Terri Hillhouse
Some Democrats have a conscience after all
By Terri Hillhouse
Earlier this month, the president of the United States held a fundraiser in Atlanta, Georgia. What's unusual about that you might ask? Doesn't he attend fundraisers all the time? Well yes, of course he does. But this fundraiser was different because a number of the attendees were Democrats. Not any, run of the mill, garden variety Democrats, but elected officials from the state of Georgia.
In his introduction of the president, Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA) said, "I have said and strongly believe that the next five years will be crucial for the America my children and grandchildren will inherit. I want a commander in chief like George Bush. I want a man who doesn't suffer from analysis paralysis. I want a commander in chief who can and will make a decision. I want a president who will not flinch."
Isn't that what all Americans should want, no matter their political affiliation? It should be commonplace, especially in a time of war, but it is very rare indeed in the hateful atmosphere that prevails in today's Democrat Party.
The endorsements didn't stop with Sen. Miller's remarks.
Continuing in this remarkable vein, Rep. Bobby Parham (D-Milledgeville) said, "Of the people running now, I'm going with the president."
"I think he's done a good job. I've got to support him," said Rep. Carl Rogers, from Gainesville.
And then there was Rep. Mike Boggs of Waycross who said, "I got a son in the military, too, and I have to support him. There's a lot of conservative Democrats in the Georgia Legislature who support President Bush. I don't think it's controversial at all,"
Rep. Boggs didn't stop there, adding, "I think there are a lot of conservative Democrats in the Georgia Legislature that support President Bush. I'm one of those but I think I'm only one of many. We support him on a number of issues, including his stance on the war in Iraq. We support him on his stance on the economy."
Mike Boggs is serving his last year in the Georgia House and is running for a Superior Court judgeship next year. He is putting his future on the line when he follows his conscience.
According to a report by WSBTV in Atlanta, Georgia, State Reps. Ken Birdsong of Gordon, Robert Ray of Fort Valley, Johnny Floyd of Cordele, Jeanette Jamieson of Toccoa, Mickey Channell of Greensboro, Penny Houston of Nashville, Mike Snow of Chickamauga, Charles Jenkins of Blairsville, and Chuck Sims of Douglas, were also in attendance at this $2,000 per plate dinner.
All told, there were nearly 20 big names in Georgia politics to be found in the audience who came to help President Bush raise money for his reelection campaign.
This is not totally unheard of in the history of American politics. We all remember Democrats for Reagan back in the '80s, but it seems truly remarkable in today's climate of virulent partisan rhetoric.
I've recently finished Sen. Zell Miller's book "A National Party No More — The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat." When Miller says that the leaders of his party have lost touch with the entire southern region of America, he does not exaggerate.
The Democrat National Committee and its front organizations such as MoveOn.org could not possibly be more out of touch with the American south. Southerners tend to be educated, family oriented, America loving people who don't respond well to entertainers mouthing filth when they speak of the president of the United States, whether he is of their party or not. They do not respond well to the overall message that their party leaders are sending to them.
We have only to look back and realize that Al Gore could not carry either Bill Clinton's home state of Arkansas or even his own state of Tennessee in the 2000 presidential election.
Moreover, with the exception of John Edwards, none of the Democrats currently running for president have a toehold in the south. Even Edward's polls have shown that he could not retain his senatorial seat in his home state of North Carolina if the election were held today.
Some Georgia Democrats may find their elected representatives to be disloyal to the party that helped them gain their seats. But there are many kinds of loyalty in this world. There is loyalty to party, and it is important, but these brave Democrats put loyalty to character and country above party. All Democrats should examine their own conscience. Those in Georgia should thank God that they elected people of character and of courage to lead their state.
It's good to confirm that there are still good men and women who wear the 'D' after their names. One can but wonder how much longer they will remain in a party that is defined by attack ads comparing a sitting United States president to Hitler.
© Terri Hillhouse
Earlier this month, the president of the United States held a fundraiser in Atlanta, Georgia. What's unusual about that you might ask? Doesn't he attend fundraisers all the time? Well yes, of course he does. But this fundraiser was different because a number of the attendees were Democrats. Not any, run of the mill, garden variety Democrats, but elected officials from the state of Georgia.
In his introduction of the president, Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA) said, "I have said and strongly believe that the next five years will be crucial for the America my children and grandchildren will inherit. I want a commander in chief like George Bush. I want a man who doesn't suffer from analysis paralysis. I want a commander in chief who can and will make a decision. I want a president who will not flinch."
Isn't that what all Americans should want, no matter their political affiliation? It should be commonplace, especially in a time of war, but it is very rare indeed in the hateful atmosphere that prevails in today's Democrat Party.
The endorsements didn't stop with Sen. Miller's remarks.
Continuing in this remarkable vein, Rep. Bobby Parham (D-Milledgeville) said, "Of the people running now, I'm going with the president."
"I think he's done a good job. I've got to support him," said Rep. Carl Rogers, from Gainesville.
And then there was Rep. Mike Boggs of Waycross who said, "I got a son in the military, too, and I have to support him. There's a lot of conservative Democrats in the Georgia Legislature who support President Bush. I don't think it's controversial at all,"
Rep. Boggs didn't stop there, adding, "I think there are a lot of conservative Democrats in the Georgia Legislature that support President Bush. I'm one of those but I think I'm only one of many. We support him on a number of issues, including his stance on the war in Iraq. We support him on his stance on the economy."
Mike Boggs is serving his last year in the Georgia House and is running for a Superior Court judgeship next year. He is putting his future on the line when he follows his conscience.
According to a report by WSBTV in Atlanta, Georgia, State Reps. Ken Birdsong of Gordon, Robert Ray of Fort Valley, Johnny Floyd of Cordele, Jeanette Jamieson of Toccoa, Mickey Channell of Greensboro, Penny Houston of Nashville, Mike Snow of Chickamauga, Charles Jenkins of Blairsville, and Chuck Sims of Douglas, were also in attendance at this $2,000 per plate dinner.
All told, there were nearly 20 big names in Georgia politics to be found in the audience who came to help President Bush raise money for his reelection campaign.
This is not totally unheard of in the history of American politics. We all remember Democrats for Reagan back in the '80s, but it seems truly remarkable in today's climate of virulent partisan rhetoric.
I've recently finished Sen. Zell Miller's book "A National Party No More — The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat." When Miller says that the leaders of his party have lost touch with the entire southern region of America, he does not exaggerate.
The Democrat National Committee and its front organizations such as MoveOn.org could not possibly be more out of touch with the American south. Southerners tend to be educated, family oriented, America loving people who don't respond well to entertainers mouthing filth when they speak of the president of the United States, whether he is of their party or not. They do not respond well to the overall message that their party leaders are sending to them.
We have only to look back and realize that Al Gore could not carry either Bill Clinton's home state of Arkansas or even his own state of Tennessee in the 2000 presidential election.
Moreover, with the exception of John Edwards, none of the Democrats currently running for president have a toehold in the south. Even Edward's polls have shown that he could not retain his senatorial seat in his home state of North Carolina if the election were held today.
Some Georgia Democrats may find their elected representatives to be disloyal to the party that helped them gain their seats. But there are many kinds of loyalty in this world. There is loyalty to party, and it is important, but these brave Democrats put loyalty to character and country above party. All Democrats should examine their own conscience. Those in Georgia should thank God that they elected people of character and of courage to lead their state.
It's good to confirm that there are still good men and women who wear the 'D' after their names. One can but wonder how much longer they will remain in a party that is defined by attack ads comparing a sitting United States president to Hitler.
© Terri Hillhouse
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