"Stop blogging! Stop blogging right now!"

Can you imagine the hell that would rain down if a top aide to Gov. Perdue picked up the phone and called, say, Erick Erickson, and said, "You should be ashamed. Stop blogging. Stop blogging right now!" Yet, that's exactly the call an Alaskan blogger got from an aide to Sarah Palin, and it's far from the scariest thing the New York Times reports in "Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends, Lashed Foes." If you can stand to read one more thing about Palin, believe me, this is that article. (H/T to Jodi)

Whether she was handing out political appointments like candy to high school friends-including the top agriculture spot to a women who actually listed her childhood love of cows as a qualification-or creating a culture of secrecy in the Governor's office, Palin's reign in Alaska looks a whole lot like the Bush White House. If you've like that, you're going to love Palin. Of all the questionable things the Times uncovers, the worst by far is this simple statement at the beginning of the article:

Ms. Palin declined to grant an interview for this article. The McCain-Palin campaign responded to some questions on her behalf and that of her husband, while referring others to the governor’s spokespeople, who did not respond.

It is NOT FINE for John McCain to continue to hide his vice presidential nominee from the American people by picking and choosing just who gets to lift one or two of her many, many veils. McCain is getting a virtually unfathomable pass on his strategy of hiding and scripting Sarah Palin. If any of the other three candidates-Obama, McCain or Biden-were ducking press interviews, they would be absolutely skewered, and rightly so. Why? Because us everyday Americans won't have the chance to sit down and chat with Gov. Palin. We rely on journalists, imperfect though they are, to ask the tough questions of those who would be leaders in this toughest of times. It is both outrageous and inexcusable that John McCain is unwilling to find out-and unwilling for us to know-exactly who this women is once the curtain drops and there is no script. Veils off, Sen. McCain. It's time for Sarah Palin to put on her big girl pants and face the American people.

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Freeman Fails to Protect Veterans

"Freeman, who said he served in the Guard during Desert Storm, said he wants to continue the work Birdsong started to help veterans and the military." (Branson, Freeman to Square Off for Seat in State House, Macon Telegraph, July 14, 2004)

So much for that campaign promise. In July of 2004, you would've thought Rep. Allen Freeman (R-Macon) would be the best friend veterans ever had. Once elected, he has been extremely ineffective and eeriely quiet when it comes to advocating for the veterans living at the soon-to-be-closed Georgia War Veteran's Home. Freeman is vice chair of the Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee-a powerful position when you're also in the majority party. So, why has he not been able to to protect the Georgia War Veteran's Home? I saw the press release from Sen. Robert Brown expressing outrage at the closing, but where was Rep. Freeman's voice? Is this not important to him, or is he not important to his Republican leadership in Atlanta?

It speaks volumes about your effectiveness and the level of respect you have earned from your own leadership if you are in the majority party, in leadership in a relevent committee and can't persuade your leadership to keep veterans from becoming homeless on your watch.

Freeman, who sometimes pays his Officer's Club dues at Robins Air Force Base out of his campaign account, likes to tout his military service, but in the battle to protect the War Veteran's Home, he's been AWOL.

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Women Wake Up

I have watched with alarm as John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, has roared across the landscape, captivating crowds with her vacuous speeches --excuse me--speech, (she's been making the same one over and over) and witnessed the media's fawning all over her, like a brand new toy. And of course that's what she is. She is the latest hot thing on the airwaves and she'll dominate them for a while--say three weeks? The fact that she is a woman does not mean that she supports women's issues and I do not believe that serious, intelligent, women in this country will identify with her and wish her well in this campaign. Her speech at the Republican convention was nasty, mean-spirited, shallow--delivered in perfect cadence and designed to please her audience. But the larger audience, the millions of Americans who will vote in November, will surely seek answers about her positions on the issues that matter to reasonable people: the economy, the war, health care (or absence of), soaring gas prices, the mortgage crisis, the loss of our stature and credibility throughout the world, our debtor status and pitiful dollar--to name a few. One can only hope that reasonable, thoughtful Americans--men and women--will study the issues, and not be dazzled by a self-described pit bull with lipstick, nor her running mate, John McCain. Remember him? The guy who's supposed to have such good judgment? When they begin talking about the issues that matter and turn their backs on 'swift boat tactics' (do anything to win), perhaps I'll listen to what they have to say. I can't wait.

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Palin's Sexist Supporters

In her speech tonight in Alaska, after thanking the "First Dude"- yep, she really said that-Sarah Palin gleefully told the crowd that everywhere she goes, people are shouting, "drill, baby, drill!" That Sarah, what a sport! She was laughing right along with her sexist supporters.

I'm not kidding. Forget the Freudian metaphors, calling the potential vice president "baby"-shouting it at her like she's some female wrestler- is blatant sexism. To be consistent, all the major networks should make this their top story tomorrow, and McCain himself should demand a formal apologize to poor Sarah.

And pigs, lipstick or no, might fly.

Everytime the McCain/Rove campaign cries wolf when it comes to sexism, they make it harder, not easier, for women to achieve and harder to combat sexism when it does occur. They have never been the Party that fought for women's equality. On the contrary, they have blocked the advancement of women at every opportunity. Don't be fooled. They're not concerned about sexism-they're concerned about winning. And if Democrats allow them to make us afraid to take off the gloves, they'll do just that.

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Ron Paul Endorses Georgians for President

Don't leave Georgia just yet, Barack. The Street is reporting that Ron Paul has endorsed "several third party candidates" for President, including Georgians Cynthia McKinney and Bob Barr. If those candidates pull 6-8% of the vote in Georgia, that could make a huge difference in the Presidential race.

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Kay Hagan Needs No Lipstick

If the Obama campaign is shifting some resources to North Carolina, then I met one of the reasons last night. North Carolina Senator Kay Hagan was in Atlanta last night, and she's one sharp cookie who's running an extremely effective campaign. Multiple polls show Hagan, an attorney, former vice president with NationsBank and ten year veteran of the North Carolina senate, leading one term incumbent Elizabeth Dole in the North Carolina senate race. Dole, who like Saxby, has voted with Bush 92% of the time, is rated as the 93rd most effective senator. (Looks like she 's trying to follow McCain example of being at the bottom of the class at the Naval Academy).

There was no talk of pit bulls, pigs or lipstick at the Hagan event, and she needed no slogan to hide behind. After winning a seven-person Democratic primary with more than 60% of the vote, Hagan is now about five points ahead of Dole in polls that may be under-estimating the youth vote and the African American vote in this historic election year. Hagan has raised about four million dollars for her race. She is endorsed by Emily's List, and it looks to me as if the DSCC is fully engaged in the race. Hagan's family is fully invested in her race, and her husband will actually be able to vote for her, unlike Bob Dole, who is not a resident of North Carolina. Bit of a problem for Libby, don't you think? Plus, Dole is worried, launching nasty ads comparing Kay to a Jack Russell Terrier. The ad was so offensive that the Dole campaign actually had to issue a statement assuring voters that no animals were harmed during filming. (Veruca, my Jack Russell demands to know why this would be a negative comparison in the first place).



I made a contribution last night, and it may be the best politcal investment I have ever made. Kay Hagan has a real opportunity to win, and when she does, she will be an outstanding United States senator. Max Cleland, who is about to hit the campaign trail with Kay this weekend, thinks so, too. I hope that you will consider contributing to her campaign so we can buy Elizabeth Dole a pair of ruby slippers and send her back to Kansas where she belongs.

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ENDA Summer Party

Fun event, good cause-be there!

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Handel Ignored the Facts, Ya'll

Last week, Karen Handel attempted to calm the Georgia Republican delegates at the RNCC by telling them that all this talk of increased voter registration in Georgia was a myth, "ya'll." Well, today, Dicy Pettys looks at some cold, hard facts, something Handel didn't bother to do before given her speech. Looks like voter registration is up in Georgia, especially among black voters. That's a fact that might have Saxby reaching for his Tums, ya'll. I'll give you that Handel probably intends to do all she can to suppress registration, suppress democratic voters and deny democrats ballot access, but so far, she's ignoring the facts while feeding pablum to the faithful.

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What Would Sonny Do?

Giving Sonny Perdue control over schools would be like hiring a termite to build a house. There'd be a lot of activity but nothing left when he was done.

Heck, there's hardly anything left now.

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Oops

Tom Ridge, interviewing with NBC post-speech, slipped and referred to "John Bush." He quickly corrected himself, but in that moment summed up McCain's biggest problem.

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Where's the Flag?

I'm watching McCain's speech. Is it possible that after all the hullabaloo over Obama not wearing a flag pin on his lapel that McCain is missing one tonight of all nights? Indeed, I see no flag. Republicans used this as a way to attack Obama's patriotism. Now, perhaps, they will admit what bs that was.

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But Will She Win the Emmy?

Last night, Sarah Palin, a wet-behind-the-ears Alaska governor, starred in the much anticipated, made for television original, "Anyone Can Be President." Palin reached for her lipstick just in time to play an unlikely vice presidential candidate and was well-prepared to deliver the soliloquy of her life. Her here-to-fore off-limits family, including her husband, two sons, three daughters and one son-in-law-to-be, were paraded across the stage like a supporting cast. (Apparently, it's okay for her to use her family to score political points, but, for us regular folks, they're off-limits.) Even John McCain, who was supposed to have the lead in this production, was relegated to a supporting role. When the lights went out, the critics raved, her ratings soared, and she may well win the Emmy. But one critical question remains unanswered:

Is she well-prepared to lead the nation?

Meeting the minimum qualifications for an office is not the same as being well-prepared to serve. Specifically, is Palin as well-prepared to serve as Joe Biden? Consider these questions:

• Does she have the ability to unify the nation if some awful tragedy befalls us?

• Does she have the gravitas to go head-to-head with Putin (or will she look into his eyes)?

• Does she understand what its like to grow up in an inner-city (because surely as many people have grown up in inner cities as have in small towns)? Has she ever actually been to Scranton?

• Does she understand what it's like to have to leave your family to follow your spouse across the country, a common occurrence in military families?

• Does she understand what its like to be boiling hot with no air-conditioning?

• How many victims, pregnant as a result of rape or incest, did she talk with before deciding that the government should force them to have their rapist's babies?

• Does she understand the pressures a single mother with no family support faces when she tries to balance work and childcare?
  
  Palin has limited experiences...more limited than any major party candidate in recent times. True some of her experience is "executive" but little of it is "broadening." And, that's frightening.

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Sen. Brown Stands Up for Veterans

Sen. Robert Brown listens more than he talks-a rare and useful trait in a politician, but today, he issued a rare press statement on the closing of the Georgia War Veteran's Home. Sen. Brown is exactly right about the confused, misplaced priorities of this republican administration. While they give lip service to honoring those who serve in uniform, they fail to follow through with real help when it matters most, preferring instead to fund "Go Fish Georgia" and protect special interest tax breaks for those who need them the least. Here are Brown's remarks:

Senate Leader Condemns Closing of Veterans Home

Contact: Senator Robert Brown 404.656.5035

Just before Labor Day, some of Georgia's best people – residents of the Georgia War Veterans Home – received some instructions from Governor Perdue: "Get out."

Georgia veterans living in the Veterans Home received the astonishing notice that they have 90 days to vacate because the Governor chose to close the facility due to the state's budget problems. Closing the Veterans Home will save $2.7 million in a budget of over $20 BILLION.

Senate Democratic Leader and member of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee Robert Brown condemned the move: "The sound of Republican patriotic rhetoric praising our veterans rings hollow in Georgia. Indeed, Georgia Republicans add insult to injury by ordering some of our most vulnerable veterans to celebrate Veteran's Day this November by packing their bags and joining the homeless."

Meanwhile, the Governor has not cut funds for his "Go Fish!" program, or any of the $13.5 million set aside in this year's budget for a horse farm. These funds have been earmarked for the Governor's home of Houston County. "I am certain," Brown said, "that the people of Georgia, especially Houston County with its large enlisted and veteran population, would gladly delay new fishing and equestrian opportunities for a year or so if they knew it would benefit Georgia's veterans."

"It is shameful for Georgia to cast aside veterans, especially at time the United States is at war. Many of the veterans living at the Georgia War Veterans Home sustained life-changing wounds and witnessed other warriors pay the ultimate sacrifice. Americans should be outraged that the Republican governor of this state places so little value on the lives of our most vulnerable veterans," Brown said.

Senator Brown has served in the Senate since 1991. He represents Twiggs and parts of Bibb (Macon), Wilkinson and Houston Counties. He serves on six important committees, Administrative Affairs, Judiciary, Insurance and Labor, Economic Development, Reapportionment and Redistricting, and Veterans and Military Affairs. He is serving a second term as Senate Democratic Leader, one of the top three leaders elected by members of the Senate.

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Let's Listen to Palin

MACON WOMEN WAIT TO HEAR PALIN’S SPEECH

ATLANTA – A group of Macon women will gather together tonight to watch Gov. Sarah Palin address the Republican National Convention. The diverse group will include women who are Hillary Clinton supporters, Republicans and some who have never been involved in the political process before.

“We don’t know anything about Gov. Palin, so we want to hear what she says tonight,” explained Amy Morton, host of the gathering. “If she wants to be a heart-beat away from the presidency, we need to know who she is.”

The women plan to meet tonight at 8 pm at:

The home of Amy Morton
109 Carriage Way
Macon, GA 31210

The media is invited to attend and attendees will be available for comment.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Trell Thomas at 404-759-1635, tthomas@georgiaforchange.com

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It's NOT Demeaning to Women

In his choice for VP, was John McCain first and foremost concerned with whether the person was capable of being President of the United States? Or was he concerned about whether the person could bring him the electoral votes of rural, conservative, female voters in swing states? Just three weeks ago, on Face the Nation, Karl Rove was intensely critical of the possibility that Barack Obama might choose Gov. Tim Kaine for his Vice President. Rove said:

"With all due respect again to Governor Kaine, he's been a governor for three years, he's been able but undistinguished," Rove said. "I don't think people could really name a big, important thing that he's done. He was mayor of the 105th largest city in America."Rove continued: "So if he were to pick Governor Kaine, it would be an intensely political choice where he said, `You know what? I'm really not, first and foremost, concerned with, is this person capable of being president of the United States? What I'm concerned about is, can he bring me the electoral votes of the state of Virginia, the 13 electoral votes in Virginia?'"

Somehow, posing this same question about a women is now out of bounds. Watching Larry King Live tonight, it's clear that the Republican talking point-anytime someone questions whether or not McCain's choice for VP is qualified for the position-is to claim that such scrutiny is "demeaning to women." Why? Because Democrats blanch whenever they're accused of being unfair, and quickly retreat from allegations of sexism. In this instance, we certainly owe it to the electorate to get over ourselves.

Questioning a VP's readiness to serve is a core issue and is most certainly appropriate for men and women. Attacking family is out of bounds; questioning preparedness to be President is not only appropriate, it's the responsibility of the electorate. One in three Vice Presidents have actually become President, so the question is surely relevant.

Fighting for the equal treatment of women, working to help qualified women get elected and helping knock down barriers so that women can participate in professions that were once off-limits is important work that is diminished anytime a women gets a pass because of her gender. Whenever that happens, it reinforces the myth that, in politics or in business, the bar for women is lower and makes it more difficult to construct the ladder women need to get elected. The perception that a women has been added to a ticket for any reason other than being eminently qualified reflects negatively on every women who seeks any office.

Failing to fully vet Sarah Palin-now that's demeaning to women.

Choosing a Vice President is the first act of any presidential candidate that has the potential to actually impact the course of democracy in our country. In his choice of a person who has limited experience in government, zero experience in foreign affairs and a basic lack of understanding of what a VP is actually supposed to do, John McCain has behaved in a reckless manner that ought to give every American pause. Unlike Presidential candidates who must survive a grueling primary process and endless vetting by the public and the press, Vice Presidential candidates get little scrutiny. We rely on our Presidential candidates to do the vetting for us when it comes to the VP nominee. It is the first moment when the future of the county is in the hands of the Presidential hopeful. It is the first moment when we are able to see whether the candidate will actually put country before political interest. And it was in this moment that John McCain failed not just his Party, but his country.

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