Grass Roots Organization Essential to a Popular Victory

Jeff Davis

Georgia Heritage Council
Phone: 770-297-4788 email: chairman@GeorgiaHeritageCouncil.org
Web: www.georgiaheritagecouncil.org

Grass Roots Organization Essential to a Popular Victory, By J. A. Davis

Our Webmaster, Steve Scroggins, has forwarded a very interesting analysis he found while searching for something else. Parts of it match fairly close to some facts we know about the '02 race.

The minimum 6% swing detailed in the report does indeed fit some of the profiles I worked with following the race. It is well he emphasizes minimum, as the real swing may have been more like 8% to 10%, I base this on a couple of factors not mentioned in the article.

First, the change in vote in the counties Barnes won in his first race and the variation to the '02 race. Most of these changes were more than 6%. The overall result was a huge number of counties that supported Barnes in 1998 did not in 2002.

The other factor is the study by the Political Science Department at University of Georgia. They identified around 68,000 votes that had never voted for a Republican gubernatorial candidate that voted for Perdue. They never showed up in the pre-election polls. My interpretation is this represents around 136,000 votes, of which 68,000 came off Barnes expectations and were added to Perdue. This would indicate about a 7% differential for Perdue.

No doubt there were several reasons for dissatisfaction with Barnes but it is obvious the flag was the overriding factor---despite any nonsense to the contrary spouted by Georgia's Whopper Kings. The conclusion drawn in this report is in my view, generally accurate. Barnes would have won had the flag not been a factor. All the other dissatisfaction was not enough to turn the vote.

Looking at the current situation and forward from the 2002 election, there has been some slippage in support for the '56 flag. If (this is a very iffy 'if') 4% to 5% of those who voted against Barnes in '02 voted for the Perdue counterfeit flag against the '56 flag in a referendum, the '56 would likely lose in a close vote. The longer we go without a Fair Vote referendum, the less the chances of victory become. This is borne out in the Mason-Dixon Poll.

This does not mean the '56 flag can't prevail. It could with a strong professional campaign designed to switch 4 to 5% of those who were at least somewhat disturbed over the flag issue who now tend toward supporting the Perdue counterfeit flag (at least when opposed by the ugly Barnes flag). That sort of number does not discourage campaigners who have experience and the resources to turn things around.

What this comes to is the realization that real grass-roots leadership must take the lead in any effort toward getting momentum in the legislature to get HB-15 to the floor. To do this, assertive influence must be applied to candidates who are offering for re-election.

This must be translated to the voters in their local areas. {Read that last sentence again; it's that important!} If enough influence (read 'pressure') can be developed, party leadership currently opposing a Fair Vote can and will be challenged. This is a highly specialized campaign unlike anything that has recently been attempted. Without it, there is no hope of a referendum.

Our people must come to the realization that our only hope is a highly organized professional approach that will require grassroots support in every county. If the People truly want a referendum there must be an adjustment in attitudes.

This means challenging legislators on the local level. It means playing tough with those who aren't supportive of the People's will which includes recruiting opposition to the holdouts and working toward their election. It means kicking butt and taking names....and publishing names. By all means we must quit pussy-footing with legislators for fear we might hurt their feelings, or we might lose a vote we don't have. Playing Mr. NiceGuy is foolhardy.

Election years are strange animals. Positions can be changed. If you doubt that, ask the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Deals can be (and ARE) made behind the scenes, and Georgia's grassroots citizens should be shuffling the deck---NOT some backroom Atlanta power-brokers. The leadership can be dealt with, but only from the strength of their fear of being ejected from leadership and/or public office.

In summary, if we can organize a statewide grassroots campaign, with local organizations in at least 10 Congressional Districts, it's worth a try. On the other hand, if there is not enough interest to commit to dedicating a year of organizing and campaigning by sufficient numbers of local members, we should save ourselves the embarrassment of a hopeless campaign. The next big battle for a Fair Vote will most likely be the last. Demographic changes alone are working against long range future hopes.

Failing support for the development of district grassroots organizations, my advice would be to move in other directions where the odds are more favorable. Please don't misinterpret what I'm saying. I'm being practical. I want a fair flag referendum as much as the most ardent supporter. Even with a well-organized campaign with the grassroots members required, it will not be an easy chore. Without these ingredients it will be an exercise in valor with discouraging results.

Pickett's Charge would have worked if all units had performed timely and as ordered. Instead, all that is remembered is a foolhardy effort. I'm willing to charge forward in the ranks, but only if enough grassroots troops are committed to the battle--and committed to fight smart, in a effective manner. The Georgia political leaders blocking a Fair Vote are not as entrenched as the federals were on Cemetery Ridge.

I am confident that Georgia voters can eject Perdue from office and defeat known turncoats and anti-heritage candidates like Ralph "Roll-Them-Dice" Reed. But if that's all we can accomplish, we still won't get a Fair Vote from the new "leaders." Again, without the local organization to apply the real pressure where it's needed WHEN it's needed, the "leadership" of the two major parties will continue to ignore the people's expressed desire for a Fair Vote.

The ironic paradox is that it takes much less effort and numbers to change the outcome of a local legislator's race than it does to defeat an incumbent official elected to state-wide office. It is this ability to apply localized pressure that's essential to winning a Fair Vote.

My judgement tells me we will know if there is a groundswell for a flag campaign by the response to our appeal for a membership base along with those who are willing to step up to the plate and assume some local leadership.

I'll be watching.

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 chairman of the Georgia Heritage Council. He is a collateral descendant of President Jefferson Davis.

Contact: Telephone 770 297-4788 P-6, 2363 North Cliff Colony Drive Gainesvlle, GA 30501