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| Charles Bullock | |
Staff file Photo by Dan McLaughlin States rights will be an important issue for some hopefuls trying to run the Tennessee and Georgia state houses. Pictured is the Georgia state capitol.
The Georgia and Tennessee gubernatorial candidates who hail from the Chattanooga area are now both running on a platform that includes states' rights as a plank.
"Do you believe the Constitution is still a relevant document for our country?" U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., asked a crowd assembled Thursday at the U.S. Capitol. "If nobody else stands up for state's rights other than Tennessee and Georgia, I can assure you, we will."
Rep. Deal made his remarks while discussing the health care bill, which the U.S. House may vote on today.
According to a news release from the Deal campaign, U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., who touted states' rights at his annual Labor Day picnic earlier this year, stood alongside Rep. Deal as he made the remarks.
Dr. Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, said "states' rights," for some voters, is strongly connected to segregation, but still isn't likely to hurt Rep. Deal's chances.
"I would suspect that the negative connotations would be strongest in the minority community," he said. "But since Nathan's running as a Republican, I would not expect him to get many minority votes."
Another candidate in the Georgia governor's race, Ray McBerry, has released an ad touting states' rights and is going on a "states' rights tour" across the state.
In the ad, Mr. McBerry says he is "the only states-rights Republican in the race for governor."
Rep. Deal and Mr. McBerry are two of several Republicans running for the governor's office.
Others include Secretary of State Karen Handel; state Sen. Eric Johnson, R-Savannah; Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine, and state Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton.
House Minority leader DuBose Porter, D-Dublin; Attorney General Thurbert Baker; former Georgia National Guard Gen. David Poythress and former Gov. Roy Barnes are running on the Democratic side.
ELECTION DATES
* April 26: Last day for candidates to file in state primary
* July 20: State primary
* Nov. 2: General election
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Nathan Deal a "States Rights" champion? This is the same guy who offered to work out a federal deal to the "water wars." This is the same guy who voted to take my money and give it to others in the Cash for Clunkers program. This is the same guy who has made a career out of proposing federal solutions to Georgia's problems.
Ray McBerry did not release an ad touting States Rights, he made it the centerpiece of his campaign from the very begining. Deal and others have suddenly decided to switch their positions because they realized how popular the message was with voters. Typical political rubbish from a typical Washington Insider. We don't need a another federal boot licker like Deal in the Governor's mansion. We need someone who will really stand up for Georgians and who has consistently taught and lived the message of states rights. Ray McBerry is the only candidate who has done that.
I find it interesting that the candidate who has spent almost 17 years in Washington is touted as the states' rights candidate, while the candidate who has spent over 10 years speaking on states' rights is presented as the "poser." Mr. Wilson needs to listen to the two candidates' stump speeches.
Nathan Deal proposes federal solutions to state problems, Ray McBerry proposes measure to remove the federal government from the state and from the lives of individuals. Mr. McBerry has already released 10 pieces of legislation to reclaim states' rights, sponsored by Rep. Bobby Franlkin in the GA House. Nathan Deal couldn't even take a stand on cash for clunkers, voted for the $8000 per home subsidy for the real estate business, etc. etc. This is not the behavior of a states' rights candidate.
The only real states' rights candidate in the race is Ray McBerry, the other candidates' in the GOP have simply jumped on the bandwagon.