AJC Political Insider Reports on GACR Convention
In part of their weekly "Political Insider" column, Atlanta Journal Constitution writers Jim Galloway and Tom Baxter profiled this weekend's GACR Convention.
The politicians were courting warm bodies as much as votes. College students provide much of the door-knocking, envelope-stuffing muscle in political campaigns.
The highlight was an appearance by Ralph Reed and Casey Cagle, the GOP candidates for lieutenant governor.
Neither said anything particularly newsworthy, but it was a decent opportunity to listen to hear the rudiments of their stump speeches.
Reed, who came up through the ranks of the College Republicans, emphasized educational issues aimed at Republican primary voters.
For one, he backed the right of students from failed public schools to receive vouchers that could be used for education in private or religious institutions.
Reed carved out a small section of his speech to explain his association with Jack Abramoff, the Washington lobbyist who has pleaded guilty to bilking Indian tribes of $25 million and bribing public officials.
Reed didn't mention the name of Abramoff, and his explanation omitted many details. But it included what has become stock phrasing in his public appearances: "If I had known then what I know now, I would have turned that work down," Reed said. "What I do not appreciate, and what I am confident the voters of this state are going to reject at the ballot box, is an unfair attempt by the liberal media to engage in guilt by association. To associate me with the wrongdoing of others is wrong. It's unfair and it will be rejected by the voters."
Reed shook hands with Cagle on his way out, but didn't stay to hear his rival.
Cagle's emphasis was on trust and electability, among other things. "I'm not a lobbyist. I don't spend my time in Washington. I'm right here in Georgia," Cagle said. "You see, I don't have to be a state senator. I don't have to be a lieutenant governor. This is not about being governor.
It's not about being president of the United States."
Cagle mentioned the fact that 21 state senators who support him have asked Reed to withdraw from the race, fearing the impact of the Abramoff scandal on the rest of the ticket.
Brandon Phillips, a 21-year-old Grady County junior from Georgia State University who supports Reed, asked Cagle if he believed Reed had a right to present himself to voters.
"Often times, what we've done is elected people in July that can't win in November. We don't need to make that same mistake again," Cagle said.
Phillips was unsatisfied. "I think he dodged it," he said."
"Exactly the wrong time to share stories about past college hijinks
AJC Political Insider 2/27/06
By Jim Galloway and Tom Baxter
The politicians were courting warm bodies as much as votes. College students provide much of the door-knocking, envelope-stuffing muscle in political campaigns.
The highlight was an appearance by Ralph Reed and Casey Cagle, the GOP candidates for lieutenant governor.
Neither said anything particularly newsworthy, but it was a decent opportunity to listen to hear the rudiments of their stump speeches.
Reed, who came up through the ranks of the College Republicans, emphasized educational issues aimed at Republican primary voters.
For one, he backed the right of students from failed public schools to receive vouchers that could be used for education in private or religious institutions.
Reed carved out a small section of his speech to explain his association with Jack Abramoff, the Washington lobbyist who has pleaded guilty to bilking Indian tribes of $25 million and bribing public officials.
Reed didn't mention the name of Abramoff, and his explanation omitted many details. But it included what has become stock phrasing in his public appearances: "If I had known then what I know now, I would have turned that work down," Reed said. "What I do not appreciate, and what I am confident the voters of this state are going to reject at the ballot box, is an unfair attempt by the liberal media to engage in guilt by association. To associate me with the wrongdoing of others is wrong. It's unfair and it will be rejected by the voters."
Reed shook hands with Cagle on his way out, but didn't stay to hear his rival.
Cagle's emphasis was on trust and electability, among other things. "I'm not a lobbyist. I don't spend my time in Washington. I'm right here in Georgia," Cagle said. "You see, I don't have to be a state senator. I don't have to be a lieutenant governor. This is not about being governor.
It's not about being president of the United States."
Cagle mentioned the fact that 21 state senators who support him have asked Reed to withdraw from the race, fearing the impact of the Abramoff scandal on the rest of the ticket.
Brandon Phillips, a 21-year-old Grady County junior from Georgia State University who supports Reed, asked Cagle if he believed Reed had a right to present himself to voters.
"Often times, what we've done is elected people in July that can't win in November. We don't need to make that same mistake again," Cagle said.
Phillips was unsatisfied. "I think he dodged it," he said."
posted by Gainesville State College Republicans at 1:15 AM
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Ralph Reed
State Sen. Casey Cagle
