Some time ago, I received an email from Jim Martin’s campaign asking for people to attend the first debate between Martin, Saxby “Voldemort” Chambliss, and Libertarian candidate Allen Buckley, which was scheduled to take place in Perry at the Georgia State Fair. I was thrilled to email back my acceptance. Chambliss’s 2002 campaign was disgusting beyond words. I still get angry when I think of the ad that morphed Max Cleland’s (war hero, public servant, THREE TIME AMPUTEE BECAUSE OF INJURIES SUSTAINED IN VIETNAM) face into that of Osama Bin Laden. I would support ANY Democratic challenger against Chambliss. However, Martin is a marvelous candidate, as a previous Dailykos diary has already pointed out. I can’t believe that I get to vote for a senatorial candidate like Martin while still residing in Georgia! And that he has a chance to take down Chambliss.
During the debate Chambliss looked ill-prepared and like he had attended the John McCain school of political appearances, where apparently the goal is to look as uncomfortable as possible and like you’d rather be undergoing a root canal than be in front of your electorate. Buckley acted like he was from another planet. Martin? Oh, he was on! He was spirited, gave informative answers, and shot Chambliss a few zingers. I have been a Georgian my whole life and a crazy liberal Democrat since middle school. I know what it is to be in a roomful of people who don’t agree with you, or to be at a campaign event and feel the election slipping away from you. Not this time. Martin and his supporters (us!) were leading the political zeitgeist and that energy filled the arena.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Athens Banner-Herald both commented that the Martin campaign bussed in supporters from Atlanta.Okay, that’s true. Three buses did bring down supporters from the Atlanta-area. But we weren’t the only Martin supporters in that arena. We weren’t even the most vocal! A local vet who appeared to be around McCain’s age lambasted Chambliss several times throughout the debate. The newspapers are also failing to mention that Martin supporters easily outnumbered Chambliss supporters, and that we were far more vocal and enthusiastic. Several times the debate had to wait for us to be quiet; never did the debate stop because of Chambliss’s supporters were being so loud the debate couldn’t continue. Martin supporters were also generally in a good mood and looked happy to be at the debate, while the Chambiliss supporters looked like they had just gone through a torture session and were extremely argumentative even after the debate.
I did not hear the “Bomb Obama” comment. Until kos blogged about it, I was not even aware that it had been said. The AJC's debate coverage didn’t mention it. There was a woman in front of me who live blogged the debate, and she didn’t mention it either. I was with other people from the debate yesterday and although we did discuss the debate in detail, no one said anything about hearing anything derogatory. I would be willing to bet that Martin mentioned Obama’s name, the Martin supporters started cheering loudly, and one of Chambliss’s supporters said it, and the Athens reporter (where the story seemingly originated it) heard it. I don’t doubt that it was said. I just want to place it in its proper context of the night. That room was dominated by (happy, excited) Democrats. The Chambliss people were not nearly as excited and energized as we were.
Martin gave a great performance, and I’d hate for the substance of the debate to get lost. Chambliss hit the old talking points about “making sure our bases stay open!” and how he “supports agriculture!” Georgia needs to accept that we are going to lose armed forces bases, and when Chambliss says he supports agriculture, he means he supports huge agribusiness congolomoretes. He has done nothing to help family farmers and the new wave of organic, local farmers that are popping up around the state. He also supported (!!!) Bush’s economic and military stances. Most unbelievably Chambliss harped on the fact that thirteen years ago Martin voted not to make English the official language of Georgia. Seriously? Seriously? The economic system is unraveling, and Chambliss reverted to scare tactics about immigrants taking over Georgia? Chambliss also supports the fair tax, which would destroy us.
Meanwhile, Martin laid out the case for how he thinks national healthcare could work in simple, accessible language that was informative and easy to follow. He pointed out the flaws with Medicare Part D. Then he went after the failed policies of the Bush administration and how Chambliss was their loyal foot soldier in their destruction of America. He also gave out a logical response to the question of illegal immigration and how to deal with it fairly and responsibly. He also pledged his support to Obama several times throughout the debate.
Martin is statistically neck and neck with Chambliss, and that’s with the polls weighted so that the electorate matches that of 2004. I don’t think that will be the case in 2008. African-American voting during the early voting period is through the roof. The wonderful things written about Jim Martin on DailyKos are great, both for building enthusiasm and support. As of 5:59 Saturday, October 11th ActBlue has raised $88,832 for the Martin campaign. Please continue to support Martin. Chambliss (in addition to being a horrible, horrible person and Bush’s loyal servant) harps on non-issues from thirteen years ago as our economic system teeters on disaster. Martin is a fantastic candidate who would help turn Obama’s visions into reality.