Robert Brown: ‘I’ll back Michael Thurmond for chairman of state Democratic party’
Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown, D-Macon. AJC file
Two days after a defeat that was stunning in its scope, an important Georgia Democrat dusted himself off and offered a look at what may be coming next.
Senate Democratic Leader Robert Brown, D-Macon, is famous for his sharp tongue and his ability to hold matters close to his vest. So when he talks, you can bet a deal is in the works – if not already done.
Brown is considered very close to U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Macon, who lost his seat on Tuesday.
In a meeting with reporters, Brown:
– Said he would back former U.S. Senate candidate Michael Thurmond as the next chairman of the state Democratic party. Brown acknowledged that Thurmond – until ran last among all statewide Democrats on Tuesday – but said that was in part because of a lack of support from the state party.
Jane Kidd is the current chairman, but her term is coming to an end.
– Said rural Democrats, anticipating a poor outcome on Tuesday, met in mid-October in Macon to start planning for the aftermath.
– Gave a shout-out to Carol Porter, the Democratic lieutenant governor, all but saying he’d like to see her on a ballot again.
– Issued some thinly veiled criticism of Democratic nominee for governor Roy Barnes and other candidates “who ran from our base.”
Denis O’Hayer with WABE (90.1FM) also chatted with Brown today, and sends this link.
Following is the text of Brown’s statement to reporters on Thursday:
“Some of the people of Georgia have spoken.
I send congratulations to the Republicans. They ran winning campaigns.“Clearly, some – not all – Georgians want to keep the same old deal. They want to keep the same old deal so bad, they cleaned all of the Democratic clocks and offices. They were so anxious to get rid of Democrats that they used dirty dust rags.
“They did a complete job with the [statewide] offices this fall. It’s too early to talk about two of the halls. They may need additional detection and inspection.”
We’re asuming that “halls” is a reference to the state House and Senate. To continue:
“We want the people of Georgia to know Democrats stand ready to help Republicans succeed in any efforts to improve the quality of life for our citizens. We will support positive efforts to improve everything from cutting taxes down to building public schools up, attracting jobs and saving farms.
“Democrats are learning a lot from this election:
“Lesson No. 1: Too many members of our base stayed home.
“Lesson No. 2: Too many Democrats ran away from our base.
“We lost a lot of races this year, but there is one race that gives me hope. Sanford Bishop defeated a right-wing, fundamentalist wing-nut in rural Georgia.
“Bishop proved you can win in Georgia by running to your base. He proved that you can vote with and for the president and win in Georgia.
“Bishop voted for health care, supported gun rights, helped farmers and won in rural Georgia. He proved you can not only vote like the president – you can also look like the president and win in Georgia.
“We have a strong team in Georgia but we need a new coach and quarterback. A quarterback who understands the old playbook but is willing to implement new plays.
“A group of rural Democrats saw these losses coming and met in Macon shortly before the election. You will hear more about the October 16 Movement in the coming months and years.
“And I like Mike. I am joining with others to ask Michael Thurmond to quarterback the New Georgia Democratic Party.”
“New Georgia Democratic Party” is how it appeared in his text. It’s unclear whether that anticipates a brand name change. Again, to continue:
“I know Mike took a big hit in the recent election but we are confident he will make a better quarterback than running back.
“(He was doing well as a running back until the Republicans let enough Georgia players out of jail to stop him at the 38 yardline.)
“Democrats have a very diverse party. Michael Thurmond has the leadership abilities to balance the interests of labor, business, women and people interested in civil justice and human rights. That’s why I like Mike.
“We also want Carol Porter to have a high-profile role. We have not had an opportunity to speak to her, but she is definitely one to watch.
“Under Mike’s leadership Democrats will be lean, clean and ready. Ready to fight from early in the morning until late at night.”
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61 comments Add your comment
objective
November 4th, 2010
9:09 pm
there is no doubt that the Democratic Party has failed to accomplish all it could have because of lackluster leadership and candidates. it needs a face lift, and the present people in power should step aside for the good of the party.
Froggy
November 4th, 2010
9:16 pm
I wish I could say it mattered who the Chair is, but it doesn’t. They will be “hunting Democrats with dogs” here for decades to come. We have now assumed the plight Republicans endured for a hundred years, and it won’t change soon.
Thurmond gives a great speech, is funny and charming but his personal finances have long been a disaster and he didn’t raise two nickels in any campaign he ever ran. Word to those who’ve never run a campaign — you can never count on the DSCC, the Party or anybody else to raise your money for ya’, especially when you are 40 points down in the polls. Politics is not charity and people decide to make investments based on cold calculations of whether you can win. I can name numerous statewide Democratic officials — including Senators — who were elected without a nickel of support from party organizations. They did it on their own — and that’s where it all starts.
If Thurmond becomes chair, somebody over there better hire a good auditor. Phantom employees, odd consulting arrangements, ads sold to his Athens radio station, sad to say all of these are on the table — what’s past is prologue.
John
November 4th, 2010
9:22 pm
This is a joke. He got LESS votes than all the other Ds!
leslie
November 4th, 2010
9:27 pm
Like usual, Robert Brown is speaking out of both ends of his body and you can’t tell which end is which.
calvinb
November 5th, 2010
6:14 am
Social justice is not good politics? I disagree. Justiice must be the reason for the existence of the democratic party. Along with jobs and education. Problem why nominate people who you have NO intention of Voting for in the Final Election? If Barnes and Thurmond were terrible democratic candidates why were they not defeated in the Primaries? Once nominated they should have received the full backing of the “democratic” party. Some fake democrats get involved in the primary process only to run tail to the Repubs in the final election. These people have an inordinate amount of creditbility in the bowels of the democratic party–something like spies. Second, it was obvious that the Press of Georgia had a scheme to hide Issakson in the final election. Only have ONE debate and absolutely NOT covering the Senatorial Election at all. Only ONE article written on the Senate Race StateWide is telling about the “fair and balanced” media. As far as the democratic party Nationwide the do a pitiful job of backing all democrats especially in the South. Meek, Thurmond and Greene got the back of the hand of the democratic party and had their campaigns undermined at every turn. Yet even McDonald of Conn raised a couple of million dollars. hmmmm.
talk about WEAK CANDIDATES, Sharon Angle of Nevada 14 million in one quarter — and failed. So you can justify anything about the quality of the candidates. Thurmond could have been made into a strong candidate, but as you know it is tough playing against the Yankees with no PITCHING!!!
Burroughston Broch
November 5th, 2010
8:27 am
@ calvinb
“If Barnes and Thurmond were terrible democratic candidates why were they not defeated in the Primaries?” Because they were running in the Democratic primaries – why didn’t you vote against them?
“Second, it was obvious that the Press of Georgia had a scheme to hide Issakson in the final election.” It wasn’t the press’ idea, it was Isakson – just ignore a minor opponent who cannot win.
AngryVoter
November 5th, 2010
10:06 am
Michael Thurmond would be a very silly choice. Carol Porter would be much, much better. Someone even younger, fresher and not tainted by losing a run for office this week would be even better. While it might be a hard pill to swallow for those entrenched in this sinking ship right now, perhaps it’s time for a complete overhaul, not just switching from one member of the losing team to another.
AngryVoter
November 5th, 2010
10:10 am
Here’s the problem:
Suppose fourteen people want to go to a restaurant. Rather than poll all fourteen, you break them into two groups and have each group make a recommendation, then have everyone chose between the two nominated restaurants.
In the first group, four people want to go to Place A and three want to go to Place B. In the second group, three people want to go to Place B and four people want to go to Place C. The nominees are A and C, so those become the two choices available, despite the majority, six people, wanting to go to B.
This is the problem with our system as it is now. The Dems failed to even consider that their choice wouldn’t be acceptable among the middle voters. The Dems, with their present leadership, will always fail to think of others and nominate B. The Dems need someone who is outside the group that advocates for their minority position and, instead, find someone able to consider, reach out to and attract the middle voters.
Matthew Lewis
November 5th, 2010
12:21 pm
You can’t have “A New Georgia Democratic Party” with old Georgia Democratic posturing. Sen. Robert Brown is correct to note that this party needs its base. But he and others need to recognize that many in its base have grown beyond the outdated mode of thinking that personify the leadership of people like him, Rep. DuBose Porter, and Rep. Calvin Smyre.
At a minimum, Georgia’s Democratic Party needs leadership that can speak to the broad values Georgians share without being condescending or divisive, leadership that can demonstrate that it is not hostile to business interests, leadership that can convince people that it is more interested in developing and promoting real solutions for critical issues facing the state like education, and leadership that can offer a clear sense of direction and purpose. Sorry to tell you Sen. Brown, but Michael Thurmond just does not fit the bill.
This party needs to get away from looking back to its once and bright stars from the past who are beginning to lose their shine. This party needs to go ahead and look to one of its present stars to guide their way. Someone like Darryl Hicks would be a far sounder choice for leading the Democratic Party of Georgia to new horizons. Hicks is well-educated in Georgia schools, is a former 20-year business executive, possesses solid values that align with most Georgians, and garnered more votes at the bottom of the ballot than Thurmond did at the top.
If Sen. Brown and other Democrats think Thurmond is the answer, then they’ve got the wrong question. Hicks would be just the shot-in-the-arm this talent-deficit outfit needs.
joe six-pack
November 6th, 2010
9:15 am
I can’t believe what I’m reading on this site. The Democratic Party is at risk of being the minority party for a generation or two and all I here is that we lost because we ran from our base. What base do we have? Atlanta, 30% of the population (African-American), gays and liberal women… we lost the suburbs for a generation because we are identified with our base. So go on and put up a guy who got crushed in the Senate race as our Party Chair to remind us just how pathetic our situation really is. We are truly clueless.
JSS
November 6th, 2010
11:43 am
The names of Keith Moffett and Darryl Hicks should never be spoken on a Statewide level again…
1. Tell Cathy Cox to come home. She may never be a viable candidate to hold office again because this is a a$$ backward state. Still, she knows how to organize, direct, ans most importantly reach beyond Atlanta.
2. Gut the present organization of the party especially the grassroots canvassing plan and get someone from the outside to give you a top to bottom audit of what the heck you have.
3. Use the Tea Party model and take money from any and everybody. Yes that includes big business. For every Rupert Murdoch (he’s not even a US citizen for heaven’s sake), there are two Carlos Slim’s and Bill Gates, Sr. who don’t believe you give tax breaks to the ultra rich…
4. Have a real message for governing… The GA GOP says they are for smaller government with a small level intervention on individuals lives. Anybody with a brain stem knows that is a lie! Show the lie, not in that worn out negative ad way… But show how they do it from the local school board that demands unrealistic mandates to the General Assembly which has not met a lobbyist it won’t fornicate with and pass a law for!