Chambliss' 'glaring oversight' not to be forgotten
Laura Armstrong
Click to enlarge photos.
Laura Armstrong
Columnist
Geraldine Ferraro was the first this year to mention the sexist nature of the campaign against Hillary Clinton. She was appalled and spoke out and then we didn't see much of her after that.Of course we were all aware of the "bad woman, bad mother" attacks against VP nominee Sarah Palin this fall, among other outlandish criticism.
But who wasn't a little amazed when the maliciousness continued even after the election, as members of McCain's own staff, not content to cede all action to Democrats and lefties, began smearing Palin - their own candidate?
And now, in Georgia, the buzz among grassroots political volunteers is the shoddy treatment by the Saxby Chambliss campaign of two of the state's leading GOP women, State Chairman Sue Everhart of east Cobb and National Committeewoman Linda Herren of DeKalb.
Though Chambliss gun-for-hire Tom Perdue has denied any intentional snubs, impressions count in politics. When Herren and Everhart were repeatedly excluded from recent campaign events, eyebrows were raised. It was Everhart who called in some of the national big guns for Chambliss, lent her staff, provided many volunteers and raised the big bucks for him. Her home county, that's Cobb, went for him by 64 percent.
Despite all this, and despite the protocol of their offices, both ladies were excluded from the stage at Chambliss' Cobb Energy Center victory party last week. (Then-GOP Chair Ralph Reed was on the stage when Chambliss won in '02, according to sources).
As word of the snub spread last week, the grassroots quickly rallied to Everhart, a tireless, popular and down-to-earth chairwoman who's visited almost every county in Georgia, racking up more than 40,000 miles in her own car in efforts to advance the party. The former banker, an east Cobb widow, receives no salary and was elected after years in the GOP trenches.
Cobb GOP Chairman Scott Johnson said there was no thanks to her from the Chambliss campaign Tuesday evening. He called the omission a "glaring oversight."
"Sue came from the grassroots," he explained, "and dissing her was like dissing all volunteers, men and women. No one wants to be the free labor source for the political elites. All we ever get is a thank you, so that's very important."
Another shocked volunteer leader said respect for Chambliss has lessened over this, even more so with his female base.
"Candidates want women to lick stamps, provide food and phone bank until we're hoarse, but even when we raise hundreds of thousands of dollars some don't understand showing gratitude," she shared.
I've seen it before, and have often thought what a shambles it would all be without volunteers in the trenches (most often women).
What could Chambliss have been thinking? He, who was booed at the state convention in 2007 for his early stand on the immigration reform bill and criticized for his yes vote in Bailout Madness, can't afford to offend his base any more.
His next campaign is six years away, but you know women elephants - they really don't forget.
Sue Everhart, GA GOP Chairman, snubbed at Chambliss Victory Rally December 2, 2008
Dear Georgia Republicans
Monday night, December 2, was a great night for Georgians, Saxby Chambliss won re-election to the US Senate blocking the Filibuster proof Senate. Lauren Bubba McDonald was elected to the Public Service Commission. These wins were due to the hard work of the Republican Grassroots' network, the RNC, The NRSC and last but not least the Georgia Republican Party headed by Sue Everhart, Chairman. Hundreds of ground troops from 42 other states came in to make this happen.
The blight on this Victory was when Tom Perdue, Campaign Manager and another Saxby employee physically blocked our State Party Chairman from going on the stage to share in this great Victory for Georgia Republicans. Sue represents all of us who under her leadership worked so hard to make this night happen. It was Sue, not Tom Perdue, who called RNC Chairman Mike Duncan to get Sarah Palin and John McCain down here. If Saxby's team had done what they should have for the last six years, he wouldn't have been in a runoff to start with and he would have had the necessary funds for his campaign. BTW the former Chairman Alec Poitevint was included with the entourage on the stage Monday night at the Palin event in Gwinnett County and also flew around the state with Governor Palin all day.
The handwork of all Georgia Republicans made this Victory possible. Lauren McDonald recognized this Victory as a Victory for the Georgia Grassroots' network. He thanked all Georgians for his Victory and said that he could not have done this without us, the Georgia Republican Party and it's Chairman Sue Everhart. Lauren is truly a humble and appreciative candidate.
RNC Chairman Mike Duncan had words of praise for Sue and Linda Herren in his speech. The Chambliss campaign told him he didn't need to mention this as Saxby would thank them. Saxby did not mention their names. Word has it that he was prepared to do so, as protocol would dictate, but was told not to at the last minute.
A side note to all of this -- our Georgia National Committee Woman Linda Herren was not allowed to attend the Palin event on Sunday night preceding the state fly around. When she called for information on where to meet up with Sue and Alec to greet Governor Palin ( as protocol would also dictate) she was told by the Chambliss campaign that her name was not on any lists and the stage was full. Reports from attendees reveal that the Chambliss campaign was getting people from the audience to fill stage positions . Both Sue and Linda have worked MANY years at the grassroots level to grow our GA Republican Party and should be treated with more respect than this!!
WE Georgia Republican's did what no other state did, we won all of our races.
Way to go, Sue Everhart, her staff and all Georgia Republicans. We are so proud of all that you have done during this 2008 election year.
Personally, I would not have been involved in the runoff election if Sue Everhart had not convinced me that I should get on board in order to help keep liberal Martin from playing havoc in our U.S. Senate. At her encouragement, I went to numerous rallies, made tons of digital photos, created event photo web pages and e-mailed all across the state to my huge Republican e-mail list encouraging everyone to get out and VOTE -- which most did. Now I plan on writing a personal letter of complaint to our newly re-elected Senator who is now insured six more years in the U.S. Senate -- thanks to the hard work of Sue Everhart and many Georgia Republicans. The least he can do is apologize to Sue and make a statement to the world about all that she and the state party have done for his and many other candidates' behalf.
I have known Sue and Linda for many years and have worked with them on many Republican projects where I witnessed up close their dedication to our Party and Georgia.. Sue has done an excellent job as chairman, has raised tons of money for the Party and visited Republican groups (large and small) all across this state where former GA GOP Chairmen had NEVER visited.
If you feel as I do about the snubbing of Sue, I hope you will forward this e-mail (or send your own) to your list of Republicans and let the Chambliss people know how you feel. Rumors and blogs are speculating that perhaps the reason behind this is an orchestrated effort to keep Sue from being re-elected Chairman in 2009. Sorry to ramble on so, but I am upset !!
See the Senator's Contact info at the bottom.
Bettye Chambers
Grassroots Website Builder and E-Mail Activist
Buford, GA - 9th District Republican Party of Georgia
Greater Gwinnett Republican Women
Georgia State Committee Member
Georgia Women for McCain-Palin Coalition
National Federation of RW Board of Directors
saxby@saxby.org <mailto:saxby@saxby.org> See other contacts below.
Senator Chambliss District Offices
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Coastal Georgia Office:
2 East Bryan Street
Suite 620
Savannah, GA 31401
Main: 912-232-3657
Fax: 912-233-0115
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East Georgia Office:
1054 Claussen Road
Suite 313
Augusta, GA 30907
Main: 706-738-0302
Fax: 706-738-0901
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Middle Georgia Office:
300 Mulberry Street
Suite 502
Macon, GA 31201
Main: 478-741-1417
Fax: 478-741-1437
Tollfree: 800-234-4208
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North Georgia Office:
100 Galleria Parkway
Suite 1340
Atlanta, GA 30339
Main: 770-763-9090
Fax: 770-226-8633
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South Georgia Office:
419-A South Main Street
P.O. Box 3217
Moultrie, GA 31776
Main: 229-985-2112
Fax: 229-985-2123
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Washington D.C. Office:
416 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-3521
Fax: 202-224-0103
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 12469
Atlanta, GA 30355
Phone
Phone: 678.589.4888
Fax: 678.589.4875