Seeing Red

originally published July 19, 2006

After I left the Board of Elections office, I stepped over to the bank to take care of an overdraft, only to find that my balance was now comfortably positive. On the way out of the bank, I ran into a guy who gave me an excellent tip on some coal company stock. As I walked back to the office, a cool breeze blew, and an attractive woman invited me to lunch. By the time I got back, Halliburton had called, with instructions to run three full-page ads and they'd send a check. I didn't realize the rewards of voting Republican would be so immediate.

Yes, I did it, even though it meant abandoning Bill Overend in the local Solicitor General race and the state Democratic candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, etc. I wasn't sure it was the right thing, and I was relieved to realize that all I had to do was check the Republican box on the application. I didn't have to shout out, "Give me one of those Republican ballots." But, then, I voted early, at the Board of Elections office. I guess if I had voted at Oglethorpe School, I would have gone to a separate table, where everybody would know and would look at my clothes.

But when I touched the screen to vote against Ralph Reed in the lieutenant governor's race, I felt a flood of satisfaction. In my heart I knew I'm right. Kill the brain, kill the ghoul. Casey Cagle, who got my vote, however much he might add to the shame of the Republicans under the gold dome, would not use the office as a stepping stone to the presidency.

Maddened with power, I also voted against Gov. Sonny Perdue, even though that meant voting for the flag guy. He was only running against Perdue because the Governor ran last time on the promise of restoring the battle flag of the Confederacy to our state flag and then baldly (no pun intended) reneged on it. I figured if there ever were such a thing as a protest vote, this was it. Sonny has been a disaster, and he shabbily betrayed the flag folks.

It has taken a while to get back to feeling okay about myself. At the intimate R.E.M. affairs, there's a certain coolness in the air (pun alert), but I just keep reminding myself that what I did, though maybe unethical in certain circles, was not illegal.

I guess I just don't like to be an "aginner." We ought to vote for somebody rather than just voting against candidates, but of course this whole apostasy started when Democratic gubernatorial candidates Mark Taylor and Cathy Cox both began caving to the anti-gay hypocrisy that Perdue was whipping up. For better or worse, I went one step further than just boycotting their race and boycotted their party. And it did feel good. So, let the record show that even a knee-jerk yellow-dog Democrat can be persuaded to vote Republican.

Those few steps I walked in Republican moccasins gave me a fleeting sense of comradeship for the reds among us. They have for many years been a minority here in Athens, with most of their candidates forced to endure the ignominy of running as Democrats if they wanted any chance to win. Now, at least that charade is over. To cover their shame, local Republicans succeeded in pushing through the legislation to do away with party elections for local office. In November, we'll vote for our mayor and commissioners never knowing whether the candidates on the ballot are Democrats or Republicans. They'll all just be nice people, and we won't find out until after they're elected what their political philosophies really are.

Well, good luck to all. Politics is hard work, and we should thank anybody who undertakes to go through the arduous task of asking fellow citizens for votes.

I was talking with a commission candidate the other night who actually enjoys the give and take of going door to door asking for votes. He said he hates having to ask people for money, but he thoroughly enjoys knocking on their doors and talking to them about their needs and concerns.

My response was that one of the best things about a political campaign is that it really does educate the candidates who get out and work. And it also educates the volunteers who try to help somebody get elected. There is no better way to learn about your community than to get involved in a campaign. You'll no doubt feel nervous and awkward the first time you knock on a door and offer somebody a leaflet, but after you've survived the initial fear, you'll feel a sense of exhilaration from plunging into street-level politics. There are also envelopes to be addressed, telephone calls to be placed, computers to be worked and friends to be made.

There are lots of legislative, mayoral and commission races between now and November, not to mention the state offices. Find one and get involved. No matter how your candidate fares, you'll come out a winner.

Pete McCommons, Editor & Publisher editor@flagpole.com

Pete McCommons, Editor & Publisher

editor@flagpole.com