No More Mrs. Nice Party

How dare the Democratic Party of Georgia go and support Democrats?!! Who do we think we are, anyway?

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Clinton Makes Case for Martin

Clinton Stresses the Importance of the Race

Clinton and Martin Salute the Crowd

President Clinton with Ambassador Wyche Fowler


Clinton Makes a Point as Martin Looks On

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And We Reap the Whirlwind

This election cannot come fast enough. Last week, I wrote that the McCain campaign, along with supporters, were, to borrow a phrase from the Old Testament, "sowing the wind." With every day that passes, I fear more and more that we will all reap the whirlwind. I am worried about violence as election day approaches, and worried that an Obama victory will leave many people believing that a socialist-terrorist-anti-American who they should fear occupies the White House. All courtesy of John McCain and the RNC.

On Thursday night, on Letterman, McCain awkwardly interjected that regarding the financial crisis, the American people had been victims of "a drive by shooting" by Washington and Wall Street. Just a random statement, of course.

Last night, I listened in absolute shock as Rep. Michelle Bachman, a United States Congresswomen, questioned whether or not Sen. Barack Obama was "anti-American." Really?

I listened to network after network replay the vile robocall to swing state voters, warning them, essentially, that Obama and his terrorist friends plotted to kill Americans. Despicable. All paid for by McCain and the RNC-the same McCain who for a minute last week seemed to be tamping down the incendiary speech that has marked and marred his campaign in recent weeks. No more.

Yesterday, Republican women distributed fake food stamps with Obama's picture. And, today, McCain called Obama a "socialist."

And, tonight, this, a racist flyer, threatening Obama's life , distributed in mailboxes of an Atlanta subdivision. No idea who did this. Whether it is the KKK as the piece claims, or a group or individual seeking to influence the election. The Secret Service is investigating-and no matter who did it, they should go to jail.

I no longer believe that John McCain is a victim of this strategy, simply unable to lead. With his words today, it is clear, John McCain has sold his soul.

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Martin Hits the Democratic Political Trifecta

Women, labor and civil rights leaders: in anybody's book, that's the trifecta of democratic politics in Georgia, and today, Jim Martin trounced rival Vernon Jones in all three categories. First, Jim won the endorsement of an impressive group of ministers and civil rights leaders, including the ringing praise of the Rev. Joseph Lowery, one of Sen. Barack Obama's top Georgia leaders. At that same event, Richard Ray, the President of the AFL-CIO of Georgia, appeared at Martin's side, and this weekend, labor leaders are hosting an old fashioned Democratic fish fry for Martin in Macon. Finally, I was at Rep. Kathy Ashe's lovely home this evening for the Women for Jim Martin event, and it was PACKED with prominent leaders in the women's community. I would estimate that there were at least a hundred women there at any given time. There were so many elected officials present, that the host had to keep going back to add names as she worked her way through the introductions. Add to those, the women there who are leaders in the nonprofit and business community, and toss in a few key men, like Sen. Kasim Reed, and I'd call that event a resounding success!

There is no doubt that these are the groups the winning candidate will need to bring to the table on Tuesday. It looks like this Jim is in a very good position to do just that.

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State Money Slashed for Georgia Sports and Music Halls of Fame

I am hearing that , based on the supplemental budget passed within the last few days, the state allocation for the budgets of the Georgia Sports and Music Halls of Fame will be cut in half. Both are located in Macon and get zero love from the Atlanta legislative delegations. They are at the heart of the museum district in Macon, and if they ceased to exist, that would be a huge blow to downtown. In that same area of town, we already have the struggling Georgia Children's Museum and the large, unfinished new Tubman. How did this funding cut fly under the radar? What did our local delegation do to try to stop it? I understand that the final vote it tomorrow, and that the budget is pretty much veto-proof.

Update:

I understand that the Senate Appropriations Committee partially restored funding (that the House cut) to the Sports Hall of Fame & the Music Hall of Fame budgets. Both museums will be an issue in the budget conference.

The most effective thing we can do is to call the Senate & House budget conferees. Senate budget conferees are Sen. Eric Johnson, Sen. Tommie Williams and Sen. Jack Hill. House budget conferees are Rep. Jerry Keen, Rep. Ben Harbin and Rep. Mark Burkhalter.

(I look at this list and see no Middle Georgia names. I think that may not bode well for restoration of funding, especially when there are bigger fish to fry-like trauma care.)

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What David Said

In case you've been under a rock, Kasim Reed has announced that he will run for Mayor of the City of Atlanta. Others contenders who have been mentioned include Lisa Borders. This is shaping up to be an Atlanta-sized rumble.

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Barack Will NOT Rock Atlanta on Wednesday

I have to confess to the sin of envy. I have been envious of the Obama Machine. There. I said it. They have a great ground game and great political instincts. They have made few mistakes, BUT today, I'm feeling a little less envious. Obama will miss the JJ Dinner, leaving the stage to Clinton and Edwards. According to my friends over at Political Insider, Obama's dis of the JJ indicates that he believes he has Georgia locked up. He might be right, but Georgia voters are a fickle lot and surely don't like to feel taken for granted.

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"My Father Would Be Proud"

After the rally at IBEW in Atlanta on Saturday, John Edwards went to a private meeting with Martin L. King, III. Today, the campaign released a letter from King (posted below). I will be honest to say that I have wondered about the wisdom of Sen. Edwards staying the course in this race. I've tried to figure out his strategy, tried to figure out what path he sees to the nomination, but tonight, as I listened to the debate, and then, as I read this letter, it is now clear to me that Edwards continued presence in this race is not about "strategy." It's about justice. I believe that there would have been little discussion about poverty in this race had he not voiced it. As he said tonight, campaigning about poverty doesn't necessarily win you votes-but it's the right thing to do. Doing what's right, no matter the cost, is what transformational leadership is all about.


January 20, 2008

The Honorable John E. Edwards
410 Market Street
Suite 400
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Dear Senator Edwards:
It was good meeting with you yesterday and discussing my father’s legacy. On the day when the nation will honor my father, I wanted to follow up with a personal note.
There has been, and will continue to be, a lot of back and forth in the political arena over my father’s legacy. It is a commentary on the breadth and depth of his impact that so many people want to claim his legacy. I am concerned that we do not blur the lines and obscure the truth about what he stood for: speaking up for justice for those who have no voice.
I appreciate that on the major issues of health care, the environment, and the economy, you have framed the issues for what they are - a struggle for justice. And, you have almost single-handedly made poverty an issue in this election.
You know as well as anyone that the 37 million people living in poverty have no voice in our system. They don’t have lobbyists in Washington and they don’t get to go to lunch with members of Congress. Speaking up for them is not politically convenient. But, it is the right thing to do.
I am disturbed by how little attention the topic of economic justice has received during this campaign. I want to challenge all candidates to follow your lead, and speak up loudly and forcefully on the issue of economic justice in America.
From our conversation yesterday, I know this is personal for you. I know you know what it means to come from nothing. I know you know what it means to get the opportunities you need to build a better life. And, I know you know that injustice is alive and well in America, because millions of people will never get the same opportunities you had.
I believe that now, more than ever, we need a leader who wakes up every morning with the knowledge of that injustice in the forefront of their minds, and who knows that when we commit ourselves to a cause as a nation, we can make major strides in our own lifetimes. My father was not driven by an illusory vision of a perfect society. He was driven by the certain knowledge that when people of good faith and strong principles commit to making things better, we can change hearts, we can change minds, and we can change lives.
So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horserace, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter. As a friend and a believer in my father’s words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud.

Sincerely,
Martin L. King, III

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