Tag: Austin Scott

Who’s the real friend to the Tea Party?

Liberal columnists at The Washington Post and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution appear to have embraced the TEA Party and have raised the alarm that the ideals of grassroots movement are being undermined. 

The WP’s Dana Milbank and the AJC’s Jay Bookman are concerned that legislation introduced by freshman Georgia Representative Austin Scott to defund the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has betrayed the TEA Party. This reveals a surprising, and heretofore suppressed, paternal concern by Messrs. Milbank and Bookman toward the conservative organization.

For readers who cringe at tortured logic, Milbank’s column is helpfully entitled, “How Rep. Austin Scott betrayed his Tea Party roots”. Leave aside for a moment that while Scott (GA-8) is a conservative, he has not claimed the TEA Party mantle. Relegate Milbank’s confusion of legal immigrant workers and illegal immigrants to an innocent lack of understanding. What’s left? Milbank accuses Scott of acting in the best interests of agri-business in his home district.

Scott introduced his legislation a few days after Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issued a press release stating that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled against a Georgia company in a case brought forth by the LSC. The company, Hamilton Growers, is located in the small (pop. 849) South Georgia town of Norman Park, which is Austin Scott’s congressional district. 

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Vivien Scott Featured in Politico Click Article

The prettier side of Congressman Austin Scott, his wife Vivian, was featured in an article of the Politico’s Click:

Fresh off his November victory, Austin Scott was elected president of the 87-member Republican freshman class; that same day, Vivien Scott was elected president of the congressional freshman spouses. Not to be outdone by his father and stepmother, 11-year-old Wells Scott was then elected vice president of his school’s student council. “People make fun of us,” admitted Vivien.

But when a love of politics is what makes you tick, you have to follow your heart. “I decided when I came up for [freshman] orientation that I did want to take an active role and be a part of his congressional life,” she said, explaining her decision to seek the spouse leadership post.

Back home in Ashburn, Ga., taking “an active role” can mean a “two-hour conversation” with constituents on what started out as a quick trip to Lowe’s. In Washington, she distributes information to the other freshman spouses and helps promote their participation in such events as the Wounded Warrior parade.

It sounds like Vivian is doing a great job and is taking an active role in supporting Austin.  They are making Georgians proud and hope they will continue to keep up the good work.

H/T: GACR’s Facebook

Austin Scott To Deliver Republican Weekly Radio Address Tomorrow

Republicans have selected Representative-elect Austin Scott to deliver their weekly radio address tomorrow. Clearly, Republicans have a lot to be thankful this year, and an 85 member freshman class is at the top of the list. As President of that class, Scott is expected to reflect on the challenges that lie ahead, and the folks that are being sent to Washington to address them.

We’ll post the text of the address at some time tomorrow.

Unraveling GA-8

Here we are a week out from Austin Scott’s victory over incumbent Congressman Jim Marshall and what a better time to reflect upon this campaign. How did Scott manage to do what Calder Clay, Mac Collins, and Rick Goddard couldn’t do? One could say that Austin just rode the wave crossing the country – but I think that theory is lacking.

Mac Collins attempted to tie Marshall to his national party – didn’t work. Rick Goddard tried to tie Marshall to Nancy Pelosi – didn’t work. The anti-Pelosi backlash surely had something to do with Scott’s victory, but he had to tie Marshall to Pelosi and that required work on his part. Ultimately Marshall’s downfall was his failure to define himself. Looking at his voting record, Marshall is a moderate in a sea of extremes. Some votes conservative, some liberal. But two weeks out, Jim Marshall was making commercials and speeches saying he wouldn’t vote for Nancy Pelosi. Distancing himself from the Speaker of the House. Some people pointed out that in 2008, he stated that it didn’t matter who he voted for Speaker. That argument didn’t catch much traction, but it appears the damage had already been done. Marshall had been tied to Nancy Pelosi.

As I drove through GA-8 on my daily 140 mile roundtrip commute, I noticed something that I had never seen before in this district. Signs. Ok, so I have always seen signs in this district. But these signs were different. In 2008, I can count the number of signs I saw in Dodge County and Bleckley County for Rick Goddard on one hand. Austin’s team pushed signs out and had them everywhere, not just Houston. But there was more than just Scott and Marshall signs. Two of the more notable homemade signs I saw read: “JIM MARSHALL = NANCY PELOSI ‘NUFF SAID” and “FIRE NANCY PELOSI, VOTE OUT MARSHALL.” A lot of people question the effectiveness of yard signs, I think they are good tools and I think they really helped push Austin to victory.

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the candidates, both of them worked hard. Marshall had his people on the ground moving and Scott himself was working the phones early on. Listening to Marshall speak after conceding, it should be clear to everyone that he has a sharp political mind and I honestly doubt his political life is over.

All of that said, Scott won not just because he tied Marshall to Pelosi but because he’s a good candidate and fought hard. Victory wasn’t won in one large county, in Houston Scott barely beat Marshall. In Bibb, Scott was soundly defeated by Marshall. But in counties like Pulaski, Bleckley, Wilcox, and Dodge – that is where Austin got his win. In Dodge County, Austin won 3 out of every 5 votes casted to Marshal’s 2. Previously Dodge had been a solid Democratic Party voting county. Dodge is like a lot of rural counties in this state, rich with local offices filled by Democrats – that’s something that has been changing in recent years. As rural Georgians identify more and more with Republicans, the harder it will be to run as a conservative Democrat.

GA-8 wasn’t won simply because of a national tide against Democrats. It was won through hard work and shifting partisan identification in rural Georgia.

And On A Brighter Note…

If you took the time to read my last post, you’ll probably think I’m fairly down, perhaps pensive this morning.  I am not.  Quite the contrary.  I have reason to be optimistic.

It’s not often that you have the opportunity to attend a victory party for a newly elected Congressman.  It is even more rare (if you’re around enough politicians to know better) when you think that Congressman has an opportunity and the ability to truly effect change in Washington.   This year, I’ve been able to do that twice.  

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John Barrow Is All Things To All People

The Augusta Chronicle has an article online outlining some double-speak coming from the campaign of Georgia’s 12th District Congressman John Barrow.   Democratic Households are being told that he “Works Hand in Hand with Obama”, while Republican leaning households receive mailers touting Barrow’s work against major Obama administration initiatives.

The first mailing has a cover with a picture of the Democratic president next to a headline, “NOW more than ever.”

“John Barrow,” it says, “is working hand in hand with President Obama to create jobs and turn the economy around.”

The other mailing has a headline that proclaims the 12th Congressional District representative as “not another rubber stamp.”

It says he “stood up to (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats in Washington.” It also notes his vote against Obama’s energy bill and “the Wall Street bail-out.”

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Landmark GA-8 Poll for 27 October

I must have missed the ribbon cutting, but it looks like Mark Rountree built a poll factory somewhere in Duluth.  Here’s their latest poll on Ga-8:

(Duluth)—Republican challenger Austin Scott is leading over Democratic incumbent Jim Marshall by solid margins within Georgia Congressional District 8. Last night’s poll results show Marshall at 39.1 percent of the vote with Scott in the lead at 52.5 percent.

In 2006, the African American vote accounted for 25 percent of all voters in the district. For this poll, Landmark Communications raised that percentage to 26.5 in order to accommodate for demographic growth.

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New York Times FiveThirtyEight: Austin Scott 87.8% Chance of Winning GA-8

As of October 25, Nate Silver of the New York Times FiveThirtyEight blog has moved Austin Scott‘s chances of winning to 87.8%, up 64% last week.

Democratic Incumbent Jim Marshall is projected to have only a 12.2% chance of keeping his seat.

Silver’s projected election result for GA-8 is Scott 54.4% Marshall 45.6%

This is awesome news for the Scott campaign who continue to push hard towards the November elections. I wish them luck and will be doing everything I can to make sure they are victorious b/c it will help us all in the long run.

Scott’s Divorce Papers To Remain Sealed Through At Least December; In Probably Unrelated News, GA-8 Moved To “Leans GOP”

As well they should be. Any hearing on unsealing them needs to be done without the backdrop of a campaign. Deets from Jim Galloway, including reports from WMAZ/Macon and the Macon Telegraph.

In more good news for Scott, Real Clear Politics has moved GA-8 from “toss up” to “Leans GOP”. Austin Scott and staff are hoping the trend is their friend.

Austin Scott on CNN

I was down in the 8th District this past weekend going door-to-door with the Georgia Association of College Republicans for Austin Scott. This group has been active every week in helping in crucial races. We knocked on 1,300 doors in the 8th and made hundreds of calls. If all of the “Yes” votes we got are any indication of what the future holds, then the Landmark Communications poll just might ring true.

There’s another trip this weekend. If you would like to make phone calls or help volunteer this week and weekend then contact Austin Scott for Congress Field Director Brett Taylor at [email protected]

I’m fired up about this race and can’t wait for November 2nd.

Scott AGAIN Outraises Marshall

Politico.com has an article up on GOP challengers outraising Democratic incumbents. Georgia’s own Austin Scott outraised incumbent Jim Marshall $460,000 to $299,000. Momentum continues to build for the Scott campaign and I will continue doing what I can to make sure they are victorious on November 2nd. This fundraising period (the last before the election) was an important one. Austin outraising Marshall sends a clear message that a contender could take out the “champ” in this race. I’m rooting for Austin, helping him, and I hope you will as well. Donations, phone calls, and a strong grassroots push will help make sure that this independent thinker is placed in Congress.

Our country, and our state will be better off if we can get Austin Scott elected to Congress. I hope you’ll join me. Check out http://www.scottforga.com to see where he stands on the issues.