Poythress Ask Barnes to Drop Out of Gov.`s Race
Tony Potts
07-02-2009
Democratic Gubernatorial candidate for Governor Gen. Daivd
Poythress tossed out a challenge to former Governor Roy Barnes
on Wednesday. In an email Poythress told Barnes that he should
`drop of out the race for the good of the party`. Poythress
listed such things as the 2006 race between Mark Taylor and
Cathy Cox, the `austerity cuts` to public schools, the irritation
of teachers, and special interest groups as only some
of the reasons why Barnes should drop out of the race. Click
for full email from Poythress
`Sometimes it takes a friend to speak the truth, even when that
truth is hard to hear. Roy Barnes and I have been friends for
many years, but I believe I have to say out-loud what is being
uttered in hushed tones all across the state: Roy, you shouldn`t
run.
Democrats are worried that he`ll bring the Party down - again.
All the groups of people that Roy offended before, including all
the teachers who still feel insulted, are ready to vote against
him. And the Georgia Republican Party is lying in wait to
slam-dunk his attempt to get back in office. Meanwhile, Roy
remains completely out of touch with ordinary Georgia voters,
touring Atlanta socialites through his new mansion last weekend
so they could admire the state seal buried in the floor, while
record high, double digit unemployment struck the state.
I find it very disingenuous for Roy to claim the title `white
knight` of the Democratic Party galloping to the rescue
especially since it`s his late entry into the race, after an
overdramatic 6 month Hamlet routine, which will cause a long and
expensive Democratic primary. But this isn`t the first time Roy
has put the Democratic Party through pain. Here are three
glaring instances where he left our Party high and dry:
Instead of helping re-build the Democratic Party so it was prepared for victory after he lost to Sonny Perdue, Roy sat silent.
Instead stepping in to stop the Mark Taylor v. Cathy Cox bloodbath in 2006, Roy sat silent.
Instead of speaking out against Sonny`s austerity cuts to Georgia`s public schools, Roy sat silent.
Simply put, the new Roy sounds a lot like the old Roy.
His late entry into the race has strengthened my resolve and made
victory twice as important as it was in January. Not only do
Democrats have to stop Roy Barnes in the primary, we have to then
come together to win the general election so we can solve some
of the toughest policy challenges in the history of our state.
For the good of the Party, I hope that Roy Barnes realizes that
there`s still time for him to change his mind so we can avoid a
divisive primary. Ironically, the only sure-fire way to prove
that he has changed is for Roy to put Georgia`s needs before his
own ambition and stay out of the race for Governor.`
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