Comments from DPG Chair, Jane Kidd
With John McCain in town today to hang with his buddy, Ralph Reed, the Democratic Party reminds voters of the company Senator McCain keeps.
"We hope Georgia voters get a good look at the way John McCain is running his campaign and see that, if they give their vote to McCain, they can expect him to have lobbyists like Jack Abramoff and Ralph Reed running the show and making the decisions in his administration."That's not how Barack Obama works. He doesn't take contributions from lobbyists, they don't work for his campaign and when he comes to Georgia, he meets with regular Georgians. He answers their questions as he did recently in Powder Springs and he listens to their ideas and concerns. Barack Obama understands the struggles of everyday Georgians and when he's elected to the White House, he will be working for them. He won't owe the lobbyists anything. He will be accountable to the people.
"You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. Today Georgians are getting a good look at John McCain and we hope they will remember the company he keeps when they vote on Nov. 4."
Nicely done, Ms Kidd! Full text of the DPG press release below the fold.
Text of remarks by Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane Kidd on McCain visit
ATLANTA - Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane Kidd held a media conference today in conjunction with a fundraising visit by Republican Presidential candidate John McCain. Kidd, joined by State Senator David Adelman, contrasted Senator McCain's in-and-out fundraising visit with Senator Barack Obama's visits to Georgia, where the Democratic candidate met with voters and answered their questions.
Kidd and Adelman also highlighted Senator McCain's connections to ethically-challenged lobbyist and Jack Abramoff associate Ralph Reed, who is a member of McCain's "Victory 2008" campaign team.
"We are here today on the streets of Atlanta with real Georgians who are struggling and need our support. Later today, inside this fancy hotel, John McCain will be meeting with Jack Abramoff's colleague Ralph Reed and other lobbyists to hear about their clients. Instead of meeting with Georgians and hearing from us about what we need from our country, John McCain has chosen to talk only with people who are giving him thousands of dollars.
"Well, Senator McCain, you should meet Robyn James. Robyn has a master's degree, but she lost her job recently, and in this economy, she's can't find another one.
"I'd also like to introduce you to Dan Mizrahi. His dad passed away, and his mother doesn't have health insurance. She's making tough choices that she shouldn't have to make - choices between groceries and medicines.
"Finally, you could answer a question or two from John Nail. John's a Republican. When Senator Obama was in town, John was able to ask him a question. But John doesn't have a few thousand dollars at hand, so he doesn't have to opportunity to hear from you here in Atlanta.
"We hope Georgia voters get a good look at the way John McCain is running his campaign and see that, if they give their vote to McCain, they can expect him to have lobbyists like Jack Abramoff and Ralph Reed running the show and making the decisions in his administration.
"That's not how Barack Obama works. He doesn't take contributions from lobbyists, they don't work for his campaign and when he comes to Georgia, he meets with regular Georgians. He answers their questions as he did recently in Powder Springs and he listens to their ideas and concerns. Barack Obama understands the struggles of everyday Georgians and when he's elected to the White House, he will be working for them. He won't owe the lobbyists anything. He will be accountable to the people.
"You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. Today Georgians are getting a good look at John McCain and we hope they will remember the company he keeps when they vote on Nov. 4."
Comments (18)
Bang on, Chairwoman.
It would also be nice to have some other local surrogates reminding us of how McCain 2000 would have nothing to do with these slimeballs who attacked his family and his honor. McCain 2008 is so desperate for their cash he will debase himself endlessly.
Sorry, but Obama and McCain have both visited Atlanta, or the metro area in order to get money for their campaigns, neither (that I know of) have been outside of Cobb/Fulton/blahblah
Let one of them pull an Edwards and come to Macon or somewhere else and talk to people, then I'll listen. Bash him all you want, but Edwards speaking at GSW in Americus, visiting Macon, Dublin, is miles more important to me than Obama or McCain visiting Atlanta for a few hours.
Other than the lobbyist thing, I see nothing different about the two in regards to visiting our state.
I actually went to ATL to see Obama last year, and yeah, the tickets were pretty cheap, but I don't remember anyone getting to ask him questions, nor did he come off the stage to greet people. I'm NOT bashing him because of that, my point is, he's no different than McCain in that regards.
Maybe Michelle Obama took questions when she was here awhile back. However, nothing, and I mean nothing, beats sitting in a room with Elizabeth Edwards and her answering the most random of questions. I'm sure Amy can remembers that time last year in Macon.
I think policy wise Obama and McCain are vastly different. Obama's willingness to attend Rick Warren's forum and honestly answer his questions gave me a new found respect for him.
Organizationally Obama and McCain are completly different. I know first-hand that Obama's people are working their tails off in this state. I'm sure some of y'all can realize how shocked I was when a staffer called me wanting to do some stuff around here.
On a fundraising level though they're no different, and there's no reason to sugarcoat it.
"On a fundraising level though they're no different, and there's no reason to sugarcoat it."
Except for the distribution of their fundraising incomes from small, mid-size, and large donors.
And the fact that McCain signed onto public financing with every intent to subvert it by funneling money through the RNC.
Obama has held rallies at both Tech and Cobb County, and I believe that he's come here to ask for votes at one other time as well. Now, yes, he'll just come and go to places like San Francisco for cash because he knows everyone there is voting for him.
However, McCain can't afford that particular arrogance in Georgia, and it is our duty to cut him down and call him out on this every chance we get.
McCain's more than welcome to make the same noise (and I'm sure he does) about Obama running out for that eeevil tech genius money.
But yes, a Macon or Savannah visit would definitely show a stronger effort down here. Jim Martin, Reichert, and even Marshall should try to figure out how to make that happen.
I wasn't talking about any distribution or anything, I simply meant that they're no different in where they go.
To attempt to demonize McCain for coming to Atlanta for a fundraiser is a really bad idea considering Obama is no different in that aspect.
Yeah he's been to Tech, Powder Springs, the World Congress Center, and I'm sure another place or two.
A Columbus visit would likely do wonders. There's a ton of money there.
I guess I just get frustrated that our leaders are praising a guy who comes to Atlanta to fund raise simply because he's our candidate, while we'll easily vilify the opposing candidate because he does the exact same thing but he's in a different party.
Both parties pull these stunts and its really annoying. There's a reason so many people are fed up with partisan politics.
I think if Obama came to Macon, Marshall would likely stay away, especially after all the hoopla about him being at the Edwards event that time. It's not worth jeopardizing that seat to have him show up at an event for Obama.
oh yawn.....how much time do you think he is spending in small cities in other states? its all about getting the biggest bang for your buck at this state in the game. his huge field investment in states like georgia should be enough for you to get over it
Wow, no wonder you were so against YDG expanding into Columbus and Macon, you consider them "small cities".
LOL.
I'm simply pointing out what I see to be a problem on BOTH sides.
okay, its a small side issue...but those just happen to be what i enjoy getting drawn into.
first, YDG was never expanding. it has always been and always will be the Young Democrats of GEORGIA. GEORGIA being a finite political boundry that, barring crappy speculation up near tennessee, will always be the same. and YDG has always covered said areas.
secondly, no one has ever been 'against expansion' of ydg's efforts in any sort of geographic area.
thirdly, i am pretty damned sure the obama camp has been down to savannah at least once, if not twice in the past few months.
Didn't Obama go to Macon? I thought he did.
I've never understood this demand for the candidate to appear live in person in a place. He's the Democrat. He's running for President. More people voted for him than for any of the other Democratic candidates. Surely everyone can determine the differences between the candidates by watching the 24/7 news coverage, reading their websites, watching the teevee commercials, and talking to their surrogates.
Plus, Senator Obama has about 200 staff people crawling the state. There should be plenty of opportunity to learn everything you need to know about Senator Obama.
All that is true, Catherine. But I do see a little bit of Rural's point. As a salesman, you don't tell the customer to go do his/her own research (unless you want to demonstrate your comfort with your own claims). You head out there to *make* the sale.
Then there's discussion of optimal cost/benefit yadda, yadda.
Maybe there's a biofuel plant or something there that can be used to sweeten the pot.
It's also why I suggest Marshall and Martin get in on trying to get Obama down there since they are the ones with the most to gain from said appearance.
"Wow, no wonder you were so against YDG expanding into Columbus and Macon, you consider them "small cities".
LOL.
I'm simply pointing out what I see to be a problem on BOTH sides."
what the hell are you talking about? I think we have met maybe twice so i would love to know how you have come to the conclusion that i was "against YDG expanding into Columbus and Macon" In fact when I was serving as an officer for YDG I supported having the YDG convention in Macon as well as a large grant to the Columbus state chapter to pull off an outreach event down there during one of Columbus's big festivals. But yes, you go ahead and assume away that all people in Atlanta hate rural georgia and are "against expansion" through the rest of the state.
As far as the size of Columbus and Macon...yes, I do consider them to be small cities and dont expect Obama (or any other candidate) to make an extraordinary effort to make it there. He needs to spend his time going to places where he can reach the most people both in actual people contact as well as places with the largest media market for earned media hits.
Additionally do Columbus and Macon even have the type of facilities to really accomodate the size of crowd that Obama can attract. Last time he was here, which was before he even came close to capturing the nomination, he filled the Georgia World Congress Center. Now that he has it locked down I would imagine that his draw is even bigger. Could the cities of Macon and Columbus even handle that?
But in the end....WE GET IT. You liked Edwards, he was awesome. And one of the things that made him awesome is that he visited places like Americus and Macon. But he's not in the race anymore and wasnt even in it before super duper tuesday. get over it. we dont need to see the same thing day after day for the past 9 months
sndeak,
If anyone knows about where Obama has traveled it is you, lol, so can you tell us where he has visited in the state?
CatherineAtlanta,
I'm just not a fan of the criticizing McCain for coming to Atlanta to a fundraiser thing. Now, I do agree about the Ralph Reed issue.
That's all. My entire Edwards thing is just what I would LIKE to see a candidate do! I mean, if we're such a swing state to the Obama camp, it'd be nice to see him treat us like one. His surrogates (ie his staffers) are working their tails off and I think people will take notice, however, if he truly thinks we are competitive, then he should make an effort throughout the state. I'm not saying travel to all the counties, but maybe cover all the corners or something.
Odinseye2k,
We're told that we're a swing state, but we're not being treated as one!
nicolette,
I shouldn't have aired that out on here, and I won't continue it much further on here out of respect for the organization, however, I will say the following regarding your post:
A) I went to the GWCC last September and while there was a decent number of people there, by no means was it this super packed event that Macon or Columbus could not handle.
B) I know plenty of people in Atlanta that love rural Georgia. However, I also know plenty of people in Atlanta that when given the chance, did everything they could to ruin making inroads in rural Georgia. Oh, and Macon and Columbus are NOT rural Georgia.
C) I only mention Edwards because I enjoyed the strategy he used. He felt he could have won this state, and while he did not do so, at least he tried. If it bothers you that I mention it, simply ignore my post, it's not that difficult.
"We're told that we're a swing state, but we're not being treated as one!"
Well, apparently Macon is just as important as Phily, because they are begging Obama to show up there as well.
Cost-benefit's got to come into play.
You make a great point. However, Obama's not strapped for cash nor time.
Which, if we get Sam Nunn as his VP nominee, I'd be fine with Senator Nunn touring our state haha :)
"However, Obama's not strapped for cash nor time."
Cash, I'd agree with. Time ... not so much. I can't even begin to imagine his schedule.
RD..Dude that went right over your head. Not only did he go to Macon, he went to the Harvest Cathedral.I think it was the last week in January.
It can only mean one thing: Obama hates rurality.
Yeah I remember the Harvest Cathedral thing. Last I checked that was not a public event unless you were part of that church.
What went over my head? I was serious, you're so into Obama, I figured you'd know how many times he's been here and where.