It is becoming more and more obvious that the Perdue administration has determined it is bulletproof from supporters of House Bill 15, calling for a referendum on the State flag.

Despite a Mason-Dixon poll showing four of five Georgia voters want the opportunity for a fair vote, both the governor and his legislative leaders have shown determination to ignore the issue. They contend it is not an issue and, failing to hear the voice of the people, it represents no threat to their re-election and continued control of the legislature and executive offices of the state.

They jointly take the position that they gave the people a referendum and kept their promises. A look at the facts leaves some huge holes in the spin they are trying to put by the people.

As the leader of the Republican drive in the sixties leading to two party competition in Georgia, it is sad for me to see what has happened as my party has reached the pinnacle of success that I and so many others over the years have worked to build. We don't want to tear down what we led the way to build, but what has evolved is scary enough to send us back where we came from.

The House passed the referendum (HB380 in 2003) between the Barnes 2001 flag and the 1956 flag that Governor Barnes had removed without notice by more than sixty percent. After passing the Democratic House, the prevailing wisdom was that Perdue's bill would sail through the Republican-controlled Senate for his signature. The bill went to the Senate where the then majority leader, Republican Tom Price, served notice that he intended to engross the House bill----engross means to protect the bill from amendment. Any changes made in the Senate would require the bill to go back to the House to get their approval again---and the Democrats under Speaker Terry Coleman controlled the House.

Then, something strange happened. Orders came down to NOT engross the bill, to leave it open to amendments. It was amended in order to satisfy the behind-the-scenes maneuvering and the trade-off for the votes for the tobacco tax increase Perdue needed. The result was sending the amended bill back to he House where it failed by one vote.

Let's look at the facts. When confronted with his duplicity, Governor Perdue protests that it was the legislature that removed the choice of the 1956 flag from a referendum. This is a feeble attempt to fool the people on what really happened.

Here are the facts. The Perdue tobacco tax increase before the legislature was four or five votes short of the needed votes for passage. George Hooks probed for a deal to get the votes. He found an opening. The Black Caucus indicated a willingness to provide the votes if the '56 flag was removed from the referendum. The deal had to be approved by the governor. Anyone who believes otherwise isn't facing political reality. Sonny Perdue opted to get the votes for the tax increase trading off the -56 flag in the referendum....in other words, Perdue sold out a Fair Vote for the tax increase he wanted more. Did his campaign coffers benefit from Metro Atlanta Chamber members who were pleased? Well, that's a matter of public record.

This year the proponents of HB 15 made concessions in order to get favorable treatment from the General Assembly. Included was a cessation of flagging, a low key one-on-one campaign with no public website scoreboard of legislators for or against the fair vote referendum. By agreement, heritage groups determined to minimize constituent pressure on their elected representatives. The concessions have been taken by many legislators as a sign of weakness and the inability to influence voters. They have responded by stonewalling HB 15. They are confident that they are bulletproof.

It would serve them well to attach an amendment on the Green Tree Frog bill in the House since this falls under the same section ( Title 50) of the Georgia Code as the State flag. This bill has passed the Senate without a ribbet of protest. I think it would be fun to watch these immune people scramble for a change.

If they are bulletproof, it is only temporary. Each, including Governor Perdue, must face the voters in 2006. The concessions (mentioned above) will be off long before then.

The flaggers will be out all over the state bolstered by hundreds of new members. Every county in Georgia will be covered with yard signs (remember the BOOT BARNES signs in 2002?). Confirmed conspirators with the governor to deny the people their right to a Fair Vote will be targeted in their individual districts. A special committee will work on both primary and general election opposition for those who have been uncooperative. Some may be bulletproof but they have some recent history looking over their shoulders. More than two dozen of their former associates who traded a flag vote for a tax increase are no longer in the legislature. They join other enemies of fairness such as Roy Barnes and Speaker Tom Murphy.

Bulletproof? Let's examine some more facts.

Governor Perdue will head a Republican ticket which will be boldly contested in what many are predicting to be a close race with either Mark Taylor or Cathy Cox. Every advance poll indicates that. A close race indicates something within 100,000 votes or around 5% of more than two million anticipated voters.

Strangely, that is the margin Governor Perdue won by when he defeated Roy Barnes. The University of Georgia Political Science Department examined that race and determined there were around 60,000 Barnes votes that ended up with Perdue. The implication was that those votes were traditional Democrat votes that for the first time ended up with a Republican. What if, just what if, those votes returned home in 2006?

Take 60,000 down from Perdue and add 60,000 to his Democrat opponent----a turnaround of 120,000 votes. Add to this the disenchantment of long-time Republican voters who deplore Perdue's outright misrepresentations about the flag and his wholehearted endorsement of the Bush immigration program which many believe represents open borders. Further, the teachers aren't happy with Sonny's education program.

There is some time before 2006 arrives. As one who has been involved in building a worthy Republican party, I sincerely hope a way will be found to keep me and others like me in tune with our belief in solid conservative and fair government. The alternative is not one I relish considering but if it happens I fear it will be chaos for the entire Republican ticket and the voters of Georgia could very well change the State government back to Democrat control.

Since the current administration and leadership in the General Assembly feel no groundswell from the people and feel secure in their actions, I doubt my message will accomplish much with them. At least I tried to sound the alarm before the storm wreaks its havoc.

Jeff Davis is a retired radio-TV journalist living in Gainesville, GA. Active in civic and political affairs, he is past president of the Georgia Jaycees, former vice president of the US and the world Jaycees, former campaign chairman of the Georgia Republican party. He voluntarily serves as president of the International Association for the Restoration of Confederate History and the Georgia Heritage Council. He is a collateral descendant of President Jefferson Davis.

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