Why Doesn't MDJ endorse a Fair Vote? – Commentary by Greg Hanson
Special Note: Our High Tech BS detector sniffed out the distortions and misleading information----OK, downright fantasy---in the
Marietta Daily Journal editorial link below. We had a response, but our Minnesota friend addressed the issues so well
in his letter to MDJ, we thought our readers might enjoy an outsider's perspective.
Marietta Daily Journal: Numbers raise tantalizing ideas about flag debate
I'm not from Georgia, don't live in Georgia, and am not even a
Southerner, but a native Minnesotan, but I find the flag issue in Georgia particularly
interesting.
Those poll numbers sure are tantalizing. Were the polls conducted by
the same people whose polls showed that Barnes was going to win by double digits
right up to election day, by chance? [Webmaster's Note: Yes, Greg, very astute of you to notice.
So far the "story" has grown legs and been reported by the AP, the AJC, the MDJ and others. We wonder how many times
these Schapiro propaganda polls will be reported as straight news.]
With the referendum coming as it does during a primary where voter
turnout is extremely low, and particularly as there is no opposition to Bush, and
decreasing opposition to Kerry, voter turnout will most likely be very
low. A referendum with only two choices doesn't inspire much interest. I've
heard rumors that there
is a movement afoot to boycott the referendum, and some have suggested
that those supporting the 1956 flag should actually vote for the Barnes
flag, which would keep the flag issue alive for Perdue especially.
I've read numerous opinion pieces predicting that the Barnes flag would
win if matched against the 1956 flag, or if the Barnes, Perdue, and 1956 were
matched. The only way to know for sure is to campaign for an honest
referendum, which would include all three flags.
Despite the big talk
coming from the denizens of the media, I don't see any of them actually calling
for an honest vote. Last year Colin Campbell of the AJC emailed me that he
was convinced that the Barnes flag would win in a 3 way election, but I did
not read of him coming out in favor of such a match up. I doubt very
seriously if you will actually push for an honest vote either. [GHC note: Greg, you are truly a
prophet. :) ]
Your contention that the flag issue had minimal impact on Barnes'
defeat is flawed logic at best. Perdue won the 3 way GOP primary despite being
the underdog, and opposition from the state GOP, without the need of a run
off. He was the only candidate that supported a vote on the flag issue. The
GOP only gave Perdue $3 million, a paltry sum to run a modern day campaign
with. Matter of fact I read that his campaign was called "the invisible
campaign," it was so underfunded. Despite poll after poll after poll showing
Barnes winning in a walk, Perdue won.
Given the fact that Barnes did not win
the education vote in 1998, it is doubtful that losing it in 2002 would
have had any impact on his prospects for victory. Given the grassroots
opposition to Barnes by the much maligned Flaggers, which included among other
things, distribution of thousands of anti-Barnes yard signs, tens of thousands
of anti-Barnes bumper stickers, about 1,000 1956 flags raised along the
highways and byways of Georgia, and tens of thousands of fliers and other
anti-Barnes literature, as well as their constant flagging of him proved to have
had a dramatic impact. That is the real story of the 2002 election that
everyone in the media wants to ignore, that grassroots activists with less than
$20,000 was able to have a big impact against Barnes who alone had $20 million.
Don't forget several of his protégés were also defeated that election cycle.
Until you are ready to start promoting an honest voters choice, maybe
you should stop bringing up the subject altogether.
If the Barnes flag wins, what then? I predict that if it does win,
Perdue, and the legislature will ignore the results, keep the current Perdue
flag, and justify it by saying that it was a non-binding referendum.
I'm also willing to predict this: If no honest vote is allowed in
which the 1956 flag is a choice, Perdue will be defeated, along with a host of
other members of the house and senate in both 2004 and 2006. I'd be willing
to bet on it, would you?
I can see why the media does its best to downplay and even cover-up the
facts in this case, because it is a direct challenge to their desires given
the virtual crusade it is on to de-Southernize the South.
In 2001, I remember predictions that voters would support changing
their Mississippi state flag given the multi-million dollar campaign waged by those supporting
the change. We all know what happened there, don't we? The opposition
with only about $10,000 worth of yard signs and bumper stickers galvanized voters
resulting in a two thirds vote to keep their flag. Maybe that's why you
never hear a word about the Mississippi state flag vote, too embarrassing for the media
and corporate alliance that worked so hard, and spent millions, only to be
defeated.
Greg Hanson lives in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Contact Greg at lookingsouth03@yahoo.com.
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