice, pro-health-care reform, support gay rights and gay marriage, and believe that a great society like ours should welcome those who come in our borders seeking the better life that my grandparents found when they arrived in Ellis Island in the early 19th century.
Why am I telling you this? Because for this first time ever; I am ashamed of my party. I’ve been disappointed, I’ve been angry, but never before have I been so shamed by the actions of the party to which that I have been so loyal. Your attack on Mary Norwood is slanderous, salacious, and gratuitous. I am not only supporting Mary Norwood, I am working for her campaign. I have known and worked with Mary for 9 years. She is progressive, hardworking, fair, and embraces the principles that the Democratic Party claims to follow. She is open minded, supports gay rights and works tirelessly for each of her constituents and is tenacious in solving the problems of our city. She also ran the campaign of a DEMOCRAT Jabari Simama when he ran for Atlanta City Council. She supported both Emory McClinton for the GDOT board and Joanne McClinton for state representative. Both are Democrats. She has continuously supported Democratic U.S. Congressman John Lewis, an American hero. She voted for Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, and President Barack Obama. You failed to mention all of this in your flyer. You did however mention that she is “funded by John McCain’s money men”. Have you checked Lisa Border’s contributions? You see the name of Tom Bell on the list – a leading Republican in Georgia who donated to John McCain and donated to the Republican National Party. Ms. Borders has cashed his checks with ease. I’m certain we would find some Republican contributors for Mr. Reed’s campaign as well.
What is the point of this? One month ago a very nice young man knocked on my door representing the Democratic Party of Georgia and asked for a donation. I expressed concern that I had heard rumors that the Democratic Party was funding Kasim Reed’s campaign. He assured me that because the Atlanta mayor’s race was non-partisan, that the party would not get involved. He stated that “we are interested in promoting Democrats in statewide elections”. I gave him a donation. Did he lie to me or did you lie to him?
Roman Levit, Mary Norwood’s campaign manager, said it best when he asked, “Why does Jane Kidd want to drive away a person who supports marriage equality, a person who is pro-choice, who supports health care reform, who is a progressive on the issues that matter to Democrats? Why is she trying to drive her away instead of embracing her?” Why indeed, Ms. Kidd? Perhaps we should look at your list of contributors?
Until you as the Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Georgia apologizes for this action, you will not receive one more dime from me. I will also disavow myself from your organization. I am a proud Democrat, but I will not say that I am a member of the Georgia Democratic Party. It’s hard to believe that an organization that supported Jim Martin, one of the most decent, honest people in the state, has stooped so low and acted so indecently.
Regina Brewer
P.S. Oh, and by the way – I want my donation back.
Lisa Lisa
October 30th, 2009
8:06 am
Is this the same Mary Norwood who was asked if she voted for Bush and responded “I don’t remember”?
A Political Demographer
October 30th, 2009
8:09 am
Atlantans Should Vote For The Person, Not The Party
By Andre Walker
In December of 2004, I was elected to Georgia’s state Democratic committee.
Often, at state committee meetings, I hear people repeat the refrain that we need to elect more Democrats. That is, after all, the main purpose of Georgia’s Democratic Party. Sometimes, however, my Party seems to get sidetracked from that purpose resulting in pundits across the state wondering what in the heck were the Democrats thinking.
On the eve of Atlanta’s 2009 mayoral election, there are a lot of people scratching their heads about the state Democratic Party’s decision to inject partisanship into a nonpartisan race.
For those not familiar, there’s been a lot of talk about the party affiliation of Atlanta City Council member Mary Norwood. Her opponents have accused her of not being a Democrat. They say Atlanta is a Democratic city, and imply that only Democrats should hold the mayor’s office. They say Norwood, having admitted to voting for both Democrats and Republicans, is not Democratic enough for Atlanta.
That certainly qualifies for flawed logic. But, unfortunately, it gets worse.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution political insider Jim Galloway reported that Georgia’s Democratic Party chief recently decided to carry a little water for mayoral candidates Lisa Borders and Kasim Reed. Galloway quotes state Democratic Party chair Jane Kidd as saying, “The person that’s going to be mayor of Atlanta should reflect the Democratic nature of Atlanta. As far as we’re concerned, Mary Norwood’s a Republican. We’re concerned that she’s not being truthful about her party affiliation. She’s not saying what she is. We think that she should be called out on that.”
As many wise individuals have queried before, who is this we?
We, the state Democratic committee, are the highest authority of Georgia’s Democratic Party. We, the state Democratic committee, didn’t vote to endorse a candidate in Atlanta’s municipal election. We, the state Democratic committee, didn’t authorize Jane Kidd to spend money on campaign literature calling Lisa Borders and Kasim Reed “authentic Democrats.” As far as this state committee member is concerned, there is no “we.” There is only Jane Kidd speaking on behalf of herself.
Atlantans have an important choice before them on November 3rd. Atlanta voters should weigh their choices carefully. And they should elect a mayor who can effectively lead Atlanta with no regard to that candidate’s party affiliation.
Andre Walker, who runs the site Blog for Georgia, is a member of the state Democratic committee from Fulton County.
Dave Chappel
October 30th, 2009
8:15 am
Why are party allegiances even part of the Mayoral race?
Atlanta is basically a backwoods hamlet at this point, with any ideas of party line votes being an absolute outlier to anything that actually happens.
Truth be told
October 30th, 2009
8:17 am
Once again, the Georgia Democratic Party shooting itself in the foot. Mary has been a champion for neighborhoods and working people in Atlanta. I thought that’s what the Dem’s stood for – apparently instead they stand for corporate special interests.
Wow, Just Wow
October 30th, 2009
8:21 am
@Embarressed. You are ABSOLUTLEY RIGHT. Tom Bell is one of the biggest republican fundraisers in the country and he’s supporting Borders in a HUGE way– to the point of talking into getting back into the race. Does that make her a republican? Or an “Uncle Tom” as Bert would say. C’mon! Stop with the crap and get on the issues.
Informed Citizen
October 30th, 2009
8:21 am
And the issues are????? Hopefully the people of Atlanta are smart enough to vote based on issues, not party affiliation or race.
Not embarrassed
October 30th, 2009
8:22 am
To Embarrassed: And you’re the puppet for the Republican Party. It’s all politics-one party bashes the other; All politicians lie, lie, lie. But that’s the american Way. By the way,
I believe you’re still bitter from the sweet victory of Mr. President Obama…YOUR president and Mine
Dan Deacon
October 30th, 2009
8:23 am
Sounds like the black democrats have become racist by trying to get voters to only vote democrat (basically the only democrap candidates are black which suggest racism because Mrs. Norwood is white).
Get a life and watch Mrs. Norwood take the mayoral position in Atlanta. Then comply with the changes in mismanagement, theft, unethical behavior and a disgrace the current city government is in due to heathens that don’t understand the citizens of Atlanta will not stand around while all the mismanagment is happening.
BamaFan
October 30th, 2009
8:29 am
I am African American and I believe that this city should be run by the most effective leader and from the looks of things, it really seems like Mrs. norwood has a plan to expose the lack of financial resposibility in this city and get it turned around once and for all. For once, people shold think about the importance of our city and not playing the race card all the time. The is the best city in the south and we need to keep it that way.
Truth be told
October 30th, 2009
8:29 am
Jane Kidd should RESIGN or be FIRED before Tuesday to make amends for this outrage.
Chris Murphy, Atlanta, GA
October 30th, 2009
8:32 am
Wow- between Shirley’s comments and the Dems’ mailer, Norwood’s being defined by her enemies. And they’re my enemies, too. Just what did the Democrats do with 130 years controlling every office that mattered in this state? Was Georgia some bastion of progressive action and innovation? No!! I have said for many years the the State of Georgia should change its motto to: “Thank God for Mississippi, or we’d be last in everything.”
Ga Values
October 30th, 2009
8:34 am
Why does the Georgia Democratic Party hate white people?
Krooked Kasim
October 30th, 2009
8:34 am
Looks like some antics Kasim’s friends under the Gold Dome have cooked up.
http://notkasim.blogspot.com
Mike
October 30th, 2009
8:34 am
She voted for Ross Perot (Independent) and Bill Clinton (Democrat)????
IamME
October 30th, 2009
8:35 am
Registered Democrat in Georgia? When did Georgia start registering for parties?
Yes, this ad is tasteless. But getting to another subject on hand… it’s amazing how The AJC is so bias. They’re almost equivalent to Fox. Throughout the Presidential race, and now this race, it is very obvious what side they are leaning towards.
Ernie W.
October 30th, 2009
8:36 am
I’m a black man who has been a beliver in what I believe Mary Norwood will do for the city of Atlanta.
I don’t expect that she will be able to turn around the sorry state of affairs the city now finds itself, but she will present a positive good start in accomplishing that goal.
Is the downward spiral toward mediocrity and crime the responsibility of the evil Republicans, or was it caused by the do-gooder Democrats who have occupied the city government for the past thirty years?
Remember the money wasted on the stupid jingle to advertise Atlanta as a place to live and do business?
Oh, that must have been directed by the evil Republicans.
As a native Atlantan I recognize the same old tired divisive political antics of the do-gooder Democrats, and so should all of the citizens who will vote in this upcoming election.
If we follow the trend of the past thirty years, we will get the same results.
Mary, you go girl!
matt
October 30th, 2009
8:38 am
I’m a registered Democrat, but will switch based on this racist attack on Mary Norwood. This kind of campaigning is going to cause the GA Democratic party to lose voters.
Not embarrassed
October 30th, 2009
8:40 am
Good luck to the mayoral candidates. Change is good. May the better woman or man win. Let’s vote to make Atlanta better and definitely safer.
By the way, I attended school with Kasim Reed (Westwood) I was in the 8th grade he was a senior, he always wanted to make a world a beter place. He was very poised,articulate,and professional back then. I’ve never seen a high school student wear suits to school everyday. He was different from any high school student I had ever met. He said he was going into politics oneday; he has came accomplished alot within 20 yrs. Good lick to Ms Norwood, Mr Reed, and Ms Borders. I think either 3 will do well for the City.
oh me
October 30th, 2009
8:40 am
Democrats. White Haters. Racism.
Same thing.
mmmm, mmmm, mmmmm, Barack the LIAR Obama
October 30th, 2009
8:42 am
Not so hidden message, don’t vote for “whitey”
JTK
October 30th, 2009
8:43 am
Sounds like a racist attack to me! The Democrats simply want a black mayor to continue the “legacy” in Atlanta.
James
October 30th, 2009
8:43 am
A white lady in temple Ga got beat up yesterday by a black man for campaigning. Didn’t even make news. They are trying to play the race game in Carroll County and Atl.
Bobby
October 30th, 2009
8:45 am
I’m a liberal Democrat but the Georgia Democratic Party has no intelligence and even I have some Republicans I’m willing to support. The State Democrats are trying their hardest to alienate more voters using character assasinations instead of sticking to the facts of the case.
Grob Hahn
October 30th, 2009
8:48 am
Americans are getting VERY tired of race-based politics. If you vote on race alone, you deserve the crooks you are likely to get. Is the city better off now than it was under Campbell?
Grobbbbbbbbbbbb
truth b known
October 30th, 2009
8:48 am
Can you imagine listening to this Norwood broad for four years? Not me, no way.
Corky
October 30th, 2009
8:49 am
Ms. Kidd, we’re not stupid. Fear tactics didn’t work in the 08 presidential race and it won’t work in this race. If injecting party into a non partisan race and using boogyman style fear tactics is the best Ga. Dems can do then I’m declaring myself an Independant.
Pdawg
October 30th, 2009
8:51 am
Hey BamaFan….what part of Africa were you born in and how old were you when you made it to the USA?
Roekest
October 30th, 2009
8:56 am
Dems and Shirley (The Queen Dem) thought that as the campaign went on, that Norwood would start to loose support. However, the opposite has happened. Norwood’s numbers have shot up and Reed and Borders are busy tearing each other apart. Now that the final hour is upon us, a fire has been lit under their butts and they seemed to all come together to attack the white democrat. Shameful. Disgusting.
If you all recall, this in-fighting is the same thing Dems did before the Primaries. You had Clintonians on one side and Obamans on the other, flinging eggs and (expletive deleted) at each other. The behavior of Democrats as a whole as of late can be compared to the behavior of high school hooligans who pick on and beat up the “weaker” kids. Grow up for God’s sake!
Laura DeMars
October 30th, 2009
8:56 am
I always thought these city-wide elections were supposed to be non-partisan? I concur with a few remarks already posted; angry and shamed of the Democratic party.
Al Sharpton
October 30th, 2009
8:59 am
The GA Democrats are a bunch of Racst Thugs…go back where you came from under the rock…..Only a complete loser and failure in life would care what the mayors skin color is…No wonder Atlanta is filled with so many poor scumbags….now you know what that way of thinking will do to you..LOL you deserve it!!
Tom
October 30th, 2009
9:00 am
It’s really disgusting that liberal Mary Norwood gets painted as an “evil right winged republican” by the racist democratic party and ajc. I believe that this horible strategy will back fire. I think people that know her and were on the fence about who they might vote for will only be more committed to her. I was undecided until now. I will support Mary Norwood.
Racist
October 30th, 2009
9:00 am
They are breaking her down just because she is white. Totally racist….typical!
Ashamed Democrat
October 30th, 2009
9:01 am
Gross. Why not just hire Bill Campbell to go door-to-door with a sack of cash? Jane Kidd should resign, and the other candidates should stand up with some semblence of honor-integrity and get this race back on track with attention on the issues. Not a bunch of smoke-and-mirrors bs and partisan-based race-baiting. I’m so tired of the crap. The people and communities of this town need leadership. We need help. Not the same old cronyism, deception, and wasting time patting all our buddies on the back while this city declines.
I want to tell my party, once and for all, to GROW UP and leave the racial crap behind. It’s time. It’s PAST time. Sad…
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
October 30th, 2009
9:04 am
Mrs. Regina Brewer Castellano’s complaint is a perfect example of the means by which the power of Rome managed to usurp popular credal consciousness of the Whig Jeffersonian American Revolution, by White, Black, Jew, and Gentile, against King and Pope: by “Annuit Coeptis,” in the “Novus Ordo Seclorem,” for “E Pluribus Unum.”
It is not a coincidence that Norwood’s signs are in the front yards of many of the materially wealthiest (and their wannabe lickspittles) who live in our city, or that she refuses to identify her faith tradition.
In keeping with that alien institution from which we temporarily escaped, by directly receiving in covenant American Exceptionalism, Mary Bush Norwood’s lies are of no consequence to those who do not serve G-d. Her life choices and absence of grace, resulting in her line’s being cut-off for the remainder of Creation, is of no significance TO THOSE WHO KNOW “WHOSE SIDE” SHE’S ON.
Those for whom Mary Bush Norwood’s lies and hypocrisy “don’t matter” – her denied support of her JFK- and MLK-killing cousin, GHWBush (notice the identical chins), and her 9/11-committing cousin George W. Bush, cheated into office by only her co-religionists of the SCOTUS – are the same who know her from the pews of the church she refuses to admit “reared” her.
Why?
In the North, out West, or in Big Oil Houston or Dallas it would mark her as one of the “elite,” perhaps one “connected”… to be feared.
In the South, Blacks (less the 9% RC Blacks who vote GOP) know who ran the slave trade for 2,000 years, and Whites know who really killed Lincoln to ravage their Protestant, Jew-loving, Baptist and Freemason, anti-Roman Catholic, anti-Mormon, Jeffersonian homeland.
So to Mrs. Brewer Castellano: you came from Maryland, Rome’s beachhead in America. John Adams referred to the English king’s inserting your co-religionists there as a primary reason why we should break from England, in his diary in the early 1770’s, Look it up.
Come here to the New Jerusalem to escape Rome, to enjoy better legitimate opportunity, people and culture, and the weather. Don’t bring Rome with you…it’s un-American…just like Mary Bush Norwood’s lies.
In Georgia, be real. Be honest with yourself and with us. Babylon was Sherman’s and Booth’s “team,” not Atlanta’s and Georgia’s.
Be at home in Atlanta. Try being an American.
ATL STEVE
October 30th, 2009
9:04 am
I want the best candidate in office..I don’t care if the person is purple! It’s embarassing what my party has done on THE EVE OF THE ELECTION…HOW CONVENIENT! At the end of the day, we all want the same thing in this city…better schools, safer streets, fiscal responsibility and for this city to grow! Let’s stop people with the nonsense and do what’s right for everyone and not just a segment of society.
Atlanta_Tiger_Fan
October 30th, 2009
9:09 am
The title of the article should say “Blacks gang up on white woman!” They’re scared to death of having a white mayor of Atlanta and I love it. Good luck Mary!!!
Krooked Kaseem
October 30th, 2009
9:09 am
http://www.notkasim.blogspot.com Get the facts!
The Dream Team
October 30th, 2009
9:10 am
Lisa and Kasim, I tried to warn you both the seeds you have sewn will come back to you. You may want to work at treating little people a little better or you will find yourselves in a Mayorial race being beating by an incompetent white woman, garnering 25% of the black vote, winning 50+1 on Election Night Tue Nov 3rd. Good luck to you both. Enjoy political retirement! Kasim will look forward to watching take your seat back from Donzella next year!
KMP
October 30th, 2009
9:13 am
I will now vote for Ms. Norwood.
gary Juster
October 30th, 2009
9:20 am
Ms. Brewer,
Good post but the only state to vote for McGovern in 1972 was Massachusetts. Just wanted to set the record straight.
Gary
Uknown Hinson
October 30th, 2009
9:26 am
I got an idea, lets just vote for a candidate from the Clayton County School Board, I love watching grown ups act like rabbits… Atlanta is heading in the wrong direction and it disturbs me.
Nolefan
October 30th, 2009
9:27 am
Informed Citizen said: “And the issues are????? Hopefully the people of Atlanta are smart enough to vote based on issues, not party affiliation or race.”
That is, by far, the dumbest hope I’ve read so far.
James
October 30th, 2009
9:27 am
Enter your comments here
Craig Johnson
October 30th, 2009
9:28 am
Its best that Mary Norwoood is the next mayor of Atlanta. I think there needs to be some new fresh coat of paint at this time. I think the Campbell, Jackson,and Young era was a good run but its time for a change. I believe that Shirley has done a good job and the best of her abliity. This not about race, this about having the most qualified person for the job. I want Atlanta to be and continue to be a top 10 market period.I like Lisa Borders but its the same thing. Shirley Franklin 8 more years. Kasim Reed? No not at this time. I would vote for Ne Ne Leakes or Kim Zoliack before I put him in office. Thank you and have a god day folks.
Craig Johnson
U.S. Air Force
Ann
October 30th, 2009
9:29 am
Jane Kidd should be fired.
Ricky
October 30th, 2009
9:30 am
To me this isn’t a white or black thing. It is a lack of knowing what is wrong with the city. I am from here and the crime has gotten so bad. As well as finding someone who is honest. I have not met one person in politics that isn’t a liar. And yes Obama, I am talking about you. We didn’t do something great as a country by electing the first half white and half black president. We elected a fool just like we always do. They ought to arrest all of them at captial hill. They all suck. Why don’t you create jobs for the middle class and the people that really want to succeed. Losers on the Hill.
RJ
October 30th, 2009
9:30 am
Would it kill Atlanta, just once, to have a mayor who is crooked and isn’t a complete moron. (Shirley, Bill Campbill, Maynard, etc.)
I don’t know anything about the people running, but I am willing to bet Atlanta will elect the dumbest, least qualified, and biggest crook of the choices.
Clyde
October 30th, 2009
9:32 am
Between Shirley Franklin’s recent comment and this flyer, this confirms that this Democrat will VOTE FOR THE WHITE WOMAN. I’m going to play the race card. The Democrats have gone wrong with this prank and last minute scare tactic. It is ever so important now that everyone that can vote goes to the polls.
Teela
October 30th, 2009
9:35 am
There is so much good here and so much wrong. I was ‘raised’ by two northern Democratic parents, and coming to Georgia 40 years ago, …well, I continued the ‘tradition’ until my eyes were opened by the behavior, corruption, entitlement, etc. of the Democrats I saw around me in Ga. Atlanta is such a good lesson here….Campbell….Franklin….and many others.
I am sick of Democrats playing the race card to get what they want. And this is supposed to be a non-partisan race?
It’s INSANITY to vote ‘party’ when the issues would be served better, much better….by voting for the candidate…and I think it’s more of this ignorance that we see here in Ga. that people can’t get their stupid heads around this.
This last ‘message’ that the dems put out (the attack on Norwood ) has cinched it for me: I don’t give a hot damn whether she’s an Independent or Republican, or anything ‘alien’ put out here. After the smears of Reed/Borders, she looks white as snow.
I’ve known Mary for years (and I live in SW Atlanta…she comes for coffee and to talk. She’s a good person, a NORMAL woman) and I wasn’t going to vote for her: I was interested in Spikes, but he has totally dropped the ball.
Now I will vote for Mary, because she is surviving with grace all this mud thrown at her by a stupid party and very, very ignorant black people.
Back to square one. Again. Georgia never learns much.
bob
October 30th, 2009
9:36 am
We are going to have to drag Andrew “racebaiter” Young to make another commercial claiming that if we elect this white lady, blacks will be attacked by police dogs and shot by water cannons if they try to vote. Why not, it helped John Eaves. The funy part is that repubs have had nothing to do with running Atlanta but get the blame for it being run badly.
1984 is alive and thriving
October 30th, 2009
9:36 am
I though we followed the tradition of a secret vote in America, that’s why there was a curtain you pulled shut on the old voting booths. Obviously “big brother” is watching over your shoulder if someone can determine who you voted for. I also though that the elections at the city level were nonpartisan. Obviously too, some candidates choose to change these election rules all by themselves.
Lee
October 30th, 2009
9:37 am
OUTRAGEOUS ! The Democratic Party of GA has stooped to yet another low. I think this will backfire on Borders and Reed especially. Many people of all colors see thru this attack for what it is. This is shameful for Atlanta. On the flip side, I think Norwood will benefit with an even larger African-American vote. She truly does reach out to all people in every part of the city.
Steve
October 30th, 2009
9:37 am
Votebuilder only goes back to 1998. She switched to voting for Dems after she was elected to the city council. This woman is a Republican through and through.
Grant Park
October 30th, 2009
9:37 am
Racism is alive and fire-breathing in Georgia! And it comes in the form of the State Democratic Party. What a pathetic and mean-spirited attempt to dissuade voters; what a sorry excuse for a state party. Is this the Change We Can Believe In as promised by our President?
Brad Steel
October 30th, 2009
9:39 am
A truer caption for the picture would have been “Don’t Vote for Whitey”
This ad is nothing but divisive racial code. It is shameful. Like the less transparent racial attacks on our President and the ‘09 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
William
October 30th, 2009
9:40 am
No one should votE for Mary Norwood because she is WHITE! We rather have incompetent minorities than some who is WHITE regardless how good of a mayor she will be. DONT VOTE FOR NORWOOD BECAUSE SHE IS WHITE!
BINGO!!!!
October 30th, 2009
9:43 am
IamME
October 30th, 2009
8:35 am
Registered Democrat in Georgia? When did Georgia start registering for parties?
Yes, this ad is tasteless. But getting to another subject on hand… it’s amazing how The AJC is so bias. They’re almost equivalent to Fox. Throughout the Presidential race, and now this race, it is very obvious what side they are leaning towards.
DING DING DING DING!!!!!
Brian
October 30th, 2009
9:44 am
ABLB!! ANYONE but Lisa Borders… please god let Reed(1st) or Norwood (2nd) win!
Wait a Min
October 30th, 2009
9:44 am
http://www.notkasim.blogspot.com
Ross
October 30th, 2009
9:48 am
I am a registered Democrat, and was really undecided exactly which way my vote would go, until now. Due to this, I have decided to vote for Mary Norwood, and I hope many people will follow suit. This is just disgusting.
Earl
October 30th, 2009
9:49 am
It is becoming more and more clear who are actually the real racist in this country. When someone has to wait on Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton to tell them how to vote, it is pretty obvious and pitiful. It is much easier this way than to actually look and think for yourself.
willie
October 30th, 2009
9:51 am
No one should votE for Mary Norwood because she is WHITE! We rather have incompetent minorities than some who is WHITE regardless how good of a mayor she will be. DONT VOTE FOR NORWOOD BECAUSE SHE IS WHITE!
Jeffrey
October 30th, 2009
9:52 am
I’m a diehard Democrat and I am voting for Norwood. Is she the perfect candidate? No. There isn’t one, but she seems to be the best of the lot.
BWood
October 30th, 2009
9:52 am
Norwood has proven one thing, she is consistently inconsistent with her party affiliation and voting record. Do you think this will change when she is mayor. I believe she is a republican under it all and when she doesn’t have voters to answer to this will be how she governs. She won’t ever leave City Hall and will be an administrator rather than a real leader that we need right now. She won’t make it… These debates are killing her, Kasim and Jesse are eating her and Lisa’s lunch every chance they get.
So to all the opinionated Republicans that don’t live in the City of Atlanta good try! LOL
here we go again
October 30th, 2009
9:52 am
I am waiting for the ad where we will hear “voices” (in the last ad it was for Fulton County Chairman) tell us a vote for Norwood will bring back the dogs and the firehoses. Shirley Franklin fired the 1st shot on her blog. Was ONLY the white candidate ‘not qualified”?
Brad Steel
October 30th, 2009
9:54 am
There is no reason to censor my comment.
Quit being a over-reaching blog nanny for candid comments with no personal attacks, foul language or forbidden words.
My comment is on topic and germane to the dialog.
CJKatl
October 30th, 2009
9:54 am
A Political Demographer – Your posts are clear, well stated and very true. Hopefully the Dem party will take them to heart rather than continue to destroy any chance the party has to rebound in GA.
willie
October 30th, 2009
9:55 am
willie Your comment is awaiting moderation.
October 30th, 2009
9:51 am
Why? Are you going to answer me or hide like the true blue liberal you are.
willie
October 30th, 2009
9:56 am
willie Your comment is awaiting moderation.
October 30th, 2009
9:55 am
willie Your comment is awaiting moderation.
October 30th, 2009
9:51 am
Why? Are you going to answer me or hide like the true blue liberal you are.
Jane Kidd is an idiot!
October 30th, 2009
9:58 am
Looks like Jane Kidd has made some Democrats a little mad. Well, I can’t say I blame them. It is unfortunate. We need the state party to work to identify candidates for our 2010 state legislature and constitutional positions. Hopefully the DPG Executive Committee can rein their chairman in before we all go to hell in a hand basket. The state committee members, officers and executive committee have an opportunity to do the right thing and remove Ms. Kidd immediately.
She, by herself made this decision. What letter or email went to executive committee. Who on the executive committee will lie for her this time. Steve Leeds is gone to Washington. Maybe Ben Myers or Richard Ray. They are both liars. We can’t go into 2010 with a limping and ineffective State Party. Ms. Kidd has jeopardized fundraising and candidate recruitment. Jane Kidd, we will not forget. You can be sure your political career in Georgia is finished! State Committee Member and Norwood supporter.
John Doe
October 30th, 2009
10:00 am
I too am disgusted by the state Democratic party’s attacks on Norwood. Norwood has the majority of Atlantan’s support because she has earned it. She has worked hard at representing all Atlantans her 8 years in the city council. The attacks this past week on her have been out of desperation.
She has never invoked the race card, and has wide support between both whites and African Americans.
She will clean up City Hall once and for all.
These tasteless scare tactics will only solidify our support for Norwood.
Flixoman
October 30th, 2009
10:00 am
This would be funny if it were not so sad. I have no clue why anyone would ever be so ignorant as to vote just for “the party.” My grandparents would do that – and God rest their souls – it would almost infuriate me to no end because they did not look at the individual candidates.
Regardless – someone said it best above when they said that Norwood was being defined by her enemies – which are my enemies as well. I dont think that Norwood is the sharpest knife in the drawer, but she represents change. A lot of people voted for “change” last year because it was “Anyone not associated with George Bush.” I support voting for a “Anyone not associated with Shirley Franklin and the Democratic Party.” Norwood does not quite fit that since she is Democratic…but she is certainly not snug with Franklin…and thats good enough for me. So the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Nativeson71
October 30th, 2009
10:04 am
A great book to read that explains Atlanta Mayorial politics is “Where Peachtree Meets Sweet Auburn”
DW
October 30th, 2009
10:04 am
If Mary Norwood wins outright Tuesday, she’ll need to thank Jane Kidd and the GA Democratic Party for handing her the votes needed to go over 50% + 1. This tactic will backfire. Count on it.
Chazs
October 30th, 2009
10:05 am
This is an unfortunate turn of events.
Party affinity has nothing to do with this race.
Mary Norwood is not competent to be mayor of Atlanta.
She had 8 years to comprehend the budget, and she still can not.
Does she believe when she is mayor that divine intervention will then make her smart enough to understand the budget?
Bottom line, Mary Norwood is a light weight and not qualified to be mayor.
Rodster
October 30th, 2009
10:09 am
Call it what it really is, racism toward a white mayor.
Jeffisonline
October 30th, 2009
10:09 am
This is almost as funny was watching democrats fight amongst themselves in the house and senate.
rptrcub
October 30th, 2009
10:11 am
I have supported Democrats in the past but this is beyond the pale, and a hate-filled attack that is an obvious ploy to get a voting block to keep from voting from Norwood. Jane Kidd, you’ve lost my support. I won’t vote for the GOP in the 2010 elections, but you can forget my vote for governor.
Smokewagon
October 30th, 2009
10:11 am
Politics in this city is sickening. All about race and nothing about fiscal responsibility or the issues. We keep going backward in spite of the so called “progressives”. What a joke.
Atlanta Guy
October 30th, 2009
10:14 am
I don’t care what party Mary Norwood may associate herself with. I belive she is the best candidate for Mayor and the only one who can bring about the change Atlanta needs. It’s curious to me that the “race card” seems to continue to be pulled in this campaign by Mr. Reed and Ms. Borders. Atlantans are really tired of those antics.
Question
October 30th, 2009
10:15 am
Question – Why is this turning into a “race-based” conversation? The Georgia Democratic party is attacking Mary Norwood — Not “the blacks” or Kasim Reed or Lisa Borders… Focus on the facts, not rhetoric. All this talk about blacks using racial politics should stop. Can anyone here actually refute the fact that Norwood has a 70% voting record for Republicans? If not, then all these “attacks” need to stop. The facts are what they are. Norwood doesn’t deny her voting record in primary elections. Norwood doesn’t deny the fact that she was a Republican delegate. Why are we talking about race?!?
joe joe
October 30th, 2009
10:16 am
There’s not hardly a dimes worth difference in any of the 3.
They’re all beholden to the same groups that have run this city into the ground.
This top heavy, bureaucracy loaded city hall jobs program cannot be fixed until a business person is sent in there to run it efficiently and without regard to nepotism.
This could become a great city if someone had the guts & vision to make the tough calls & we all know what those problems are.
A liberal or progressive or whatever you want to call it this week will not do it because they govern based on feelings & emotions and not in reality and with facts. There is simply no arguing that.
Until a politician that has the cajones to come out & admit that our 50 year old social experiment has been an abject failure we will continue to head down the financial, educational & crime ridden cesspool that this city has become.
Daedalus
October 30th, 2009
10:19 am
Just another reason to not support the Democratic Party of Georgia. I certainly cannot support the Georgia GOP and their wingnut agenda — but the constant drumbeat of racial politics from the Georgia Democrats is tiresome. When will the dems roll out the firehoses and attack dog ads? That sure helped in the Fulton Commissioner race a while ago.
I might vote for a dem because they are a lesser evil than the GOP candidate. But I’ll never give you a dime. I was leaning towards Kasim — but now it looks Norwood’s got my vote just because of the race-baiting antics of Ms. Kidd and her ilk.
Ruben Gold
October 30th, 2009
10:24 am
Mary is going to win the election. She will do for Atlanta what George W. did for America.
Good for the wealthy, not so good for all the rest of you. Simple statement, but true. Party politics were created to divide. IT WORKS! While folks continue to bicker, she is going to enrich a few and gain national access to power. I have mixed feelings about what’s bound to happen in Atlanta. I love my African American friends, but Mary is about to put money in my accounts. My best solution is that I’ll pay for meals when we hangout.
Fed up
October 30th, 2009
10:24 am
Please, from now know. Only vote for the race that you are! That will always be the solution.
Look at the fine mess the city of Atlanta is in. How ask yourself is race the most important issue here or is it getting the best person for the job. One thing is very clear, someone has to stop the over spending and waste of “dollars” that is currently going on. It has gotten worst with every mayor, the city has had in the past years.
disgusted
October 30th, 2009
10:24 am
I’ve been watching the debates, and it’s very clear that there are many, many campaign donations that were made to Reed and Borders that are expected to produce a pay-off if either are elected. I smell corruption before this election has even begun. Just listen to them bicker to each other about recusing themselves. Yeah, right.
Did anyone catch the news piece on the criminal activity busted up on Moreland yesterday morning? Notice the “Lisa Borders” sign in the front yard of that house? That was enough for me to solidify my vote for Norwood. Everyone needs to listen to the candidates and make an educated decision.
PS-Mr. Reed, I don’t know what kind of women you’re hanging around, but the majority of women in Atlanta are NOT like the Real Housewives, and the fact that you think they shine a good light on Atlanta was the nail in your coffin on my vote. That is an insult to me, as a woman who has lived in Atlanta for several years. If that’s the kind of person you want to represent, maybe you need to take it on up to Duluth, where those women supposedly live.
itamazesme
October 30th, 2009
10:25 am
@James – it made the news and you left off a key part – even the sheriff said BOTH sides were wrong – she allegedly called the man she is running against the “n” word. Horrible crime but if you are going to tell the story – tell it all. Racism exists in every race – and I for one don’t understand why Miss Norwood is being attacked – however, I am not a resident of the city of Atlanta as I suspect most commenters on here – so I can’t and won’t weigh in on the subject.
K. R.
October 30th, 2009
10:26 am
@ Matt who said “i’m a registered democrat” – then i guess you shouldn’t be voting in atlanta’s mayoral race – because to legally vote for the mayor of atlanta you need to live in atlanta georgia, and in georgia you don’t “register” your party afflilation. i.e. you can be a registered democrat in georgia.
Not Going To Use My Usual Name
October 30th, 2009
10:27 am
1) I don’t trust the VoteBuilder information–or rather, what data is used for it–to tell us someone’s political party. It appears to use demographic data to suggest how someone will likely trend in the booth. If Norwood lives in Atlanta, a safe assumption, then it seems likely demographic data would have her trending as a likely Democratic vote. There’s a difference between looking at someone’s demographics on paper and saying “Hmm, by this occupation and this address and this car, this person will probably vote with us X% of the time.” That doesn’t speak to specifics.
2) “Legitimate funds to communicate with constituents” is all well and good, but it’s still viable to compare that to a vote against adding public safety officials for monetary reasons. $100K+ would’ve added a firefighter and police officer, right? And how much is it to have a phone, e-mail address, and mailing address? My worry: that “legitimate funds” meant some kind of mailer, which doubled as a pre-campaign flier.
3) If it was so terrible to be a delegate to the state GOP convention, why did she wait until someone else brought it up to renounce it publicly? Could it be because she wanted to court both sides?
4) Nowhere was the charge addressed that Norwood voted for Republican candidates 70 percent of the time. If that’s not true, then the state Democratic organization can be sued. If it is true, and if what Norwood says about voting for Democrats in presidential elections is true… then she tends to vote Republican in state and local elections–which matter in this case a heckuva lot more than whether she voted for Obama.
All of these taken together add up, in my view, to potentially legitimate reasons for the state’s Democratic Party to be concerned about Norwood as a stealth candidate. I daresay they aren’t worried about her as a social conservative but a fiscal conservative: one who will offer draconian cuts to public services in the name of fiscal responsibility, no matter who it hurts. Since she’s already on the record as doing that once, it’s reasonable to consider whether she will do it again.
Plenty of people will likely say “if she’s a fiscal conservative, great! Lower my taxes and lower the services!” That’s fine, but that’s not the Democratic standard. We aren’t talking about whether you should or shouldn’t vote for her but whether the Democratic Party has reason to be concerned about how much Norwood’s philosophical alignment matches theirs.
Someone who is weary of partisanship
October 30th, 2009
10:27 am
Partisanship is wrecking our country, and race-based politics are setting us back even further. I’m so sick of the race-card being played and the racism double-standard. Sooner or later there will be a backlash to this. Remember the fable of “the boy who cried wolf?”
Atlanta Voter
October 30th, 2009
10:27 am
Getting that flyer in the mail yesterday was pretty shocking. The second shock was that it was paid for by the Democratic party.
I’m voting for Mary Norwood and believe me that flyer is not going to change my mind.
Kevrock/Smarty Jones
October 30th, 2009
10:28 am
Have you seen the ads for Borders…We need a ‘Democrat’…DUH that is what is in office now…As for Kasim Reed…his only newspaper he uses for his Ad is ‘Creative Loafing’…Those two are so funny and BAD…It’s amazing too how many African Americans are behind Norwood. They are tired of be ripped off by their own people….Go Norwood!!! But if you screw up your outta a here!!!
ATLPRINCE
October 30th, 2009
10:28 am
OK, Mary is a Republican. I am a Democrat and have tons of Republican friends. The problem is, we disagree on a lot of topics, HEALTHCARE (I am for Universal and they are for whoever can afford it can have it), the IRAQ WAR (they still think that Saddam had WMD’s, I do not), GEORGE BUSH (they think that he was a great President, I don’t he ruined the economy diverting money to his interests and humiliated us around the world until most people hated us), TEA PARTY’S (Taxed Enough Already? I think that it made no sense to give a tax break to the wealthy, they disagree), Sarah Palin (I think that she was not qualified to run for VP, they think that she is brilliant). I could go on and on.
Why does this mean so much with respect to Mary Norwood? Because overwhelmingly Republicans tend to be selfish, undeterred about their neighbors situations, and unwilling to put the shoe on their feet. Also, the majority of them come from 2 parent households, some form of stable family life, and have had a safety net there for them. They have not had hunger pains in their stomachs, lived in poor conditions, or been forced to make life decisions at very young ages. While it is not anyone’s fault regarding the upbringing of another person, a CIVIC SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE (WHICH IS WHAT A MAYOR OR ANY ELECTED PERSON SHOULD BE) should do their best to understand and represent ALL people. Not just give lip service and drive around in your little BUICK to show people that you are not flashy. That same BUICK is going to drive by the people in the city with the most need, with her windows rolled up and won’t even wave at you.
For instance, look at her position on CRIME. She did not support any type of tax increase or suggest and alternative to raise the money needed to put more officers on the street at a time when it was very obvious to STEVIE WONDER even that we needed more coverage and better oversight to tackle our crime and gang problems. Her answer to repeat offenders is to “KEEP THEM LOCKED UP FOREVER”. The city has no power over the judicial system Mary, that happens at the State and Federal level. Then you banter on and on to the local Sheriff about it. The proper solution at the local level is to EDUCATE, EMPOWER, and MENTOR our young people. Kasim’s plan to put more officers on the street and to give our youth places to go other than being swept up in a gang family makes more sense. Not all inner-city youth want to rob, steal, and car-jack you. Again, most of my Republican friends disagree. They think that they are ALL “THUGS”(REPUBLICAN CODE WORD FOR THE N WORD). As a mentor, I know that is not true, all most of these kids need is to be pointed in the right direction and given some help to reach their dreams. That is how we stop crime. EDUCATION=JOBS=PUBLIC SAFETY.
In closing, Mary is being deceptive. She knows if she voted for BUSH, really now. If she can’t be honest about that, then how can I trust her as Mayor. Believe me I am not voting for Mary not because she is WHITE, but because she is wrong for ATLANTA. I am a native and I don’t want to see this city go backwards. Atlanta is light-years away from the obvious political and racial divide that you see in most cities (I travel all the time) and it is because the mayors since Maynard Jackson, have focused on ALL people. A mayor that has the mindset of a Republican in this town will only divide this city. I wish I knew one Republican who had compassion for others, daily. I don’t and from Mary Norwood’s deception(answering questions sideways or not at all), lack of education and experience, and ties to the Republican base, she does not seem any different.
Mary is out of touch. She is over her head. If she is elected I predict that many of us will wake up on multiple mornings saying, “She did what?”. ATLANTA you must wake up! White folks, this is not totally a race based on race, but don’t you want us all to live in harmony? The problem is most folks like Mary mean well, but she will turn her back on those in need because she does not understand the need. Like most Republicans. Locally: the need for educating and protecting ALL of our youth, Nationally: how can anyone be so selfish and mean that they don’t want again ALL people to have healthcare? The IDEOLOGY and CONSTITUENCY that she represents is just WRONG for Atlanta!
NO TO NORWOOD..
VOTE FOR KASIM REED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TAKE IT FROM A NATIVE WHO LOVES ALL OF YOU.
itamazesme
October 30th, 2009
10:29 am
@James yes this made the news, and it is a horrible crime-however, if you are going to tell the story please tell it all. The sheriff of temple said that neither of the campaigners (this woman being one) is innocent. The woman that was hit has been accused of sending out a memo calling her opponent the “n” word. Does this justify her being hit – by all means NO-but you leaving out bits and pieces is not fair either.
itamazesme
October 30th, 2009
10:30 am
ooops-my apologies i posted twice
RGB
October 30th, 2009
10:30 am
In Atlanta, “Republican” is a code word for “cracker.”
Warms your heart, doesn’t it?
Paul
October 30th, 2009
10:30 am
is the real “chocolate city” New Orleans or Atlanta? It was ok for the whites to vote in a black President but lets see who the real racists are in the Atlanta election–hmmmm