Posted on 09/09/2003 8:16:44 AM PDT by CFW
Georgia GOP courts Dems to switch parties
Savannah's Eric Johnson leads effort; Rep. Tom Bordeaux perturbed by letter
By Doug Gross Savannah Morning News
ATLANTA — Fall hunting season has arrived early for Republican leaders. But instead of hitting a tree stand to scope out deer, top GOP politicians have launched a full-out assault on conservative Georgia Democrats, trying to urge them to switch parties.
Last week, a pair of state senators sent a letter to Georgia's sheriffs, hoping to chip away at rural Democratic strongholds by enticing the often-influential lawmen to join the Grand Old Party. At least one southeast Georgia sheriff is expected to announce a switch this week, while another is considering it.
Then, in a strongly-worded e-mail on Sunday, Senate President pro-tem Eric Johnson, R-Savannah, urged Republican activists to woo current Democrats who "think like we do and are embarrassed by the Bush-bashing, anti-family, anti-gun and anti-military stand their party is espousing."
"There's a major effort going on," Johnson said. "Before last year, (Democrats becoming Republicans) was a switch of pure ideology or because their district was changing. Now, there's a political reason to do it."
Last year, party-switcher Sonny Perdue became the first Republican to hold the state's top office when he became governor. In the wake of his win, four of his former state Senate colleagues switched parties, tilting power in that chamber to the GOP.
Perdue himself was a lifelong Democrat until 1998.
Democratic leaders call Johnson's letter misleading, saying the Georgia Democratic Party is still more conservative than its national counterpart.
"I guess he expects the recipients of that letter not to pull their heads out of the sand and see what the Georgia Democratic Party actually looks like," said Rep. Tom Bordeaux, D-Savannah, who as House Judiciary Committee chairman is mentioned by name in Johnson's message. "I'm happy with my family. I've got two guns. I don't get it."
Bordeaux, who is married to a Presbyterian minister, said he was particularly perturbed by a line in Johnson's letter that says Georgia Democrats "want to … remove God from our lives."
"Last time I checked, we didn't have any jurisdiction over God or any intent to legislate Him out of our lives," Bordeaux said. "They shouldn't be using God as a bogeyman to scare people. He probably feels misused by that."
Camden County Sheriff Bill Smith is expected to announce a switch to the GOP as early as today.
Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie acknowledged that he, too, has been contacted by Republican leaders, but may not make an announcement any time soon.
"I've been so busy I really haven't had time to think about it," McDuffie said. "It's been one of those issues that's kind of been on the back burner."
McDuffie said he would prefer that sheriffs run for office in nonpartisan races. A bill that would allow that passed the Senate earlier this year, but never came up for a vote in the House.
I will post the story from the Macon Telegraph about the GOP courting sheriffs.
This is gonna get fun!
Well, at least you can watch!
Tell that to the Boy Scouts. Tell that to Estrada or any other christial that dares be a judge. Tell that to Schumer who makes sure God is out of Government and the Courts.
Another case of answering a question with a answer to a different question. They are unconstitutionally using the courts to do what the people would never allow. Seems that is far worse than actually offering legislation that could then be defeated. This way the people have no more choice than the citizens of Cuba.
She's already going over to the Green Party to run for Senate...(unless she changes her mind about trying to run against Majette in her old district)
When the Whigs broke up that is what happened and many became Republicans, giving the Republicans the election of 1860.
The rest is, as they say, history.
Who brought up the congresional majority? I thought the thread was about the state GOP.< /sarc >
I have to admit this is more that I ever expected out of the state party which, it seems, up until now could not organize its way out of a wet paper bag. 'Though this seems to indicate it may be coming more from Johnson that the previous "leaders".
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