Mary Norwood has been by my side the entire time she’s been in office. I was a renter who could no more contribute to her campaigns than buy a BMW. Yet whenever I had trouble with the city, she and her staff knew exactly who to go to in COA government to make things right. And often she herself, Mary Norwood, followed up to see how I was doing. Now, cynics will label that as campaigning. I label that as the best city council representative I ever had before moving to District 1.

As for my previous endorsement, I feel like a long-time, contented spouse who was seduced by the whispers of a new and seemingly more exciting alternative.

Well, I’ve come to my senses.

I want to make a couple of points to address the most common Mary-bashing talking points:

1) Atlanta is the classic strong mayor/weak council model of government. If the Mayor doesn’t want a council rep to succeed, they won’t. City Hall lives and breathes favoritism, and will exclude anyone who might be a threat to The Machine’s status quo. Mary is one ATL City Council representative (of many) who has been excluded from critical conversations and decisions. Mary as Mayor = inclusion.

2) No sitting city council rep will endorse a mayoral candidate in a tight race. Let’s say a city council rep endorsed someone and they lost: that person’s district is, to put it in the vernacular, screwed. On the other hand, it’s easy for the ATL legislative delegates to endorse Kasim; there can be no backlash.

3) Mary’s colleagues don’t appoint committee chairs, the council Prez does. Again, exclusion, not inclusion.

4) Finally, the charge I hate MOST: “Mary hasn’t accomplished anything.” How wrong can you be?? Mary Norwood has addressed the concerns of countless individuals in every neighborhood across the city when they’ve been stonewalled by the COA. 

Mary has taken care of all of us in a way Shirley never has. Despite all of his “neighborhood” rhetoric, I can’t see Kasim taking care of the variety of needs of all intown neighborhoods any more than his predecessors, much less with the commitment and passion Mary has demonstrated year after year.

Plus, Mary has campaigned against the current Administration, which has done little in its last four years, except to dismiss and ignore neighborhood concerns over crime and policing. She has not started whisper campaigns; she has not turned a partisan race into a Democratic mandate… I could go on, but I will take my lead from my candidate.

Mary will govern has she has served and as she has campaigned: with integrity and with the best interests of intown neighborhoods and residents at her very heart.

Devoted Democrat Kasim Reed

How will Mary Norwood and Kasim Reed approach the December 1 Atlanta Mayoral run-off?

When we left this story, my candidate — who had spoken so eloquently in so many forums and appearances about bringing Atlantans together for a better tomorrow – had decided that the most important issue he had to communicate to ATL voters was his belief that his opponent in this non-partisan race was a closet Republican.

I’m a yellow-dog Democrat, a committed left-winger, and don’t recall ever voting Republican. That said, the word “Republican” doesn’t translate to “evil” to me. I’ve known Mary Norwood since she’s been on the Council, and if she’s a Republican, then I’ve voted Republican in every ATL election… for her. In my experience, Mary’s politics translate into standing up for neighborhoods, working to protect the people she represents – which, as an at-large council rep. – is every neighborhood in the city, and helping all those who contact her office navigate the byzantine ways of City Hall. What’s more, her politics mean connecting with people all over the city, no matter where they live, what they do for a living or their cultural, religious, political or sexual orientation.

The biggest fear I have of Republicans is that they seem to value business over people, development over neighborhoods. “The business of America/Atlanta is business” kind of thinking. That is definitely not Mary Norwood. As a matter of fact, “Committee for a Better Atlanta,” which bills itself as a “citywide business coalition,” rated the ATL Mayoral candidates. Mary Norwood scored 86 while Kasim scored 93, just behind Lisa Borders.

Kasim says Mary is a Republican. If what I’ve described is a Atlanta City Council Republican, then fine. Obviously, party affiliation in city politics doesn’t matter. It hasn’t affected how she’s served her people, or her city. Maybe that’s why COA races are non-partisan.

So, on Election Day, I cast my vote for Kasim, deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt, and to wait and see how he and his campaign-brains would approach the run-off.

“We are saying to the candidates, avoid gutter politics and raise the bar of unity…”
Then I read an article in the AJC by Eric Stirgus, who has been covering the mayoral election (including attending countless public forums and debates).  It confirmed that many Atlantans are worried about the tone of this  run-off: a group of Atlanta pastors was calling on the candidates to focus on the issues. Stirgus spoke with the Rev. D.L. Winston, president of the Greater American Ministerial Association, which represents 60 Atlanta churches.

“We are saying to the candidates, avoid gutter politics and raise the bar of unity,” said Winston, himself pastor of Greater Works Assembly in southeast Atlanta.  And, God bless him, Wilson also “urged voters to focus on the issues and not vote based on race.”

The responses from the two candidates?  Stirgus reports:

Norwood campaign manager Roman Levit said the candidate agreed with the group’s appeal. “Mary welcomes the sentiments expressed by the ministers, and her whole campaign has been about bringing Atlanta together and solving our problems through common purposes,” he said.

Reed spokesman Reese McCranie made a similar commitment. “Senator Reed has spoken about issues that affect Atlanta and will continue to do so in the runoff,” he said.

How is that a “similar commitment”?  To me, it couldn’t be more different. Mary’s people are committing to run the campaign in a way that brings Atlanta together.”

Kasim’s people are saying… nothing. No commitment to a clean campaign, no assurances of developing a unifying message.

“Senator Reed has spoken about issues that affect Atlanta and will continue to do so in the runoff.”  

Do the Reed campaign-brains think that casting doubt on Mary’s commitment to all Atlantans – by painting her as a Republican – is speaking about “issues that affect Atlanta”? Can we expect more of that kind of campaigning?

Does this mean Kasim going to continue to talk about non-issues that are really great subjects for misleading voters or casting doubt on his opponent’s commitment, politics, or life choices? Who knows? Are Reese McCranie’s words deliberately vague?  Kasim claims to be a devoted Democrat, but his campaign’s tactics feel less like David Plouffe and more like Karl Rove… or that master of slime, the late Lee Atwater. 

This path could split this city, perhaps irrevocably?  Will we soon hear the kind of radio ad used against Lee Morris in the Fulton County Commission Chair race? 

“We understand that campaigns are campaigns and governing is governing.”
I wonder and worry, especially as I continued Stirgus’ report, and read a quote from Kasim that gave me chills.

Stirgus asked Kasim about his meeting with Lisa Borders, at which he sought her endorsement. Things were barely civil between the two in the last days of the campaign. In fact, Stirgus observes, they “sparred with an increasingly bitter tone in the final two weeks of the campaign.”  

How does Kasim respond? He seems to shrug off the damaging campaign rhetoric: 

“We understand that campaigns are campaigns and governing is governing.”

Read it again: “We understand that campaigns are campaigns and governing is governing.”

I guess the “we” means Kasim and Lisa, their campaigns… But it sure doesn’t mean this voter.

I’ve voted for negative campaigners in the past when I felt I had no choice. I had made a commitment to Kasim, and despite his Mary-is-a-no-good-Republican maneuver, I took a deep breath and voted for him.

It’s not really that bad, I told myself as I took my voter card and handed to the poll worker; really, it could have been worse.

Then I remembered saying that to my friend Earl at work one day: Ah well, it could be worse.  He laughed at me and shook his head: But Marcia, he said, it could be better. 

Of course it could be better. What’s more, it has to be better.

Why? It’s simple:

If the candidates won’t campaign with integrity, how can they govern with integrity?

Kasim says: “…campaigns are campaigns and governing is governing.”

No, really, Senator, they’re the same. At least to this voter.

So, I’ve taken down my Kasim Reed for Mayor yard sign until I see if Kasim is willing to step back, re-evaluate his strategy and take a different approach. I hope he’ll realize that his original strategy is best: statements that bring all Atlantans together; reminds us of our shared issues, troubles and accomplishments; and promises a unified future.

Like the Rev. Wilson says: “We are saying to the candidates, avoid gutter politics and raise the bar of unity.”

Is anyone listening?

Pulitzer Prize-winner's Mike Luckovich Insightful Take on the ATL Mayoral Contest

If you read this blog regularly, you know that 1) I’m extremely liberal, 2) I am a devotee of Barack Obama and his approach to politics, and 3) I’ve struggled with my choice for Atlanta Mayor. I also despise any kind of trash-talking, and personal attacks that so often try to mask that candidate’s inability to offer anything constructive.  Finally, I especially detest any kind of race-baiting. It’s not 1959. It’s 2009. We have a long way to go, but we’ve also come a very long way. In short, a candidate’s integrity is crucial for my support.

I can remember back when Andy Young and Sidney Marcus were running for ATL Mayor, I was so proud to be an Atlantan. Sidney Marcus was white, and Andy was black. In Chicago, there was another mayoral contest that pitted a white man against a black man. The white guy’s theme song? “Bye, Bye Blackbird.”

Why was I so proud of Atlanta? Because I knew that would never happen here. In fact, taking note of the ugliness of the Chicago race, both Marcus and Young pledged not to indulge in any kind of negative campaign tactics. And they didn’t. It was a beautiful thing.

And for a long time, that’s the approach most candidates took in Atlanta’s most recent Mayoral contest. Then in the ninth hour, things started to turn. Last month, as increasingly negative tactics made their way into most of the Mayoral candidates’ campaigns, I wrote a blog entry deploring those tactics. In Atlanta’s Politics of Waste, I urged the candidates to remember last year’s Presidential election, and to model their campaigns after our President’s: focusing on our shared issues, and maintaining their integrity under all circumstances. Barack Obama ran an inspirational campaign. He won. That’s how it should always work.

ATL Mayoral Candidate Mary Norwood - OMG, she's wearing red! Is she a Republican or a Communist?

What Can We Say About Mary?
But the three candidates battling it out for second place were falling back on the old, reliable negative ways. Out of nowhere, the question of front-runner Mary Norwood’s political persuasion was raised. Mary has always said that she lives in a red neighborhood in a blue city in a red state, which makes her purple. I thought that was a good answer to a question about something that shouldn’t even be an issue.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with politics in Georgia, you aren’t required to choose a party when you register to vote, so there are no “registered Democrats” or “registered Republicans” here. And in the ATL, all of the City of Atlanta’s races are non-partisan. No one runs as a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Green Party candidate. But here’s where the politics come in: Mary – who is white and lives in Atlanta’s affluent, largely white Buckhead neighborhood – is in the lead. What’s more, she’s leading in a city that hasn’t had a white mayor – we were constantly reminded – in over 36 years.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, in her eight years as an at-large city council representative whose duty is to represent the entire city, Mary has shown that she can and will take care of Atlantans, no matter who they are or where they live. When I was just a renter in Midtown and didn’t even have a yard for a yard sign, much less afford to support her campaigns financially, hers was still the first office to call me back, and her staff always found the right person in City Hall to resolve my problems.

So not only is this unlikely white Buckhead woman in the lead, she’s also built an impressive coalition that crosses geographic, economic, and racial diversity of our city.  You have to respect her for that.

Of course, I don’t think Mary Norwood is perfect. But to me it feels like she’s having to take on criticisms that are based more on where she lives and how she looks than what she plans for the city. Even a respected national publication like The New York Times quotes a local partisan pundit who disparagingly referred to her as a ”Buckhead Betty,” dismissing the effort required and accomplishment of building such a vocal, broad-based coalition. And the constant reminder that she could be the first white mayor in 36 years is being used against her, as if a white candidate can only represent white people, and ignoring her success in reaching out to and building connections and friendships across Atlanta’s neighborhoods. 

The Elephant in the Room…
So… Here we are in the last hours before Election Day, the most important issue consuming Mary’s challengers was their certainty that Mary Norwood is a closet Republican! That’s right, with everything that’s wrong with the ATL, the big story was that Mary was hiding her strong and unmistakable ties to the Republican Party, implying – of course – that Mary Norwood is actually a Palin-loving, Cheney-hugging, George W.-voting, always-lying, no-friend-to-poor-folks Republican. I can’t say for sure who started it, but it was pushed hard in a couple of debates by former State Senator Kasim Reed (who was my candidate at the time), with City Council President Lisa Borders joining in. Really, how can this possibly matter? But after the final televised debate, a reporter asked Mary if she’d voted for George W., and she said she didn’t remember. Dear Lord, I thought when I read it online, this will be everywhere tomorrow. But maybe she’ll offer a reasonable answer, and we can move on to the issues that need to be discussed during this campaign. 

Well, Mary did come up with an answer. She said that she votes for the person, not the party, and had actually voted for Democratic presidential candidates since – I dunno – FDR.  (Joking aside, and to be fair, Mary she said she’d voted for Obama, Kerry, Gore, Clinton and … Perot? Yup, Perot.). Of course, nobody but her supporters seemed to believe her. Meanwhile the Reed campaign seemed to have only one talking point, as if saying “Mary Norwood is a Republican” often enough, Mary would be forced to admit that YES! she is a Republican, and what’s more, Sarah Palin is actually her love child with Richard Nixon.

The Ass in the Room...

Then a big ass entered the room. That’s right, the Democratic Party of Georgia decided that we – Georgia Democrats – had a donkey in this fight and sent out two mailers supporting the contention that Mary has been and still is a card-carrying Republican. Mary Norwood’s Republican Record – the headline read – It’s the elephant in the room (get it?) that she’s trying to hide!  I got both mailers – each as poisonous as the other – and immediately threw them into the recycle bin (although I wish I’d kept them for my “campaign shame” collection). I fired off an email to the Georgia Democratic Party registering my displeasure that they had wasted our money on this, of all races. What’s more my paltry dollars to the Georgia Democratic Party go to building community and supporting our best candidates in highly partisan races, not going after Mary Norwood.  (I mean, honestly, have they never heard of Lynn Westmoreland??)

But the “1-2 punch” strategy worked. With the boost from the Democratic Party of Georgia’s mailings, Kasim’s campaign continued to stress the Kasim = Democrat, Mary = Republican story and Kasim’s support surged. The result is that Kasim will face Mary in a run-off on December 1.

Will I be voting my ususal ticket? Doubtful.

Next: “…campaigning is campaigning and governing is governing.”

I’ve made my choices and am looking forward to voting tomorrow.  And, like last November, I am delighted to be voting  for my candidates, not voting against others.

If you’re like me, you need understand the rationale and history behind a person’s decisions, and this includes knowing some basic background about me, and the issues/concerns that inform my choices:

1. I have lived in intown Atlanta for 30 years and have been watching these players for awhile.
2. I’ve worked in/with the news business for all of those years and have been able to get the dish from reporters covering politics.
3. I was on the Atlanta Press Club Debate Team from its inception, and learned a great deal about how candidates behave when off-camera.

Issues affecting my choices:

1. Integrity, empathy for intown residents, and concern for both middle-class and those less fortunate are all qualities essential for my candidates
2. Neighborhood – not developer – friendly candidates
3. Emphasis on public safety – police and fire
4. Connections that aren’t just local. I’m convinced that the ATL’s future depends on strong regional, state and national collaboration and partnerships.

So, with those criteria in mind, here’s who I’m voting for and why:

• Mayor: Kasim Reed: Why? You can read my previous blog entry, but here’s its essence:  Kasim has the vision, ideas, connections, intelligence and empathy to take Atlanta to the next level. He has the skills to be the city’s ambassador, and his strong bond with and appreciation of ATL neighborhoods will protect those of us who have made the City of Atlanta our home, from the southeast to the northwest and all points in between.  One of my big issues has been the candidates’ understanding of and comfort with working with local, regional, state and national partners. Kasim has knocked that one out of the park. 
  Website: http://www.kasimreed.com/

 

•  City Council President: Clair Muller: smart, experienced, effective, locally and regionally connected, knows the system in and out, big neighborhood advocate. What’s more, Clair SHOWS UP FOR MEETINGS.
  Website: http://www.clairmuller.com/ 

 

• City Council District One: Carla Smith (unopposed): Even if she had opposiiton, Carla would have my vote. She really has our neighborhoods in her heart and on her mind when she’s at the Council (and she’s a dear, dear friend).

 

• City Council AT-LARGE Post 1: Adam Brackman: When I first moved to Ormewood Park just over two years ago, Adam saw my interest in the neighborhoods, took me under his wing and really mentored me on our neighborhood and other SE ATL issues, especially crime and public safety. He has the integrity that is essential in all of my choices, and he also has the empathy for our southside neighborhoods others might lack. He is also not only smart but also quick-witted, and I believe he’ll be a valuable leader on the Council. He will also be a welcome breath of fresh, brisk, let’s-get-things-done air in the City Council chambers.
  Website: http://www.adamforatlanta.com 

 

• City Council AT-LARGE Post 2: Amir Farokhi: Wow, what a young, dynamic, thoughtful and committed friend to neighborhoods this guy is. He will be a great breath of fresh air on the Council, and has the intelligence, background (ATL native), and communication skills to join Carla and Adam in building consensus on the new council.
  Website: http://www.amirfarokhi.com
  
  
•  City Council AT-LARGE Post 3: Shelitha Robertson: I simply cannot vote for Lamar Willis, and wasn’t sure about Shelitha until I watched the Atlanta Press Club Debate.  Lamar wasn’t there – he had lost his father two weeks earlier – but the Press Club’s policy is that the debate goes on even if there’s only one candidate in attendance. Shelitha, a former police officer, was impressive. I’ll cast my vote for her with confidence.
  Website: http://www.electsrobertson.com/

  

• Georgia House of Representatives, District 58: Kevin Johnson: We are blessed with some great candidates in this contest, and I had a tough, tough choice between Kevin and Michael McPherson. I believe Michael could also a very a solid representative for our area, but I know the work Kevin has done on behalf of consumers with credit card outrages. But in this case, it came down to a personal “click”: I’ve met and spoken with Kevin and his wife Deirdre at numerous public meetings, and we just clicked.
  Website:  http://www.votekevinjohnson.com/

Need more info? Excellent non-partisan resources are online here:

• Campaign for Atlanta (CFA) Forums: Nearly 20 neighborhoods and their representatives partnered with CFA to produce these forums this summer. Each candidate met separately with the questioners – experts in their fields – and were given time to speak at length about their ideas and plans. The videos are segmented by topic into easy-to-watch 10-minute bites.
  Forum One Topics: Public safety – fire and police – Dept. of Watershed Management, and creating a competent bureaucracy. http://www.campaignforatlanta.org/videos.php
  Forum Two Topics: City of Atlanta finances, pensions, code enforcement, and government efficiency. http://www.campaignforatlanta.org/videosaugust.php
• Atlanta Press Club Debate Series
  For more than 15 years, the Atlanta Press Club has produced a series of debates with national, statewide and local candidates. This season, you can see separate debates for all three At-Large City Council Posts, the City Council President (very entertaining), and all six Mayoral candidates: http://www.atlantapressclub.org/debates/
• Online Georgia Voter Guide: The League of Women Voters of Georgia has produced a Georgia Voter Guide, which lists candidates for each race this political season. The candidates were sent a standard list of questions, and their answers (including background information and their stands on issues) can be found on the guide.
  The Voter Guide is here: http://www.thevoterguide.org/a-ajc09/

Please make an informed choice!

Future Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed (Photo Courtesy of Creative Loafing)

For over a year, I’ve been thinking about Atlanta’s next Mayor. I’ve attended eight or so forums and debates, and watched debates on television and online. I’ve read the coverage of the candidates and the race in Creative Loafing, the AJC and on blogs and local news sites. Basically, as we used to say back home: “I’ve been studying on this awhile.” 

I’m proudly casting my vote for Kasim Reed. 

Kasim has the vision, ideas, connections, intelligence and empathy to take Atlanta to the next level. He has the skills to be the city’s ambassador, and his strong bond with and appreciation of ATL neighborhoods will protect those of us who have made the City of Atlanta our home, from the southeast to the northwest and all points in between.    

One of my big issues has been the candidates’ understanding of and comfort with working with local, regional, state and national partners. Kasim has knocked that one out of the park. 

Vote for Kasim Reed for Mayor. His administration will exemplify the inclusiveness, integrity and vision that Atlanta has long deserved. 

Check out these online resources: 

• Campaign for Atlanta (CFA) Forums: CFA partnered with nearly 20 neighborhoods to produce Mayoral forums this summer. Each candidate met separately with the questioners – experts in their fields – and were given time to speak at length about their ideas and plans. The videos are segmented by topic into easy-to-watch 10-minute bites.
  Forum One Topics: Public safety – fire and police – Dept. of Watershed Management, and creating a competent bureaucracy. http://www.campaignforatlanta.org/videos.php
  Forum Two Topics: City of Atlanta finances, pensions, code enforcement, and government efficiency. http://www.campaignforatlanta.org/videosaugust.php
• Atlanta Press Club Debate Series: For more than 15 years, the Atlanta Press Club has produced a series of debates with national, statewide and local candidates.
  Watch online: Separate debates with the candidates for all three Atlanta City Council’s At-Large Posts, and another with all six Mayoral candidates: http://www.atlantapressclub.org/debates/

This year, I once told a reporter, is a “perfect storm” for Atlanta.

“We’re getting a new mayor this year and the possibility of an entirely new approach to running the City of Atlanta,” said I, focusing on a glimmer of sunlight through the storm clouds.”If the neighborhoods work together, there’s no telling what we can accomplish.”

Looking back, I was still high on hope, following the successful Presidential campaign of my candidate, Barack Hussein Obama.

And yet, in the ATL, we’re back to the old ways. Two weeks away from Election Day, the majority of the folks who want to be Atlanta’s next mayor have started talking trash about their opponents. Today, I listen to those candidates and all I hear is a big old Dempsey Dumpster spilling its nasty guts into a garbage truck.

The saddest part is that – with a fact-check or two — you discover that some of the actions or positions they’re “exposing” turn out not to be trash at all, but integrity.

I-N-T-E-G-R-I-T-Y. Remember, it’s a quality that was re-introduced to American politics just a year ago by the aforementioned Barack Obama? My President conducted a positive, forward-looking campaign focusing on what he wanted to do for us, and what he thought he could do for us and for our country. No trash-talking was allowed.  And no matter how grim the numbers or what slander his opponents spoke or how skeptical the media, he continued campaigning his way.

He told us his plans. He gave us hope. He won.

A new day dawned in American politics. Karl Rove was dethroned.

I know every one of the individuals running to be the ATL’s next mayor remembers that thrilling triumph of truth over deception, of transparency over whispered innuendo. I know you do, because that’s how every one of you launched your campaigns.

But today, I’m watching my candidate (and others) take a different path.

I don’t vote for negative campaigners. Period. And neither do many of my friends and neighbors.

Why not? It’s simple:

If the candidates won’t campaign with integrity, how will they govern with integrity?

Candidates: climb up out of that attack trap. Karl Rove does not live in the ATL. No one wants to see this negativism deteriorate into a repeat of the John Eaves-Lee Morris scenario, do we?

And anyway – to paraphrase an old standard – how can you pull us down in the dump, after we’ve seen Barack?

On October 20, for the first time ever, Southeast Atlanta neighborhoods and organizations are partnering together to host the Southeast Atlanta Mayoral Forum, with Moderators Derrick Boazman and Bishop Matthew Norwood. The forum is being coordinated by the Sixth Precinct Clergy Coalition, which is partnering with a multitude of Southeast Atlanta communities and organizations.

Participating groups include: Atlanta Youth Academies/South Atlanta (where the forum will be held), Grant Park Neighborhood Association [GPNA], the Organized Neighbors of Summerhill [ONS], Thomasville Heights Civic League, Norwood Manor Civic Association, Glenrose Heights Community Association, Stonewall Heritage, Lakewood, Peoplestown, Reynoldstown, and South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development [SAND], representing Ormewood Park, North Ormewood Park, Boulevard Heights, Woodland Hills, Glenwood Park, Benteen Park and McDonough-Guice.

All four major candidates have confirmed.  

Topics will include: Southeast Atlanta economic development (Moreland Ave., Memorial Drive and Jonesboro Road Corridors), public safety, and issues specific to Southeast Atlanta.

When: Tuesday, October 20
Meet & Greet Reception at 6:30 PM
Forum begins *promptly* at 7 PM

Where: Atlanta Youth Academies, 2120 Forrest Park Rd. SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

Directions: Take Moreland Ave. south past the Starlight Drive-In to the next traffic light. Turn right onto Constitution Rd., go to the next light and turn right on Forrest Park Rd. SE, and the school is on the right. The forum will be held in the multipurpose building, which is the last building on the left.)

CHILD CARE WILL BE AVAILABLE.

An alternative title for this could be My Musical Politicalization.

The loss of Mary Travers has affected me deeply, and has sent me back to the songs of my childhood and youth, and to the sweet memories of my late sister and my brothers who introduced me to a different way of thinking.

Sure, I loved the Beatles and later (yes, VSK, I’ll admit it) the Monkees. But the soundtrack of my early childhood revolved around folk music, the folk music of the early and mid-Sixties. Naturally, other songs, artists and influences not only helped form my politics, but also my life perspective and my sense of humor. They are as varied as To Kill a Mockingbird and MAD magazine, “Rocky & Bullwinkle,” the Smothers Brothers (albums and TV series) and Bill Cosby, and Walter Cronkite introducing film of body bags in Vietnam or police dogs attacking “colored” people in Alabama.

But the folk music my older siblings brought into the house set the tone. From Joan Baez to the Brothers Four to Miriam Makeba, we listened to and sang it all. I was lucky in that I came along last. My siblings were 11, nine and five years older than I, so their musical orientation was far different from any of my contemporaries’.

All three of my older siblings – my beautiful sister Kathy, and my handsome brothers LMK and VSK – had incredible voices, and the boys were also accomplished guitarists.  I remember sitting in our rural southwest Georgia living room and listening – enrapt – as they recreated the performances of Peter Paul & Mary, Joan Baez, and others.  My sister and brothers were magical.

After the news of Mary Travers’ death, we thought back to those days. My oldest brother LMK recalled that he didn’t realize how radical and subversive Peter Paul & Mary’s music was; he just loved their harmony.

I also loved their harmony, but – perhaps because I didn’t realize that there was anything radical or subversive in their words or music – I accepted their point of view without question. After all, it made perfect sense. And that point of view remains to this day, over 50 years later.

So many of those songs influenced my world view, but in listening to the Folk playlist on my iPod for the last two weeks, I’ve chosen five that have stayed with me all my life.

My Top Five Songs…

The songs I’ve chosen are performed by Peter Paul & Mary,  who everyone knows, or by a lesser-known folk group called the Chad Mitchell Trio, which used satire to make political points. (Note: this is the original, flawless Chad Mitchell Trio with Chad Mitchell, Joe Frazier and Mike Kobluk. There was no John Denver in my childhood.)

So here I celebrate the lyrics of five songs that literally changed my life. Two were written by Bob Dylan, one by Pete Seeger, and the others by Michael Brown and by – as far as I can tell – the original Chad Mitchell Trio members themselves: Mitchell, Frazier and Kobluk.  If performance videos were available, I’ve included links. 

The full lyrics of each song are below, but here are some sample lyrics from each song:

We’re the John Birch Society, the John Birch Society here to save our country from a Communistic plot! Join the John Birch Society, help us fill the ranks. To get this movement started we need lots of tools and cranks…

This afternoon’s meeting of our PTA is certain to be well attended for we are protesting the ruling today of the way separate schools will be ended. Now Mary, you’ve worked for me over a year. By now you must certainly know that I’m very fond of your people, my dear, and I don’t mind telling you so…

…How many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?
How many times can a man turn his head pretending he just doesn’t see?

It’s the hammer of justice. It’s the bell of freedom. It’s the song about love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.

Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call. Don’t stand in the doorway, don’t block up the hall. For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled…There’s a battle outside and it is ragin’. It’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls for the times they are a-changin’.

And, purists, forgive me, but I believe that Peter Paul & Mary blow Dylan off the stage, even on his own songs.

In reverse order:

Song Five: The John Birch Society
Written by: Michael Brown
Performed by the Chad Mitchell Trio

Audio here with, helpfully, the lyrics, in case you weren’t following.

Oh, we’re meetin’ at the courthouse at eight o’clock tonight
You just walk in the door and take the first turn to the right
Be careful when you get there, we hate to be bereft
But we’re taking down the names of everybody turning left

Oh, we’re the John Birch Society, the John Birch Society
Here to save our country from a Communistic plot
Join the John Birch Society, help us fill the ranks
To get this movement started we need lots of tools and cranks

Now there’s no one that we’re certain the Kremlin doesn’t touch
We think that Westbrook Pegler doth protest a bit too much
We only hail the hero from whom we got our name
We’re not sure what he did but he’s our hero just the same

Oh, we’re the John Birch Society, the John Birch Society
Socialism is the ‘ism’ dismalest of all
Join the John Birch Society, there’s so much to do
Have you heard they’re serving vodka at the WCTU?

Well you’ve heard about the agents that we’ve already named
Well MPA has agents that are flatly unashamed
We’re after Rosie Clooney, we’ve gotten Pinkie Lee
And the day we get Red Skelton won’t that be a victory

Oh we’re the John Birch Society, the John Birch Society
Norman Vincent Peale may think he’s kidding us along
But the John Birch Society knows he spilled the beans
He keeps on preaching brotherhood, but we know what he means

We’ll teach you how to spot ‘em in the cities or the sticks
For even Jasper Junction is just full of Bolsheviks
The CIA’s subversive and so’s the FCC
There’s no one left but thee and we, and we’re not sure of thee

Oh, we’re the John Birch Society, the John Birch Society
Here to save our country from a communistic plot
Join the John Birch Society holding off the Reds
We’ll use our hand and hearts and if we must we’ll use our heads

Spoken:

Do you want Justice Warren for your Commissar?
Do you want Mrs. Khrushchev in there with the DAR?
You cannot trust your neighbor or even next of kin
(Sung)
If Mommy is a commie then you gotta turn her in!

Oh, we’re the John Birch Society, the John Birch Society
Fighting for the right to fight the right fight for the Right
Join the John Birch Society as we’re marching on
And we’ll all be glad to see you when we’re meeting in the John…
The John, the John Birch So- ci- i- teee

Song Four: Which Hat Shall I Wear?
Written by: ? Possibly the Chad Mitchell Trio
Performed by: the Chad Mitchell Trio
No performance video, and just a sample of the audio here.

Chorus:
Which hat shall I wear,
the red one or blue one?
Which hat shall I wear to the PTA?
The red hat’s becoming;
the blue one’s a new one.
Mary, come here. Tell me which do you say?

This afternoon’s meeting of our PTA
Is certain to be well attended
For we are protesting the ruling today
Of the way separate schools will be ended.
Now Mary, you’ve worked for me over a year.
By now you must certainly know
That I’m very fond of your people, my dear,
And I don’t mind telling you so.

Chorus

I think it’s a pity my Jimmy can’t be
In school with his darker skinned brothers.
With school integration I fully agree,
And so do the rest of the mothers.
But my little Jimmy is really too small
To ride to your school on a bus.
And frankly, your people aren’t helping at all.
Oh, why must there be such a fuss!

 Chorus

Oh dear, I must hurry and be on my way.
There’s never a time for relaxing.
Mary, the windows need washing today
And the hall and the foyer need waxing.
I’ve left some dresses piled up on a chair,
The cleaner is coming at two.
Don’t let him take the green silk with a tear.
That one, my dear, is for you.

Chorus:
Which hat shall I wear,
the red one or blue one?
Which hat shall I wear to the PTA?
The red hat’s becoming;
the blue one’s a new one.
Mary, come here. Tell me which do you say?

 

Song Three: Blowin’ in the Wind
Written by: Bob Dylan
Performed by Peter Paul & Mary
Performance video here. 

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, ‘n’ how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, ‘n’ how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, ‘n’ how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, ‘n’ how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn’t see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

Song Two: If I Had a Hammer
Written by Pete Seeger
Performed by: Peter Paul & Mary
Performance video w/Pete Seeger intro.

If I had a hammer,
I’d hammer in the morning
I’d hammer in the evening,
All over this land

I’d hammer out danger,
I’d hammer out a warning,
I’d hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

If I had a bell,
I’d ring it in the morning,
I’d ring it in the evening,
All over this land

I’d ring out danger,
I’d ring out a warning
I’d ring out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

If I had a song,
I’d sing it in the morning,
I’d sing it in the evening,
All over this land

I’d sing out danger,
I’d sing out a warning
I’d sing out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

Well I got a hammer,
And I got a bell,
And I got a song to sing, all over this land.

It’s the hammer of justice,
It’s the bell of freedom,
It’s the song about love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

It’s the hammer of justice,
It’s the bell of freedom,
It’s the song about love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

 

Song One: The Times They Are A-Changin’
By Bob Dylan
Performed by Peter Paul & Mary
PP&M’s electrifying performance at the first March on Washington.

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.

My First Two Signs of 2009

I am, as Southern writer Florence King says, on the horns of a dilemma: is it politic to put up yard signs for two candidates in the same race? Can I have signs for two Mayoral candidates?

This is a new quandary for me. Some of you might have realized that I like being involved in civic matters. As a former  – and still sometime - reporter, I’m pretty methodical. I do my research and then pick my candidates. Once I choose my folks, I put one of their signs in my southeast Atlanta yard. In my many years as a voter, I’ve been lucky to have some very strong candidates… but only one for each race.

So far in this year’s races, I’ve made two of those solid choices, and their yard signs are in my front yard for all to see.

One sign is for my longtime friend and ATL City Council District One Rep. and overall rock star Carla Smith. The other is for my South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development (SAND) friend and one of my best neighborhood mentors, Adam Brackman, who’s running for the ATL City Council At-Large Post One.  (SAND is the neighborhood organization that represents Ormewood Park [my 'hood], North Ormewood Park, Boulevard Heights, Woodland Hills, Benteen Park [Adam's neighborhood], and McDonough-Guice.)

From the moment I met Carla mumble-mumble years ago when she was in ATL City Council Rep. Vern McCarty’s office, I knew we were kindred spirits; both Southern-born but raised to have open minds, funny, smart, truthful, and fearless when it comes to expressing opinions. Since I moved into her district just over two years ago, it’s become clear that she also represents my views and feelings about City of Atlanta (COA) and neighborhood issues. Carla is my girl.

Adam Brackman also cares about the same neighborhood issues that are on my mind, and I like the way he approaches challenges. Funny thing about me: I love people who are not only smart but also quick-witted.  I love them even more when they’re committed to their community and offer solutions to worrisome aspects of city life. Add an occasional sharp, acerbic observation, and I’ll happily head to the polls for them every time.

Another fine man – and even newer friend – is running against Adam. And although I both love and respect him, Adam and I have a proven track record together. So Adam is my man.

But things are suddenly more complicated in the ATL Mayor’s race. 

This weekend marked the final Campaign for Atlanta (CFA) Mayoral Forums in which the top four Mayoral candidates – Georgia State Sen. Kasim Reed, ATL City Council At-Large Rep. Mary Norwood, ATL Lawyer Jesse Spikes and ATL City Council President Lisa Borders – met individually with a panel of neighborhood and subject-specific experts to answer questions about how they would address the City’s problems… and how they would pay for their solutions. These forums were the brainchild of Lynn Irvin, and she brought together neighborhood people from all over the city – including me – to create a real grassroots, non-partisan partnership of neighbors. Her goal was to have conversations with the major Mayoral candidates that would get past the rhetoric and sound bites to real substance and real discussions about solving ATL’s problems.  Congrats, Lynn, you did it!

Some questioners were better than others: intown resident and former ATL Police Deputy Chief Lou Arcangeli – focusing on public safety – was the master of direct questions and polite but pointed follow-ups. On the other hand, an Andrew Young School of Policy Studies professor’s series of questions about efficiency in city government began with a Will you have strategic planning? softball (yes, of course, everyone said… surprise!) and lost a huge part of his audience, those of us who have suffered through interminable and pointless corporate or governmental strategic planning that’s never implemented. We had hoped he would solicit information on how exactly the bureaucratic wheat was to be separated from the chaff, but all we got, really, were ivory tower questions with no real-world applications (except when the candidates answered the questions they thought he should have asked, which happened a couple of times… Thank God.)  

Still, overall, the questioning was well-informed and pointed. The time-wasting yes-or-no questions were usually followed up with a How? or Why?, which was essential. And props to all of the panel members over the two weekends of the forums: they gave up their weekend to participate in this process, and they did it pro bono.  Quite a coup for CFA and a civic commitment from the panelists, not to mention the CFA board members (I’ve got to do a shout-out here to Peggy Denby and Don Jones of Midtown and John Wolfinger of Va-Hi!)

But I digress.  As usual.  The topic at hand is the politics of yard signs.

Last week, I requested a yard sign from a Mayoral candidate’s campaign. In my heart, I knew I should have waited, but I was – and am – absolutely confident that this candidate will do a terrific job as Mayor of Atlanta. 

But at this weekend’s forums – and in reviewing CFA’s videos of the first forums – another candidate jumped out at me. Now, this candidate was one I believed to be part of the same old machine that’s been running Atlanta into the ground for the past two administrations. I want change, and the chances that this candidate’s election will ensure that change seemed slim and none.

But I was in for a real surprise. There’s something fresh there. There’s something both human and humane there. And there was an unexpected connection to and inclusion of a diversity of neighborhoods and their issues that seemed both personal and heartfelt. In the very best way, it felt Clintonesque. (And I mean Bill’s honest, genuine warmth and compassion, not Hilary’s wonky intellectualized approach.)

My original candidate also has this genuine compassion and passion for Atlanta and all of its neighborhoods.  And I still believe with all my heart that my original candidate will make a first-rate mayor.

But now I’m thinking that this other candidate will, too.

So back to dilemma: is it politic to put up yard signs for TWO candidates for the same race? Can I have a Mary Norwood and a Kasim Reed sign?  What do you think?

ATL City Council Rep. Mary Norwood

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Atlanta Mayor’s race. Partly because that’s how my mind works, and partly because I’ve been watching a lot of video from the Campaign for Atlanta’s one-on-one conversations with the candidates last month.

But the primary reason that race has been on my mind is because CFA’s final forums are coming up this weekend.

They are a unique: in the CFA forums, each candidate meets with neighborhood representatives to answer probing, in-depth questions about how they plan to meet the challenges of being Atlanta’s mayor.

CFA’s intent is to get past campaign rhetoric and talking points to the well-considered and creative concepts and ideas the candidates have for turning our city around.  

 

All four major Mayoral candidates are participating: ATL City Council President Lisa Borders, ATL City Council Rep. Mary Norwood, Georgia State Sen. Kasim Reed and ATL Lawyer Jesse Spikes. 

 

In the interest of total transparency, I disclose that I’m on the CFA Advisory Board and have been involved in planning these forums.

GA. State Sen. Kasim Reed

 

Those of you who’ve read this blog might have gathered that public safety is my #1 issue this campaign year. So you have to know that I love Lou Arcangeli, former Atlanta Police Department (APD) Deputy Chief. 

This man not only knows the City of Atlanta (COA) and APD, but also what issues are important to intown residents. In the videos of the first CFA sessions, he is totally on point, and he politely, but firmly, continues with pertinent follow-up questions.

 

City of Atlanta voters, where are you?

Are you paying attention, or waiting for the last mad dash of October’s campaign “news” (which usually consists of who’s out-polling who)?

ATL Lawyer Jesse Spikes

I urge you to attend this weekend’s Campaign for Atlanta forums. This forum’s topics are “City Finance” and “Code Enforcement Issues.” Six questioners will question the candidates about pensions; TADs and tax abatements; millage rates; ATL’s CFO and creating a competent Finance Department; government efficiency (e.g., the number of city employees and managing services) and code enforcement.

The forums are Saturday and Sunday at The Carter Center.  Here’s the schedule:

           2:45 PM: Audience, questioners and candidate must be seated – Doors Closed
                          Doors will not re-open until session is over
          3 – 4:15 PM: SATURDAY: Lisa Borders; SUNDAY: Mary Norwood
          4:15: Break – Doors re-open

ATL City Council President Lisa Borders

          4:45: Audience, questioners and candidate must be seated – Doors Closed
                               Doors will not re-open until session is over
          5 – 6:15 PM: SATURDAY: Kasim Reed; SUNDAY: Jesse Spikes

I hope I’ll see you this weekend at The Carter Center! (And be sure to watch the CFA videos of last month’s forums.) Then come back here and let me know what you think!