You are a political junkie if you know the name Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky. The mother of Chelsea Clinton’s boyfriend, MMM made the deciding vote in the House for Bill Clinton’s Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. That five year budget plan cut taxes for fifteen million low-income families, made tax cuts available to 90% of small businesses, raised taxes on the wealthiest 1.2% of taxpayers and mandated balanced budgets.
As Senator Joe Liberman mentioned on stage at the 2008 RNC Convention, President Clinton balanced the budget with his plan and the American economy grew stronger. On the day of that historic budget vote, the crafty Republicans waved goodbye to MMM as she walked in the chamber to vote—like the Lynyrd Skynyrd lyric said “shaking like a left on a tree.” Legend has it that two other Democrats were holding MMM up. 34 Democratic incumbents were defeated in the “Republican Revolution” in 1994 in part for making that vote.
This walk down memory lane supports the concept that sometimes the community as a whole is better served by the sacrifice of one. In one of those Star Trek movies, Spock went out like a solider—took one for the team- just like Congresswoman Margolies-Mezvinsky. It was 1982, Sarah Palin and I were finishing high school on opposite sides of the country and my sister was finishing Georgia Tech. I saw that movie while visiting her; walking across I-75, stopped at the Varsity for some greasy food and burped my way to the Columbia Theater—Star Trek: the Warth of Khan in doby sound. (Some movies need to be seen on the big screen.)
Remember, Spock and Jim said, “It is logical, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…or the one. I have been and always shall be your friend. Live long and prosper.”
Of course, we learn in Star Trek III that Spock planted his Kattra (living spirit) in McCoy. Movies have always been tools to me that shape or parallel stuff happening in life. Petite MMM went out like Spock saving the Enterprise; she helped the enterprise known as the American economy by doing what she felt was right.
Senator Sam Nunn did not vote for that budget plan and Vice President Gore broke the tie in the Senate. Nunn could do that because he is “Sam Nunn”—the staff joke on the Hill was Nunn did not want to be VP because it would be a demotion. Nunn’s role in national defense gave him icon status—presidents came to see him. Since this rant has developed a movie theme, Nunn and the Democrats made me think about Colonel Jessep (Jack Nicholson’s character) in A Few Good Men:
Col. Jessep: Son, we live in a world that has walls and those walls need to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and curse the Marines; you have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives and that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use then as the backbone of a life trying to defend something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said “thank you,” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
You Can’t Handle the Truth…there it is; naïve people wonder why some people boldly stand up while others stand idly by. I am puzzled by the local, state and national Democratic Party officials’ quietness on Rep. Jim Marshall party attitude. As I have written before, Marshall would have my respect if he endorsed Obama or McCain but this no comment stuff does not fly when members of Congress have faced political peril to fight for what they believed. Rep. Bishop and Rep. Barrows courageously put their political futures on the line by supporting Obama while many members of the Congressional Black Caucus did the same by supporting Senator Clinton.
Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky is not a footnote in congressional history because she can hold her head up high. The Dem Team needs White male southern support and Jim Marshall is AWOL.
You Can’t Handle the Truth…Why did it take me so long to figure out that Marshall obviously has a pass from Speaker Pelosi—keeping the House is more important than getting the White House.
You Can’t Handle the Truth…Marshall also has a pass from the African American leadership in Macon—Obama got sold down the river for earmarks and pork. I might not be the brightest person and clearly I can write well but even I know that shortly after the election Democrats are going to plan how to marginalize Marshall and that will justify him moving to the GOP. Yes, he would have just used Dem money to win an election, did not support Obama/Biden and might join the Republicans.
Last movie: ice-cold Michael Corleone talking to his brother Fredo about the family and loyalty. “Don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again….ever.” “I know it was you Fredo…you broke my heart.” Michael Corleone should be head of the DNC but we really should think about Frank Sinatra, who is singing in the following Godfather video. Sinatra is rumored to have secured the election of Kennedy by making “certain” calls to certain people who were “connected” to labor unions in Illinois and West Virginia. He watched the back of MLK, Sammy Davis, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Joe Louis; Sinatra was all about loyalty and that was a close presidential election.
I told my friends that Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez would cost the Democrats the election and I was right. I have a feeling that one person (I am not saying who) could cost the Democrats Georgia and therefore the Presidency is year.
Project Logic Ga 
Thank you. The only thing I’d like to clear up is that in almost every account ( though not yours) it says ‘I promised to not raise taxes’. That is simply not true. I’d always say “I will not be a ‘ready lips’ candidate”, because “I have no idea what awaits me when (if) I get down there.” I just hated the idea that I was being accused of not telling the truth (deceiving the constituents etc.)! Thanks so much for sending this to me.
Marjorie
Congresswoman: it is an honor to have you chime in personally on how Washington works. You are right; political opponents often plan how to use votes against members of congress before the votes are made; putting elections in from of governing or the tail wagging the dog.
During the voting process on the $700 Wall Street Bailout vote today, I think many of your former “dear colleagues” from both sides of the aisle remembered that 1993 vote and tried to save their own seats rather than “putting country first.” Thanks for your insight and best wishes.
I am impressed with the fact that the Congresswoman weighed in on this conversation in the first place. Too often our politicians are fearful of communicating with the public because their words get twisted, misquoted and/or misunderstood. And that’s too bad. We need more dialogue between the public and our elected officials. Who knows? At that point we may all learn something. Keep up the good work Congresswoman.
You guys got a Congresswoman on here, so jealous.
I find the Spock analogy priceless, Spock went into the reactor chamber knowing full well that that the radiation would kill him.
But what does this imply for Marshall? Who voted yesterday to “save our country” in his mind. I strongly disagree with many things he has done, and I disagree with the bailout plan – but his stance is admirable to some degree. He is at least standing up and showing some spine.
I don’t think that makes up for all he has done, but it’s certainly an improvement. Rumor has it, Newt was lobbying yesterday to downvote the bailout. But are we to shift our stance on Marshall in some degree with his vote? I mean he certainly considers himself to be a sacrificial lamb saying he is willing to lose his seat over this.
I think it boils down to jobs in Macon and surrounding areas that rely so heavily on insurance and banking. What is your take?
Ron: yes, it is cool having a historic figure come by the blog; I should started a blog for former members of congress only so they could tell it like it is— unencumbered. Her comment shows she is one cool person.
Okay, Spock gave his life for the better good; then again, if he did not they all would have been gone. To me, Marshall could have supported our party because a positive team winning the White House is more important than one guy. (And if he lost while fighting for the ticket, they would just make him Ag Secretary, ambassador or under-secretary at DOD.)
After yesterday, you see how ugly party politics can get in a quickness; so Marshall losing while supporting the ticket would be a two-fer for me. Marshall becomes a Georgian in the cabinet and Goddard becomes a core Republican congressman who is not all bitterly those guy yesterday.
Okay, Okay, you are right; Jim Marshall stood up yesterday in a big way; however, he did not do it for the Democrat party or the current president. He did it (in my opinion) because is tired of mess and thought that the vote was the right think to do. I am telling you that I have seen this before. After redistricting in early 90s, Georgia Congressmen Doug Barnard, Ed Jenkins and Lindsey Thomas said enough, I am out of here. I don’t think Congressman Marshall wants to battle a Democrat White House for the next four (eight?) years. Parties change over time. After most the conservatives left or lost from the Democrat party in the early 90s, the direction of the party was hard for many southerners to stomach—including me. As a staffer, we spent more time fight with the liberal elements of “our” party than fight with Newt and the crew.
David Scott and Sanford Bishop catch fire from the CBC all the time for conservative and moderate votes. I just feel the Dem Team needed people like them and Marshall up front to counterbalance the urban liberals but Marshall is not standing behind my man Obama and that is not cool.
I’m wondering if this isn’t Marshall’s way of leaving the party. He hasn’t endorsed their candidate. He wasn’t at convention. He’s voted in a political suicide. He’s either trying for Governor or Senator or something. Maybe he wants to go back to teaching at Mercer, in such case please don’t fail me if I wind up there.
I’ve heard many times that Jim Marshall is one of the best contract lawyers in this state, and I believe it. I’ve been campaigning against him for the past couple of months but I still retain a tremendous respect for him.
The fact remains that his politics and my politics just do not mesh. I will also say that if he is dedicated to his party he should make it known, I feel that all Congressmen should not remain neutral in such a case. Like you I am upset he hasn’t endorsed a candidate; unlike you I do not have a vested interest in who he endorses. If it were Bob Barr or Chuck Baldwin, that’d be cool – I’d at least know where he stood. But I see him doing this as a purely political move of non-committal. He’s trying to get elected, and thinks Obama will hurt him in his district. Well you either agree with him or disagree Jim, make it known.
If he lost I’m sure there are many spots open for him. I’m fairly confident that a Georgian will wind up in high places in Obama’s Presidency – I still vow Nunn should have been the V.P., and I fully expect him to be in top running for SecDef SecState or some position.
Of all my huffing and puffing though, I am still unresolved to vote for McCain on his own merit alone. I don’t trust him. But he’s far from my ideological views and I’m a little tired of voting lesser of evils all the time.
Gingrich ’12 maybe? =)
Ron: I think you have it right. Legal mind like Marshall could be wasting away in Congress and 20 something lobbyist from Atlanta corporations are making twice a congressman’s pay. I know a lawyer in Albany who always runs for office as a form of advertising her law firm. Maybe he is running a zillion ads to prep his future law empire—that is one smart move.
Running for Governor as a Dem is off because statewide African Americans are not having it after blowing off Obama. He could head toward Atlanta to seek Dem support and they would turn him around before he got to the Farmers’ Market. If he might switch to the GOP and run statewide, other candidates should hope he gets roughed up now.
Sam Nunn is an icon who needed a break from the Senate; Obama/Biden should say NOW that Nunn gets his pick in the cabinet if he wants. But, Marshall could not be in the Obama White House because he did not help them get there and he can be Ag Sec for McCain because the Farm Bill as written goes against McCain’s “hands off” approach to farm policies.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/33498298#33498298
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=226817
Check out Martin Frost and MMM on Hardball yesterday. Frost said there was a Dem. in a safer seat in the cloakroom and she should have been called upon to make that vote. Basically, safer Dems punked out.
Leaderhip in both Houses should be very mindful of who takes the hits during the current big issue votes.