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.
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I've already voted for Jim Martin. I have despised Saxby Chambliss for his treatment of you for six years. I further despise him for his consistent voting against measures to aid our veterans.
Also, I've been disgusted with the tendency of far too many of my fellow Georgians to gobble up right-wing propaganda and outright lies as if they were holy writ. The willfully blind and terminally gullible voted you out of office six years ago. There are many of them still around.
Best of luck to Mr. Martin. May the best man win, unlike what happened in 2002.
I donated for the very first time in my life to Jim Martin's campaign last week after hearing about how Saxby Chamblis campaigned against you in 2002. I did not live in Georgia at the time so I was unaware of what had happened last time around.
I thought of you last night after waiting for a couple hours to cast my vote. Thanks for getting out there and informing all the of the new Democrat Georgia residents!
What "character, dignity and grace", you possess indeed. More than most mortals. Even my republican mother was horrified at the time. My sister says Jim Martin hasn't held SC up to ridule in his ads for those shenanigans. This is a grace moment in history; I pray too your guy comes through. And I expect to see you back in an official capacity.
God bless and keep you.
Obama should give you a job representing Veterans.
It is SO good to hear from you Max. What they did in that campaign against you was as dishonorable a thing as I have ever seen. THEY brought shame upon only themselves by their shameful actions, and it will follow them and their pathetic, blindly partisan supporters forever.Please rest assured that your stature as a patriot and a true heroic American has never been diminished in the eyes of any sane person who knows what truth, honor, and service really mean. YOU represent the best of what it means to be an American, and above that, a human being, and a real man. THANK YOU for your service to our nation!
Senator Cleland, the people of Georgia need to ask themselves "What has Saxby Chambliss really done for Georgia?" and then vote for Jim Martin.
Chambliss' treatment of you in the election was despicable to be sure, but his pitifully poor tenure as Senator is what will cost him his job. The people of Georgia deserve better than Saxby Chambliss as their Senator, and Jim Martin is the best choice for Georgia on November 4th.
Having grown up on the Alabama-Georgia state line, with all of our local media Columbus-based, I 've been pretty familiar with you and your service to the state of Georgia. I've always admired your leadership, and was sad to see how you were treated in that election. For anyone to question your dedication to this country takes a lot of gall, but we all know there is no limit to what the republican party will do to get their guy elected. It is my hope that Georgia's voters will do the right thing this time and vote Saxby Chambliss out of the office he never deserved in the first place.
Best wishes to you, Mr. Cleland.
Mr. Cleland you are a true American Hero and watching what Republicans did to you motivated me to register and get involved here in our great state to help get it back from the likes of Saxby Shambliss. I truly regret that we were not able to defeat them 6 years ago but if it means anything to you, your plight has brought about an awakening in me and several others here in Georgia to get involved and win our state back for the Dems.
Cleland should be head of the VA. under Obama.
I second that! I had the honor of meeting you, Mr. Cleland, many years ago. You make me proud to be a Georgian!
I wish you the best Max and I admire your grace and courage. The campaign run against you by Chambliss was a travesty, I hope Martin wins.
I have been intrenched in this election, the rep are now talking about the Dems taking all 3 branches of government......didn't seem to bother them when it was their Bullet proof Majority. They talk about experence....Didn't bother them with W, hell he only left America once before his election. They ask Joe Biden about his health, doesn;t bother them that McCain only allowed partial disclosure of his Med Records. My Favorite is Mccain stating he has been tested, At the Hanoi Hilton, where they eventually broke him( W dirty tricks) and on a deck of a Navy Carrier in the Atlantic during the Russian/Cuban Blockcade? I don't remember McCain being in charge of the Carrier he wasn't mentioned in Bobby's Kennedy's book 13 Days. This guy is well a story teller!
Thank you for your service, Max. I'm not a Georgian - I live in California - but I jumped at the opportunity to donate to Jim Martin's campaign last week. I only wish I could do more. We will never forget what Chambliss did, and will continue to fight!
MAX,I LOVE YOU. ONLY REPUBLICANS CAN SPIN A DRAFT DODGING GUARDSMAN AS A MAN OF CHARACTER. ONLY REPUBLICANS CAN INSTALL AS SECRETARY OF DEFENCE, A FIVE DEFERMENT COWARD ,NAMED DICK CHENEY,UNDER POPPY BUSH`S PRESIDENCY.ONLY A REPUBLICAN CAN SMEAR A VIETNAM VETS HEROIC RECORD AND SPIN IT INTO NOT BEING A PATRIOT. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, WE HAVE LOST OURSELVES,ESPECIALLY THE INTEGRITY CHALLENGED REPUBLICAN PARTY. RIP ,PHONY PATRIOT REPUBLICAN PARTY. VOTE OBAMA
Mr. Cleland, you are a symbol of all that is fine about true Americans. Unfortunately, you are also the prime example of the tactics used by the evil, un-American oligarchy which has ruled this country for several decades now, if not longer. These scum will literally do or say anything to prevent their plans being foiled. This election is not about Obama-V-McCain; it is about the evil Oligarchy-V-the citizens of America.
To be perfectly honest, I have no idea why they're bothering to continue their campaign, since they've already looted our country of every dime it has, now and into the future. The only rationale I can think of is that now they want to escape justice for their crimes against our country.
I'm not optimistic about the outcome of this election, for obvious reasons. They are prepared for the outrage which will follow yet another stolen election, as the US Army's 3rd Infantry Division 1st Brigade Combat Team have recently been assigned here, to put down possible "civil unrest". They certainly aren't here to pacify possible disappointed Republican voters.
Thank God that the second amendment is so popular with the Republican base, and that we have many seasoned military veterans who continue to be patriotic citizens.
I voted early for Jim Martin (and six years ago voted for you). Thank you for your service and God bless you!
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