Democratic Party of Georgia

Help Move Georgia Forward

Excerpts from Chairman Porter’s Press Call re: GOP Presidential Contenders

Today—as Georgia Republicans gather in Athens for their state convention—Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter held a press call to highlight the out-of-touch and extreme views held by visiting GOP presidential contenders. Here are a few excerpts of Chairman Porter’s remarks:

 

“This weekend, Georgia Republicans are holding their state convention in Athens. While their usual suspects—like Nathan Deal, Johnny Isakson, and David Perdue—will be on hand to share their out-of-touch vision for our state with the party faithful, the GA GOP has outsourced some primetime speaking spots to a few of their presidential hopefuls.”

 

“To anyone who’s paying attention, these introductions aren’t necessary. It’s like the clown car just rolled in to town. We know enough about these three men to know that Georgians cannot afford what they are offering.”

 

 

On Chris Christie

 

“While I’m sure he claimed to be a problem-solver who ‘gets things done,’ let me fill you in on a few missing pieces of his resume. Christie’s administration has driven New Jersey’s economy into the ditch by giving massive tax breaks to corporations and those at the top, while their middle class families have been left behind. Georgia’s own middle class has suffered long enough under Nathan Deal. The last thing hard-working Georgians need is the Christie model brought to the national level—skyrocketing taxes for seniors, lagging job growth, and rising unemployment.”

 

“And Georgia has had enough of Republican leadership mired in scandal. There are too many unanswered questions about Christie’s involvement in Bridgegate. If he can’t be trusted in his own home state, why on earth would we send Chris Christie to the White House?”

 

On Marco Rubio

 

“Rubio would like for everyone to view his candidacy as a fresh style of leadership, but in fact, he’s nothing more than a follower who would rather pander to the GOP base than do what’s right by Georgians.”

 

“A prime example of this kind of pandering happened just a few months ago, when Rubio joined Georgia Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue in undermining President Obama’s foreign policy by signing on to Tom Cotton’s reckless—and embarrassing—letter to Iranian leaders.”

 

“Georgia—and the rest of the nation—has too much at stake to elect a man who said the Paycheck Fairness Act was a ‘waste of time,’ said that Social Security and Medicare has ‘weakened us as a people,’ fought to block access to affordable health care, and has consistently dismissed the evident and imminent threat posed by manmade climate change.”

 

On Ted Cruz

 

“God help us all if this is the kind of leadership Georgia Republicans want to bring to the White House. Ted Cruz is a living, breathing embodiment of everything that is wrong with the GOP.”

 

“In 2013, Ted Cruz led efforts to shut down the federal government for 16 days. His recklessness cost our nation’s economy $24 billion.”

 

“Here at home, with Georgians already under hardship because of Nathan Deal’s failed economic policies, Ted Cruz’s cheap stunt cost our state $324 million.”

 

“Just look at his record in the Senate. Cruz has called for a flat tax that would benefit a few folks at the top, but place a huge burden on working Georgians who are already fighting to cover life’s most basic needs. Cruz wants to abolish the Department of Education and voted against efforts to help Americans refinance student loans at a lower rate. He’s referred to Social Security as a Ponzi scheme and even suggested that it’s cheaper to provide emergency care than expand Medicaid.”

 

“Ted’s ideology is out of the mainstream, and his policies pose a serious threat to Georgia’s middle class and those looking to work their way in to it.”

 

Summary

 

“Looking at this roster the Georgia GOP has brought in, it illustrates how out-of-touch their party has become. This isn’t the kind of leadership America needs, and it’s certainly not the kind of leadership Georgia needs. Folks here in Georgia and the rest of the county deserve leaders that will solve problems and maintain the public’s trust. But what the GOP is offering this weekend is a record of abuse of power, political opportunism, partisan stunts, and tone-deaf rhetoric that does nothing to solve the very real problems we face. In fact, the GOP IS the problem.”

 

“Georgians are paying attention to what is said and done during this GOP race to bottom primary. And by the time we reach next November’s election, our choice will be crystal clear. We can erase the progress of the last six years by adopting the failed policies of the Republican Party, or we can elect a Democrat and continue to move our country forward and strengthen our middle class.”

Why on Earth Are Republicans Proud of Climate Science Denial?

This Earth Day, two things are clear—manmade climate change is very real, and the GOP presidential hopefuls are in denial about it.

 

Here’s where the 2016ers stand on climate change science:

 

 

DPG Chairman DuBose Porter issued the following statement –

 

“Earth Day is an opportunity for us to look around and appreciate the natural beauty we’ve been blessed with. This day should remind us to do everything possible to protect our state’s precious natural resources.

 

“Unfortunately, climate change really does present an imminent threat to our planet. Yet, most Republicans would rather bury their heads in the sand than acknowledge facts. Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that warming trends are likely manmade—these are the experts on the subject. But Republicans would rather maintain denial on the matter that, in my opinion, is only motivated by political expediency.

 

“President Obama said it best—‘We only get one planet.’ Well, we only get one Georgia. We can choose to protect our marshlands in the south, the mountains in the north, and the rivers and streams that join them throughout our state. We can also seek new ways to develop sustainable energy. Or we can continue with the GOP plan to poison and pollute our precious land and people without any regulation just for short-term profit’s sake.

 

“For Earth’s sake, let’s choose the path that protects the land we’ve been entrusted with.”

 

NJ and GA Democratic Party Leaders Issue Statements Ahead of Christie / Deal Campaign Events

DPG Chairman Porter says Christie’s visit “makes as much sense as trying to wash Ebola off your hands with water.”

Release:  Thursday, October 16, 2014

Atlanta, GA – Just weeks from Election Day, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal can’t make the sale on the case that he deserves reelection. And it’s no wonder. Under Deal, Georgia’s economy is falling behind the rest of the country, eroding the middle class, and failing to recover from the economic crisis as quickly as other states.

With RGA Chair Chris Christie visiting Georgia to campaign for Deal, the big question is who’s been a worse steward of their states’ economy?

“A governor’s job is to improve the economy, not to stifle it. Unfortunately, just like Governor Christie’s record in New Jersey, Nathan Deal appears to be taking what’s good about the Peach State and making it rotten,” said John Currie, the Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. “Georgians should remind Chris Christie that he’s got his own messes back home, and that they don’t need him making theirs worse. Unless, of course, they want a politician who abuses power, mismanages resources and breaks promises, all while raising property taxes on the state’s most vulnerable. If that’s the case, they can keep him.”

Georgia and New Jersey economies under Deal and Christie paint a bleak picture.

  • Both states continue to be plagued by above-average unemployment rates. New Jersey’s unemployment rate is more than half a point above the national rate, and one of the worst in its region. Georgia’s unemployment rateis the highest in the entire country, sitting above eight percent while the national rate has dipped under six percent.
  • Both states have been plagued by unacceptable poverty levels. Nearly a third of New Jerseyans are living in poverty – including 780,000 children – the highest level in half a century. In 2013, New Jersey was one of only three states in which poverty rose. In Georgia, even many who work full time live in poverty because their wages are so low. About 120,000 working-age Georgians work full-time but live in poverty, 20 percent more than in 2010.

“There’s a special place for folks like Chris Christie and Nathan Deal, but it ain’t in Georgia,” said Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter. “I’m not sure why the governor of New Jersey is campaigning for Deal—it makes as much sense as trying to wash Ebola off your hands with water. But I guess when you’re at the bottom of every ranking that matters, you’ll take advice from just about anyone.”

Georgia can’t afford four more years of Nathan Deal. Christie’s visit is a reminder to Georgia voters that it is Republicans’ failed economic policies that are holding their state back.

###

BACKGROUND

 

CNN (10-14-14) – Gov.’s Ebola myth: Water kills it

AJC (10-13-14) – Nathan Deal’s administration defends ‘water kills the Ebola virus’ remark

 

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Salon (9-22-14) – GOP governor has hilarious theory for his state’s terrible unemployment rate

 

NJ.com (9-10-14) – Citing Christie’s pension cuts and budget issues, S&P downgrades N.J. debt rating

NJ.com (9-9-14) – N.J. budget shortfall was $275 million worse than Christie thought, document shows