Sunday, July 18, 2004
Johnny Isakson's Mailer Attacks Cain
The Isakson campaigners justified the mailer by pointing out they had endured Cain's attacks on TV since early June -- and that several of Cain's charges were exaggerated or misleading. Tit for tat.
Jim Galloway and Tom Baxter AJC:
Herman Cain and the weekend of the long knives
Johnny Isakson put out a mailer that flirts with the truth:
• Herman Cain "donated money to pro-choice Democrat Senator Kerrey," the flyer says.
Isakson has raised $5.5 million, but couldn't afford to insert "Bob" in the line above. As in U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, not U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. Cain wrote the $250 check in 1993, when he lived in Omaha.
A spokesman for the Isakson campaign, which has decried negative advertising, saw no harm in voters thinking that Cain gave cash to the current Democratic presidential nominee. "Bob Kerrey and John Kerry are cut from the same liberal Democratic senate cloth," Heath Garrett said.
• Cain "stood with Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy to extend [the] Iraq handover deadline," the flyer says.
At a May forum in Gwinnett County, Cain said he wouldn't oppose extension of the deadline. "Do it at the right time for the right reason, even if we have to move it," Cain said.
• Cain "ran for president against George W. Bush," the flyer says.
Bush announced the formation of an exploratory committee for president on March 2, 1999. Cain filed his papers 17 days later, and quickly dropped out.
• Cain "endorsed Bush's opponent," the flyer says.
Well, yes. But Isakson omits the word "Republican." Cain was behind Steve Forbes in the presidential primary.
"We have sought a positive discussion, but we have also repeatedly put our opponents on notice that we will defend ourselves if attacked," said Brad Alexander, another Isakson spokesman.
Jim Galloway and Tom Baxter AJC:
Herman Cain and the weekend of the long knives
Johnny Isakson put out a mailer that flirts with the truth:
• Herman Cain "donated money to pro-choice Democrat Senator Kerrey," the flyer says.
Isakson has raised $5.5 million, but couldn't afford to insert "Bob" in the line above. As in U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, not U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. Cain wrote the $250 check in 1993, when he lived in Omaha.
A spokesman for the Isakson campaign, which has decried negative advertising, saw no harm in voters thinking that Cain gave cash to the current Democratic presidential nominee. "Bob Kerrey and John Kerry are cut from the same liberal Democratic senate cloth," Heath Garrett said.
• Cain "stood with Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy to extend [the] Iraq handover deadline," the flyer says.
At a May forum in Gwinnett County, Cain said he wouldn't oppose extension of the deadline. "Do it at the right time for the right reason, even if we have to move it," Cain said.
• Cain "ran for president against George W. Bush," the flyer says.
Bush announced the formation of an exploratory committee for president on March 2, 1999. Cain filed his papers 17 days later, and quickly dropped out.
• Cain "endorsed Bush's opponent," the flyer says.
Well, yes. But Isakson omits the word "Republican." Cain was behind Steve Forbes in the presidential primary.
"We have sought a positive discussion, but we have also repeatedly put our opponents on notice that we will defend ourselves if attacked," said Brad Alexander, another Isakson spokesman.
