What Is Goin’ On?

Dale Cardwell, was an investigative reporter with WSB-TV for 12 years. He broke the story about the corruption of Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell. Now, he has decided to investigate politics from the inside and is running for the Democratic nomination for US Senator from Georgia.

Although he is running as a Democrat, Dale hopes to appeal to dissatisfied Republicans as well. In fact, he said that he has received as much support from Republicans as he has from Democrats. He thinks people are feed up with politics as usual and sees ‘08 as having the potential of being a vote against incumbents, like Saxby Chambliss, and in favor of change.

And why would people, Democrats and Republicans alike, vote against Chambliss? Several reasons:

(1) Dale points out that Chambliss has been a willing participant in a Republican majority that is responsible for out of control deficit spending. Chambliss has been a key supporter of the biggest spending presidency in recent memory. For me, Chambliss is a poster child for blind loyalty. Bush could not have made the mess he has were it not for Republican Senators like Saxby Chambliss.

(2) How many people really understand Chambliss’ unrestrained support of anything Bush, such as the total waste in Iraq?

(3) Chambliss teamed up with Teddy Kennedy on “immigration reform” which was nothing more than amnesty and a refusal to secure our borders. Chambliss “saw the light” only when presented with an overwhelming public backlash. Now, Chambliss is trying to make everyone believe he was for securing our borders.

(4) Likewise, Chambliss voted against S-CHIP funding for healthcare for kids, but has no qualms about supporting programs that funnel millions to big agribusinesses, some of his biggest supporters. He voted against healthcare for kids because tobacco companies opposed it due to the fact that it was to be financed with higher taxes on cigarettes. According to Dale, Chambliss is one of the biggest recipients of tobacco money.

Of course, it takes money to run for public office, but Dale believes his name recognition as a reporter with WSB will give him an advantage. He points to the fact that Sonny Perdue was able to defeat the incumbent Roy Barnes.

But Dale is determined to run a campaign supported by everyday Georgiana, not lobbyists and PACs. Dale points out that his average contribution is about $200, while Chambliss’ is $1,600.

Dale is also trying to take advantage of the internet in getting his message out. In addition to his campaign website he has launched “DALETHETRUTH.com” where he uses his investigative abilities to publish videos explaining how Chambliss has sold his soul to giant corporations.

Dale doesn’t believe Georgia is a red state, and points to Paul Braun’s victory in the 10th District Congressional election as evidence that voters don’t want political insiders, like Jim Whitehead, in office. And then, Hank Johnson beat Cynthia McKinney in the 4th Congressional District.

Dale recognizes that the coming battle in America is not rich versus poor, but corporations versus the rest of us. All business is not good business, particularly when it does not take into due consideration the good of the customer and the stockholder. While the stock market has soared, the average American family is making $1000 a year less today than 6 years ago.

Politicians don’t tell us the truth because they want to get re-elected. Dale says he wants to change that. He wants to tell us what we need to know. I am all for that Dale, but I am reminded how fickle we are when it comes to politics. We just prefer to vote for people that tell us what we want to hear, even if they lie. Someday, someday, we will change. Maybe ‘08!

Dale says that the ordinary citizen wants three things from government:

(1) We want to be left alone.

(2) We want government to stay out of our pocket books. He considers himself to be a fiscal conservative and points out that Chambliss has been a key supporter of one of the biggest deficit spending administrations in recent memory.

(3) Illegal immigration is a giant problem. People want our borders secured. They want our laws enforced and employers held accountable for hiring illegal aliens.