Posted on 08/08/2004 6:40:49 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights
(excerpted)...........A leading Georgia Democrat, a Democratic activist and others who spoke on condition that they not be identified said Kerry's campaign lieutenants have for months wanted the state party to launch a sustained counterattack against Miller. They said the campaign believes those who know Miller best would be most effective in undermining his credibility...
..After one Miller attack on Kerry a few months back, they said, the campaign came to Georgia Democrats armed with files full of positive things Miller had said within the last couple of years about the Democratic Party and many of its leaders, including Kerry....
..But the Georgia Democrats said state party members counseled the Kerry campaign to ignore Miller, at least in part because attacking him would not help --- and might actually undercut --- their efforts to elect Democrats to state offices in November....
....And some Georgia Democrats said they were also reluctant to savage a man they still regard highly as a progressive governor who did well by Georgia --- and remains one of its most popular politicians. ...........
........"Kerry can't come in and attack Zell. So that's why they're calling on surrogates to do this," Black said. "Kerry is widely perceived as a loser this year here in Georgia, and most Democrats don't want to be associated with a loser." .....
....Counterattacks against Miller are likely to intensify as the day nears for him to speak at the Republican convention later this month. But so far the sharpest attacks have come from people outside Georgia...
..."He's not trying to help the party," Jones said. "He's being thoroughly disingenuous --- let me say dishonest --- in presenting himself as a Democrat. He is simply a Republican attack dog for George W. Bush." ..........
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
I have not always agreed with Zell Miller's politics and have used the term "Zig Zag Zell" many times. But I do believe in my heart of hearts that he is standing up for what he believes is right. He is at the end of his career, he has nothing to lose or gain. He does not want a position in a Bush Cabinet. He only want to be back in the mountains of North Georgia.
Even though registration is required, I urge all to read the entire article.
In fairness, I might also mention that Max Cleland refuses to label Zell Miller as anything but a great American. Even Max has his limits as to how low he will sink.
"attacking him would not help --- and might actually undercut --- their efforts to elect Democrats to state offices"
Imagine that, there are better ways to win than smear campaigns and insults.
Smearing and destroying opponents is ALL the Dems seem to be about since the arrival of the Clintons on the national scene.
Their motives are not that pure. Zell can walk on water for many Georgians. Even if you never liked his politics, he is a good man. An organized attack on him would be poison for most politicans.
(I still have to be fair--Max's refusal to trash him is sincere and not political--God help me, I am defending Cleland!!!)
Although Zel is a "D" I have the utmost respect for this man...he seems to do what he believes is the right thing to do for America regardless of how it may affect his "party"...he's there to represent all of his constituants not just the far-left ones.
His recent book was a very good read...A National Party No More.
As you said, the dems will send out their 'smear & destroy' missions...and it would be sweet justice to see it backfire in their faces!!!
In fairness, I might also mention that Max Cleland refuses to label Zell Miller as anything but a great American. Even Max has his limits as to how low he will sink.
Zell Miller is a rare democrat. It is obvious that he knows what many people her at this site have known for a long time; That Kerry is a LOSER in every sense of the word. There a re a few other dems that have endorsed Bush already. There's hope that there are some dems with common sense after all.
AFAIK, it is what the left has been about since at least 1972.
I would not be surprised to discover it has gone on forever
Hah heh heh......
FMCDH(BITS)
Looks like the Devil went down to Georgia, looking Democrat soul to steal, but those folks were not For Sale.
So now they want to "Bork" Zell. I think it will backfire - at least I hope it does.
OOOOH this really P-ss's me off! Zell Miller is the only one speaking out for conservative or rural democrats these days... im a reformed southern democrat myself. If these left-wing elitists try anything on zell miller the Democrats will be finished in georgia.
I read that article here in Atlanta this morning. There's a very good reason why Georgia Democrats are reluctant to take the national party's advice and trash Zell: Miller's approval numbers from his constituents are the highest I've seen of any politician this election year. Something like 55% of Dems approve of him, 80-something percent of Repubicans, and 60-something percent of independents.
On the other hand, on the editorial pages of the AJC, he gets ripped regularly. Oh well. So much for a newspaper that's in touch with the people.
About the time Hillary! blew into town...
LeHane is working OT...so many to smear, so little time.
Zell is an honorable Democrat. He's the type of Democrat my grandparents were proud to support. The Democrat party didn't just leave him, they left millions of Democrats across this country. My mom is fond of stating she is glad her parents died before they lived to see what happened to their beloved party.
The Dem campaign is based on discrediting opponents rather than beating them on the issues. It proves even they know their issues are not endorsed by the American people. They have no character.
A couple of thoughts..
Zell is considered a conservative Dem, but he was considered quite liberal by many Georgians when he was Gov. I was devastated when Senator Coverdell died and equally devastaed when Zell won the spevial election. But I was wrong. He did a good job for us because he has kept Georgia's values.
I am sure the Dems tried to dig up the dirt. It is hilarious their only ammunition was quotes Zell made praising the dems (even Kerry) and a list of a few missed votes (pot calling the kettle black).
That is all they could find! There is nothing else. There has never been any hint of scandal as far as I can tell. Politicians do what politicans do to keep office, politicans on both sides of the aisle. There are the back slappers and the dirty dealers. Zell was a back slapper, a deal maker, but not a dirty dealer.
But the fact that there was an orchastrated attempt to smear someone whose only "sin" was to stand up for what he believes in, to stand up for the State of Georgia is an outrage.
Zell can handle it--he is a tough old bird. But I cannot handle the conscience decision to destroy the credibility of an honest man instead of having an open honest debate about the issues.
Which is of course what they are trying to do with the Swift Veterans. They are afraid of both the facts presented by the vets and awakening the Sleeping Giant of Anger which has resided in far too many of our Viet Nam Veterans.
Back to Zell--I wonder if they will write him off as being just a Georgia Boy after he speaks at the Convention? I look forward to it.
Whoops, My bad!
Oh I wish they would just try this tactic.... Come on down boys.
We'll be glad to see ya. I bet that fat Ole Mark Taylor crapped in his pants when he heard about this.
I don't think that Ole Max Cleland's injury was combat related. Story I heard was someone was intoxicated.
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