Jones, Martin Trade Shots In TV Debate

By Walter C. Jones
Morris News Service

(7/30/08) Vernon Jones and Jim Martin clashed on several topics during a statewide-television debate Tuesday, a week before the pair face off in a runoff for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

While they agreed on all substantive issues, the two traded shots over who voted for who in past presidential elections and over campaign tactives. Each accused the other of dishonesty, and Jones refused to say he would even support Martin if he won the runoff.

Jones, 46, the chief executive officer of DeKalb County, and Martin, 62, a former legislator and one-time commissioner of human resources for the state, finished first and second in the July 15 primary. Since neither won more than 50 percent in the five-man contest, prompting the runoff to determine which will face Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Libertarian Allen Buckley in November.

The hour-long debate was sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club and broadcast on Georgia Public Broadcasting. An archived version is available online here.

Jones repeatedly referred to Martin's vote for John Edwards in Georgia's presidential-preference primary in February rather than Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, even though Edwards had pulled himself out of the race. Martin said he was fulfilling a commitment he had made months earlier to Edwards.

On the other hand, Martin hammered Jones for voting for President Bush twice and for putting Obama's picture on a campaign flyer even though Obama had not endorsed him.

"What was it about Senator Barack Obama who wanted to be president, or Hillary Clinton, who wanted to be president? You voted against both of them and voted for someone who was not in the race any more," Jones said.

Martin responded that he was supporting a Democrat.

"I do not think it's appropriate for a Democratic candidate for the United States Senate to have bragged on the fact that they voted for the current Republican president of the United States," Martin said. "... Talk about dishonesty, Vernon Jones knows that I'm supporting Barack Obama."

Jones also blasted Martin for issuing two press releases announcing endorsements by former Senate candidate Josh Lanier and Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin only to retract them later and blaming miscommunications on the error.

"It just seems to be a pattern where he's giving people false information," Jones said.

Later, Martin said, "I didn't put Barack Obama's picture on my campaign materials."

The two agreed on most policy issues. Both support universal healthcare, increased federal spending for education and alternative fuels, and withdrawal of troops from Iraq on a schedule determined by military commanders.