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Riding with Obama: A Georgia congressman risks it

6:36 pm March 3, 2010, by jgalloway

President Barack Obama spent a few hours in Savannah this week to talk about jobs and sample the local cholesterol along the riverfront.

But the most significant aspect of his trip — for people like you and me — may have occurred after Air Force One went wheels-up over Georgia. Accompanying the president back to Washington was U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston of Savannah, in pursuit of a little face time.

It was a rare opportunity, and possibly risky.

U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston of Savannah

U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston of Savannah

Kingston is a Republican. In Florida, members of the GOP have been known to crucify those who fall into Obama’s embrace. In Georgia, a few have tried to pretend that the president simply does not exist.

Two weeks ago, after Obama announced an $8 billion loan guarantee for two new nuclear plants in Georgia, U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss celebrated with a press release praising “the administration’s approval.” No mention of Obama by name.

They didn’t want to be seen in the same sentence with the president, much less the same room.

So in this climate, acceptance of a White House invitation to a 15-minute speech — followed by a lift back to work — can be characterized as something close to courageous. Or reckless, depending on your point of view.

Kingston wasn’t the only prominent Republican in Obama’s presence on Tuesday. Gov. Sonny Perdue, in pursuit of a $400 million federal education prize, was there to greet the president when he landed.

But the governor is not up for re-election this year. Kingston is. Which made the nine-term congressman particular when deciding which Obama event in Savannah to attend.

“[Obama] was doing some other events that were pro-stimulus program. I felt that it would be hypocritical of me to participate in that,” Kingston said. “But when the president comes to your area to talk about jobs and the economy, and you have a 10 percent unemployment rate, I think it’s a positive thing. If he’s sending out an olive branch, I want to accept it.”

Gov. Sonny Perdue greets President Barack Obama. Associated Press

Gov. Sonny Perdue greets President Barack Obama. Associated Press

Kingston and 300 other souls in the auditorium at Savannah Tech — most of them Democrats — listened to Obama outline a $6 billion program focused on energy-saving repairs and upgrades to existing homes. The idea would be to create jobs for small contractors and reduce utility costs for homeowners at the same time. Manufacturing would benefit, too.

“It’s very hard to ship windows from China,” Obama said.

Even before the president spoke, Republicans elsewhere in Georgia were ready to dismiss what he said. “Cash-for-caulking,” tweeted Eric Johnson of Savannah, a candidate for governor and a close friend of Kingston.

But Kingston himself was more careful in his response. The Savannah congressman had concerns about where the money would come from, and how the program would be contained. Kingston wanted no repeat of last summer’s ballooning cash-for-clunkers program. That said, Kingston said a deal was possible.

“If we can find a way to pay for it, then I think it could be good — helpful for the construction business, good for the homeowners, good for the national energy process,” he said.

Pressure not to consort with the enemy exists among both Democrats and Republicans, Kingston said. “Both parties are going to do everything they can to get their base out by sometimes exaggerating how bad proposals are on the other side,” he said.

But the anger — and thus the danger — comes from within the GOP. Ask Kay Bailey Hutchison, the stimulus-tainted U.S. senator from Texas, who on Tuesday couldn’t even push two-term Gov. Rick Perry into a run-off.

“You’re darned if you do, you’re darned if you don’t,” Kingston said. “As soon as you start taking a step in the middle direction, your own base jumps on you. But I still think you have to do that. That’s part of getting the job done.”

Common interests exist, Kingston said. Obama’s emphasis on trade could help the port of Savannah. His stance on nuclear power is attractive to many Republicans in Georgia.

Then there’s the president’s commission on how to cut federal spending. “We may not agree where or how, but it’s important for Republicans to be at the table with him,” Kingston said.

Perhaps signaling to other members of his party that he was no revolutionary, the Savannah congressman warned that a Democratic effort to shove a health-care overhaul through Congress would be the trust-buster that would jeopardize all of the possibilities mentioned above.

An hour or so later, Kingston and Obama were both headed back to the scorched earth of Washington. And the next day, the president called for Congress to push for a health care vote using rules that would eliminate the chance of a Senate filibuster by Republicans.

But for a moment, we had a glimpse of what normal once looked like in politics.

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31 comments Add your comment

Road Scholar

March 3rd, 2010
6:57 pm

Ah guilt by association…and I thought that the constitution guarenteed that you were innocent until provn “guilty”. The tea party types can’t have their own “truth”, facts, and version of the constitution, can they?

I guess they think this is like Pres Obama’s policy of talking/listening to terrorists, or at least peolpe unlike themselves.

Harold Groover

March 3rd, 2010
7:18 pm

Kingston is like all politicians………He’ll sell his soul for votes!!!!!!

Riding with Obama: A Georgia congressman risks it | iBlogAuto

March 3rd, 2010
7:21 pm

[...] Source [...]

Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis

March 3rd, 2010
7:22 pm

Actually Pres. Obama has spoken with Bush and Cheney, the traitors known to have committed 9/11 (Viz. “The New Pearl Harbor,” Griffin, Ph.D.), so he has talked with terrorists.

retiredds

March 3rd, 2010
7:37 pm

If the Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, are thought of in terms of the “enemy” then the Al-Quiada has won the war. How to destroy a society, have it attack itself from within.

I applaud Rep. Kingston, a man I don’t often agree with, for taking the “high road” in this situation. Too often in these times the “low road” is the road most taken.

Madison

March 3rd, 2010
7:58 pm

Will Jones, How’s the weather in the twilight zone?

itpdude

March 3rd, 2010
8:37 pm

Well, Obama is kinda the Prez, right? And Georgia is kinda taking stim money, right?

You Republicans are funny. You fuss about welfare except when you take your welfare. Funny stuff!

Buford Sowega

March 3rd, 2010
8:50 pm

Jack Kingston has been a darn fine representative for our district. Now I’m sort of a middlin’ Democrat, but Jack has repeatedly shown to have very good judgement about what we need. I don’t agree with him a good bit, but he has truly worked to represent ALL of our district. He recognizes the importance of industry and agriculture, city and boondocks.

And I’m very proud to see him respect the President of the United States.

bart

March 3rd, 2010
8:55 pm

Good for Jack!! He is demonstrating what I think Americans (including most Georgians) want, and that’s to be civil to each other regardless of our political persuasions. We don’t have to agree with someone to be respectful of them.

MT

March 3rd, 2010
9:03 pm

I applaud Congressman Kingston for his efforts. These are not the times where people (politicians) act like children in order to show they are not supportive of other human beings. President Obama is our president at this time and it is our duty to honor and respect him as such. The current conditions are not just a Democrat or Republican problem, it is a problem to everyone. Let’s get along to make this work!

Harpoon

March 3rd, 2010
9:08 pm

Hey…look on the bright side. You could be in John Barrow’s district.

Bill Orvis White

March 3rd, 2010
9:15 pm

@WillJones Here’s the usual Will Jones post: 1. Yap about Bush/Cheney and 9-11. 2. Insult the Roman Catholics 3. Show his deranged conspiracy theories of America. Guess what Will: Bellevue called and they have a bed open for you.

Bullwinkle

March 3rd, 2010
9:28 pm

We in Kingston’s district know that the greatest vote he ever cast was when the University of Florida won the BCS football championship in 2007. He was the only congressman to vote “nay” in response to a congratulatory resolution.

Purple Sheet Lady

March 3rd, 2010
9:53 pm

Thanks, Jack Kingston for being a statesman and not a politician. People love to quote our “Founding Fathers” but seem to forget that George Washington warned against political parties and James Madison, the principal author of the Constitution warned against what he called “violent factionalism”. In this respect they were wise beyond their years or the times. Today’s political parties’ slug fest is counterproductive, divisive, demoralizing and detracting from those things which we Americans should work together on. Good for you, Representative Kingston, for behaving in a nonpartisan manner….at least for a short while. May we never see the manifestation of Abraham Lincoln’s warning that “A house divided amongst itself cannot stand.”

paulo977

March 3rd, 2010
9:57 pm

Good for Kingston …in these days of insults being hurled at the president of the U.S , this was an act of courage that was like a fresh breeze !!! This happened in Georgia too!

Cutty

March 3rd, 2010
10:02 pm

COol dude. He’s been on Real Time for years. Sticks to his beliefs, but at least has the decency to hear the other side. A republican I could vote for.

Legend of Len Barker

March 3rd, 2010
10:26 pm

Jack Kingston. Sometimes I want to sing his praises. Then I want to kick him in the shins.

Just when he gets on a roll and does good things for his district, he does something to negate that. He likes stimulus money; he uses stimulus money. Then he’ll say stimulus money is a terrible idea. He’s already on record as having done that.

If Kingston really wants my respect and my vote he’ll be non-partisan when there isn’t a photo opportunity to be found.

truth teller

March 3rd, 2010
10:42 pm

Ahh closet, well mostly closet, redneck racists. I admire your fondness for loss with “the south will rise again!” and your confederate flags. I did not vote for Bush, but I respected him because he was President. At least you sad people are aging and you can join your beloved confederate, aka traitor, ancestors.

Bill

March 4th, 2010
12:22 am

A Congressman can get into trouble with GA Republicans for meeting with the President. Tells me all I need to know about GA Republicans. Phrases about forests and trees come to mind.

Randy Milligan

March 4th, 2010
6:47 am

I personally have been perscuted for hanging out with and talking to many different people. I only know of the character of Jack and his concern for Hinesville and the Port of Savannah. So if you are wondering what they talked about I hope this sets your mind at rest. We must all Quit the stupid speculation and pray for our leaders in this “down time” and hope that all can work together to help these serious situations out before everyone suffers more than we all already have.

Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis

March 4th, 2010
7:12 am

Madison really was nothing compared to Jefferson. Read “The Radical Politics of Thomas Jefferson,” by Richard K. Matthews, but at least he helped to create America. Too bad his present mentally challenged name borrower isn’t motivated to pursue justice and truth in the matter of the proven treason of 9/11.

STS Stop the spending

March 4th, 2010
10:12 am

I have no problem with Rep Kingston having face time with the President, regardless of who he is. My question is where’s the plan to stop spending?

woodshed guy

March 4th, 2010
11:11 am

It was just a quick and cheap ride.

georgiadawg70

March 4th, 2010
11:49 am

If I was Jack Kingston I would not be caught dead with him but that being said it is protocol for the President to ask to local Congressman to acompany them on trips to his or her district.

Base

March 4th, 2010
12:12 pm

Sonny has his hand out for money! What a crook.

Barry

March 4th, 2010
1:15 pm

Kudo’s to representative Kingston. He has shown he is not childish and ignorant as has Republican colleagues when it comes to President Obama and his policies and its impact on helping the people of Georgia and the United States. The only reason I see Republicans hesitant about embrassing President Obama is because they are racist and jealous. All of Presidents Obama’s policies have been pretty logical. He has reached out for consensus with Republicans on every turn when he does;nt even have to , with the majority he has in Congress. However, racism, a mental disease, con block even the best thoughts and ideas. If Jesus came to the Earth black with the word to get into God’s Kingdom, due to these Republican mental disease, they would prefer ‘HELL”. I pray they they relinquish their racism thoughts and behavior due to it is blocking a lot of progressive things in this era of politics. The needs of the people are not being met by the obstructionist and racist actions of the leaders of the Republican party. The Lord is watching them. Remember the Bible. King Solomon, when given his Kingdom, prayed to God to give him the wisdom to care and lead the people. By him praying for the people instead of things for himself, God gave all the knowledge, money, riches, and wisdom the world has ever seen. This can not be said for members of the Republican Party. Therefore, what will be their Godly reward based on the Solomon criteria.

Kudos, to representative Kingston. Your move is in a righteous and Godly fashion.

Bob Ingram

March 4th, 2010
2:59 pm

I once again applaud Mr. Kingston for his actions in behaving like a proper statesman and meeting with the President of the United States. Our leaders were voted into office to serve and represent the constituents of their districts. Unfortunately, Mr. Kingston is dead wrong about the Health Care Reform bill and I am afraid many more people will die and suffer in Georgia’s first congressional district before something is done. The people do want this bill to pass and most of those who do not, have nothing at stake in the matter. Health Care Reform will help put our health care dollars where they need to go: in the hands of the doctors.

The media could be helping, but they really are not. I did not even know the President met with Mr. Kingston until a friend sent me this link. Mr. Kingston is a very likable guy, but as a member of congress it is the voting record that counts. themiddleclass.org.

Jumbo G is the king of conventional thinking

March 4th, 2010
11:25 pm

Jumbo G is trying to create a “Crist” situation in GA. So transparent. So funny. So impotent. The libs and democrat media wh@res, like Jumbo G, are terrified. Can you imagine how it must be for them. The wh@res carried the water for Obama for 2 years. The helped him get elected and then he started to govern. DUM DUM DUM DUMMMMMMM and the country came down with a collective (that word choice was for you, Jumbo) case of buyer’s remorse. The left is in complete denial. This is so much fun to watch. Nice try, Jumbo G. Not gonna work, though.

WideAwake

March 5th, 2010
8:46 pm

Based on the Republican play book “use fear” because the minions are “reactionary” while giving them “tchockles”.

Scott

March 22nd, 2010
2:31 pm

If he sold his votes for votes he would no doubt voted no on Health Care or this version of it.

Scott

March 22nd, 2010
2:33 pm

I meant soul for votes…..