Sam Olens breaks through an ancient Georgia barrier
Republican candidate for Georgia attorney general Sam Olens speaks during an election-night party Tuesday, Nov. 2 2010, in Atlanta. AP/John Amis
With only the smallest notation of the fact, Republican Sam Olens broke through one of the oldest barriers in Georgia politics last week.
The man who will be our next attorney general is also the first Jewish candidate to win a statewide, partisan race in Georgia.
Olens did it the hard way, some — not him — would say, as a member of a party whose Christian conservative base hasn’t always been tolerant of religious nonconformity.
The former chairman of the Cobb County Commission would just as soon see his accomplishment pass unnoticed. And in an interview at the state Capitol, before a meeting with Democrat Thurbert Baker, whom he will replace in January, Olens declared that geography worried him more than his faith during the campaign.
“There were four things against me,” Olens said. Yes, he was Jewish. But he was also a Florida native raised in New Jersey. He wasn’t part of the state Capitol crowd whose networks usually produce statewide candidates. Plus, he was from metro Atlanta.
“I think it is clear the Atlanta card was by far a bigger issue for me than any of the others,” Olens said. “I think we should take great pride in this state, in how little my religion played a part in the campaign.”
There were incidents, of course.
“There were whisper campaigns — big-time in the primary. I would walk into rooms and people would overtly comment about my religion to me,” Olens said. “But I think the nice thing is the number of folks who did that was very, very few.”
Reference to his New Jersey upbringing became “a code word,” he said.
Olens also had a dust-up with primary opponent Max Wood, a former federal prosecutor from Macon, over a TV ad in which the former Cobb chairman touted his defense of prayers that opened County Commission meetings.
Wood vociferously denied that he was attempting to draw attention to Olens’ religion. “He used an invocation, which is supposed to be a holy moment, as a political tool to ingratiate himself,” Wood said back in July.
Heath Garrett, who directed much of Olens’ campaign, acknowledged on Friday that the 30-second spot was intended to underline the “core values” that Olens shared with Christian voters in Georgia.
Olens, who endorsed Ralph Reed in his 2006 bid for lieutenant governor, also credited conservative Christians in South Georgia with his victory. Specifically, he singled out Tommie Williams of Lyons, the Senate president pro tem, and GOP activist Pat Tippett of Baxley.
Olens’ entry in the political record books must be couched. Debra Bernes, who died of cancer in July, won a statewide contest for a nonpartisan seat on the state Court of Appeals in 2004.
Then there’s the blurry figure of David Emanuel, president of the Georgia state Senate in 1801. When the sitting governor named himself to the U.S. Senate, Emanuel advanced to the governorship, where he served one year. He didn’t seek re-election.
Details are thin. According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, Emanuel was Jewish, but he may not have practiced his faith openly — and later in life he became a Presbyterian. Even so, authorities accept Emanuel, a Revolutionary War veteran, as “the first Jew elected to public office in the South and the first Jewish governor of any U.S. state.”
Emanuel County, with its county seat of Swainsboro, bears his name.
Two hundred and nine years later, the significance of Olens’ election may be as part of a small but significant trend.
“You’re beginning to see a core of mostly men — and mostly in their 30s to 40s — who are emerging as the new Jewish voices of Republican conservatism,” said Steven Windmueller, a specialist in Jewish voting trends and a member of the faculty at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles.
The Republican Jewish Committee counts Olens among four who won statewide office on Tuesday. Another was Jay Dardenne, the next lieutenant governor of Louisiana.
Three-quarters of Jewish voters still vote Democratic.
Disagreements with Democrats over U.S. policy toward Israel have had their effect, but there’s some evidence that an isolationist streak in the tea party movement could threaten a stronger Jewish shift to the GOP.
One target of federal spending by a Republican-controlled House next year is likely to be President Barack Obama’s foreign operations budget. Defunding it could threaten U.S. aid to the Middle East.
“I’m hoping we can see some kind of separation in terms of tax dollars going to Israel,” U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., the only Jewish Republican in the House and likely its next majority leader, said last week.
Back in Georgia, Olens will have little say over foreign policy, but he intends to cut a more public figure than Georgians are used to in an attorney general.
He will back legislation in January to strengthen the state’s Open Records Act, and he wants a bill to prohibit child custody hearings in cases involving a parent who is overseas and serving in the military.
And he will bask in his state’s diversity.
“When you look at rural Georgia and you see the number of African-American council members, mayors, commissioners, police chiefs, sheriffs — this state is far, far different than it was 40 years ago. My election is just another sign,” Olens said. “For the folks that still are living in the past — the state isn’t. The electorate isn’t.”
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
91 comments Add your comment
GT/MIT
November 7th, 2010
9:05 am
To JSS: I have scanned thru your numerous comments posted on this forum and there seems to be a consistent theme, stupidity and ignorance. It becomes apparent after a while, that you have personal experience with both. Due to the anonymity this media offers, it is possible to try to foist yourself off as something of an expert in certain areas, however in your case you have tried to project yourself as too knowledgeable in too many areas thus leading most to the conclusion that it is mostly “B.S.”.
TruthBe
November 7th, 2010
9:13 am
vexorg, Thank you well said.
rj
November 7th, 2010
9:22 am
I agree totally. I have been around him and seen his Napoleonic ways. BTW I am Republican and I certainly believe we took a gigantic step backwards with his election. Thurbert Baker is a superb attorney general who will be missed. Certainly in this election the Democratic candidate was better but the electorate has spoken.
Glenn
November 7th, 2010
9:24 am
I happened to be consider myself a democratic “lean,” and did, in fact, vote for Barnes over Deal because I thought there was way too much baggage in Deal’s past, HOWEVER, I knew there is MAJOR “baggage” in the Democratic candidate’s past from his time as DA in Albany, GA. Acting like you’re not a “career politician,” is bad enough, but his actions as DA were, in my humble opinion, not only questionable, but bordered on unethical; traits that an Attorney General should NOT possess, regardless of their political affiliation.
Therefore, I had no problem voting for Olens, even though he is a Republican. In fact, I’m hoping he takes the time to look into his opponents past very closely…
td
November 7th, 2010
9:37 am
rj
November 7th, 2010
9:22 am
I agree totally. I have been around him and seen his Napoleonic ways. BTW I am Republican and I certainly believe we took a gigantic step backwards with his election. Thurbert Baker is a superb attorney general who will be missed. Certainly in this election the Democratic candidate was better but the electorate has spoken
Your are not a Republican. I think the polls said 95% of all Republicans wants to see Obamacare repealed and Baker refused to join the other AG’s in the suit. No Repub. would think Baker is better than Olens.
Last Man Standing
November 7th, 2010
10:04 am
Can anyone tell me the last case that an Attorney General PERSONALLY prosecuted in this state? The AG oversees a staff of prosecuting attorneys who do the lion’s share of prosecutorial work making the position of AG much more of an administrator than a prosecutor. I am confident that Mr. Olens will be a superb AG.
DLink
November 7th, 2010
10:07 am
“He will back legislation in January to strengthen the state’s Open Records Act, and he wants a bill to prohibit child custody hearings in cases involving a parent who is overseas and serving in the military.”
As a Democrat, I really don’t have a problem with this. In fact, I agree with this. Oh, and he’s Jewish? As Attorney General, that card isn’t allowed to be played as far as I’m concerned.
atlmom
November 7th, 2010
10:17 am
the republican party has always supported Israel. The dems, well, they seem to do if it forced, or enough to keep the jews happy, or whatever. But the current administration (and it’s a crying shame, i’ll tell you – given the jews high up in the O admin) has repeatedly not treated israel (the only democracy in the mid east, for one, the country in the mideast who takes in people from the other mid east countries, you know, the people who the other mid east countries don’t like, like the gay people, or the women they are about to stone to death) – properly.
The republican party has constantly said they are for hard work, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, not relying on others for charity etc…all very jewish values. so why aren’t the jews more Rs than Ds? Um, I have no idea…
Peachtree Pete
November 7th, 2010
10:28 am
This article brought out the nut bags!
Last Man Standing
November 7th, 2010
10:32 am
atlmom:
“why aren’t the jews more Rs than Ds? Um, I have no idea…”
I have no idea either. It is true that President Truman (under pressure) was a major figure in the creation of Israel. Maybe this factors in to the Jewish support of democrats. That time is long past and maybe there will be more movement to the Republican Party. It is difficult for me to fathom the current administration’s seeming lack of respect for Israel and support of Israel’s enemies. I believe it was the Israeli Prime Minister who said, “If the Palestinians would lay down there guns, there would be no more war. If the Israelis lay fown their guns, there will be no more Israel”.
patrocket
November 7th, 2010
10:46 am
I can’t recall any Catholics being elected statewide in the last 30-40 years. Am I wrong? I believe there was a Senator back in the 19th century.
L. Boles
November 7th, 2010
11:52 am
What does his religion choice have to do with his being elected as Attorney general? What matters is that he is qualified . I firmly believe he will be an outstanding attorney general, and yes I concur with STW Sam Olens is a attorney and Yes a dam good one! Sam will be good for our state.
Bama Bill
November 7th, 2010
12:00 pm
Known Sam and his family for 20+ years and had the pleasure of watching and admiring his public service performance ! He will be an outstanding AG and the citizens of Georgia will be blessed to have his service for the next 4 years – yep, knew that he was Jewish which has no bearing on his record of public service to this Baptist !
Alabama Communist
November 7th, 2010
3:01 pm
“You’re beginning to see a core of mostly men — and mostly in their 30s to 40s — who are emerging as the new Jewish voices of Republican conservatism,” said Steven Windmueller* Story
Oh good grief! So the whole tea party campaign was about electing a another Zionist to save the world as a Republican Paradise………
That Guy
November 7th, 2010
3:07 pm
Jeff, let me correct you and others that don’t understand what the office of the AG does. The Office is not the ‘top prosecutor’ in the State. The Office is responsible for defending State agencies and providing proper interpretation of the laws of the State.
Michael
November 7th, 2010
3:16 pm
I first heard he was Jewish the night of the election. He won because of the R behind his name, nothing more. I mean, hell, you bumpkins elected Nathan Deal! because of an R.
raleturn
November 7th, 2010
4:50 pm
Lou if you are going to call people names at least get it right. We are not HOMOPHOBIC; we are HOMOINTOLERANT. Contrary to your political correct garbage, heterosexual men are not afraid of homosexual men; instead they know how they act and do not tolerate such. Homosexual do a TERRIBLE job of PR when they have their gay pride day and pararde down the streets in S&M attire.
Last Man Standing
November 7th, 2010
5:29 pm
That Guy:
You are correct concerning the function of the AG’s office, but they do also prosecute cases of crimes against the state.
Dave
November 7th, 2010
5:32 pm
A Jew! Oh my God NOW they tell me, how do I rescind my vote? Seriously who cares as long as does a good job, which based on his past service with Cobb County and the ARC I believe he will.
Gender, race, religion: none of that stuff should matter as long as the individual is honest, competent, and puts forth the effort to do the best job he or she can.
Lulu
November 7th, 2010
5:33 pm
Could we stick to the subject and not name call and bellow party line cliches?!
Does anyone know how many Jews have entered statewide races in GA prior to this? How many have run and lost? This could be a matter of not choosing to offer for political service rather than “prejudice” on anyone’s side.
heartofdarkness
November 7th, 2010
5:44 pm
I would hesitate to describe a political barrier that can’t be over 300 years old as “ancient”. In my search to find candidates who did not grow up in this state to vote for, I found no mention of Mr. Olens’ New Jersey roots, or of his religion. I would have given him further consideration, if I had. His web page seemed to indicate his greatest priority was in bringing suit to challenge “Obamacare”, which, in my opinion, would be a colossal waste of taxpayer money. Of course, that would require a test of his understanding of Constitutional law, not criminal prosecution.
And I am not aware of any high profile “prosecutions” in which the Attorney General is involved. Most laws are prosecuted at the county level. The issues discussed in public in this race and in most races wouldn’t make for decent bar chatter.
If this run for the Attorney General’s office was any more than a placeholder for some future run at the governorship, I’d be shocked!
JSS
November 7th, 2010
5:48 pm
@ GT/MIT..
I’m not anonymous, I’m known, easily found… You’re just too much of a “genius” to do a simple search…
Sorry, to disappoint you Kingfish. I can call former Congressman Billy Evans, my old boss anytime I like and discuss procurement or Veterans Affairs… I can call two former members of the Cobb County Commission and discuss local and State issues since I worked there between 1990 and 1991… I’ve known Sam Nunn since I was 6 years old. So, 42 years later, and countless encounters later, I think everything from SALT II to rogue nuclear product has been put on my plate… Bash away!
Truman’s association with the creation and the recognition of the then new State of Israel is well known. Truman had a 30 year association with Eddie Jacobsen (a WWI buddy and business associate), he’d been long lobbying for the Jewish State recognition. David Niles, a White House advisor who was Jewish also favored in consul on the matter by Truman. Dean Rusk, Cliff Clifford, and George Marshal did not favor the choice. In the end, Truman choose to give recognition. The rest is history…
Last Man Standing
November 7th, 2010
6:04 pm
JSS:
I’d bet that you never are as impressed with others as you are with yourself. You have now managed to “drop” a few names to further impress the little people who peruse the writings here. Please excuse me if I don’t bow . . . because I think you have one hell of a massive ego problem.
Double Zero Eight
November 7th, 2010
6:05 pm
Religion should not matter, but unfortunately it does in Georgia. If the masses had known, he would not have been elected.
Last Man Standing
November 7th, 2010
6:10 pm
Double Zero Eight:
I would hope that you are wrong. I don’t know of anyone in my circle of friends who would have made a decision based on that, and hope no one else would. I believe that he will do an excellent job and wish him well.
td
November 7th, 2010
6:28 pm
Double Zero Eight
November 7th, 2010
6:05 pm
Religion should not matter, but unfortunately it does in Georgia. If the masses had known, he would not have been elected.
Anyone who has been around Cobb county knew he was a Jew. I was not a secret and he carried a very large majority of Republican votes in Cobb.
GT/MIT
November 7th, 2010
6:33 pm
@ JSS I suppose that I’m to consider myself, as you put it, flamed to Alpha whatever along with the other person you threatened. I understand that you are probably coping with your angst over the midterms as best you know how, but I can assure you that the tact you’re heading into won’t help. If it makes you feel any better, I’m neither Democrat nor Republican and I don’t care which you consider yourself. Your bravado, name dropping, and obnoxious ranting only serves to make you appear more pathetic than you might otherwise be. Let me leave you with this advice, which I’m sure you will disregard, “you sir are not properly armed for a battle of wits”.
Jason
November 7th, 2010
7:44 pm
atlmom, Jewish people are diverse and each have their own reasons for choosing which candidates to vote for. From the the Jewish friends I’ve had over the years, who might or might not be representative of the larger Jewish community, I’ve heard over and over again that the Republicans are simply too authoritarian. It goes against their general beliefs and makes them uncomfortable since for centuries they’ve been persecuted by those types of government. Those views however are far from universal. Just as most homosexuals are Democrats, there are Republican gays. Same with any other group, including those who are religiously or ethnically Jewish.
What is troubling about the article is that his biggest challenge was overcoming being from metro Atlanta. The rest of the state really isn’t going to be happy until they’ve killed the golden goose. While urban versus rural happens everywhere, I’ve never lived in a state filled with such hatred and envy for the main population center. It makes it so much easier for other states and metros to compete against us.
Stephanie
November 7th, 2010
9:58 pm
Who even knew or cared if he’s a Jew? I don’t know anyone who thinks in those terms when deciding whom to vote for or whom to give a job to. It’s only important to bigots, and BTW, being Republican does not equate to being a bigot.
dano
November 7th, 2010
11:53 pm
I’m jewish and I voted for Hodges because he had the requisite experience for the job, not Mr. Olens. Anyway, being a jew in the south is a good thing since good southern christians love israel and the jewish people…just read your bible…
phil
November 8th, 2010
7:30 am
Jimmy Caretr says that if you did not support Olens, you are anti-semetic.
History Teacher
November 8th, 2010
8:19 am
Judah Benjamin, who was Jewish, was Vice President of the Confederate States. Olens is not the first Jew to sell his soul for a position in Dixie to people who are in general unfriendly to Jews.
Jews, Blacks, Hispanics, Indians, and others who TRULY think that the Tea Party people are in their corner are extemely naive and vehment opportunity seekers; even if it means selling their souls and community of origin for the chance for power. How sad!
Peachtree Pete
November 8th, 2010
8:47 am
You do know, don’t you, that the Secretary of the Treasury for the Confederate States of America was Jewish? Contrary to the acts of some bigots, true Southerners have never had an antipathy towards our brothers and sisters in faith. “Politics” is thicker than water.
The Centrist
November 8th, 2010
9:16 am
Peachtree Pete. Get your facts straight. Jewish-Whig Judah P. Benjamin was the Attorney General and later Secretary of State for the Confererate States of America, but never Secretary of the Treasury. It was also rumored that he masterminded the assassination of Republican Abraham Lincoln and fled to England to escape prosecution.
Ghetto Grandpa
November 8th, 2010
9:19 am
Hey STW — so Cobb County is the “foremost leading county in Georgia” — the “foremost leading county”?????
Well, maybe not in education anyway.
Cobb County is a traffic-clogged nightmare of strip malls, homophobia and cookie-cutter housing. If Cobb County is the best that Georgia has to offer, move over Alabama and Mississippi because a new bottom-feeder is taking over.
The Centrist
November 8th, 2010
9:40 am
“Contrary to the acts of some bigots, true Southerners have never had an antipathy towards our brothers and sisters in faith.” I guess there are not that many true Southerns. Ever heard of Leo Franks or the Mississippi Civil Rights Murders? “Politics is thicker than water” is true because Dixiepublicans have a long history of being anti-semetic but pro-Israel.
scott
November 8th, 2010
9:47 am
lou
There are anti-semitic republicans and anto-sematic democrats (see Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton etc.) Republicans racist? Some are but the democrats controled the South and its beat down of African Americans for many years. I have voted for women, african amercians jews hispanics and even a mormon. Oh, how about the democrats trying to force the black man out of florida for the white guy for senate? Sexist; many from all races and parties are. Homophobic? That title can cover liberals and conservatives. I have no issue with gays, live your life as you see fit, just dont try to shove it down my throat or my kids. republicans passed the MLK holiday, donated billions to africa and aids, had more minorities and woman in cabinet positions etc. Most conservatives I know want a return to limited govenment and taxes and let people live and let live and stop govenment intrusion into everything I do. If you dont want to buy your kid a happy meal, fine but dont tell me my kid cant have a toy in the kids meal if I buy one. DOnt tell me not to eat a hamburger Ms. Obama and then head to the burger joint in Milwaukee to chow down on a double patty with cheese.
professional skeptic
November 8th, 2010
11:23 am
Is Sam Olens a crook? That’s all anyone should care about.
From the desk of The Grand Dragon
November 8th, 2010
12:02 pm
Sam just called and said he’ll be able attend the big Kristallnacht party at Republican HQ tomorrow night.
James Fannin
November 9th, 2010
9:45 am
I don’t believe most voters in Georgia were frankly even aware that Sam is Jewish. Max Woods may have flirted with making it an issue but basically stepped back. No one else really did either. Sam won the race when he won the primary because all most voters cared about was that he was a Republican. Those who did pay attention were aware that while Cobb County may have its problems, Sam generally ran the place as a Republican fiscal conservative and the results were generally pretty good. Years ago, being Jewish definitely played a role in the political losses of both Elliott Levitas and Sam Massell. The wife of the appropriately named Republican Swindall who defeated Levitas sent out what appeared to be a hand written note that said her husband “taught Sunday school and was one of us.” Similarly while Maynard Jackson appealed to Black voters when he defeated Sam Massell, there was clearly an anti-Semitic tone to that race as well.
But in this race, his being Jewish was simply not a factor except insomuch as a number of Jewish Democrats crossed over to vote for him. Sam Olens simply didn’t allow anyone to get to the right of him in this race and while that bothered some who believe Sam is much more of a moderate, he ran a race to win, he did a masterful job and his election is one of the truly good outcomes in this recent election.
Veteran Observer
November 10th, 2010
1:06 pm
As a Jew and a Republican, I applaud Sam on his election and believe that he was elected on his platform and not on his ethnicity! There is not a “Jewish” viewpoint on political issues. We are as diverse in our views as any group and enjoy, defend, and support American values of freedom and justice!