Take, for example, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's coverage of the controversy surrounding Andrew Young's mealy-mouthed position on whom he's supporting in the Democratic race for attorney general. The AJC gave us a partial quote from Ken Hodges' campaign manager Shannon Marietta [Galloway, Jim (2010-6-4). Your morning jolt: Forget border wall — we need ray guns. AJC Political Insider. Retrieved on 2010-6-7).].
Here's the rest of that quote:
It's not surprising that Rob Teilhet, who's never prosecuted a single case and appeared before judges a handful of times, is trying to divert attention from his lack of experience in the courtroom and with law enforcement. The reality is that Ambassador Young endorsed his candidacy, as have former Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, Senator Michael Meyer Von Bremen, Civil Rights Leader Lonnie King, and law enforcement officials from around the state, and hundreds of other Georgians from all walks of life and all parts of the state. Those endorsements are based on the simple fact that the Attorney General should be a tough, fair, and experienced prosecutor rather than a politician who lives and dies by political favors.
Additionally, the AJC posted a screenshot of the Ken Hodges mailer that Rob Teilhet seems to have a problem with. Below is the Hodges campaign mail piece in its full context:
By all accounts that I have heard from people in the business, Mr. Hodges was a good prosecutor at the local level. However, he seems a bit confused about the function of the job of Attorney General.
ReplyDeleteI heard him speak to a room full of deputy sheriffs in which he referred to the AG as the top law enforcement officer in the state, and this quite simply isn't the case.
The AG can only prosecute crimes in which the state government itself is the victim and argue the state's position in capital case appeals. Furthermore, the AG has now power or authority to direct state or local law enforcement.
The AG is the state's lawyer, not a crime fighter.