Congressional forum continues without Congressman Johnson
- 10/27/10
- Categorized in: DeKalb News, Politics
Despite what League of Women Voters DeKalb President Belinda Pedroso described as “multiple efforts” to schedule a 4th district congressional forum around Democratic Congressman Hank Johnson’s schedule, the congressman was not present for the Oct. 20 event. His challenger, Republican Liz Carter, was the lone candidate at the forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters DeKalb, Junior League of DeKalb and The Champion Newspaper.
The forum, which had been advertised for three weeks in print and online, was held at the DeKalb History Center in downtown Decatur. Around 1 p.m. on the day of the event, an e-mail from Congressman Johnson’s office was sent to Pedroso that stated, “Due to a scheduling conflict, the Congressman regrets that he will be unable to attend the forum. His bio and highlights from his record are attached.”
Pedroso said that The League of Women Voters began planning the Congressional debate shortly after the July primary and that the date was confirmed on Sept. 28. Reminder notices were sent from the League of Women Voters DeKalb to both candidates on Oct. 18.
The league president said she was disappointed. “I notified the congressman’s office that the debate would take place as planned,” Pedroso said. “When a candidate does not participate in a debate, the community is deprived of knowledge about that candidacy.”
Following moderator Bill Crane’s introduction, Carter began addressing the crowd by stating, “We are at a critical point in this nation. We need to elect people who will fight for what is right and not what is easy.”
With no time restraints, Carter continued to address the audience regarding education, transportation and her desire to end what she referred to as “corruption in politics.”
“I have walked and talked among the voters. It doesn’t matter if you are Republican, Democrat on independent, I will represent you.” Carter said. “District 4 has not had a strong representative in a long time and I live here. We need to move forward and get beyond political parties. I am tired of being embarrassed.”
I have been accused by Judges, Arbitraitors and Juries of writing a stinging letter since 1976. I ain't changed.
It would be my pleasure to see you and any of your supporters at a DeKalb Board of Commissioners Meeting. My circumstances don't allow me to visit the School Board Meetings / I had feared for some time that things there were not right. DeKalb County = A County that has lost it's moral compass !
Kindest Thoughts to all, Jerry Myer
We can only assume that it is with your and Liz Carters oversight that we now have this Total Disaster of a School Board here in DeKalb County ? IF INDEED YA'LL WERE AT SO MANY MEETINGS ?
And Ms Pat the US Marine Corps taught me how to type in 1969 and I will type what I want to when I get ready and I usually think before I type.
Evidently you have not only never attended a Board of Commissioners meeting in the last five years / You have not watched one on Dekalb CSPAN or you would see me speaking.
When I speak I have little to say good about Commissioners that have wrecked this County along with other Elected Officials / WANNA SEE FEARLESS COME AND SEE ME SPEAK SISTER !!!
As I type these words, I am also planning to Sue the Entire Board of Commissioners and DeKalb County over my Rights to Freedom of Speech and Freedom to Assembly.
Trust me Floyd at this time very few of my Elected Officials in this State make me happy. I believe all three choices for Governor are a disaster. At this time I'm planning on writing in Karen Handel with Carol Porter for Lt Gov. Need some Honesty somewhere under The Gold Dome !
Floyd, I live in the Fifth ( Congressman John Lewis ) and when a friend of mine in DeKalb County had a major poor decision on Disability from a Social Security Judge rather than forward the complaint to Congressman Lewis I wrote Congressman Johnson. This wasn't my first dance with a Social Security Judge / I swear that Congressman Johnson's staff worked to turn this Poor Decision around in Record Time as far as I was concerned restoring full benefits to my friend.
DeKalb County is indeed a Joke for people reelecting the same OLE DUMMYs back into office / FOR SURE / And people still showing the Video of Hanks remarks on the addition of 5,000 Marines to Taiwan / Give me a break ! A last minute attempt to smear Congressman Johnson with this Taiwan Video / Poor Taste. Alex Johnson might spend his time better speaking of his plans of turning DeKalb County around instead of Bashing Hank Johnson. The citizens of this State I think have had a belly full of negative ads / Tell us what you gonna do !
Trust Me ! I'm looking for Super Man / I just don't see him or her !
Liz Carter ain't worth dumping Hank Johnson !
How many times have you seen ANY US Congressman or Congresswoman at the County Commissioners Meeting? If you are "measuring" Mrs. Carter by that standard, then how many others have held up to that same measure?
I totally agree with you that it would CERTAINLY be a GREAT thing for the Political Leadership of that area to participate, keep in mind that Dict. 4 includes parts of THREE Counties(!)--NOT JUST DeKalb. There are MANY strong and active citizens, who do a LOT of good in the County who do not regularly attend the CCM's! I and my Family, and MANY of my friends and School Alumni, have spent LOTS of TIME & MONEY in support of DeKalb and Rockdale Schools, and other community activities without being regular CCM attendees.
If Liz is elected, I am SURE she WILL stay very well informed of Commission Activities, as well as the School Board. BUT it is MOST important that she stays in touch with the PEOPLE of the DISTRICT--- "Face-to-Face" --- rather than Board meetings. If there are problems, it should be up to the people to bring that to her for help!
---Floyd Burdett---
(www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNZczIgVXjg)
That's Hank Johnson (since you can't see him in the picture above), the 4th District Congressional representative, speaking to a United States Admiral regarding troop redeployment on Guam. Notably, Hank Johnson believes that by adding troops to an island, the island may capsize. Literally, capsize. For anyone who may have not been paying attention in school: Islands don't capsize. Hank Johnson is supposed to be highly educated (BA and a JD), and representative of our District. Watching the video, it's clear he wasn't joking, and it's clear that unless you really like the 4th District being represented by someone who knows less about the planet than a 5th grader, you'll vote for Liz Carter.
Personally, I don't see how any rational person can support Hank Johnson unless they are relying solely on partisanship, partisanship that is directly leading to the destruction of our nation. And if you vote for Liz and don't like the job she does (or you are partisan and really just want a Democratic representative in office), you'll wait for two years and then vote her out. But for now, we should get Hank Johnson out of office. I know people in California that were laughing at us due to the YouTube video above. Lets stop the laughing.
Alex Johnson
Candidate for Georgia State Senate, 41st District
(www.facebook.com/votealex)
We can not just depend on built-in checks and balances to guarantee a fair process. And if a County or District has a WEAK District Attorney / Well Then ! / While good people sit on the sidelines evil flourishes !
I ask all of you to view DeKalb CSPAN for the Board of Commissioners Meetings. And in the future we must encourage more and better peoples to become involved in the process of Government.
Keep on commenting and speak your mind. Speak Up, Stand Up, Stand Up for your rights and VOTE !
Honestly, both of these candidates are pretty weak. If Ms. Carter wins, it will be because we want to get rid of Hank Johnson and not because she's a bright star on the horizon. It's pretty much the same situation that allowed Johnson to be elected his first time running. She would also benefit from the nationwide wave against Democrats. She just doesn't strike me as someone possessing the emotional fortitude, mental stamina, and intellectual prowess to withstand the rigors of the US Congress.
Maybe redistricting will benefit Dekalb County and we can finally get some true statesmen in office.
Ms. Carter should stop trying to piggyback on Hank Johnson and continue to get her message out. If people believe in it, they'll vote for her. If they don't, they will vote for Johnson or sit out.
There are only six days until election and she's still crying about this? It makes me wonder if she can handle the much more fierce rumbles she would encounter in the US Congress.
Hank has not debated Liz because his handlers understand that he cannot debate her. He does not have logic and fact behind his decisions, only petty partisan politics and following the party line.
It high time that his tenure in Washington should "tip over", like Guam, and he return to the dozen or so in Lithonia that still support him, and give all the people of the Fourth District real representation and voice in Washington.
Her "Yank Hank" ad is exactly what needs to be done to be able to start addressing the corruption in DeKalb. Hank is a "Yes" man and is weak. I'd like to see the county and the school boards explain what they've done with our tax dollars to Liz!
Hank was part of the commissioners and is part of the problem in Dekalb, that's why he won't debate. He's arrogant and should not be returned to Congress.
I commend Liz for stepping up in this district, everyone knows what she's up against and she's got the backbone to get the job done. She's fearless and isn't beholden to any special interest or her political party. She'll do what is right, is honest and has been candid with everyone.
Go Liz!
Hey, Jerry maybe you should become part of the solution and help vote out people who support the corruption and who had you escorted out. Think before you type!
I speak of how DeKalb County is now a County that has lost it's Moral Compass.
I always stand for those less fortunate.
I have had a Police Escort and ordered out of The Board of Commissioners Meeting twice now by Uniformed and Armed DeKalb County Police Officers.
I was assualted by a man over twice my size during a Meeting of The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners one Month ago. Under a Freedom of Information Request the DeKalb Board of Commissioners has not given me the name of this person yet. Kathie Gannon and Larry Johnson are my Commissioners.
I have never seen Liz Carter at any DeKalb County Board of Commissioners Meeting.
In DeKalb County between The Court House, The School House, The Board of Commissioners and the CEO some 200 MILLION DOLLARS of the TAX PAYING CITIZENS of DeKalb County has gone straight down the toilet.
Where was Liz Carter ? Berfore Liz Carter gets so excited about The Congress and President OBama she might help put out some of the Trash in her own backyard !
And her " Yank Hank" ads / What an insult / I don't blame Congressman Hank Johnson for not debating her at all.
And besides Liz Carter how about the other Elected Representatives in DeKalb County / I guess they don't read the papers or get out much !