Georgia Voters Get It Right--Reject Ralph Reed and Culture of Corruption

On Tuesday, Georgia voters went to the polls and had a big decision on their hand: whether to condone the actions of former Christian Coalition posterboy, Ralph Reed, by making him the Republican nominee for ieutenant governor this fall.

And guess what folks--they made the right choice!

The voters of the great state of Georgia rejected Ralph Reed (because of his association with Jack Abramoff) and the expansion of the Republican Culture of Curroption.

Bloomberg news reports, "Ralph Reed, the former head of one of the largest Christian activist groups, conceded defeat today in a Republican primary in his bid to become lieutenant governor of Georgia, the Associated Press reported.

Reed, 45, was hurt by disclosures that he once ran an anti- gambling campaign that was secretly financed by casino-owning clients of his friend, lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Reed has said he believed Abramoff's assurances he wasn't being paid with gambling funds.

Reed's opponent was Georgia state Senator Casey Cagle, who got 56 percent of the vote with 65 percent of precincts voting, according to unofficial results posted on the Georgia Secretary of State Web site. Lisa Baron, a spokeswoman for Reed's campaign, didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

In addition to Reed, Democrats were vying for the right to take on Republican Governor Sonny Perdue in the general election. Secretary of State Cathy Cox was behind Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor for the Democratic nomination with 64 percent of precincts voting. Perdue was headed toward a win with 88 percent of the vote against Ray McBerry with 64 percent of precincts reporting their results.

Reed made his first run for public office after climbing through the political ranks because of his connections in Christian and Republican circles. From 1989 to 1997 he ran the Christian Coalition of America, a group founded by evangelist Pat Robertson. Reed served as a consultant to George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign and oversaw the Southeast for Bush's 2004 re-election.

Reed's image as someone more interested in Christian causes than his own financial well-being was tarnished by a stream of e- mails released by a Senate investigation that said Abramoff bilked Indian-tribe clients out of millions of dollars.

``I need to start humping in corporate accounts,'' Reed wrote to Abramoff in 1998. ``I'm counting on you to help me with some contacts.''

In 2001 alone, he received more than $2.5 million from entities connected with Abramoff and partner Michael Scanlon, according to documents released by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee."

This should send a message to John Boehner and the rest of the do nothing Republican Congress. People are fed up with the corruption and they are not going to take it anymore!

Ralph Reed got caught red handed and he payed the consequence. I am confident that voters will do the same all over the country this fall and vote for change, just as they did in this race.

Lets reform government this fall. Vote Democrat for real change!