Your morning jolt: Roy Barnes’ biggest apology yet
Just in time for a gathering of the Georgia School Boards Association in Savannah, and with an endorsement decision by the Georgia Association of Educators imminent, former Gov. Roy Barnes has posted his most abject apology yet – specifically targeted at teachers.
My AJC colleague Maureen Downey was on it first. Here’s the clip:
The money quote: “It was never my intent – it’s not my intent now – not to treasure teachers.”
Barnes will be at the courthouse in Decatur this morning to show off another list of endorsements in all-important DeKalb County, home to a large cache of African-American votes. And home to Attorney General Thurbert Baker.
Republican candidate for governor Eric Johnson on Wednesday released 10 years’ worth of income tax returns. Writes my AJC colleague Aaron Gould Sheinin:
Johnson joins Democrat Roy Barnes, who last month released 25 years of personal tax records, as the only candidates among the 14 running to release such detailed financial information.
Johnson’s reports show that he and his wife had total gross income in 2009 of $121,613, down considerably from more than $300,000 in 2008. The couple earned nearly $2.4 million in the 10 years and paid taxes of more than $500,000.
One wonders if Johnson foresees that, in the home stretch of the July 20 primary, he’ll be doing battle with either John Oxendine or Nathan Deal. And the topic will be ethics.
The flap over Gov. Sonny Perdue’s veto of SB 1, the zero-based budgeting bill, continues. GOP candidates for governor Nathan Deal and John Oxendine both pledged to revive it.
In an interview on WGAU (1340AM) in Athens, state Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) on Wednesday predicted “serious” conversations about a veto override in January.
This morning, Virginia Galloway, leader of the Georgia chapter of the anti-tax group Americans For Prosperity, declared zero-based budgeting would be a scorecard issue in the primary and general elections:
“The lines have been drawn. We must demand that ALL gubernatorial and legislative candidates adopt commonsense ideas like the JOBS Act, Government Accountability Act and zero-based budgeting as platform issues and commit to support them if they hope to hold office as our public servants.
Mastering the public trust means honoring the public’s intent. Georgia has become a red state after Democrat control dating back to Reconstruction. In 2010, it is time we become a truly conservative red state, starting in the governor’s office.
Doug MacGinnitie, the Republican candidate for secretary of state running against GOP incumbent Brian Kemp, has released his first introductory commercial that his campaign said will be slowly introduced – first in metro Atlanta:
The video is standard introductory fare, describing the job that MacGinnitie seeks and his business background. And it takes a crack at Kemp, describing him as a “career politician.”
But let’s play political consultant for a moment: MacGinnitie is fellow who – much like Ralph Reed – is blessed/cursed with a face that makes him look much younger than he is. Given that, is it wise to include – in a TV spot – “intern in Reagan Administration”?
On Tuesday, Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren asked the GBI to investigate Georgia’s university system to see if it has violated federal law by allowing illegal immigrants to enroll in post-secondary institutions – only paying in-state tuition.
On Wednesday, Georgia Public Broadcasting reported that the GBI has decided to hand Warren’s complaint to Attorney General Thurbert Baker. The Democratic candidate for governor must be thrilled.
On the same topic, Walter Jones of the Morris News Service caught this quote from Larry Walker, a member of the state Board of Regents – as that august body was voting to instruct presidents of state universities not to grant any waivers to illegal immigrants:
“If we pass this thing, it’s going to be controversial. If we don’t pass it, it’s going to be really controversial,” said Walker, a veteran legislator.
Mary Norwood, the independent candidate for Fulton County Commission chairman, has a Monday fund-raiser at the Buckhead home of Guy Milner, the former GOP candidate for governor and U.S. Senate.
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
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77 comments Add your comment
John Oxendine Here
June 10th, 2010
1:16 pm
(raising hand excitedly) Pick Me! Me! I deserve this, I earned this, I’m smarter than you people. Ignore the others, Pick Me!!
Captain Midnight
June 10th, 2010
1:25 pm
The flag was changed to appease a bunch of liberal black lawmakers.
The Majority of the citizens of Georgia had no problem with it. That “confederate” state flag didn’t cost us The Olympics, The Superbowl or the Mlb All-star game. We sent a man to the White House under that flag so it would stand to reason that most people have no problem with the flag. also “some groups” also use the American flag and the flag of Christianity. We changin’ them too?
As a former teacher...
June 10th, 2010
1:41 pm
As a former teacher, someone who knows the importance of having the support of those at the top, and someone who knows what DuBose Porter has done in his home district, I am supporting him for Governor so teachers statewide will finally have the support of their Governor.
Susan
June 10th, 2010
2:38 pm
How many times is Roy going to say he is sorry? That kind of campaign is not going to lead the Democrats to victory in November. DuBose Porter is the only candidate who has had proven success helping to turn around a school in his district to one of the top title I schools in Georgia. The other Democratic candidates have nothing to show in education. Instead of blaming teachers, DuBose Porter will give them the tools to succeed in the classroom, something they have not had in 12 years. Vote for DuBose!
I'm a Realist
June 10th, 2010
2:52 pm
Captain Midnight:
Anybody that can quote the by-laws of the Ku Klux Klan is a scary individual! Tell you what, I’m in for 3 one-way bus tickets to Mississippi, so you, Bobby and Hector can go back to live in the past since that is all you can talk about. You three are obviously racists, and probably sit around fantisizing about the sex scene in the movie Deliverence.
Let me give you some Breaking News: The flag issue is dead in Georgia for voters with an IQ of over 45. Granted, there are still a few inbred racists who will whine about the flag until their dying breath. The rest of us would rather debate the important issues like water, education and transportation. Barnes is the only candidate that can go to work on Day One and start solving the probelms facing our state. Georgia doesn’t have time to train another Governor. And quite frankly, Georgia doesn’t have time to waste arguing about the flag with a bunch of inbreds who can quote from the KKK by-laws.
Retired Solider
June 10th, 2010
3:00 pm
Realist-
“Georgia doesn’t have time to train another governor.” If Barnes was trained so well, why was he defeated for re-election? Barnes is alot of things, many bad, maybe some good. But to vote for someone because they don’t need “training” seems like a pretty thin reason to me.
I'm a Realist
June 10th, 2010
3:45 pm
Soldier:
Roy lost because he was arrogant, because he took for granted a second term, because he was too impatient, because he took on too many tasks without taking the time to explain himself to the voters, because some of his staff treated people like crap, and because he didn’t get critical support on some issues before he took them on. What Roy IS NOT, is a crook, an idiot or someone out to serve his own self-interests like the current Governor.
I don’t care how much experience someone may have had in the Legislative Branch or in some other area of public service. Nothing can really prepare you for the Governor’s office, unless you have served in that capacity before. There is a learning curve for everyone, including Roy Barnes in 1998. My point is simply this; Georgia has been so screwed up by Sonny Perdue that we don’t have the luxury to have the next Governor spend the first year in office trying to figure out what to do. Barnes is the only candidate that can go to work on Day One and start cleaning up this mess. Now, did I say that experience was the only reason to vote for Roy? No, not hardly. He is a smart man who was humbled by the voters in 2002, and has learned a few hard lessons. In my opinion, he is the ONLY candidate in the race who has the vision, knowledge and ethics to clean up this mess from the last 8 years.
Proud Dem (sometimes)
June 10th, 2010
3:52 pm
Dubose Porter has done nothing in the state legislature. He sat back and allowed the GOP to run havoc during the session. As a minority leader, the least he could have done is ensure his members towed the line. He couldn’t even do that. Never rallying the troops Georgia Democrats about the mess going on at the state legislature means you were complicit. I will vote for his wife Carol for Lt. Governor and Poythress for Governor. We need people with integrity and sound business practices. So here’s my ballot filled out–Thurmond for Senate; Poythress for Governor; Carol Porter for Lt. Governor; Attorney General will be Teilhet (Hodges is another crook); Secretary of State will be Sinkfield (Gail Buckner another crook) Insurance my vote of course Mary Squires, Agriculture will be of course JB Powell and than Labor Commissioner Terry Coleman. I have a diverse ballot of capable candidates and proud that they are all bonafide Dems. If I didn’t mention your name–its because you are not worthy.
Retired Solider
June 10th, 2010
3:57 pm
realist-
Agree with all of para one except the self-interest part. Not saying Roy is a crook, but you can be legal and still act in self-interest. Case in point, lack of support for tort reform in Georgia.
Disagree entirely with para two. Vision? Debateable. Knowledge, ok many people have that. Ethics, how soon you forget what his chief of Staff was up to, not to mention many of the Dems in the legislature.
Captain Midnight
June 10th, 2010
4:01 pm
Realist, Barnes lost due to the rural white vote. He said it himself.I’m sure before your community organizer announced his candidacy for president “I’m running for presidency” you were sooo involved in the political process. Welcome aboard.
Btw, the only reason I know the Klans official position on the confederate flag is so I can shut up people like you who spout off about it being the “flag of the klan”. It ain’t and I just proved it to you.
A Better GA
June 10th, 2010
4:04 pm
Roy had his chance and ruined it. Sonny and the current GOP tactics of corrupt, bully politics is going to ruin Georgia, if it hasn’t already.
My vote is 100% for Dubose Porter. I do not work for any campaign, but I have researched all the candidates. I truly believe that Mr. Porter is the only candidate who has original ideas to fix our economy and our education system. He’s real a Georgian, with good values that don’t rely on a party-line sound bite. I’m afraid he won’t win the primary, because are scared not to vote for Roy since he’s the “big name”…. and that will be a sad day for Georgians.
Don’t fall for Roy’s tricks! All his money won’t mean anything in November. Let’s not forget, Sonny had only a fraction of Roy’s war chest in 2002 when Sonny beat him!!! Moral of the story: money does not a Governor make.
A vote for Roy is a vote for the Republicans. He doesn’t have a chance in November against any of the clowns in the Republican race (most of whom, by the way, have ethics investigations against them!!! Would you really vote for that?).
A vote for Dubose Porter is the only vote that will bring better days to Georgia!
What Ethics
June 10th, 2010
4:16 pm
Once was appointed to a state board which by state lay the exec director of this state office worked at the leisure of the board. Mr. Director was proud to state that he had a lady inside the Gov. Perdue’s office who asked his opinnion before appointing anyone to the board who would ultimatly be his boss. Talk about ethics? What a joke!!!!!
What Ethics
June 10th, 2010
4:20 pm
Did I say state lay, oops I meant law. What was I thinking lol
I'm a Realist
June 10th, 2010
4:22 pm
Soldier:
Maybe Roy’s objection to Tort Reform was that he knew it was unconstitutional like the Georgia Supreme Court ruled in a 7-0 ruling just last month. Maybe he saw Tort Reform was a sham created by the Metro Chamber of Commerce that promised lower health insurance premiums which turned out to be a huge lie.
No Vision? What about a plan to address the state’s water problem YEARS BEFORE the lakes went dry. What about transportation and the Northern Arc. Except for the crybaby obstructionists, everyone knows that is the most important road project in Georgia. What about his visionary regional cancer treatment network? What about asking the education system to be accountable? The list goes on and on. As for ethics, fill me in on what Kahn was doing unethical. I have got to figure he was up to something unethical or illegal, the GOP Inspector General would have locked him away by now. Please let me in on the secret about Kahn.
And Midnight, PLEASE shut up and go away. It’s over, man. The flag issue is over. OVER. I know you can’t handle reality, but I’m telling you it’s over. Maybe you can go throw some rocks at a little hispanic kid and make yourself feel better.
Retired Solider
June 10th, 2010
4:23 pm
A better Ga-
Porter is fortunate to have you “politicing” on his behalf. Disagree w/ the cross party line. Prter was the House minority leader. He was and had to be partisan.
Retired Solider
June 10th, 2010
4:24 pm
Read the newspapers from the Barnes years if you want to know about Kahn.
I'm a Realist
June 10th, 2010
4:34 pm
Soldier:
Come on. Don’t make a claim that somebody is unethical and then not back it up. I didn’t happen to save the AJC from 1999 thru 2002. And if I Google Bobby Kahn ethics, I don’t see anything. So, share with us or start eating some crow.
Captain Midnight
June 10th, 2010
4:34 pm
Hey Realist, you know we’re just having a little conversation about why Roy Barnes lost his reelection bid and it was due largely to his involvement of the flag. He admitted that. Anyone who expresses no animosity to the old flag in your opinion is racist and inbred. Your words.Try to be open minded Realist. Accepting of all points of view without resulting to childish namecalling if you can. Embrace diversity.
Oh’ yea one more thing..the current Georgia state flag is also a confederate flag. The first one to be exact.
I'm a Realist
June 10th, 2010
4:39 pm
Midnight:
If the current Georgia flag is also a confederate flag, then WHAT ARE YOU BITCHING ABOUT???
P'TREE
June 10th, 2010
4:51 pm
I love the piano playing in the background. Sniff, sniff, Roy.
Captain Midnight
June 10th, 2010
4:51 pm
I’m not bitching about anything, but I’m not going to be called racist or inbred by you or anyone else just because you’re ignorant of the interpretation of the confederate flag by MOST Georgians. You just want to dismiss it as Dat ol racist flag and most people disagree with you.
I don’t expect the old flag to return simply because of the p/c world we live in now but I will defend it’s TRUE meaning.
I'm a Realist
June 10th, 2010
5:13 pm
Midnight:
Ahhh, a noble klansman. David Duke would be proud. Why don’t you explain to us exactly what the TRUE meaning of the Confederate flag is? I would love to hear your explanation. Before you launch into a debate about the TRUE meaning of the Civil War, fast forward to 1956 and the Georgia General Assembly when they changed the state flag to the Confederate emblem AND look into the history of why they did it. In fact, go find yourself a copy of the 2002 speech delivered by former Representative Denmark Groover to the General Assembly during the flag change debate. You see, it was Denmark Groover who authored the bill to change the state flag in 1956, and you can read his very own explanation as to why he did it. It was because of his then racist attitude towards blacks because of Brown v Board of Education and he wanted this state to show their defiance of having to intergrate the public schools. You don’t have to guess what the man’s reasons were back in 1956 because Denmark Groover got out of his death bed and went to the well of the House to confess and to right a wrong that he created some 40 years earlier. Got that? The man who authored the bill said he did it because it was a racist rebellion against the Federal goverment.
So you defense of the flag and the civil war is not important. What is relavent is the fact that the old Georgia flag was born out of a racist era that kooks like yourself want to perpetuate. I say its time to move on. The flag issue is over. Now go pick on an illegial allien.
Captain Midnight
June 10th, 2010
5:34 pm
Realist spoken like a true liberal. When all else fails, name call.
Courage,Honor,Valor,Sovereignty and Heritage. Regardless of what did or did not happen in 1956, that’s what the Confederate flag stands for and try as you may, you can’t change that. Must be killin ya huh? Now go pay your child support. LOL!
Bobby Anthony
June 10th, 2010
6:43 pm
Thank you for the apology Roy but I am voting for Poythress. I just do not trust you to handle my retirement fund. It is too important to me.
More crooks
June 12th, 2010
4:04 am
Barnes and Johnson–two big money crooks, looking for more taxpayer money in the governor’s office. Don’t they have enough millions already?
kerry
June 14th, 2010
2:15 am
Mary Norwood is a complete joke!!! She should be ashamed of her self. I thought she cared so much for the City of Atlanta. She is just another politician who can not stand not having a title. She could not be a regular citizen for 5 months with out embarking on a new campaign. Felton how do you stand for this. Must be a fake Buckhead Betty I smell white trash in the blood. Real Buckhead wealth does not behave this way. She will lose again…sorry!
This is Dropout Nation: A Southern Decline | Dropout Nation: Coverage of the Reform of American Public Education Edited by RiShawn Biddle
July 12th, 2010
10:49 am
[...] angered teachers unions by successfully passing a measure that ended tenure; he has spent more time apologizing to teachers’ union votes this time around. The Republican candidates, on the other hand, are [...]