The Red and Black

Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with a good buddy of mine, smoke some cigars and talk politics. We began arguing about the gubernatorial race, and we never finished. My friend is a good ol' boy, but he and I disagree quite often about politics.

The argument began by my being undecided on who I would support for governor. He couldn't understand how I could even contemplate voting for someone like Guy Millner.

Millner is a rich Atlanta businessman who has spent incredible amounts of money on election campaigns and probably doesn't even know that Georgia extends beyond I-285. He has no legislative experience and probably won't work well with Democratic legislators.

On the other hand, I thought Millner stands for what is right and not what is politically correct on controversial issues, unlike his Democratic opponent.

Though I was unsure of his leadership ability, I did have a lot of respect for Millner, as well as for Barnes. Roy Barnes has paid his political dues, and he does have considerable legislative experience. Barnes demands respect. The only real problems I see in Barnes' campaign platform are affirmative action, racially divisive tactics and the expanding liberal policies of the Democratic Party.

Unfortunately for Barnes and other relatively conservative Georgia Democrats, these were material problems for me and for many other Georgians who are fed up with Spend-o-crat politics. It's tough today here in the two-party South to decide whom to vote for.

Traditionally, I wanted to support the old Southern Democrats. Morally, I had to support the Republicans. Our political system down here in the South is as complex as our history. Well, after four hours of strenuous debate and a case of Budweiser, my friend cut through all the B.S. and made his conclusion.

"Hunter," he said, "the truth is that I don't want things to change, and if a Republican is ever elected governor it shouldn't be some rich Atlanta aristocrat."

It bothers me sometimes that I am so narrow-minded as to vote against a candidate because of his stance on one issue. Now, I see that I wasn't narrow-minded. I merely did what I thought was right. I think that Georgia is in dire need of a change in leadership. Also, I think Millner will bring a business approach to the office, which will benefit Georgia fiscally.

Georgia Democrats have had to take the same route as Democrats in other states. In order to stay in power, they have allied themselves with special interest groups because they are too proud to change parties.

Ronald Reagan once said of the Democrats, " I didn't leave the party, the party left me!"

That just about sums it up for me. I would love to call myself a Southern Democrat, but I can't because they no longer exist.

There is no room for a good ol' boy left under the Democratic tent. Georgia Democrats are faced with a pivotal decision.

They must return to the party of family values, states' rights and Deep South conservatism - or become the minority here in the New South.

It's late on deadline, and I have no idea yet how the elections will turn out.

But I do know that conservative values will always be a mainstay in Georgia politics, Democrat or Republican, and that's all that matters to me.

- Hunter Towns is a senior in agricultural business.

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