Atlanta Weather

| Traffic

Search
Political Insider

In Athens, a GOP debate that wraps up ethics, health care and a birth certificate

9:04 pm January 19, 2010, by jgalloway

Some off-hand observations on the first debate among Republican candidates for governor, conducted in Athens and televised statewide:

–The missing candidate was state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine. You can understand his reasoning – why be compared with others if you are, in polls and in fund-raising, the front-runner? On the other hand, the statewide forum was critical, early exposure for GOP candidates. Not to be among the faces of the state’s GOP future will have a cost.

– The first real jab among the six candidates who participated came from former state Sen. Eric Johnson of Savannah, who had served as chairman of a joint House-Senate ethics committee that (fruitlessly) looked into accusations against House Speaker Glenn Richardson – who resigned last year after his ex-wife revealed an affair with a lobbyist.

“Some people are using the issue down at the Capitol to score some some political points,” said Johnson. It was a shot at former secretary of state Karen Handel, who has spoken of the culture of “sex, lies and lobbyists” that surrounds the state Legislature.
On the other hand, Johnson promised that he would sign any ethics legislation that crossed his desk as governor.

Handel, for her part, repeated her call for tougher restrictions on the Legislature, endorsing a measure proposed by state Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Atlanta) that would slap a $100 limit on gifts to lawmakers.

– The next shot came from state Rep. Austin Scott of Tifton, who said it was “childish” to question President Barack Obama’s birth certificate. That, of course, was aimed at U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal of Gainesville, who has written a letter to the White House on that very same topic.

Deal responded that he had no interest in Obama’s birth certificate, and that his letter was “not an issue in the governor’s race.” The congressman said his letter only asked Obama to “tell me where I can refer the people” who are asking him questions.

Obama had not answered, he noted.

– Ray McBerry, a states’ rights candidate, declared that he would bring an end to all property taxes and the graduated income tax. Both, he said, “are Marxist to the core.”

– Gov. Sonny Perdue has proposed $10 million in bond funding to move the College Football Hall of Fame from Indiana to downtown Atlanta. Scott said he would oppose such funding, as did state Sen. Jeff Chapman of Brunswick.

– Not surprisingly, each and every GOP candidate at the debate said he would do his or her best to thwart the health care reform effort coming out of Washington.

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.

  • Print

34 comments Add your comment

say what?

January 19th, 2010
9:18 pm

You forgot McBerry’s comment on dealing with our neighbors in a Christian manor when discussing the water issue. Handel with a high school diploma has shown up the good ole boys. They may want to watch out because trading barbs and hissy fits against the metro Atlanta area and DC, will cause Handel or Scott to become serious contenders in the race.
McBerry can keep his rage and name calling in North GA, we don’t need more hate and race baiting in GA. Good debate.

Pat

January 19th, 2010
9:26 pm

This just in…

John Oxendine has declared himself to be the winner of tonight’s debate.

MikeSilver

January 19th, 2010
9:33 pm

Can someone explain why there are a billion candidates (an exageration) for Governor and none willing to challenge Lt. Gov. Cagle? Its odd, especially since Cagle has spent the last several years trying to increase taxes, increase spending, and increase indebtedness. Add onto that, his opposition to gun rights and I would think a conservative would make mince meat out of his record.

Republican Dawg

January 19th, 2010
9:56 pm

Good first round. Of course Oxendine will come out with a press release about his stunning win tonight. Nathan Deal was the grown-up in the room by showing experience and competence when giving his answers. Karen Handel had the best canned responses that a paid media consultant could write for her. She even pronounced tenacious correctly-has she ever used that big word before? Austin Scott should run for Congress-he could probably get 40 percent against Jim Marshall instead of the 5 or 6 percent he’ll get in this race.

The American People

January 19th, 2010
10:41 pm

Senator Brown (R) Massachusetts – Wow. A message was sent tonight to the anniversary party, Happy Anniversary Mr. President. Down With Dems In 2K10

smartdawg

January 19th, 2010
10:49 pm

Thank you, Massachusetts!
On to November!

Dr. R

January 19th, 2010
11:37 pm

If there is a lesson in the Mass. Senate race that candidates for all offices from both parties should heed, it can be summed up in one short sentence: Listen to us or lose.

OBummer

January 19th, 2010
11:40 pm

Hey, OBummer, Reid, Pelosi, get it yet?

OBummer

January 19th, 2010
11:42 pm

1094!

Green green

January 19th, 2010
11:45 pm

My man Ox will deliver pimped-out state cars for all!

smartdawg

January 19th, 2010
11:51 pm

During the first round of tea parties, Pelosi was asked if this were a grass roots movement.
She said “no, it’s astroturf”
I hope we are on the cusp of a monumental change.

OBummer

January 19th, 2010
11:53 pm

Nancy is about to experience turf burns! I’m gonna help her get ‘em.

Good Government

January 20th, 2010
12:09 am

I just got a tweet from Ox claiming that he dominated in tonight’s debate… I thought he wasn’t there?

OBummer

January 20th, 2010
12:25 am

Hey Pig Pelosi, feeling those Astro Turf burns on your big fat A?? yet?

smartdawg

January 20th, 2010
12:30 am

Jim Galloway–what are the chances of a blog about the Mass senate race so this one doesn’t get hijacked?

OBummer

January 20th, 2010
12:57 am

Hey, Obummer, terrorists don’t have American rights! We are NOT going to pay for lawyers to defend them! IDIOT!

OnceUponATime

January 20th, 2010
6:07 am

If Ox doesn’t want to appear in public, why should the public back him?

HERE YOU GO

January 20th, 2010
7:09 am

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had once failed an entire class.

——————————————–

That class had insisted that Obama’s socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, “OK,
we will have an experiment in this class on Obama’s plan”.

All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.
The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.
The second test average was a D!
No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering,
blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that.

The General

January 20th, 2010
7:15 am

Our state will take giant steps backward in so many ways if John Oxendine is merely the Republican nominee, let alone actually elected as governor. Although I realize all of the alternatives are far from ideal, please do not allow this happen.

This is neither a pro-GOP nor pro-Democrat plea, just a heartfelt anti-Oxendine request.

UGA75

January 20th, 2010
7:46 am

I agree General, John Oxendine might be the one person who could out corrupt Sonny, though I doubt there is enough money left in the state to enrich oneself as much as Sonny did. I do know that Johnny O will try. I’m a Democrat who can’t vote for Roy Barnes, so I hope the Pubs nominate anyone except Johnny O so I can vote for someone.

Road Scholar

January 20th, 2010
7:47 am

Why a $100 limit? Why should nthey get gifts? Do you think their job has something to do about it? NO GIFTS!

GoOx

January 20th, 2010
8:24 am

My man Ox is the clear front runner in the race, let the other 6 battle it out for second place. Then he will take the in the run-off, and send Roy Barnes back to his law practice. Barnes can’t even beat Handel in court on Photo-ID, how does he expect to beat my man Ox.

Silver Falcon

January 20th, 2010
8:50 am

The GOP debate was a let down.

Deal has a soar sholder this morning from patting himself on the back last night. Too arogant. Bad congressman. Would make a bad governor.

Handle wants to lower property taxes and raise sales taxes. Rob Peter to pay Paul. Sounds like she is taking care of the wealthy and sticking it to us middle class people.

And McBerry said everything except that Georgia should succeed from the union. Maybe he should run for governor in Texas. They like saying stuff like that out there.

Scott was the only person that I thought had a handle on the questions. But can he handle the governor spot?

Overall, a pour showing from the republicans. Oxendine would have made no difference. He needs to stick to insurance. He is good at that postion. I’ll give him that one!!

Zeb

January 20th, 2010
8:52 am

Oxendine refuses to appear on the same venue with McBerry on the campaign trail; why would he agree to debate McBerry in person?

Republican Dawg

January 20th, 2010
9:00 am

Ox is perceived the front-runner because he has been running for over two years and panders to every group that has more than 2 memebers. Ox is a coward and refused to debate the issues last night, even a camera was present! Ox loves a camera more than more that Colonel Sanders enjoyed fried chicken.

Wounded Warrior

January 20th, 2010
10:09 am

Ox shouldn’t go round shootin Georgians. Time he was tossed out along with Tommy Irving. Both have been in their office > more than 10 years. Yeah Scott Brown!!!!!!! Go Ray McBerry.

Wounded Warrior

January 20th, 2010
10:10 am

That man can file insurance claim against Ox, and we know what Ox will do during furlough days…shoot Georgians.

clay barham

January 20th, 2010
12:04 pm

Look at American politics simply, easily and clearly. Build a launch pad first. Politics rises out of a view we each have of other people. Do we see the interest of the community superior to the interests of the individual? The Transactional Psychologists say there are four ways each of us can view other people. The healthy view is “I’m OK, you’re OK.”

The world, however, grew on a tradition of an elite few ruling the many. Chiefs, Kings, Sultans, Mullahs and Priests and their families were the rulers. The interests of the community, as defined by them elite, were more important than are the interests of the individual. They are OK and the rest of us are not OK. The many non-elite believed they were not OK. The fourth TA position, I’m not OK, you’re not OK, are criminals justifying laws, police, courts and jails.

There was no elite governing body Pilgrims in 1620 could look to. People had to stand on their own two feet. They had to be I’m OK; you’re OK people to survive. It started the free market and individual freedom. It started a unique New World tradition. The Old World tradition held to the elite few ruling the many, never adjusting to what began in America.

The battle in America between the Old and New World traditions are seen in our two main political parties. The Republican Party is the older of the two if we take it back to Alexander Hamilton, Henry Clay, to Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Nelson Rockefeller and John McCain. Republicans are elite meddlers believing the national government should manage the industry and affairs of the American People. They stumbled in the 1960’s with Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. They left the party with people who do not accept original GOP policies.

The Democrat Party was the libertarian, state’s rights, individual freedom and local government party, following Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe to Jackson and Cleveland. They made the biggest swing from their policies at the turn of the century, adopting the Old World policies of Rousseau and Marx. The GOP, except for the Goldwater-Reagan moments, held fast to their better-than-thou beliefs from its origin. In the life of our Republic, the only political party that held fast to the ideals of America, which made her free and prosperous, was the 19th century Democrat Party.

Here’s how we get back to what we once had. The Democrat Party is so steeped in Marxism and socialism that it cannot turn back. The Republican Party offers a chance with those from the stumbling sixties who supported Goldwater and Reagan. There are enough of them in the GOP now to cause it to become closer to the 19th century Democrats who followed Jefferson and Madison. From them, I see it as the only way to get back to the promise of America. claysamerica.com

UGA1954

January 20th, 2010
12:05 pm

Perhaps Mr. Oxendine should appear at debates instead of adopting the policy that he will not appear at any debate or forum where any candidates are polling at five percent or below. That was the EXACT reason his campaign gave to the Clarke County GOP as to why he would not appear at the debate last night. His camp can now allege that there was a scheduling conflict; however, they are not being truthful. As far as the debate last night, I though that Austin Scott gave very good answers to the questions. His ideas were well thought out and made common sense. Karen Handel gave good answers, too; however, she seemed to give the same answers that are canned in her one speech she gives. I thought I could get behind her until she diminished all women with her comment about the ethics at the Gold Dome and trying to apply that ALL men there were unethical. There are many fine men who do nothing but try to help the citizens of this State and to be given a blanket unethical label because they are men was unfair and untrue. She should be ashamed of herself for making such a statement. Deal, well he’s just Deal. He can say that he was just pursuing the birth certificate of Obama because his constituents had asked him to do so; however, he will never be able to explain away why he hid from the news crew in D.C. who were trying to ask him about it. Then there’s McBerry who doesn’t seem to want to follow the rules and file his campaign disclosure report that was due about two weeks ago. If you can’t follow the rules, how can you uphold them! The other two gave some good answers; but, I don’t think they are exactly what Georgia needs. If I had to guess, I’d say that Austin Scott probably had the best showing last night.

DJ Sniper

January 20th, 2010
1:22 pm

So what does everybody make of this comment by candidate Jeff Chapman in regards to public transportation and his opposition to a sales tax to fund it:

“Their needs for transportation in South Georgia are much different,” Chapman said. “I don’t know that they’d be supportive of a statewide sales tax. The sales tax aspect of it would be a new tax. I can’t imagine a worse time to increase people’s taxes.”

South GA Dad

January 20th, 2010
2:20 pm

FYI Ox was hitting up finance companies across the state for campaign contributions. For anyone who might not be aware of this his office is the authority which finance companies (search Georgia Industrial Loan), or small loan comapnies, must answer to. They perform audits and can impose hefty fines based on a lot of nothing if they wish. I know because I have seen it happen. The company, a one office local comany, I worked for folded after having huge fines imposed on it. Before, during and after the investigation the owner was receiving letters wanting him to contribute to Ox’s campaign. Thinking this would get him in the commish’s good graces he did at least twice that I know of, totalling at least a grand or two. Now think about the bigger companies across the state, what kind of money would they feel compelled to contribute? I have worked for one of them as well, which before the owner died, had Ox in his hip pocket and could get away with anything in the business. Just a little food for thought.

Jeff Marlow

January 20th, 2010
7:47 pm

I thought Ray McBerry did a great job. Finally a real choice for Georgia – someone who isn’t a career politician. I am so sick of corrupt insiders…..

The Right Side of Life » #eligibility: No Deal Response; More States Create Bills; Kerchner v. Obama Update

January 20th, 2010
9:55 pm

[...] debate, Mr. Deal downplayed both the letter and the entire eligibility question. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: – The next shot came from state Rep. Austin Scott of Tifton, who said it was “childish” to [...]

| NwoDaily.com

January 21st, 2010
5:40 pm

[...] debate, Mr. Deal downplayed both the letter and the entire eligibility question. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: [Read more →] Share and [...]