Plainly speaking, in not disclosing the full context of the Oct. 24 editorial in his ads, McKillip showed himself, at best, as someone willing to shade the truth, and, at worst, as someone willing to try to lie to get into the state legislature.
McKillip's willingness to bend - if not exactly break - the truth should raise in voters' minds the all-important question of whether he has yet to develop the ethical maturity needed by someone seeking public office.
And now I see scanning the ole blog here that McKillip has lost at least one strident supporter (And my point is illustrative, NOT picking on the poster for flip-flopping):
September post by UGADemocrat:
UGAdemocrat said...
It's clear from the people that support Mr. Culpepper (the few, the old, the Republican) that he is no independent. It comes as no surprise that Mr. Culpepper would have a yard sign for an inexperienced, previous losing Republican. He will face the same fate as Mr. Cowsert, a definitive defeat. Mr. McKillip is campaigning on the progressive ideals that define Athens in the state of Georgia. He is supporting the issues that reflect the will of the voters. He will win hands down because Ms. Quick sadly has decided not to run a campaign despite getting herself on the ballot and because of the fact that Mr. Culpepper is a Republican in hiding who is connected to losing Republicans and party switching Athens politicians who were swept from office. Mr. Culpepper is no more of a threat to Mr. McKillip than Mr. Cowsert was to Rep. Kidd two years ago. The reason is just as Rep. Kidd was an excellent candidate for House, Mr. McKillip is ready to join the Athens delegation in Atlanta and work for the issues that matter to us.
Today's post:
UGAdemocrat said...
It's official, I'm going to vote and...
Regina Quick for House 115.
_________________________________________
That's a pretty amazing turn-around for a guy with "democrat" in his blogger handle...
If you believe everything you hear, "Karl" Eldridge and other Republicans put up EH to run. But I've been seeing a lot of culpepper signs in the same yards as Jane's. (Including folks like Louise McBee).
So in the true spirit of slowing down to gawk at a car wreck... Are we witnessing a... um, car wreck in the form of the McKillip campaign? (I know, same metaphor twice in a row...)
Discuss.
26 comments:
Not just a fender bender...a train wreck. The more you examine the candidates, the labels become less important. McKillip is a democrat but so what? I don't want anybody whose willing to "shade the truth" elected. I know he's a developer because I checked out the info. posted by Blackdognow under Chamber Endorsement Thread. I just don't understand, again, why he felt it necessary to "shade the truth" on that issue at the neighborhood federation meeting. I started out this thing leaning toward the democrat in this race, but, now, no way. I'm not impressed by Culpepper. I wish Quick had a "D" by her name (democrat, not developer), instead of an "R", but nonetheless that's who will get my vote. The yellow dogs are turning in their graves and, hey, I'm sorry, but I wasn't left with much of a choice.
If you missed the 115 Neighborhood Federation Forum, go to http://www.wuga.org/ and click on "House Streams" under Election Forums heading to hear the Quick/Culpepper/McKillip forum.
Doug McKillip is by far the best candidate in the 115th for all parties, people and businesses of Athens. The Banner-Herald is so completely full of hot air and balderdash. Vote McKillip for a better Georgia
Was the ABH full of hot air when they endorsed Heidi? Sadly, we're all realizing that Doug is the third best candidate in a three-person race.
This is also proof that letting the state Democratic party run your campaign from Atlanta is not the way to go when it comes to Athens politics. I'm afraid the same approach will hurt Jane Kidd, although I hope not!
Dan, mis-quoting the endorsement to mis-lead the electorate is the balderdash. I'm not a big fan of ABH either, but that's a slimy move on McKillip's part
Listen, I'm a good Democrat, but I'm also full of common sense. So to trump out the party line to defend McKillip's obvious faults (and his apparent lies) is ridiculous. The only reason you're still backing him is because he's got that 'D' next to his name.
He's lied about not being a developer. He's lied about being endorsed by the paper. He lumped Quick and E.H. together in a bogus mailer piece which was so far from reality, it's not funny.
At some point, you've got to start to wonder about this.
I can still vote for Heidi and Kidd and the rest of the Democrats and not support McKillip, and be OK with that.
E.H. may look like an old school republican but he is anything but. He helped build the Classic Center. He supports passenger rail and alternative transportation. He was on the greenway commission. He was one of Gov. Barnes' state appointees.
The truth is, neither Regina nor E.H. are pure Republicans (or Democrats), but both are pretty good representatives of large parts of the district.
I cannot say that I was surprised to see the editorial in the ABH this morning about Doug McKillip-- I have been concerned about his denials about being a developer and now I see that he has followed the same pattern of distortion and misrepresentation about the endorsement of a newspaper. I, for one, am glad this information is coming out before the election. I urge you to read the posting about Doug's denial about being a developer. Stay tuned.
this is just sad. an older wiser candidate would never ever have shaded the truth. heck, he could have gone after some of EH's developer base and balanced that w/his pro-populist educational and health care agenda.
Both he and Bo are young, and I'm afraid he let his trial lawyery self trump his never ever even remotely stretch the truth about anything in a political contest self. which I hope he finds in some sort of a postelection epiphany or something.
very disappointing.
I already voted, though, so who cares what I think at this point?
On that same thought, isn't the development in question actually a fairly "green" project, as these things go? Shouldn't/couldn't he have just flipped the accusation right back?
He's been involved in more than one development project -- several. The point is that when called on it he denied having ever developed anything. It's about integrity and honesty. Had he said "sure, I've developed some properties", then I wouldn't be concerned about it.
I think that I heard about the development in question that John Barrow said of it that it is the right type of development in the wrong place...whatever that means
Did Doug imply in some literature that E.H. had a hand in cutting funding to schools? Is this possilbe- he's never held that kind of office. And what's the Student Education Fund?
Prediction: Regina and EH in a runoff.
Aren't Doug's kids at Athens Academy?
Wouldn't surprise me, this guy has been such a disappointment. He's for Athens businesses, sets up shop in Oconee County. He's for Athens schools, send his kid to the Academy. Next thing you know, he'll deny being a developer and then we'll find out he has stake in a development - oops, I guess that has already happened. Sad.
I haven't read all the info yet (just got back into town), but I have to say, on hearsay alone, I'm still voting for the guy. I know that Quick and Culpepper aren't exactly rabid Republicans, and I'm not a fan of stretching the truth, but lying isn't the worst offense a politican can commit. This isn't about personalities. It's about issues. And I do think McKillip'll do a better job of fighting for school funding than either of the other candidates. That may be a misguided impression. Feel free to correct me.
Ah. He'll lie about what he does, and he'll lie about who is endorsing him, but as long as he pimps for my issues, I'm cool with all that.
Well, it's less that he lied (H is right, it's not the worst thing a politician can do), it's that he was stupid enough to run an ad claiming an endorsement he didn't have in the very same paper that he claims endorsed him!
Personally, I don't even understand how one can believe he'll fight for school funding. He was caught lying in his ads, he lies publically at the debate about being a developer and, if recent radio ads are true, he 'supports' Athens business by locating all his business (including his campaign) over in Oconee county. This make the ad fiasco seem like a pattern, not a one-time mistake.
On education, I looked at both the Quick and Culpepper websites and they are proposing the same or 'better' school improvements. Because of majority party status or relationships already made, it seems like both of those two would be better at the capital 'fighting for school funding.'
Hilary: I understand where you're coming from, and I felt pretty much the same way UNTIL I decided to contact the candidates. Quick is damn sharp on these issues. Call her. She'll talk to you about the issues and your concerns. I started out this whole process fully intending to vote for the democratic candidate, but I am sorry to say that he has not conducted himself in a way that deserves my trust or my vote. I feel very hopeful about Quick. And if it doesn't work out, I'll work like hell to vote her out during the next election.
Ah. He'll lie about what he does, and he'll lie about who is endorsing him, but as long as he pimps for my issues, I'm cool with all that.
Well... Yes. Kind of.
Also, there's the point that voting in Quick or Culpepper doesn't do anything toward maintaining the small number of seats the Democrats currently have in the House, which need to be kept if there's any chance of swinging it back that way at some point.
If he lies about endorsements and his job, what makes you think he's not lying about his committment to education? (Which, by the way, is lacking in new ideas and sounds a lot like DPG talking points.)
As to the other point, this seat is hero snow for any Democrat that doesn't stick his dick in the fan. We don't need the seat that bad, because we'll run a good Democrat who knows how to run a campaign next time. Or we'll convince Regina to switch parties.
I agree. If Doug wins this seat, it's his for as long as he wants to keep it. With an "upset" we essentially guarantee:
a) what amounts to an open seat in two years
b) a responsive representitive who knows he/she has to keep their district happy in order to fend off a challenger
If EH wins, and he's smart about it, he's should be doing everything he can to make sure ACC dems are, if not happy with him, at least only grumbling softly. If he goes hog wild republican, he's ensuring opposition in two years.
Quick will have an even harder row to hoe. Probably the only way she holds on to her seat is by doing a reverse John Barrow on the Reublicans.
I heard (from a reliable source) that McKillip has one of his children at Athens Academy--let's see--he says that he is the education candidate--he is going to increase funding for public education, but not stay in that system with his own children and fight to make it better...along with his business being in Oconee and his having just relocated his family from Oconee to Athens right before the year requirement, it smacks to me of opportunism--something that in my mind does not bode well for his representing us in Atlanta...... but I have already voted and we'll see what the electorate decides when the votes are tabulated tonight!!
With an "upset" we essentially guarantee:
a) what amounts to an open seat in two years
b) a responsive representitive who knows he/she has to keep their district happy in order to fend off a challenger
Unless it gets redistricted.
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