Political Hay
Georgia Rejects the Debt
There’s more than one Pledge in play this election year.
Today, voters in three of Georgia’s 12 congressional districts will return to the polls to vote in runoff elections that will determine their nominees for the U.S. House.
The winners of these runoffs will face their opponents in a general election whose theme — solidified last weekend by Mitt Romney’s choice of budget guru Paul Ryan to be his running-mate — will be how to fix the broken federal budget.
To understand how the debt crisis has already factored into this year’s races, consider what happened just two weeks ago in Texas. There, ascendant conservative star Ted Cruz won the Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff against his establishment-backed opponent David Dewhurst.
How did a little-known former state solicitor general rise from low single digits to defeat the sitting lieutenant governor and long-presumed favorite?
One reason is that he pledged to Reject the Debt.
A total of 19 federal candidates nationwide — six from Georgia — have pledged to voters that they would vote only for balanced budgets, not vote for new spending programs whose costs aren’t offset, and vote against increasing federal borrowing.
The Reject the Debt pledge is an effort by the Coalition to Reduce Spending to elevate the issue of the federal government’s severe spending problem. It gives voters a measure by which they can assess the seriousness of candidates who desire to set future fiscal policy.
Of the six Georgia candidates who took this pledge, three are still competing for a chance in the general election.
Rick Allen, vying to take on incumbent Rep. Sanford Bishop in the second district, claimed a plurality in July 31st primary. Meanwhile, in the ninth district, state Rep. Doug Collins and well-known Tea Party activist and media personality Martha Zoller will face each other in the upcoming runoff.
For years, politicians on the campaign trail have talked a big game about reducing government spending only to get to Washington and vote for increased deficit spending that we could not afford.
But as the selection of Paul Ryan and the nomination of Ted Cruz illustrate, the political winds are changing — and Allen, Collins, and Zoller show that Georgia is out in front.
Pledges such as Reject the Debt give candidates credibility on important issues, and also act to pressure the competition to step up to the plate. For example, just one day after it was announced in Texas that Ted Cruz pledged to Reject the Debt, David Dewhurst promised to do the same. To stay competitive in today’s political climate, he too had to pledge to tackle our unsustainable $16 trillion debt.
In Georgia today, Allen, Collins, and Zoller are showing true leadership by holding themselves accountable for their actions if elected. When candidates go on the record against overspending, voters now have a substantive way to judge their performance in office.
As it currently stands, every man, woman, and child in this country owes over $51,000 of the public debt. This isn’t just economically unsustainable, it’s morally reprehensible. More Americans are starting to realize that we passed the point of fiscal insanity long ago – and now we’re nearing the cliff.
Paul Ryan, Ted Cruz and candidates in Georgia are leading the charge to show that reducing spending is not only necessary, but politically popular as well. This November, the American public should hope every elected official follows their lead.
The Reject the Debt pledge can be found online at www.reducespending.org.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (19) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 8.21.12 @ 7:15AM
Just give me someone to vote for besides John Lewis. When I lived in Atlanta, I wrote him a letter asking him to stop comparing life in the Black slums with the Holocaust, as the former was voluntary and the latter was a government program. He left a message on my voice mail calling me a racist. Since that day although he generally runs unapposed, I write in Neil Boortz on my ballot. Please give me somebody to vote for this year. Thank you.
chuck| 8.21.12 @ 7:55AM
John Lewis will continue to be elected in that district under they carry him out of office feet first. It is an inner-city, highly black district, and Lewis gives the people what they want: freebies from whities!
Appleby| 8.21.12 @ 3:26PM
I lived in Buckhead; John Lewis allegedly repersented us too. Although during the Rodney King Sympathy Loot-In, a wise Black person answers the question "Why are we burning and looting our own neighbourhoods? Why ain't we in Buckhead?" with these three little words that were oh so true: "THEY.SHOOT.BACK."
Boar Hunter| 8.21.12 @ 10:18AM
Google a web site called "Stuff Black People Don't Like." It is most edifying.
You might have to scroll down a few articles, but it uses cities like Chicago and Atlanta to illustrate the end result of programs supported by liberals on the black community.
Von Mises Jr| 8.21.12 @ 9:09AM
It is time to elect conservative leadership in Romney/Ryan and make the Congress put on their "Big Boy Pants."
There are two options. We can reject the debt or the bond vigilantes will reject it for us. In the first instance, we can set priorities and deal with it systematically. In the second, you have chaos and misery ad hoc.
Al Adab| 8.21.12 @ 11:22AM
Jr:
Another glimmer of the power of Federalism in which our States take the issue by the horns and hold the national government responsible. The States, be it health care, illegal migration or debt, can take action and recreate our nation of free markets and free men. Today we are slaves to the debt, we work and pay to serve it. Let my people go!
Von Mises Jr| 8.21.12 @ 12:33PM
The states will stand up to the tyranny of be dissolved.
Al Adab| 8.21.12 @ 1:12PM
Read Colin Woodard: American Nations. Not only is his thesis predictive of voting patterns, but reveals a potential future should the United States pass into history.
aware| 8.21.12 @ 2:21PM
I knew it wouldn't be long before "conservatives" began calling Romney "conservative'". How easily the transition from "anybody but Romney" to "Romney the conservative choice" happens, huh?
The vigilantes have shown up. Why do you think the Federal Reserve had to buy 63% of T bills last year?
Democracy is the belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
Dai Alanye | 8.21.12 @ 3:14PM
Romney became a conservative when he selected Ryan for VP.
aware| 8.21.12 @ 4:31PM
Yeah. They both know the song to sing to dupe the faithful. Unfortunately, neither has the actual voting record singing harmonies.
Opposition to Obama seems to be the only "core principle" left to qualify as "conservative".
TrueBlue | 8.21.12 @ 7:09PM
Other than a few votes I disagree with not sure how Ryan doesn't qualify as a conservative. His budget proposals alone qualify him, the reason they aren't more extreme is that he DOES have to try to work with the Senate and President, even if they don't want to work with him.
aware| 8.22.12 @ 5:39AM
As long as growing the State and trampling liberty is "conservative", then I guess you're right. His budget proposals do NOT cut anything but projected increases. An old politiscum card trick.
And Romney's budget has the same deficits through his 1st term as Obama's. In 2016 he claims he will cut 500 billion, which still means 800 billion in the red. Some "fiscal hawk".
philipputt| 8.21.12 @ 10:22AM
I'm not sure where you are getting your info. BUT:
Rick Allen is running in a run-off in the 12th district between Savannah & Augusta Ga to run against John Barrow (D) currently the 12th's Congressman. I live nearby and have seen 100s of commericals.
Zoller in the 9th a tea party candidadate, conservate radio host has been endorsed by Redstate, Sarah Palin, Newt, and many others.
fmm| 8.21.12 @ 11:38AM
Maybe it is time for a contract with our elected representatives which states something like "If I don't vote as promised in my candidacy, I will automatically be dropped from office after the first term". Although my wording is naive, a movement based on accountability would go a long way toward reducing legislateve problems in congress.
fmm| 8.21.12 @ 11:39AM
Ooops - typo: should have been legislative
aware| 8.21.12 @ 1:52PM
I live in Georgia and apparently POS like Isakson, or Chambliss, or Westmoreland didn't get this "rejection of debt" memo. In fact I defy you to find one politiscum in the whole state that isn't a POS.
chuck| 8.21.12 @ 10:35PM
I always liked Zell Miller. Never voted for him, because I don't vote for Democrats, but he is a likeable man.
Buck Ofama| 8.22.12 @ 11:02AM
Reject the debt.
Repudiate the muslim c0cksucker.
Rebuild AMERICA.