From Peanut Politics:

I’ve been holding back from talking about this issue for sometime, but now is the time to talk about it. I compile a list of code words I’ve heard politicians utilize to speak about race issues without coming off as bigoted:

White

Average Joe
Joe six-pack
Moral voters
Independent voter
Evangelical voter
Hockey Mom
Soccer Mom
The southern vote
blue collar workers

Black

Welfare recipient
Poor people
Inner-city
Affirmative action supporter

These are just a handful of examples of how our media and politicians (not to mention everyday people) use racialized language to refer to groups of Americans without sounding like they are mentioning anything overtly bigoted. They can use these words and say “the southern vote looks high for…….John Doe” without saying that most southern whites will vote for John Doe. They can say “I don’t support just handing out welfare to recipients while hard working Americans bust their asses” without saying “I think blacks are lazy and whites are industrious”.

Going all the way back to the 1920s, racially coded language have been used by politicians to describe certain groups of people in hoping to appeal to a much greater audience in winning a race for Governor, President of the United States, Senator, even Mayor & County Commission. Sadly this kind of tactic has worked & it shows no sign of going away.

I hear so much talk about how much better we are in terms of racism in our country. Yes, we’ve gotten rid of terms such as ‘nigger’, ‘spic’, ‘gook’ from our daily vocabulary, but have we done much in the way of conditioned messages? I don’t think so, and many seem intent on keeping things this way by claiming racism is” over”, “that stuff ended long ago”, “get past it”, etcetera.

It’s funny how ready most liberal whites were to vote for Obama in the name of change and hope, and not to mention the fact that he’s black and how this would “end racism” or something like that. However, three years later, when the country is back to debating issues and race becomes an inevitable facet of the discussion.

Other racial code words include terms like “states’ rights,” “crime in the streets,” and “welfare queens, quotas, reverse racism are uninitiated, racial code words are words politicians (usually Republicans) are accused of using to supposedly help them win votes by raising whites’ fears of minorities.

At his now infamous presidential kick-off campaign rally at Neshoba County (Philadelphia), Mississippi in 1980, held virtually a stone throw from where the three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964, Ronald Reagan shouted to a lily white crowd that “I believe in states’ rights.” He laced his campaign speech with stock racial code words and phrases, blasting welfare, big government, federal intrusion in state affairs, and rampant federal spending. He used the term Welfare Queens to justify cutting back social programs. Only being removed from the civil rights era 10 years earlier, that kind of “wink, wink” approach was gobbled up by those who was duped & conned by the Southern Strategy of 1968, which was, above all else, about winning the rural, white Southern vote into the Republican sphere because the Democratic Party falling apart because of its inability to contain the contradictions of being both the formal party of civil rights in the North and the party of Jim Crow in the South.

Other words like “Uppity” which Congressman Lynn Westmoreland called president Obama one time late in the 2008 campaign & GOP congressional candidate Rick Goddard criticized an MSNBC reporter’s sharp questioning of former House speaker Newt Gingrich at the Republican National Convention. Goddard called the African-American reporter, Ron Allen, “uppity“

When the current President is called a criminal, a welfare cheat, they’re using new terms to get the point across: he’s Black, he’s urban, and he’s out of step with the rest of us. Plain & simple.

When Newt Gingrich said at the Ga GOP State Convention over the weekend that Obama was a Food Stamp president, now lets be real hear, anytime the words food stamps are mentioned, black people comes to mind, as well as hispanics. That is racially coded my friend.

Sometimes they don’t have to be racially coded. Here are a few code words the Democrats think Republicans use, along with the “real” meanings Democrats believe.

State’s rights.” That really means legalized racial discrimination.

Family values.” That really stands for legalized gender discrimination.

Junk lawsuits.” That is any lawsuit by an individual that demands a corporation be held accountable for their misdeeds.

Tort reform.” That is taking away a victim’s right to sue criminal corporations and putting rich people above the law.

Socialist: communist, liberal, progressive, community organizer.”

All these words actually are Republican code for “black.”“We share your values.” That means we are bigots like you.

The Republicans have some code words they attach to the Democrats as well.

In their heads, if a republican hear a Democrat utter the following words, you have to understand the real meaning behind them.

Invest.” That means spend.“

Stimulus. That is spending devoted to liberal causes.

Racism.”Well, I can’t win this argument with you, so this is all I’ve got!

Fiscal responsibility: You don’t pay enough taxes.

Comprehensive immigration reform.” Amnesty.

Republicans are the party of fear” They want to take your Medicare, your Social Security and free school lunches for poor kids.“

Freedom of religion. For everybody but traditional Christians

I can on on & on in talking about this subject, but one thing’s for sure, the use of racially coded words to appeal to certain demographics & voting blocs are harmful to the political process. But sadly politicians (most of the time republicans) use this to their advantage & it works.

From Aaron Gould Sheinin of the AJC:

The poll conducted for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Georgia Newspaper Partnership shows the Republican candidate holding a slight edge in the race for governor but huge leads in the races for U.S. Senate and lieutenant governor. The poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., has Republican gubernatorial nominee Nathan Deal leading Democrat Roy Barnes, 45 to 41 percent.

While Deal’s lead is within the poll’s margin of error, Republicans U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle held bigger leads. Isakson leads Democrat Mike Thurmond, the labor commissioner, 52 to 33 percent, and Cagle leads Democrat Carol Porter, 47 to 28 percent.

If those results are consistent across the statewide ballot, Republicans could sweep to victory in every constitutional office. Democrats currently hold three statewide offices, all of which are being vacated by their incumbents.

Read the rest of the article here.

Over the past month Lee Hawkins has been sending out press releases touting his strong grassroots support:

With a Special Election on the horizon, Lee Hawkins for Congress needs your help to ensure we continue to be the strongest grassroots campaign for Congress.

and

Because of you and your support, we have built the largest grassroots campaign focused on hard working North Georgians just like you. Each day, more leaders and legislators are pledging their support to our campaign.  We continue to lead in the polls and fundraising efforts.  All thanks to you.

So if Senator Lee Hawkins has the largest grassroots campaign in the 9th Congressional District race, why is he paying “volunteers” to phone bank for him?

http://www.indeed.com/job/Phone-bank-operator-at-Lee-Hawkins-for-Congress-in-Cumming,-GA-7b305f8ec26d8b9a

http://www.opportunityknocks.org/jobseekerx/ViewJob.asp?JobID=NDKpWFqAAasNx%2FO3itBmyKb4DJ6N&utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Indeed

Shouldn’t the “largest grassroots campaign” have actual volunteers or is this Hawkins’ idea of “creating jobs”?

Received via email:

The Walker County Republican Party will be hosting a 9th District Congressional candidate meet-and-greet on Saturday, April 10th at 5:00 PM at the Lee and Gordon Mills (71 Red Belt Rd. Chickamauga, GA 30707). Candidates who will be attending are:

Dr. Chris Cates

Rep. Tom Graves

Sen. Lee Hawkins

Rep. Bobby Reese

Councilman Steve Tarvin

Sen. Bill Stephens

This is an opportunity for citizens of the 9th District to meet with candidates, ask questions, and voice concerns in order to make a more informed decision in upcoming elections. This is a free event and refreshments will be provided.

GPB brings us an Associated Press report that Ray Boyd, a commercial real estate executive, has decided to jump into the race for Georgia governor. Boyd has thrown in $2 million of his own money to start things off.

Ray Boyd told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he’s entering the Republican primary.

The 67-year-old political newcomer from Rutledge says he’s upset by the lack of ethics in Washington and at the state Capitol.

He says the candidates already in the race have been “tainted” by ethics troubles and long careers in politics.

Boyd describes himself as sympathetic to the tea party movement and supportive of term limits and states’ rights.

Boyd’s $2 million pledge was first detailed in a campaign disclosure filed with the Ethics Commission.

The funds pull him about equal in cash on hand to Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, the current money leader among Republicans.

As a Georgia voter I’m disappointed. Our budget is imploding, our state is scrapped for cash, and we’ve been bickering over things like whether or not the Korean language should be allowed for the driver’s license test, despite their country’s hefty investment down near West Point. We get it, you’re trying to remain elected. You’re scared that voters might actually think for a second and realize that the coffers are not full of cash and that we have no plan to fix things.

I’m a Republican, but the politics being played this year are enough to make any die-hard Republican sick. I want EFFICIENT government. I want a budget that is actually balanced and a government that doesn’t waste money. I also want ETHICAL government. Ever since the Richardson scandal broke it seems like Pandora’s box is now open and every scandal is coming to light. GOOD. It’s about time that we saw the skeletons in the closet. The question now becomes what to do about it. The ethics measures that have been proposed aren’t good enough and we at Peach Pundit will touch on this in the future. But something must be done.

I reiterate: We have an imploding budget, no money, and unethical behavior that has hit our state government like a sledgehammer. And what have we gotten? What has been proposed? Absolutely nothing that will fix the problem. The Georgia General Assembly and our Governor would rather focus on impeaching Attorney General Thurbert Baker than on real issues. The GGA wants to hide behind the shadow of hatred for Obamacare rather than focus on issues. Is it too much to ask for responsible government? Is it too much to ask for a government that runs efficiently, spends taxpayer money wisely, and is free of unethical behavior?

Impeach Baker? The way this will look in November is that Republicans, awash in ethical mire and muck, unable to set a budget, fix transportation, furloughing teachers, etc; decided to take the time that should have been used to fix problems for a self-serving partisan witchhunt.

It seems one candidate managed to sneak by the media and qualify for the Ninth District Special election to be held on May 11.

Received via email:

April 1, 2010 · ROCK SPRING,

On April1, 2010 Ninth District GOP Chairman, Doug Grammer, announced he would enter the race for the Ninth District seat vacated by Nathan Deal.

“I have lot’s of friends in this race, but I want the voters to have another choice.” Said Grammer in his announcement. “By my last count we are down to about 5 to 10 candidates. If I can get 10%, all things being equal, we could make the runoff.”

Grammer said he’s not running for himself, but to draw more attention the Ninth District GOP. “All of our candidates need to stay close to the platform unless their conscious tells them otherwise. I won’t be resigning as District Chairman. I think it gives me an advantage I need to keep. I plan to approach the state GOP Rules Committee to change the rules so I can run, win, and serve as Chairman. I think it’s would be neat to have the Congressman of the District to also be the Chairman. We will see if everyone agrees with that soon.”Grammer has asked all of the other candidates running for Congress to serve as his campaign committee.

“These guys know what it takes to campaign in North Georgia. I would be lucky to have their advice. I hope all of them will drop out and endorse me.” So far, no other candidates have replied.

The Ninth District, which includes the counties of Catoosa, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Hall, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, Union, Walker, Whitfield, and White, is the most conservative district in the state, and third most conservative in the nation.

Not paid for by any other candidate, candidate committee, federal pac, lobbyist, or mafia.

I approve of this message if everyone else approves.

The friction has started. On Monday Senate Democrats said “No Thanks” to a Republican measure to increase hospital taxes.

Walter Jones with Morris News Service writes:

The Senate Finance Committee merged the House version of Perdue’s hospital tax with another bill nicknamed the JOBS Act that has a package of tax breaks for businesses. The committee also sweetened some of the tax breaks to resemble a version of the JOBS Act that Perdue vetoed last year.

The committee announced its 8 a.m. meeting Monday, when legislators were in recess, and said the agenda would be disclosed later. Only two Democrats serve on the committee, and witnesses say neither was present.

Senate staffers say the changes were needed to win enough votes for passage. The hospital tax isn’t popular with either party.

“We had to do some minor, technical amendments,” Senate President Pro Tem Tommie Williams told reporters Tuesday after the committee meeting.

Senate Republicans have taken the JOBS Act, which passed with bi-partisan support in the House, and stuck Perdue’s hospital tax in the middle of it. It’s an election year. The last thing any party wants to be forced to do is to raise taxes. It seems Republicans are trying to spread the blame out in order to protect themselves. Well, it’s not working for them.

“They can still pass it. They don’t need us – they’ve got 33 votes in the Senate. They only need 29,” said state Sen. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna). “We’re not committed to passing it or opposing it. We haven’t been brought into the discussion, either.”

Stoner’s comment is very reminiscent of DC Republicans response to Obamacare: “You can pass it without us.” We’ll see if the Senate does pass the measure. My guess is there will be plenty of negotiations between now and the vote. We are in the middle of a budget crisis and state needs revenue. This battle is just getting started.

H/T to Jim Galloway.

As you recall, Senator Isakson was admitted to the hospital earlier this week. WSB’s Jamie Dupree is reporting that Senator Johnny Isakson was released from the hospital:

[Isakson] is still recovering from a bacterial infection but feeling better. Isakson was hospitalized on Monday.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Senator. Here’s to a speedy recovery.

Update: Press release follows.

ATLANTA – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., was released from Northside Hospital Thursday after being admitted earlier in the week with a bacterial infection.

“Senator Isakson is still recovering from the bacterial infection, but his doctors felt that his condition has improved enough that he could go home and continue his recovery there. Senator Isakson is feeling so much better and he is glad to get back home. He and his family are very appreciative of all the prayers and good wishes they have received this week,” spokeswoman Joan Kirchner said.

One of Isakson’s attending physicians at Northside, Dr. Steven Marlowe, said bacterial infections typically require lots of rest on the patient’s part before they are fully recovered.

“Senator Isakson has really made great progress this week, and we are allowing him to go home today on the condition that he do nothing but rest and recover for at least the next week,” Dr. Marlowe said.

Isakson’s recovery at home will coincide with the Senate’s Easter recess, which begins next week. Isakson, 65, was admitted to Northside Hospital on Monday morning, March 22, after waking up at his home feeling weak and dehydrated.

The Politico has an article out today on tea party activists getting involved in their local political parties. I’ve been preaching on this for a while.

The reporter, Alex Isenstadt, interviewed me for his article and gave me the last word. I’m partial to my quote:

For some, supporting insurgent campaigns or waging primary bids just isn’t a strong enough signal to send to a Republican Party that has abandoned core conservative policies.

Erick Erickson, founder and editor of the influential conservative blog RedState, has urged Tea Party activists to “put down the protest signs” and stage takeovers of local Republican parties.

“Grassroots activists need to start infiltrating the party,” said Erickson. “The only way to start getting [the establishment] back is to start pounding them with every fist we have.”

Of note, as I have been writing about this, I’m emphasized the bipartisan nature of the advice. For Democratic and Republican grassroots activists, if you feel your party has left you, get involved. Frankly, I don’t care what your political leanings are. There are two political parties in this country that can affect broad national policy. Get involved with one of them. Pull it left or pull it right, it doesn’t matter. But get involved.

Hey Republicans, Mikey says to leave Obama alone. From CNN:

Former GOP presidential contender Mike Huckabee called Barack Obama’s candidacy “a landmark achievement” Tuesday, and warned fellow Republicans not to demonize Obama.

“Republicans will make a fundamental if not fatal mistake if they seek to win the election by demonizing Barack Obama,” Huckabee told reporters in Tokyo, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.

Full story here.

Hahahahaha. Ya gotta chortle. Two Republicans go on Face The Nation today, Ed Rollins and Governor Crist. Yet not one incident of liberal bashing among them. Not the slightest hint. It was all what we/McCain will do for the struggling people. My how things have changed since (R) losses in LA and MS! Now when will party Repugs reign in the talk show hosts with some of these hot new talking points?

Towery asks Republicans, “How paranoid are you?”

Is Newt the only Republican who senses those pesky ‘ole winds ‘o change ‘a blowin’? Of course it all could be backdraft from his own hot air, but The Newtster has his pulse right on America, again, in his wicked-clever, backhanded way.

For instance, he’s running around TV Land wagging his finger in the faces of fellow Republicans, saying essentially that Repugs will not get McCain into the White House by trotting out that same ‘ole, same ‘ole Attwater Rovian-based Stupid White Southerners People Strategy.

That bellowing those two toxic words (Jeremiah Wright) will not only make the bellowee look like a lard-butt drooler, the whole Rev. Wright stuff simply doesn’t have the legs Republicans seem to imagine it has… in political advertising and in what passes for political analysis on Media Farms such as Fox News.

Tom Baxter in Southern Political Report today echoes a similar albeit Newt-Lite sentiment:

Coupled with Obama’s sweeping victory in the Democratic primary Tuesday in North Carolina, where the state GOP ran an ad linking him (Obama) to both leading Democratic candidates for governor, the Louisiana election last weekend suggests that Obama won’t be so toxic for down-ticket Democratic candidates in the South this fall. A better way to say that might be: no more toxic than the average Democratic presidential candidate is for the party’s candidates in Southern races.

Full story here. Other than The Newtster and a very few assorted other party operatives, Republicans aren’t exactly known for their cultural intuition. In these here times of mind-boggling connectivity, cultural intuitiveness applied to political strategy has never been more critical. (And given how portly Newt has become, he’d better lay-off the carbs and exercise more if he wants to keep firing on all his most relevant cylinders, but I diverge…)

Then again, November is a’ways away. Plenty of time for some fresh party mischief making, eh?!