Karen Handel to Address RedState Convention in Atlanta on Saturday

-- Largest Right of Center Blog Site in the Country ----

Event to Also Feature Texas Governor Rick Perry, Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt, former Pennsylvania Congressman Pat Toomey --

Secretary of State Karen Handel will address the first annual convention of RedState – the largest conservative blog site in the country - tomorrow, August 1, 2009.

Other Speakers at the convention include Texas Governor Rick Perry, Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt and former Pennsylvania Congressman Pat Toomey.

Scheduling details follow:
What: Karen Handel Addresses RedState Convention
When: 10:45 AM
Where: Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead
3300 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 237-1234

Message to all Georgia candidates and campaign managers

Please add news@georgiafrontpage.com to your media / press release distribution lists.

We have set up free pages for all known candidates at www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com and we're adding all of your press releases, event notices and general information as received.

We will try to include campaign updates when possible.

State and national candidates only please.

We do not provide pages for county or city candidates unfortunately, just don't have the staff to keep up with everyone! However, we will include initial announcements and other news releases if time and space permits.

"Oxendine Hovers Right Near the 50% Mark." Oxendine Lead Reaffirms Frontrunner Status

Strategic Vision, LLC, a public relations and public affairs agency, announced the results of a three-day poll of 800 likely Georgia voters:

If the Republican primary for Governor were held today, for whom would you vote, Nathan Deal, Karen Handel, Eric Johnson, Ray McBerry, John Oxendine, or Austin Scott? (Republicans Only)

Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine 38%
Congressman Nathan Deal 16%
Secretary of State Karen Handel 9%
State Senator Eric Johnson 5%
Ray McBerry 3%
State Representative Austin Scott 2%
Undecided 27%

“Oxendine continues to lead in this race and saw his support grow over the past month and now hovers right near the 50% mark,” said David E. Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision, LLC. "He is drawing strong support among women aged 45 to 55 and among college educated professionals and is showing strong support in the Atlanta suburbs. Additionally, he is very competitive in the strongholds of his key competitors. Also encouraging for Oxendine is that he appears to be the second choice of Deal, Johnson, and Scott supporters."

In an email to supporters, Team Oxendine said these numbers speak for themselves:

(1) John has a more than two one lead over his closest opponent.

(2) When you combine the numbers of his two closest opponents, he has more than a 10 point lead over their combined numbers.

(3) John leads all other candidates when you combine their totals.

(4) John is the only candidate to lead the undecided category.

"With Roy Barnes in this campaign, Georgia Republicans understand we must nominate the strongest candidate to run in the general election,” said Tim Echols, campaign manager for Oxendine. “John Oxendine is that candidate.”

The poll has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points. In the poll, 368 (46%) Republican voters were surveyed; with 328 (41%) Democratic voters surveyed; and 104 (13%) Independents and other party affiliation polled.

"John is humbled by these results and he will continue to work very hard to earn the trust and support of Georgia," said Echols. “We have a lot at stake in this election and Republicans cannot afford to lose.”

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Scott Reaches 500 Miles on His Walk of Georgia

State Representative Austin Scott, a 2010 gubernatorial candidate, announced today that he reached the end of the first half of his Walk of Georgia. Reaching the halfway point of his 1,000 mile walk, he stopped at Brantley County High School in Nahunta and spoke to a group of local business owners. Coincidentally, this was the same high school where Scott gave his very first speech after announcing his candidacy for Governor.

The Walk of Georgia began on June 27th in Chickamauga. To show that he is willing to go the extra mile as Georgia's Governor, Scott is walking 1,000 miles across the state, often through communities that no other statewide candidate has visited before. The walking and listening tour will take Scott through a total of 48 Georgia counties. "Candidates talk about listening to the voters of Georgia but never really give them a chance to be heard. I'm changing that with my Walk of Georgia," he explained.

Rep. Scott is enthusiastic about the input he has received on what the largest issues concerning Georgians are. "I've had the opportunity to meet many of Georgia's citizens and talk to them about their concerns," he went on to say. "The number one concern among most Georgians is the current state of the economy. People are worried about money, higher costs of living, food and other basic necessities. The steady increase in these things is eroding disposable income for the families who still have a job. Georgia's future depends on these families being able to create jobs and stability."

Their second greatest concern is funding for public education. "I believe that it is better to spend money in education at the beginning rather than before it's too late. I know from my time in the House that Georgia's largest budget item is education, and for good reason: it's clear that good schools lead to stronger communities. Georgia needs jobs and well educated workers to help our workforce continue to grow in the 21st century, to remain competitive and to help our state's economy," Scott said. "We must be competitive in the methods we use to educate our children."

Scott walks an average of 15 miles each morning and will continue to do so until his walk ends at the steps of the State Capitol in Atlanta. When he has completed this Walk, he will have a perspective and knowledge that no other candidate in this race will have: "This campaign is about Georgians, and that's why it's important for me to take my campaign on the road. I am bringing my campaign's message of servant leadership and conservative reform to every corner of this state. I want to listen to the people's ideas on how they think the problems we all face can be solved. Everyone wants to see a Governor who is a statesman that represents the people's interests, someone who understands their needs firsthand and is willing to listen. Over the next 500 miles I hope to continue to separate myself as the candidate best suited to meet these needs."

Georgians are invited to participate by walking alongside Scott, or by following his progress online at www.WalkingWithAustin.com, where visitors can read his daily blog and view videos from his walk. Utilizing the web to get the word out about his Walk as well as social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr, Scott has been able to reach Georgians all throughout the state.

Austin Scott is a Republican from Tifton serving House District 153 and is Chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Rules, Ways and Means, and Appropriations Committees. He is married to Vivien Scott and has one son, Wells. For more information about Austin Scott, visit us online at www.ScottForGA.com
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August Cobb GOP Breakfast with Guest Speaker John Oxendine

State Insurance Commissioner and candidate for Governor, John Oxendine will join the Cobb GOP at Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q, Saturday, August 1st for their monthly breakfast. Join in to enjoy some great Republican fellowship and a hot, delicious breakfast buffet made exclusively for Cobb Republicans. (The food really is *that* good!)

Buffet opens at 8:00 a.m. and John Oxendine will speak at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast is $10.00 per person.

Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q
1425 Roswell Rd
Marietta, GA
phone: (770) 971-3201

Map and website [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102649897284&s=730&e=0017v989xAS698-jBllUNvqiDQ7FZPF71qb8QswLgpcvfThs1lRrQULse7sBzQoCE0Jj7JVOVT8cbEew5u5GGrijyluCeYV_AUBAfVpkRwloNeGiZDO6nLexdC7lloa5o9V2dXipSAyxsnUPNw6f30z88AA83r2P6aQTglIKR3Si7C1AkxVaxS0SA==].

NOTE: State Representative and candidate for Governor, Austin Scott was originally
scheduled to be the speaker. He will join us later in the year so his campaign can
continue his walking tour of Georgia.

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Oxendine Announce "Fair Tax" Town Hall Meetings

John Osendine has announced that there will bea number of “Fair Tax” Town Halls around Georgia to help people learn more about the Fair Tax issue. John will be speaking at each of these and then answering audience questions in a town hall format.

The first event is in Glynn County on St. Simons Island.

Date and Time: August 3, Monday, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Event: Fair Tax Town Hall
Location: Neptune Park Bandstand

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Austin Scott: 7/25/09 Campaign Update

As I approach the 500 mile mark on the Walk of Georgia, I’ve noticed the number one concern among Georgians is with the current state of our economy; their second greatest concern is funding for public education. These two issues are closely related, as it’s clear that good schools lead to strong communities.

I recommend we revisit SPLOST expenditures and grant more flexibility with local sales tax funds. It’s more important to focus on people instead of buildings. This flexibility would give local systems the ability to do that. Personally, I don’t agree with the Governor’s decision or the timing of the notification to the local systems, but I prefer that we look forward and find long term solutions to public school funding rather than simply criticize the Governor for the decision that he made.

-Austin
SCOTT FOR GEORGIA
PO Box 988
Tifton GA 31793
www.scottforga.com
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Handel Announces More Endorsements

Senator John Douglas, PSC Commissioner Chuck Eaton, Four More County Commissioners Join Karen's Team

Karen Handel announced today that Senator John Douglas and Public Service Commission member Chuck Eaton joined four additional county commissioners from across Georgia in endorsing Handel's campaign.

"I am honored to have the support of these fine public servants and community leaders," Handel said. "Our momentum continues to grow as we expand our grassroots network across the state. These endorsements are humbling as well as exciting."

"Karen is the candidate who is best prepared to lead our state," Douglas said. "With her combination of business, executive and political experience, she will take on the tough issues and get them resolved."

"Karen is just the kind of leader we need as Governor," said Eaton. "Her 'Bring it on' attitude is just what we need to solve the tough issues of jobs, water and transportation."

The addition of four new county commissioner endorsements makes a total of 28 county commissioners who have joined Karen's campaign. The four commissioners who endorsed today are:

Tom Worthan, Douglas County Commission Chairman
Dan Reyen, Hart County Commissioner
Bill Scott, Lumpkin County Commissioner
Ashley Hendrix, Carroll County Commissioner

"Karen is the only candidate for Governor in either party that has served in office at the local level," Worthan said. "She has walked in our shoes and understands the issues we face on a daily basis. She will make a great Governor."

John Oxendine signs Georgia Right to Life Pledge

On his way out the door to Northside Hospital for the birth of his son, John Oxendine signed one of the strongest pro-life pledges in the country. The pledge, crafted by Georgia Right to Life, affirms the importance of a human life amendment to the Georgia Constitution.

“If elected, I will use the power of the Governor’s office to create an environment where abortion providers will not want to do business in Georgia any longer,” said Oxendine, now the proud dad of a new baby boy. “The Oxendine Administration will enforce existing laws and use the state Constitution to put Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers out of their grizzly business.”

Oxendine believes life is a precious gift from the Creator. He says that abortion is the taking of that precious gift, an innocent life. “As Governor, I will oppose abortion at any point of gestation,” said Oxendine. “In those rare cases where the life of the mother is endangered by a continuation of the pregnancy, sound medical practice would dictate that every effort should be made to save both lives.”

Oxendine also believes that adoption is a viable, positive solution for those individuals or couples unwilling or unable to care of their child. He says that government should support policies that facilitate the adoption process, thus making it easier to place children with eligible couples.

“As Governor, I will promote and reinforce policies that protect life,” said Oxendine. “Our support for all life should be supplemented by an amendment to the Georgia Constitution proclaiming a paramount right to life, and I intend to use my office to move this legislation forward.”

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Frustrated...

Pet peeve: candidates who don't have contact information on their campaign websites.

Pet peeve: candidates who have "under construction" web sites without any contact information or anything that gives a flavor of who the candidate is and what they stand for... Pretty pictures don't help when you want to know something about a candidate.

Pet peeve: candidate contact info at the bottom of the page that is so small, so faint, that a magnifying glass is needed to see it.

Aaargggg....

Also bad: no press contacts, no campaign staff contacts.

And another... sign up for email updates without the ability to put in a message.

I'm in the process of updating the campaign section on the Georgia Front Page. I'm amazed at how many candidates don't do a basic spell check on their website info...

Candidates have a tendency to forget that they are trying to sell themselves.

What kind of message does it send to constituents and potential voters if they can't easily find contact information???

OK, I've vented. I love all you guys, I really do ... I'm voting for every single one of you even if I can't find a phone number, snail mail address or email address. You have some beautiful websites. Some of you have fantastic websites and did everything just perfect.

I'm going to go back and see what kind of info I can dig up on more candidates so we can give you the latest in our Georgia Front Page candidate section.

Working, working and keeping an ear out on the British Open. Yep, know I should be in church instead, but have a bug of some sort so have an excuse!

Graves Raises $116,540 in 35 Days For Congressional Campaign

Republican State Representative Tom Graves (R-Ranger), candidate for the 9th Congressional District of Georgia, revealed that his campaign for Congress raised $116,540 from 183 contributors in just 35 days. Graves made the disclosure today when filing his campaign’s first fundraising report with the Federal Election Commission, which also showed he had $115,897 remaining cash-on-hand.

Graves received contributions from 14 counties in the 9th Congressional District.

“Julie and I are humbled by the tremendous support we’ve received from Georgians across the district. We are excited about the enthusiasm our campaign has received over the past weeks and we look forward to continuing our message across the district as we focus on taking a little North Georgia common sense to Washington during these challenging days.” said Graves.

Key Facts About Graves’ Disclosure
Dates $ Raised
May 27 - June 30, 2009
Total Raised
$116,540
Total # of Contributors
183
% from Georgia
98.4%
Cash-on-hand
$115,897

Graves also announced his campaign’s initial Finance Committee, which includes Jim Walters of Gainesville, Paul Maney of Oakwood, Gary Copeland of Jasper, Phil Neff of Dalton, Ardis and Charles McCain of Big Canoe, Craig Brock of Chatsworth, and Tony Farrell and Randall Fox of Calhoun. The campaign’s Finance Committee is enhanced by the generous support of other business and community leaders such as Bill Hammock of C.W. Matthews Contracting Company, Dahlonega’s Mike Cottrell of Cottrell, Inc., Joe Hatfield of Fieldcrest Farms, WSB radio talk show host Herman Cain, Rob Robinson and Joe Reed of Gainesville and Wes Hixon of Wildwood.

The Graves campaign is organized with grassroots leaders in all 15 counties of the 9th District.

“Now more than ever, North Georgians need a leader in Washington who’s not afraid to buck the status quo. I’ve been tested and you can always count on me to fight for sound economic policies, less government and more personal freedom. This campaign will be about the right values, the right solutions and what is right for Georgia,” added Graves.

The FEC requires candidates for federal office to periodically file campaign finance reports. While the reports due today cover the period April 1 through June 30, 2009, Graves’ report only included activity after May 27 when he received his first contribution.

Karen Handel for Governor E-Update:

A Great Week!

We had a terrific week and really got around to meet a lot of people. I spoke to a good group of Home Depot employees on Monday and told them that -- when it comes to this campaign -- I can do it, but I need their help. I don't think I could get away with stealing their slogan for our bumper stickers but it seemed to go over well at this gathering.

I also spoke to the Gwinnett Chamber, attended the Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corp. Annual Lunch, and addressed the Spalding County G.O.P. (where we had a serious run on bumper stickers -- a personal benchmark I use to gauge enthusiasm).

This weekend we'll head to Hiawassee with a contingent of energetic volunteers for the Georgia Mountain Fair Parade on Saturday.

The Washington Democrats Go Wild on Taxes

The Obama Administration and the Democratic Congress are frankly scaring the heck out of people more and more. The latest? A plan to take small businesses, family farmers and couples making $350,000 a year, call them millionaires, and tax them to pay for a socialized health care program. That’s a strange way to create wealth.

Call me crazy, but I think taxing small businesses and entrepreneurs is the last thing our government should be doing right now, and we need to fight back hard against this.

I am a strong supporter of the FairTax. Eliminating the federal personal and corporate income tax, capital gains, payroll, gift and estate taxes, and replacing them with a revenue-neutral personal consumption tax would create a much fairer tax structure for families and businesses. It will also encourage savings. We should also repeal of the 16th Amendment and take away the federal government’s authority to levy income taxes. This would return the powers to tax to the American people.

We need honest, real tax reform – a complete review of all state and local taxes and a new, simplified tax code that normal people can understand. That is what I am going to do as Governor.

Illegal Immigration

There has been lots of new talk in Washington about illegal immigration. Those Washington politicians are always good for a chuckle. The fact is that while they talk, they have failed to protect our borders – which is one of their few clear responsibilities after all. And now that they have let millions of illegals into the country, they want to give them the right to vote and provide them free health care at our expense.

I pushed a law that would make people prove their citizenship when they register to vote. It passed and the courts approved it.

Now the Obama Justice Department has told us that we can’t enforce this law. They want to bring ACORN down to Georgia to sign up illegals and turn them out to vote on Election Day.

Well I am fighting them as Secretary of State and you’d better believe I am going to keep fighting them with your help.

Everyone, thanks for your continued support as I push forward in our campaign for Governor.

Your friend,

Karen Handel

Putting out the fire of healthcare takeover

As State Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner, the safety and protection of our
citizens is my job. That is what Georgians elected me to do. That is why I cannot
be silent about the government takeover of healthcare that the U.S. House of Representatives
is proposing this week. If your mental smoke alarm has batteries, it should be going
off now.

First, a government takeover of anything usually results in higher prices and poorer
service. Think about what has happened to our schools with the price-per-pupil continuing
to rise and test scores staying flat or only inching up. The unions, such as the
National Education Association, have resisted educational choice with every fiber
in their being. They have used dues from hard-working Georgia teachers to lobby
against even the most basic educational choice. Obama's so called "public-option"
is nothing more than the first step of government takeover.

The government acquisition of General Motors may save the Camaro and the Corvette,
but may give the new company such an unfair financial advantage that it drives Ford
Motor Company to the brink of bankruptcy. This kind of meddling in the private sector
was certainly not a mandate from any voter back in November. And if the members
of Congress aren't careful, they are going to allow the president to do the same
thing to the healthcare network in America.

Second, destroying the private sector in healthcare would substitute bureaucratic
planning and control for competition and consumer choice. I realize that the word
"destroying" sounds pretty strong. But when you are able to undercut the private
healthcare market, and then add a trillion dollars of new taxes to pay for it, the
result will be companies going out of business. And, all the while, workers likely
will be forced into the government-sponsored plan simply because it is less costly
for employers, even though the care may be inferior. In a word, a monopoly is created.
And when that monopoly can decide whether you live or die, it is too powerful.
How did a country built on the entrepreneurial spirit ever get to a point where
we take glee in seeing the freemarket punished and forced into bankruptcy? This
is not the kind of leadership we need in Washington, Atlanta-or Moscow for that
matter.

Third, as the government-run healthcare plan gobbles up business, there would be
no incentive to improve quality or increase efficiency, but instead we'll see eventual
efforts to control costs by restricting access and choice-such as happens now in
England and Canada. When the good people of Georgia have to wait months or years
for surgery or specialized medical care, we'll know the house is on fire. Access
and Choice will decrease-not increase.

The societal engineers who want to tear down the private sector in health insurance
don't want to be honest about the "uninsured" statistics either. They pad the numbers
with illegal aliens, with young people who choose not to be insured (because they
often think they are invincible), and with people in transition between jobs. So,
before we take such drastic action, let's do more to encourage the non-profit clinics
out there providing a medical home to the uninsured-clinics such as the Good Samaritan
Health Center in Atlanta and the Athens Neighborhood Health Center.

Fourth, have you ever thought that if government can't afford to finance existing
programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, then providing health
care for all our citizens might really be tricky? We must wake up and smell the
smoke before it's too late.

I travel the state frequently and often tout the importance of changing the batteries
in smoke detectors and testing the equipment at least once per year. Fellow citizens,
the detector in all our brains is beeping incessantly trying to warn us of a disaster
that awaits if we allow this takeover. Yet, our smooth talking president and his
big-government allies in the U.S. Congress are telling us it is a false alarm and
urging everyone to return to business as usual. This is a mistake, and as a statewide-elected
official in Georgia, I must urge you to tell your Congressman to vacate this hasty
plan and return to sanity.

Finally, let's think about the future. Do you possibly want to saddle your children,
your nieces and nephews, and even your grandchildren with trillions of future tax
payments when we can't pay the debt we already have?

The house is on fire-but the fire can be put out. Call the White House and the U.S.
House of Representatives today and tell them to back away from this ill-considered
government takeover of healthcare. Urge them to delay this rushed effort to socialize
the best medical system in the world.

By Commissioner John Oxendine

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McBerry: The Largest Campaign Organization in the Race for Georgia Governor!

Speaking at the Independence Day Tea Party at the capitol on Saturday, Ray McBerry announced that his campaign organization in the Governor's race now has 250 coordinators across the state and more than 800 volunteers on the ground, making his “Georgia First” campaign the largest organization of any candidate in the race for Governor on either the Republican or Democratic ticket.

Commenting on John Oxendine's recent practice of referring to himself as a “grassroots candidate,” Ray had this to say at the Tea Party: “With 250 coordinators, 800 volunteers, and more coming onboard every day, this is truly a grassroots campaign. While John is out hiring his “volunteers” – isnt that an oxymoron – we have more volunteers in our campaign than John has money in the bank to buy.”

Explaining the reason for the exploding growth in volunteer numbers in only three month's time, Ray said, “The people of Georgia are ready for a strong conservative leader who will stand up to Washington. It is apparent to everyone who hears us both speak that Ray McBerry is that candidate, not John Oxendine. John is the kind of 'conservative' who waits for the newest issue, licks his finger, sticks it to the wind, and puts out a press release... or two... or three. By the time next July rolls around, all of Georgia will know that the only strong conservative in this race for Governor is Ray McBerry.”

Ray concluded, “Now that we have demonstrated our ability to field a large and effective volunteer organization, I am excited about beginning the fundraising phase of this campaign.”

A candidate who is strong on principle, articulate on the issues, and willing to stand up to Washington is what continues to draw multitudes of new supporters to the Ray McBerry for Governor Campaign.
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The Georgia Front Page includes news releases from all announced Republican candidates and does not endorse any particular candidate in our Republican Candidates blog.

Republican Candidate Ray McBerry Announces the Launch of the “States' Rights Tour” Across Georgia

Note: We realize this is technically "old" news... we received it on June 29th. However, we overlooked it and so we're correcting our error by posting now:

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ray McBerry is pleased to announce the launch of the “States' Rights Tour” across Georgia beginning August 1, 2009 in Cherokee County. The tour will cover the entire state during the months of August through October.

States' Rights has recently been a topic much in the news as traditional conservatives across America look for a constitutional solution to an out-of-control federal government; and Ray McBerry has been one of the leading speakers across America on the subject of States' Rights for more than a decade. The theme of Ray's campaign for governor, from the beginning, has been “Georgia First!”

The subject of States' Rights took on a more prominent place in Georgia news in May when the state joined twenty-two other states in passing State Sovereignty resolutions in the Georgia State Senate under the authorship of Sen. Chip Pearson.

Recent attacks by Democratic gubernatorial candidates, including Roy Barnes, against the States' Rights stand taken by several Republican candidates have led off with Ray's photo and references to Ray's comments about the constitutionality of States' Rights under the Tenth Amendment. Responding to these attacks, Ray commented, “I have been speaking out on the need for the states to, once again, exercise their sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to rein in an out-of-control federal government in defense of the people's liberty. I am more than happy to be the 'point man' for States' Rights in this race for governor.”

The “States' Rights Tour” will be joined by State Insurance Commissioner candidate Gerry Purcell and a number of other statewide and local candidates and elected officials who have expressed their mutual support for the principle of States' Rights.

More information about the upcoming “States' Rights Tour” will be available shortly at http://www.georgiafirst.org/ or by contacting Jenny Hodges, campaign director for Ray McBerry for Governor, at 404.435.8852.
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Opinion: Illegal Aliens Voting in Georgia

In today's world of sound bites and news by the minute, big issues are on our radar screens for a day, maybe two, then we move onto another big outrage (if it takes THAT long!). The post below is a month old, and I'm not even sure if the petition is still active, but I feel this is such a big issue that I wanted to bring it to your attention again. Normally I'd post this in another blog, but it is a campaign update so I opted to keep it in this Republican Candidate blog.

America is under attack from within and without. Every time a decision comes down from "on high" in D.C. or our legal system which undermines a critical part of our foundation we lose just a bit more of our freedom and our country's future as the greatest of the great.

If you haven't signed the petition below, please do so. If you click the link and it's no longer active, ask Karen Handel who to contact to voice your concern. This is bigger than an election. I'm glad Ms. Handel is carrying the torch on this one. - jmd

Obama Justice Department to Allow Illegal Aliens to Vote in Georgia

-- Karen Handel Fights to Stop It--

6/2/09 In a recent and shockingly political move, the Obama Justice Department ordered Georgia to stop the process of verifying that voters in Georgia are indeed U.S. Citizens.

"It is a sad day for the rights of our state and for the integrity of our elections," said Karen. "I remain committed to continuing the fight for citizenship verification. In the coming days, I will consider every option available to the state, including the possibility of legal action."

This morning, Karen posted a petition on her website to tell the Obama Justice Department that Georgians support citizenship verification for voter registration. We've set a goal of collecting 10,000 signatures by next week, so please sign the petition today and ask your friends, neighbors and family members to do the same.

Join Karen Handel's fight to stop illegal aliens from voting by signing the petition now.

The ruling also prevents Georgia from even verifying that a voter actually exists. This opens the door for groups like ACORN to abuse the voter registration system.

Handel said, "The Obama Administration completely disregarded Georgia's obvious and direct interest in preventing non-citizens from voting, instead siding with the ACLU and the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). Clearly, politics took priority over common sense and good public policy."

Committed to the integrity of our elections, Karen has said "Bring It On" in the face of this challenge. Please stand with her by signing her free and fair elections petition right now.
This is not just a fight in Georgia. If this injustice is not stopped here, it could spread nationwide and open the door to illegal aliens voting in every state. Here are a sampling of some headlines from around the country...

Obama Dept. of Justice Shows Shocking disregard for the integrity of our elections
Redstate.com, June 2, 2009

Handel Defiant after feds reject Georgia voter screening
Atlanta Journal Constitution, June 1, 2009

DOJ Opposes Georgia voter screening
UPI, June 1, 2009

Justice Dept. Rejects Ga. Prevote Citizenship Checks
The Wall Street Journal, June 1, 2009

Help Karen today. Sign the petition.

Oxendine Announces Birth of Son

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John W. Oxendine announced today that on Wednesday, July 8, at 7:43 am, James W. "Jake" Oxendine II was born to proud parents Ivy and John Oxendine.

Jake was 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and mother and baby are doing great.

"This is a great day in the Oxendine household," said John Oxendine from the hospital. "So many have people have been praying for Ivy and Jake, and we are overwhelmed with gratitude."

Eric Johnson Raises Nearly $1 Million in Two Months

June 30th Disclosure Report Shows Over $910,000 Cash On Hand

Senator Eric Johnson, Republican candidate for Governor, today filed his June 30th campaign finance report with the State Ethics Commission disclosing cash contributions of $962,773.40 and a “cash on hand” balance of $913,483.20. The nearly $1 million in donations were raised in just over two months with over 91% of contributions, or $880,589.40, designated for the Republican Primary.

“Even in these challenging economic times, Georgians are investing confidently in our campaign and in our state’s future,” said Johnson. “Our first financial disclosure coupled with our broad and deep grassroots team is a clear indicator of the strength of our campaign.”

Upon entering the race for Governor on April 27th, Johnson assembled an impressive finance committee co-chaired by Steve Green of Savannah, Jamie Reynolds of Greensboro, and Virgil Williams of Stone Mountain. The campaign received 95% of its contributions from Georgia donors and nearly 60% of contributions are from individuals. The donations came from 665 contributors representing 61 different Georgia counties.

“In only two months, we were able to exceed all expectations and our own internal fundraising goals thanks to the generosity of so many Georgians and the hard work of our finance team,” continued Johnson. “But we know this is just the beginning. Our statewide team is not going to let up until we are the Republican nominee and lead our party’s ticket to victory in November 2010.”

Totals reported in the disclosure do not include any contributions received after the end of the disclosure period on June 30th. Additionally, there were no loans to the campaign. For a more detailed analysis of the report, please see the attached document.

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Doug MacGinnitie, SOS Candidate, Campaign Update

7/7/09 Today our campaign will release our first financial disclosure report, and I wanted to share the good news with you first. In the last few months, we have taken in over $260,000 from over 265 contributors from every corner of our state.

While this is a great sign of our momentum, we know that money will not win this race. The people of Georgia will elect the most qualified, strongest leader to serve as Secretary of State next year. Our financial resources will help introduce the voters to Doug.

And, even more importantly, our grassroots network will spread our message in communities across Georgia. Our campaign has already attracted attention thanks to our hundreds of volunteers, and we will continue to grow our network.

At this point in the campaign, we have exceeded all of our financial and political goals. But, we’re just getting started.

Look for more announcements from our campaign throughout the summer and fall as we continue to grow.

Thank you for all you’ve done so far this year, and all you will do in the future.

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Karen Handel, Candidate for Georgia Governor, July 7 Update

I wanted you to be the first to hear our campaign's latest good news. We haven't sent out a press release or filed our report yet, but we soon will, and it will show that we have raised over $430,000 in less than 3 months. Even better, our contributions came from more than 900 individuals from 77 Georgia counties!

This means that we are well on our way to having the resources we need to get our message out. It also means that we are building a grassroots team of dedicated Georgians who have invested personally in our campaign and will work hard toward our victory.

At this stage of a campaign, it's often said that people vote with their contributions. If that's the case, we're off to a great start.

Our fundraising total is all the more impressive because our support comes from regular Georgians. I haven't raised tens of thousands of dollars from other political campaigns, Political Action Committees or industry insiders. My supporters are regular folks who -- despite a tough economy -- believe strongly enough in our cause and my vision for our state that they are willing to put their hard-earned money where their beliefs are. I am humbled and grateful for this support and confidence.

We are also excited that we met our goal of raising more than $100,000 online. We have worked hard to have a cutting edge e-campaign that uses the latest in social networking technology to reach out to people who are not traditional donors to political candidates. This effort will continue to be a key approach, and those of you who joined our effort through the online push will continue to be a real asset to our efforts.

While we're off to a great start, there is still a lot of work ahead of us. Over the next several months, you're going to see my campaign in every corner of the state. Thanks to the hard work of my Finance Committee, we've already scheduled over 30 events this summer and fall. Stay tuned for details on when our "Bring it On" campaign comes to your town and for other exciting announcements about endorsements and additions to my finance team.

I want to sincerely thank all of you who have supported me and our campaign in these first months -- whether through your financial support or your time. You've contributed more than money -- you have put your faith and trust in me. Most importantly, you have contributed your friendship, confidence and enthusiasm. Steve and I are grateful.

Thank you so much for your help, words of encouragement, and prayers. I hope to see you soon.

Karen C. Handel

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Contract with Peachtree City, Shelby Barker, PTC Council Candidate

The last couple of months have been an awesome start to our campaign. I have met many people around the community that have expressed concerns about the path our city government has taken over the past several years. These feelings of concern displayed by fellow citizens have led me to establish a written commitment of innovative ideas that will ensure Peachtree City remains the best community in the world. You will find that under my contract with Peachtree City, I take strong stances in favor of Peachtree City’s quality of life. If you find that you support the contract please visit my website to join the cause.

www.shelbybarker.com

First
I want to create a new legislative rule regarding re-zoning initiatives. This rule will require a four out of five majority in favor of re-zoning in order to pass the initiative. The new rule would limit voting blocks on council and make it harder for the council members to deviate from the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Second
I stand strongly against the selling off of city assets in order to balance the budget. These facilities are jewels of our community.

Third
I will promote government efficiency by consistently asking staff to provide areas in which our government can be more resourceful. I will guide them to continually look at instances where creating a private partnership may better benefit the general public i.e. landscaping crew. We must also continue to examine areas that are low priority that can be cut from the budget.

Fourth
I will call for a restructuring of fees across the board. We should encourage innovative fee ideas such as a yearly recreational pass that provides year round access to recreational facilities an increased usage fee structure for out of city residents.

Fifth
I stand firmly against further big box development, unnecessary annexations, or higher density rezoning.

Sixth
I will make cart path maintenance a top priority. The upkeep of our cart path system has been pushed to the back burner for too long. We must begin to actively improve our system today in order to save ourselves from more costly repairs tomorrow.

Seventh
I support the most open government possible. We should greatly reduce “consent agenda” items and executive session meetings. I will also call for the city to utilize more venues in distributing information to the public.

Eighth
I will work closely with our county commissioners, state representatives and members of Congress to ensure that Peachtree City’s opportunity for investment and quality growth is maximized.

Ninth
I am unapologetically against any proposal that move the city away from the village concept. Thus, I am opposed to proposals like Calullah Hills, which will ultimately abandon our village concept.

Tenth
I commit to supporting the needs and requirements of an efficient, effective, and well trained police and fire department.

www.ShelbyBarker.com

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Shelby Barker
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Oxendine Files June 30 Report - Over One Million Cash on Hand

Team Oxendine reported $1,006,869.54 cash on hand after filing the June 30th off-election
year report. The actual amount raised during this reporting period is slightly under
$420,000.

"John Oxendine's positive message offering real solutions for the issues facing Georgia is resonating with people all across the state," said Tim Echols, campaignmanager. "We believe that Mr. Oxendine's Contract with Georgia offering specific policy solutions for the people of Georgia is a big part of the reason why. People are looking for a leader with answers."

"Everywhere I go in Georgia, people have been enthusiastic about my campaign for Governor," said John Oxendine. "Our Contract with Georgia, with its focus on abolishing the state income tax, implementation of a national fair tax, and attention to important social issues, has connected with conservative Ronald Reagan voters."

"John Oxendine remains the only candidate who is actually defeating Roy Barnes in independent polls," said Echols. "With this strong report and his lead in every poll to date he remains the clear frontrunner."

"The credit goes to Mr. Oxendine's statewide network of volunteers because of their enthusiastic support," said Echols. "Commissioner Oxendine is confident he will have the funds necessary to defeat Roy Barnes."

John Oxendine
Governor 2010

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July 4th Message from Karen Handel, Candidate for GA Governor

As we head out for 4th of July travels, attend parades, or gather with family and friends for backyard cookouts and fireworks, let's all pause to remember the significance of Independence Day. On this day, we celebrate our nation's birth and the establishment of the freedoms we all hold so dear. July 4th is also the day to reflect on the sacrifices of so many throughout history and today to protect and maintain these freedoms.

Right now, thousands of Georgia men and women are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

We are blessed to live in the United States of America -- which is indeed the "sweet land of liberty." When the moment comes in your celebrations for the playing of our National Anthem or other patriotic songs, I hope you will not only stand, but sing loud and proud in honor of this great Nation and in honor of the brave men and women who gave their full measure so that we can enjoy our freedoms. "From every mountainside, let freedom ring."

Steve and I hope you have a great Independence Day weekend. May God bless you, our great state, and the United States of America!

Have we Outsmarted the Founding Fathers?

Our founding fathers who gave us the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were smart people. But guess what--they did not create the infamous federal income tax. It took an amendment to their hallowed document to allow a system of progressive taxation withholding income at the source. How did we get so off track?

First initiated by Lincoln during the Civil War, the Congress passed the 16th Amendment in 1913 making the income tax permanent. One has to wonder how an entire nation can be lured into taking such action. But if that wasn't bad enough, individual states begin to follow the lead of their federal government. States like Georgia and many others adopted their own income tax to keep themselves afloat. Add to these taxes the gas tax, the car tax, the property tax, the sin tax-and people wake up one day and find themselves working more for the good of the government's good than for the good of their family. Not all states caved to this pressure though. The boarder states of Florida and Tennessee have no income tax. Alaska, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming have resisted as well.

The good news for us in Georgia is that it is not too late to make a change. With the right leadership under the gold dome, Georgia could eliminate its income tax and create an entirely new tax system -a system more like our founding fathers implemented. Our neighbors in Florida have certainly made this work, and I think we can too. Imagine Georgia becoming a magnet for retirees because of such bold leadership. Imagine the economic impact of more money in the pocket of Georgia's citizens and businesses. Such a move requires vision, courage and political fortitude from leaders-and tremendous public pressure from the citizenry. I personally believe Georgia is ripe for this change and I urge you to join me in this call.

John Oxendine is the State Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner and is running for Governor. Reach him at johnox@earthlink.net with your comments about Georgia's income tax or other concerns.

John Oxendine
Governor 2010

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Rep. Graves 4th of July Schedule

Georgia State Representative and 9th District congressional candidate Tom Graves (R-Ranger) will attend multiple events across the 9th Congressional District during the 4th of July holiday weekend. Below is his schedule. If you have any further questions or would like to schedule an interview with Graves, please contact Tim Baker at (770) 519-6375.

Friday, July 3rd
5:00 pm ~ Walker and Catoosa County Independence Day Events

Saturday, July 4th
10:00 am ~ Forsyth County Independence Day Parade

11:00 am ~ Hall County Law Enforcement Appreciation

Afternoon ~ Gordon County Independence Day Celebration
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Graves, who is in his fourth term representing House District 12, was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2002. He has chaired numerous subcommittees, served in several leadership positions and been recognized statewide as a conservative leader. He received the 2009 “Guardian of Small Business” Award from the National Federation of Independent Business, 2009 “Legislator of the Year” Award from the Georgia Retail Association, the “2009 Legislator of the Year” from the 9th Congressional District of Georgia and was nationally recognized as the “Legislative Entrepreneur of the Year Award” by the Freedom Works Foundation for his tireless effort to stem the tide of expansive government and reduce the tax burden on Georgians.

Graves grew up in White, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance. Graves is a small businessman, past member of the Gordon County Board of Elections and an active member of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Julie, a native of Marietta, and the couple has three children, JoAnn, J.T., and Janey. They attend the Belmont Baptist Church in Calhoun.

Cobb County GOP BBQ on July 4th

Saturday, July 4 at 10:45am. or just immediately after the Marietta 4th of July Parade

Event: Cobb County GOP BBQ on July 4th!

"Celebrate 4th of July with Karen Handel!"

What: Festival

Host: Karen Handel for Governor

Start Time: Saturday, July 4 at 10:45am
End Time: Saturday, July 4 at 2:00pm
Where: Jim Miller Park
2245 Callaway Road
Marietta, GA

If you have a Facebook account you can see more details, RSVP by clicking this link:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=90525924685&mid=b6d4c9G5d770abcG2375cbG7

If not:

770-740-0010
Email: Carolyn@karenhandel.com

Austin Scott: 6/28/09 Campaign Update

Dear friend,

On June 27th I started my Walk of Georgia tour, which will take me on
foot through over 1,000 miles of Georgia. During the journey I plan
on meeting with as many of our citizens as possible to hear their
concerns and the challenges they face.

I am currently walking on the outskirts of Rome and would like to
field any questions that you might have about our mission on my Walk
of Georgia. As a member of the General Assembly for the last 14 years,
I understand the important role the press plays in our democracy.
That’s why I am committed to speaking with you by phone, email or in
person at any time. You can also track my progress through our State
by visiting www.WalkingWithAustin.com.

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself if we haven’t had the
chance to meet. I look forward to working with you as a come through
your areas. My team and I are committed to helping you fulfill your
obligations as journalists by promptly providing you with all relevant
information that can assist you with your work.

Thank you for all that you do for our State. Please do not hesitate
to contact me or a member of my team at any time. You can also find
more information about my campaign by visiting our website at
www.scottforga.com.

Sincerely,


Austin Scott