On the heels of Gov. Nathan Deal's trade mission to the Holy Land, Democratic rival Jason Carter issued a campaign white paper this week in which he said he would oppose boycotts, sanctions or divestment campaigns "that seek to isolate and delegitimize Israel."
Typically, the campaign white paper making the rounds this week wouldn't attract much attention. Criticizing Israeli policy often can be politically dangerous in many parts of the country, including Georgia. (See: Cynthia McKinney). But given Carter's family background, it's worth a deeper look.
Former President Jimmy Carter, grandfather of Jason Carter, famously brokered the first Israeli-Arab peace treaty during his term in the White House. But his relationship with the Jewish community deteriorated since,
in the West Bank and Gaza to the apartheid that once existed in South Africa.
In the white paper, the younger Carter wrote of building a "powerful connection" to Israel's sacred history long before his 2010 election to the state Senate. And he notes his east Atlanta district is home to one of the more vibrant Jewish communities in metro Atlanta.
Wrote Carter:
"I understand and appreciate the importance of Israel to all Americans and, specifically to the state of Georgia. A closer relationship between the United States and Israel benefits both nations."
He said he supports the purchase of more Israel bonds, backed new partnerships between Israeli schools and Georgia research institutions, and hinted at a potential trade mission to the Holy Land should he win.
But it is his declared opposition to boycotts of Israel that catches our attention.
Why is that significant? Campaigns urging institutions or governments to divest in Israeli products seem to be gaining momentum. The Presbyterian Church became the nation's most prominent religious group to endorse divestment last week.
You can find Carter's full Israeli white paper right here.
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On behalf of Morris News Service and WAGA-TV, InsiderAdvantage is out with an automated phone/online poll that has the governor's race as follows: Republican incumbent Nathan Deal, 47 percent; Democrat Jason Carter, 40 percent; and Libertarian Andrew Hunt, 3 percent.
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The pro-David Perdue Super PAC, Citizens for a Working America, has purchased $503,000 worth of TV ads bashing Jack Kingston, according to a new FEC filing.
The Republican Senate runoff buy matches the group's $500,000 pre-primary buy. CWA was seeded with $1.035 million in April from the Ohio-based "Jobs and Progress Fund." The latter group is a 501(c)4 nonprofit that does not disclose its donors.
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On the other end of the campaign finance haves/have-nots scale sits Paul Broun, the Congressman and als0-ran in the GOP Senate race. Broun is now working to retire his campaign debt, as Walter Jones of Morris News Service reports on a letter he sent to donors seeking to raise $15,000 online by Monday's campaign finance deadline:
All eight of Georgia's U.S. House Republicans are pitching in for a debt retirement Capitol Hill fundraiser for Broun on July 9. That includes Kingston, whom Broun has not yet endorsed in the runoff. Just $500 gets you in the Capitol Hill Club, or $1,000 of PAC money. The invitation is to the right.
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Speaking of also-rans, Karen Handel, via the Kingston campaign, took issue with Perdue's comments to the Insider this week that she took as insulting the Republican "grassroots."
First, here's what Perdue said:
"The argument about non-participation in the process – it's an empty comment, because [critics] don't understand the bigger issue. The biggest issue is not moving through the machinations of a political structure within a party, so that you can be tapped one day to run for Congress. That's what's got us in this mess."
"They do not volunteer their time and sweat equity in hopes of being 'tapped one day to run for Congress,' as David seems to think. They do it for a cause greater than themselves – to elect Republicans who will advance conservative principles. Most importantly, the Grassroots are the voting base of our Party – the people who, election after election, year after year, show up at the polls and vote. They not only deserve, but they have earned the respect of ANY candidate who is asking for their vote."
Note that Perdue uttered not a word about high school diplomas.
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A sign that this state Senate race bears watching: Michael Williams, the Republican challenger in a runoff with incumbent Jack Murphy, R-Cummings, is using talk radio provocateur Erick Erickson to lure supporters to a Saturday fundraiser at the Sip Wine & Tapas Bar in Forsyth County.
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We'd forgotten that former University of Georgia president Michael Adams had once served as chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Howard Baker, the great Tennessee conciliator, who died on Thursday. Adams sent us this note:
"Howard Baker was one of the greatest senators in United States history and one of the greatest influences on my life. His commitment to principle, but also to respect for others' opinions, and his ability to work across the aisle are traits the country desperately needs today. Mary and I are heartbroken and extend our deepest sympathy to Nancy, Derek, Cissy and the entire family."
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