Georgia On My Mind

Six years ago this week, I was campaigning across Georgia for re-election to the United States Senate. I loved being a U.S. Senator and serving the people of Georgia. As our country headed to war in Iraq, and continued to fight to find Osama Bin Laden, I believed that my service in Vietnam, my experience as a combat veteran, would be of added value to my home state, and to my country.

My opponent at the time, Saxby Chambliss, disagreed; running a television commercial against me that not only had Osama Bin Laden's face morphing into mine but also questioned my "courage to lead." I felt at the time that surely, my service and my sacrifice in Vietnam would be seen in a more positive light than that of Mr. Chambliss's, who was forced to miss the war with a bum knee.

Sadly, as my good friend John Kerry would learn two years later, the power of well-funded lies can be hard to overcome with the truth, and six years ago next Tuesday, Saxby Chambliss won.

It was a devastating loss to me personally, but rest assured my friends, I am doing well. I am hopeful for a resounding Democratic victory across the country next Tuesday and I am encouraged to see that Jim Martin is running a great race against Saxby Chambliss here in Georgia. Jim is gaining ground and if you can help him in any way, please do so.

I believe that justice can sometimes be delayed, but it can never be denied. I served my country to the best of my ability and I hope to serve it again. And like Jim Martin, I will serve with character, dignity and grace.

Something I can not say about the man I pray he replaces.

Comments

[Riven]

Mr. Cleland, I hope you are reading these comments so you'll know the high esteem in which many Georgians hold you. As should be clear to all thinking Americans by now, candidates who run predominately negative campaigns have nothing to offer but negative performance. Saxby Chambliss has given Georgia less than nothing for six years, and he deserves to suffer a resounding defeat. My support and my vote went to you in 2002, and they will go to Jim Martin this year. In every way, you are an extraordinary man, and the stunt Chambliss pulled to defeat you was beyond disgusting.

[easyed67]

Being from Maine I could not vote for you but it was disgusting what Chambliss did in that campaign. This is a well spoken honest post and I am glad you are doing well.

[mcantwell]

Mr. Cleland. Thank You for your service! I am a Republican and a Christian and I live in Georgia. I have had ENOUGH of this brand of Hate-mongering, war mongering, and Divisive Republican Party. My family and I have voted early......for Barack Obama and Jim Martin!

[susie1776]

Can someone explain WHY the good citizens of Georgia voted AGAINST Senator Cleland in the 1st place, 6 years ago??? That's the real issue.

[EllaBee]

I was not old enough to vote for you six years ago, but I thought about you while voting for Obama/Biden/Martin.

[MajorKong]

Senator Cleland,

What Chambliss did to you was despicable. The man has no honor.

[emcd]

Sen. Cleland
In all my years of observing the political landscape, I have NEVER seen a more shameful, un-American campaign as the one the impugned your character and service to country.

It made me ashamed and disgusted to such a degree that I cannot imagine myself EVER voting for a Republican again.

You are THE true personification of a war hero who went on to serve his country in a peaceful and productive capacity. I thank you for your lifetime of sacrifice and service and hope the country is privileged enough to again have you serve in government.

[ALEJCARO]

How Chambliss campaigned against Mr. Cleland, is a blot on our country, on the state of Georgia, and the people that allowed themselves to be connived into believing that claptrap. Chambliss is a menace, a talking serpent bent on convincing persons on the basis of lies and innuendo. I just contributed to Mr. Martin's election, and hope others do as well, only for the purpose of defeating Chambliss and serpents like him, for the good of the Republic. We have to turn against the politicians that operate like Chambliss and send them packing.

[sammdphd]

I voted the first day of early voting in downtown atlanta, and there were a lot people there then! Although i have to say I was in and out in 30min! Hopefully the Obama initiative to get the vote will work in the favor of Martin too!

[sdrDusty]

Thank you Sen Cleland! Many of us remember that filthy campaign bitterly. It's no surprise to anyone that Chambliss is reprising his performance with slurs against Jim Martin.
Was at a community fund-raiser/reception last night for Jim; many including me were discussing that, and how happy and proud we are of the current campaign.
It seems we're very close to rectifying our Chambliss problem, and I'm so happy to have read of your work supporting this.

[court fanatic]

I live in Georgia and I, for one, am sick to death of Saxby Chambliss' dishonest campaign. Every other television commercial is for his re-election, and just like his buddy John McCain he obviously sees nothing wrong in broadcasting outright lies about his opponent. I'm voting for Jim Martin and Barack Obama because we need to get rid of the old Washington good old boys like McCain and Chambliss.

[sammdphd]

true!!! I'm going to start a PR firm and disseminate misinformation about the GOP and right wing for every time they do it to the Dems....I'll be pretty busy it seems

[HoopyFrood]

I too, voted for Martin. I spent the summer registering voters and when I went to do early voting, was encouraged when I saw the turn out. Advance voting is this week, so if you live in GA and haven't voted yet...why not? take a friend, or a date, or a book.

Thank you Mr. Cleland for your service to this country and to Georgia.

[feo]

Someday someone will answer the question: Exactly what service did we Vietnam vets provide to this country? It's been 40 years and I still don't get it. America was clearly no better off than it was before LBJ invented the Tonkin Gulf incident. All the war did was get 58,000 Americans killed, countless more maimed and huge inflation domestically afterwards. This is service?

[Rangerk8]

You served when your country asked. You served no less than any member of the armed services going to Iraq does right now. Yes, the reasons were invented, for both conflicts. But that doesn't lessen the honor that you did our country by serving her. The stain of dishonor lies on the people who manipulated the situation, not you, or your fellow veterans.

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

Thank you Senator Cleland. You are a hero to a lot of people including me.

[MamaBird62]

Sen. Cleland,
Thank you for your service, and for the great work you do on behalf of our veterans. I hope to see you in the Obama administration, if that is your wish. I'm cheering (and sending money) in hopes that Georgia is the big election night upset, with Martin defeating Chambliss and Georgia going for Obama. I realize it is still a long shot, but so was a Barack Obama presidency just months ago.

Again, thanks Sen. Cleland, you are an American hero.

[sisterdebmac]

I second that! Cleland should be Secretary of Veterans Affairs (or whatever it's called) in an Obama administration. I can attest to the fact that Max has always been there for vets. When my elderly stepdad died, Sen. Cleland's office personally helped my elderly mother break through the red tape and start receiving her portion of his benefits. If not for Max and his assistance, she might've had to wait a few more months than she had already waited. Where was she supposed to live, what was she supposed to eat with no income? It often seems like the government just doesn't care about us at all. But Max cared. We need more people like him in government. I was so sad when he lost the race to that creep Chambliss. I'm definitely voting for Jim Martin.

And Max, I hope you get back to the work you do best very soon. If not, maybe you could make a few more hilarious appearances on Bill Maher's show. Who knew you had such a great, bawdy sense of humor?

[Ardeche73]

Senator Cleland,
I was against the war you fought, but you are a hero of mine. Because of you and the unconscionable way you were treated by Chambliss and his Bush/McCain Republicans who have brought our nation close to devastation, I have sent some money to Mr. Martin. If you're behind him, that's the only encouragement I need.

Thank you for your service - in every way.