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In the lead-up to the Georgia Senate elections - it's been over 20 years since Georgia had a Democrat in the Senate - here's what we once had.
And a warning about the Lincoln Project.
Anyone out there remember Sen. Max Cleland?
In the lead-up to the Georgia Senate elections - it's been over 20 years since Georgia had a Democrat in the Senate - here's what we once had.
And a warning about the Lincoln Project.
Anyone out there remember Sen. Max Cleland?
Malcolm X once said,
"If you're cornered by a bear, and a fox comes along to help you out, you'll accept help from that fox. That doesn't mean you like foxes."
That's the Lincoln Project.
"If you're cornered by a bear, and a fox comes along to help you out, you'll accept help from that fox. That doesn't mean you like foxes."
That's the Lincoln Project.
1/FYI I was Chief of Staff to Rep. John Lewis 1999-2000, and my grand ma, from Eastman, GA, was proud of her grand son. You get to know the Georgia Delegation.
One of Georgia's Senators?
Max Cleland.
One of Georgia's Senators?
Max Cleland.
2/Sen. Cleland was born in Atlanta, graduated from Stetson University and earned a master's degree from Emory University (Georgia).
Cleland then served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, ultimately becoming a Captain.
Cleland then served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, ultimately becoming a Captain.
3/Like my uncle James, Cleland fought in one of the bloodiest battles of the war - Khe Sanh.
Before this battle, Cleland, due to his heroism in combat, had earned both the Bronze Star and Silver Star medals. He had about a month left in his tour, and got off a helicopter.When the helicopter landed, Cleland jumped out, followed by two soldiers.
5/"They ducked because of the rotor wash and turned to watch the liftoff. Cleland reached down to pick up a grenade that he believed had fallen off of his flak jacket. It exploded and the blast slammed him backward, shredding both his legs and one arm."
6/"David Lloyd, a Marine in a nearby mortar bunker, rushed to the scene, took off his web belt and tied it around one of Cleland's legs to control bleeding. Lloyd says that the unnamed soldier was crying. "It was mine," he said, "it was my grenade."
7/"Due to the severity of his wounds, doctors amputated both of Cleland's legs above the knee, and his right forearm. He was 25 years old." A month away from returning home.
Yeah.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Cleland
Yeah.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Cleland
8/Max Cleland VOLUNTEERED for Vietnam. I read more about Max Cleland in the Baltimore Sun, which did an excellent article on him. The only reason he had his right arm? It was behind his back when the grenade exploded.
Source: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-10-24-9910260531-story.html
Source: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-10-24-9910260531-story.html
9/"Of the 6,878 who lost limbs in Vietnam, only 52 were missing three."
Fifty-two.
Sen. Cleland fought through depression and guilt. Was selected by his fellow Georgian Jimmy Carter to head the VA. Ran for the US Senate, and WON!
Fifty-two.
Sen. Cleland fought through depression and guilt. Was selected by his fellow Georgian Jimmy Carter to head the VA. Ran for the US Senate, and WON!
10/During his race for re-election against Saxby Chambliss, someone who (checks notes) DODGED THE VIETNAM WAR (allegedly), Chambliss' team smeared the legacy of Cleland. You can't make this stuff up. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-amazing-story-of-saxb_n_144307
11/Out of sheer love and respect for Sen. Cleland, I volunteered to work for his campaign. The smearing was a tag-team effort with Ann Coulter, in one of the most infamous editorials I've ever read.
12/"'Max Cleland should stop allowing Democrats to portray him as a war hero who lost his limbs taking enemy fire on the battlefields of Vietnam'" she writes,
Source: https://observer.com/2004/02/vile-ann-coulter-smears-a-war-hero/
Source: https://observer.com/2004/02/vile-ann-coulter-smears-a-war-hero/
13/". . . claiming that he “lost three limbs in an accident during a routine non-combat mission where he was about to drink beer with friends. He saw a grenade on the ground and picked it up. He could have done that at Fort Dix."
14/"In fact, Cleland could have dropped a grenade on his foot as a National Guardsman …. Luckily for Cleland’s political career and current pomposity about Bush, he happened to do it while in Vietnam.”
15/Chambliss' team put together the ad that became popular in Republican circles denigrating Cleland's patriotism. Cleland voted for union worker provisions in the bill that created the Dept. of Homeland Security, making him "unpatriotic."
16/Who helped create this horrible, despicable ad?
Rick Wilson. Mr. Lincoln Project.
Yeah.
You've seen him on MSNBC, CNN and God knows where else.
Receipts here: https://publicintegrity.org/politics/anatomy-of-an-attack-ad/
Rick Wilson. Mr. Lincoln Project.
Yeah.
You've seen him on MSNBC, CNN and God knows where else.
Receipts here: https://publicintegrity.org/politics/anatomy-of-an-attack-ad/
17/Sen. Cleland was one of the most decent, kind, funny and warm politicians I've ever been around not named Rep. John Lewis. For those progressives out there? He campaigned for Elizabeth Warren. Yeah.
Receipts here:
Receipts here:
18/I am sure Sen. Cleland is campaigning today for a Warnock/Ossoff victory.
Here's your take-aways. For the Lincoln Project and Rick Wilson?
What is past, is prologue. If we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat, and live, it.
I trust ya but I know ya.
Here's your take-aways. For the Lincoln Project and Rick Wilson?
What is past, is prologue. If we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat, and live, it.
I trust ya but I know ya.
FIN/Remember the incredible legacy, physical and moral courage of Sen. Max Cleland.
There were only 52 triple amputees in the entire Vietnam War.
Sen. Cleland, I believe, is the only Triple Amputee elected to Congress.
And yes, he's a member of my Democratic Party.
There were only 52 triple amputees in the entire Vietnam War.
Sen. Cleland, I believe, is the only Triple Amputee elected to Congress.
And yes, he's a member of my Democratic Party.
