Dale Cardwell, Emmy Award winning investigative reporter for Atlanta's WSB-TV, has announced he is leaving his post to challenge Saxby Chambliss in 2008. Although this story was previously diaried here, a closer look at Cardwell's positions on multiple issues published since the announcement merit considerable further discussion, and this is an understatement.
Here's an excerpt from the initial announcement story
in last Saturday's Atlanta Journal Constitution (link to entire story is here):
Cardwell says he will run against what he calls the daily, debilitating corruption of Washington, and promises to eschew money from special interest groups and political action committees.
Sound good? Have Georgia Dems found the perfect populist candidate along the lines of Alabama's exciting Ron Sparks? Not quite. Bring your barf bag and read more on the flip:
Here's another quote from the AJC story in which the Cardwell campaign attempts to spin a populist message:
Says the new candidate: "If you boil both parties down to the salt, the Republican motto is survival of the fittest. The Democratic motto is do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
Still sounds good? Let's see how that "do unto others" meme pans out in Cardwell's stated positions on his newly-launched campaign website:
CARDWELL ON THE ISSUES(link is here.)
On Special Interests:
Take back your government
I will not take money from special interest PAC's or registered Washington lobbyists. I will owe my allegiance to only one group, the people of Georgia.
Sounds terrific so far, doesn't it? A great populist frame, but fasten your seat belts, there's more...
On Tax Policy:
Take back your money
I'm going to fight, claw and scratch to abolish the IRS, and replace it with a simple tax system; one that provides true across-the-board tax relief. It will cut taxes and simply the tax system for everyone - and that means it will help the middle class and small businesses, not the special interests that spend big bucks getting their way in Washington.
That's right. You read it correctly: Abolish the IRS and implement a flat tax, fair tax, or "simplified" tax system. Here's where the hypocritical "do unto others" meme flys out the window. Yes, Mr. Cardwell, let's implement a flat or "simplified" tax across the board that gives license to the Federal Government to screw the poor and middle class with an unfair, regressive tax system that only benefits the wealthy. Let's indeed abolish the IRS, and then tell us exactly who is going to collect your "simplified" tax structure? Homeland Security? FEMA? We can't wait to hear the details of your plan.
Cut taxes? Sure, and who is going to pay for the 9 trillion (and climbing) in public debt that's been dumped on the backs of future generations by the Bush Administration? Evidently they don't teach basic math in journalism school.
The story gets even better.
On Immigration:
Take back your country
I'll join with Democrat and Republican lawmakers who are serious about it, and seal our southern border. Not in five years, not in two years, but now! I will require the federal government to take custody of every illegal alien who lands in our local jails, and depending on the severity of their crime, I will force our federal government to incarcerate them, and then send them back to the border they illegally crossed. I will also sponsor legislation to hold employers criminally liable for hiring illegals who do not have a real green card, or a verifiable Social Security number. The stagnant salaries of hard working Georgians can no longer be held hostage by an undocumented and exploited illegal work force.
Translation: "I'm a bigot and I don't like brown people." Here Cardwell moves even further into right wingnuttery spin, trying to appeal to the knuckledraggers opposed to Chambliss' immigration position. Never would anyone in Georgia dream that a purported Democratic candidate would be further out on the right wing spectrum than Chambliss, but here is living proof. Cardwell is evidently ignorant of the fact that 57% of Georgians support giving legal status to undocumented immigrants (Source: Tondees Tavern. Link is here).
Notice the language about taking custody of undocumented immigrants, throwing them in jail, and sending them back. It's classic and not-so-subtle right wing "code" designed to appeal to the nutjob, extremist Minutemen mentality.
Cardwell rants about "stagnant Georgia salaries" but exhibits an astonishing ignorance of basic economics. Based on the most recent census data (source is here)
Georgia ranks 7th nationally in undocumented immigrant population and is one of the fastest growing states in the US. Cardwell's subtle "send-em-all-back" approach would decimate the construction, agricultural, and hospitality industries in the state, which would inevitably lead to serious economic consequences. "Stagnant salaries" would be a blessing compared to the economic havoc that Cardwell's immigration plan would inflict on Georgia. Evidently they didn't teach economics in journalism school either.
Please note one other point that's a clear indicator this candidate is not a real Democrat. In the issue statement above, he states: "I'll join with Democrat and Republican lawmakers..." Mr. Cardwell, it's "Democratic" lawmakers, not "Democrat". Here he adopts the typical improper use of the word "Democrat" in a slur so often spewed by right wing Republicans. Good journalists with a command of the English language don't make mistakes like this. It's intentional and shameful pandering to the right wing base.
What happened to the "do unto others" meme, Mr. Cardwell?
On Iraq:
Iraq
I disagree with many in Washington. We can't just withdraw. We have to create and execute a plan to secure the peace. In order to do that, we must set firm benchmarks for Iraq's success. As long as the government and people of Iraq achieve those benchmarks, we'll stay and help them. If they fail, we'll redeploy our troops; but well never surrender a security perimeter, a beachhead, if you will, that we've earned with the blood of American lives. We'll maintain a base, make it safe from insurgents, and we'll use that base to launch attacks against Al Qaeda, preserve stability in the region, and fight terrorism anywhere we have to.
Interpretation: Let's stay in Iraq forever, cost in lives and treasury be damned. WTF? Is Cardwell being mentored by Lieberman, Tancredo, Wolfowitz, Feith? This crass show of ignorance is another example of how out of touch Cardwell is with the sentiments of Georgians, the majority of whom want out. Give us a break!
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing:
Is this candidacy a joke? Or could it be Cardwell is really a Republican attempting to masquerade as a Democrat? Tin foil hat theories aside, there could well be some credence to the latter premise. Local political blog Tondee's Tavern has learned that Cardwell voted in the Republican Primary in 2006:
Cardwell needs to explain why he decided it was a good idea to vote in the Republican Primary in 2006.
A lot of good Democrats could have used his vote.
The link is here.
Summary
At this point, the 2008 Georgia Senate race is looking like laughable political theater. Thus far the hats in the Democratic ring appear to be limited to a certifiably batshit crazy Republican newscaster masquerading as a Democrat and DeKalb County executive Vernon Jones, who has more baggage than one can find in the belly of a Boeing 777.
Who will step up? Renowned Columbus trial lawyer Jim Butler has declined to run. Former Governor Roy Barnes has also indicated a lack of interest in the race. Progressive Lt. Gov. candidate Jim Martin has bowed out. Will GA Congressman Jim Marshall give up his seat to take on Chambliss? How about highly respected GA Attorney General Thurbert Baker? Max Cleland is out. Can anyone persuade former Mindspring.com CEO Charles Brewer to take the plunge?
Although the situation looks somewhat bleak, many progressive Dems are optimistic that a viable "white knight" candidate will come forth. We still have time. But if it doesn't happen, many activist Georgia Dems may well be traveling to Alabama to help a genuinely progressive candidate, Ron Sparks, get elected.
As for Mr. Cardwell: Dude, you're in the wrong party. Either run as a Republican or go back to your day job at WSB.
(This diary was cross posted on Atlanta blog Tondee's Tavern)