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Political Insider

The whole of John Oxendine’s 2003 speech to insurers

2:20 pm February 18, 2010, by jgalloway

This morning, we posted a 2003 Fortune magazine article on state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine that has caused quite a stir.

“I’m the incumbent. You all are going to give me money because you’re afraid not to,” Oxendine told a group of auto insurance executives.

Oxendine, a GOP candidate for governor, said quotes from the Fortune article were taken out of context.

“The article didn’t tell the whole story. I was commenting on the benefits of having an insurance commissioner who is elected, not appointed, and that incumbent officials receive contributions from people who have an interest in that office,” Oxendine said.

Which sent us on a hunt for the original source.

Oxendine’s remarks first appeared on June 9, 2003, in Auto Insurance Report, an industry newsletter published by California-based Risk Information. The speech occurred in Florida. Oxendine was not paid for the appearance, according to editor Brian Sullivan, who arranged the event.

Click here to see the entire newsletter account of the Oxendine speech, reproduced with permission.

It was clear that, even at the time, the audience was hearing something unusual. This was included in the editor’s note that preceded the transcription of Oxendine’s speech:

His candor was remarkable and refreshing, and though many insurers wish he were easier to deal with, none disagree that they know where they stand with the insurance department.

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28 comments Add your comment

L. Grizzard's Ghost

February 18th, 2010
2:58 pm

I don’t like him.

DICK

February 18th, 2010
3:01 pm

He isn’t as tough on companies as he would have you to believe. He will allow a company to pull from agents who have represented them for years. He is out for one person, himself!!!! Karen is the one getting my vote.

John E. Crash

February 18th, 2010
3:06 pm

Shake downs, birdhunting with youngsters who spin around 10 times before they shoot, car wrecks with lights flashing and Vegas trips…..Guess who?

PoorSlob

February 18th, 2010
3:07 pm

he refers to the Georgia consumer as a “poor slob” on page 3. Amazing.

BPJ

February 18th, 2010
3:15 pm

Now we know why Hitler was so upset in that parody! (See Political Insider from last week)

will

February 18th, 2010
3:25 pm

Just too much trouble bubbling to the top here – Fair or not, I’m pretty sure there are others to choose from that will allow me to take a pass on this fellow.

JoeBob

February 18th, 2010
3:28 pm

Do your research on this guy before you vote for him!! Look up the “SEUS” story and you will see one of the largest failures during his term!!

woodshed guy

February 18th, 2010
3:36 pm

Yes, we are poor; but not slobs. Slobs are people like the ox who slap you on the back while they pilfer your wallet. But he doesn’t have to worry about the insurance companies causing him to look bad. Ox is doing a good job of doing that himself. Now, oh boy! The insurance companies can have a little fun with him, support someone else for instance and perhaps tell the Ox to stick it. This whole thing is going to fester soon. The real fun has not started. Stay tuned.

Redneck

February 18th, 2010
4:08 pm

Well, at last the perfect candidate for Georgia governor:

Crooked as a dog’s hind leg–Check
Super-conservative, as long as it doesn’t shaft him–Check
Big talker–Check
Anti-gay, anti-liberal–Check
Family values guy–Check
For the little guy, as long as he doesn’t have to be a little guy–Check

No doubt about it. We got a winner here.

Too Much Sincerity « Chamblee54

February 18th, 2010
4:13 pm

[...] the honest to a fault person was Matthew Cardinale. Today, it is Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine. The person known at “Ox” is currently running for Governor of Georgia. For some [...]

Eade Chit N Run Rabbits

February 18th, 2010
4:13 pm

I gotta feelin’ after the election you’ll have plenty of time to bird hunt.

MT

February 18th, 2010
4:17 pm

Oxendine is arrogant and a megalomaniac. Barnes is arrogant and in the pockets of road builders and developers. Handel is arrogant and will rule like Marie Antionette. Johnson is in the pocket of the Reynolds family and tried to hand them Jekyll Island State Park before the economy deeped -sixed the “plan” Chapman did everything in his power to save Jekyll Island from the predators, but needs to distance himself from the party dittoheads and express some more visionary ideas.. Scott is young, full of himself, but seems to have potential. Poythress and Porter are mature, tested, and seemingly honest folks. I don’t know why the AJC and the media won’t give them reasonable coverage. Georgia desperately needs wise, mature, far-seeing–and non-arrogant–leadership. At this point in time I would vote for either Porter or Poythress, or Chapman, if he would free himself from the most conservative and reactionary ideologies of his party. In a few more years I might vote for Scott, if he resists the temptation to grandstand and posture.

pensacola dawg

February 18th, 2010
4:17 pm

How come nobody’s looking at the nepotism inside Oxidines department, Its rampent in the audit department. 3 family members in the same job one after the other retires???

AF

February 18th, 2010
4:20 pm

What is really sad is that the system we have is exactly what Oxendine portrays: our politicians are owned by the businesses they support. As long as the politician gives the businesses what they want, they will continue to give him/her the money to campaign again and again.

We can’t hear the message of a candidate who does not have the money to get his message out. We hear from those who have the money to make and buy campaign ads.

Rob Vinson

February 18th, 2010
4:33 pm

Wow…i’m speechless…

atlborn

February 18th, 2010
4:55 pm

“Wow I’m speechless?” You’re still criticizing this guy after reading the full text of his speech? Do you actually know how to read? If you do, it proves what Ox is saying- that his comments were in fact taken out of context.
The full text of his speech, to me, portrays him as a stern regulator, explaining to the industry he regulates the motives for his actions- that he must protect consumers. Now, his motives aren’t born out of pure alturism as you might hope, but rather self interest in keeping his job and remaining in office.
To me his comments are suprisingly straightforward and honest to have come from a politician.

oldfart

February 18th, 2010
4:57 pm

But he still has time to chase fire trucks to get on tv for the name recognition thing. The local media didn’t get it when Lester Maddox played them like a fiddle and this guy still gets his face on tv with every major fire. I wouldn’t vote for this guy if he were running against Lucifer himself.

Tony

February 18th, 2010
4:59 pm

Hey, where the hell did that “GoOx” fella wander off to?

atlborn

February 18th, 2010
5:03 pm

It is now clear to me that the other folks participating on these discussions are nothing more than staff from other campaigns.

a

February 18th, 2010
5:03 pm

“The full text of his speech, to me, portrays him as a stern regulator, explaining to the industry he regulates the motives for his actions- that he must protect consumers”

I work in the industry. He expects us to contribute to his campaigns. If we do, he passes our requests. If we don’t he sits on them.

And its not like you have to pay him to do something shady. He expects our campaign contributions just to do his job.

king of mean

February 18th, 2010
5:12 pm

i’m not on staff from other campaigns. i agree with old fart. JOX is a camerahound and totally “in it for himself”.

oldfart

February 18th, 2010
5:14 pm

I’m not part of anyone’s campaign or anyone’s party. I’m a social liberal and a fiscal uber-conservative. I care how my tax dollars are spent and no previous insurance comptroller zoomed up and down the HOV lanes of Atlanta in a state owned, custom made Crown Vic with blue lights just to get face time on tv. a’s comments show what is expected of the companies he regulates and further enforces the need for this not to be an elected position. I don’t agree with Perdue very much but on this one I agree.

Jack Dickson

February 18th, 2010
6:29 pm

Oxendine is a white trash fool on steroids. He is a serial adulterer, a repetitive crasher of state automobiles, and an abuser of the shiny lights and sirens they used to provide him before they were taken away from him. Even now the man is carrying on an affair. If the Georgia GOP doesn’t act quick, Roy Barnes will be the next Governor of Georgia.

UGA1954

February 18th, 2010
9:23 pm

@atlborn — trust me, I’m nobody’s staffer nor am I on anyone’s payroll (as a matter of fact, I’m older than any of the candidates running); but, this guy is his own worst enemy. He needs to fade into the sunset and do us all a HUGE favor. He’s crooked and corrupt. I heard today that the FBI is investigating him even as we speak. He may be able to legally change his name to Oxendicted before all is said and done.

Wounded Warrior

February 19th, 2010
12:47 am

Oxendufus used to call himself the Lone Ranger Republican because he was the only one elected into public dep’t head at the time. We knew he was an idiot and toooo girly to be straight. Was surprised to hear that his son had shot…he didn’t have any kids back in 2003. He got into be with blue cross/blue shield. Our insurance rates have continued to climb since he has taken over. Not to mention in 2003, he had a state car, and got a DUI in it, when he was off duty. He was not fired, nor arrested. His car was taken from him in 2005.

If you didn’t give to his campaign, you were black-listed. He even had the gall to come and eat in the state cafeteria and ask the lowly state file clerks for money in 2004. He was openly just randomly going to different tables asking for donations for his upcoming race. We hated him then, and he hasn’t changed.

pete12

February 21st, 2010
9:46 am

maybe he will raise eveybody insurance since they can afford it,just like health ins everyone can afford it to.

Independent Voter

February 22nd, 2010
12:26 pm

I have to give Oxendine credit for being upfront about expecting campaign contributions from people courting the favor of the state’s Insurance Commissioner, for better or worse. That’s the way the system often works. But, I could not bring myself to vote for a man like that. Among the GOP candidates, Chapman is the only one who appeals to me, not so much for his stand on the issues [although he does have some good ideas] as for his track record of standing up for what he believes in, even when it costs him the favor of the leadership of his own party. On the Democratic side, I think Porter is as rock-solid honest as Chapman, and has some good ideas on how to lead Georgia out of the economic mess it’s in now. A Chapman vs. Porter contest in November would be a win-win situation for voters, as I see things. An Oxendine vs. Barnes contest is one I would probably sit out.

Zachary

February 22nd, 2010
11:45 pm

I’m BLUE. I’m CROSS. You’re BLUE.

And will the Georgia electorate please SHIELD us from this unethical turkey.

I wish this turkey would change professions. Selling Toyotas would be the perfect job for Oxendine. How sweet! An unethical guy working for an unethical company.