As promised, I went to the Tifton Governor Round Robin hosted by the Tift Area Tea Party Patriots last night. I’m working on getting the video ready, and I will put it up as soon as I get it. I’m debating on whether to just put up the entire thing at once (will take 10 different youtube videos) without any commentary or put each clip up one at a time with some commentary. What do y’all think?
I also got some video before hand of Gerry Purcell, a GOP Insurance Commissioner Candidate, talking about inter-state sales of insurance, which I will put up independently of the Governor forum coverage.
Six candidates were slated to be at the forum, and I heard rumors Friday that said Ox was the only one that was actually going to show. So I called as many of the campaigns as I could – I don’t have a number for anyone on Karen Handel’s staff – and of the 5 I called, all but one said they or their candidate would be there (I managed to talk to a couple of candidates directly). That one was Nathan Deal, due to the healthcare vote in DC last night. It turns out that Karen didn’t show up either – her anniversary was yesterday, which makes her absence completely understandable. I simply question why she would tell the group hosting the event that she would be there knowing it was her anniversary, then not show because it was her anniversary. I hope she told them at some point that she would not be able to attend, but I honestly don’t know. I do know that her campaign had an event last night in Murray County in NWGA, but I do not know if Ms. Handel was personally there or not. Another case of being Ms. Leading?
Two candidates specifically avoided me last night, one upon seeing me and another upon learning the general gist of a question I wanted to ask him on video.
The first was Ox, who I tried to introduce myself to twice and made sure I shook his hand the second time. He and a staffer walked right by me as I tried to introduce myself just before the event, and he tried to walk right by me when he left the event early as well. I wasn’t trying to be combative last night at all, I just wanted to meet the guy face to face. In fact, had he given me a moment, I was even going to tell him that as I was updating the 2010 Campaign Coverage yesterday I noticed that while I was working on my own campaign, I did turn my focus too much to him as an easy target to continue my work here. I was going to apologize for that and inform him that I intend to back off a bit, at least for a few months, while continuing to watch him like a hawk. There are other candidates who deserve press time here, as the MSM and even other political blogs will rarely, if ever, cover them, and I’m going to begin to intentionally seek out those candidates.
Ray McBerry was initially busy after the event, but willing to talk to me. When I told him the general gist of the question I wanted to ask him upon his request, he immediately ducked out and got real busy all of a sudden. That’s fine though. Rather than asking him on video, I’ll simply ask in a post later this week on this site.
Other observations from the event:
- Little time to talk before or after, making this event very much “work” for all concerned. I understand the need for that, but honestly one of the things I like best about the events I’ve attended before this one has been the time to walk around and talk to people – candidates, staff, other politicians and “civilians”, etc.
- Ox appeared very nervous throughout the event. Whether that was due to me introducing myself just prior to him taking the stage or some other reason, I cannot be sure. I do know – and you’ll be able to see it on the footage – that he appeared to stare straight at me at several points in both his initial speech and when answering questions.
- McBerry came across as very “preachy” according to several I’ve talked to after the event. He also went off the deep end at several points, and one person described it as saying very good things about liberty, but then two seconds later going black helicopter, destroying any gains he may have made.
- Scott came across as not as prepared as others, frequently looking at his notes or his Blackberry – the only candidate to do so. Of course, he also was presenting the most concrete facts of any of the candidates (such as budget numbers).
- Johnson came across as the most poised, natural, leader. He was very comfortable and familiar with his message, and did not stray from it.
- McBerry planted his campaign manager to ask a question about homeschool, and when Johnson tried to rebut she essentially shouted him down asking “Do you homeschool?” before he could get a handful of words out of his mouth. McBerry deleted a comment where I tried to ask him about this on FB this morning, though the campaign manager has already appeared a bit contrite about it this morning – I’ll be talking about it with her more later, and I may put some notes from that conversation in a later post.
[UPDATE: Nov 9, 2009 6:45am] Several of the videos from the forum are now online on the SWGAPolitics.com youtube channel, http://www.youtube.com/swgapolitics. Included in these initial uploads are some comments from Gerry Purcell before the event on interstate sales of insurance, the introduction to the event, each candidate’s initial speech, and the first question. I will be uploading the remaining 5 questions I have video of tonight, and I will start officially posting video with commentary on this site tomorrow morning.
Jeff, it sounds as though it was more of the same from some of the candidates. The Ox is always nervous at speaking engagements and cant wait to slip out a side door to avoid anyone asking questions.
As for little Ms. Leading, it just proves once again she never finishes anything she started.
As for Ray McBerry ,he probably sounded a little preachy because after all, he was a Baptist preacher at one time. His platform looks like something a preacher would come up with. There isnt much there for citizens who are wanting Georgia to move forward instead of backwards. And most of his issues arent issues the Governor would have control of anyway. He should be running for congress or senate based on his platform. But I’ll give the man credit, he can talk about nothing for as long as someone will listen. Id rather have a root canal than to ever have to listen to one of his “sermons” again.
As for Austin Scott, I think anyone who reads your blog knows Im a supporter of his and hope to see him in the Governors mansion. Once you meet him and spend time talking with him, you realize what an honest, sincere, capable candidate he is. You may have also noticed that he never leaves an event until everyone has had a chance to talk with him. His staff makes sure you have that oppurtunity.
As for Eric Johnson, I havent had the pleasure to meet him yet,but hope to soon. I hear hes a very nice guy. And being a south Georgia boy myself, I must say, Jeff Chapman is one of my favorite candidates as well. Im just affraid he got on the bandwagon a little to late, but I have a great deal of respect for the man.
I look forward to seeing the video you shot, and as always, appreciate your feedback, so call it as you see it as to what format you use to show the clips. Thanks for taking the time to keep us informed. you guys are doing a great job!
Ron:
Actually, at one point Ray points out that he STILL preaches on occassion when his pastor is out of town. I’m kinda leaning towards separate posts, because I’ve still got something I want to ask McBerry, and some of these clips offer the perfect opportunity to do so.
You won’t see me doing this much, but in Ox’s defense he stayed for many of the questions. He did cut out early, but I was honestly expecting him to cut out MUCH earlier than he actually did.
I’ve now talked to Johnson on three separate occassions, and he really is a great guy. Chapman and Deal remain the only two GOP candidates I haven’t yet met.