Word - Sonny’s sanctimony

Gov. Sonny Perdue is all about letting the citizens of Georgia choose — as long as they’re choosing according to his taste. Allowing the people to pick their state flag after Sonny’s predecessor, Roy Barnes, got the old Confederate one thrown out? Cool. Letting them vote to overturn the antiquated ban on Sunday liquor sales? Not so much.

“I’m willing to trust the people of Georgia to make the best decision for Georgia.”

-- Perdue, asking the Legislature in his 2003 state-of-the-state address to approve a referendum on the state flag

“This has to be done by the people of Georgia as a whole.”

-- Perdue, quoted feb. 13, 2003, in the AJC about his newly proposed flag referendum

“Our republic is truly of-by-and-for the people, and in the end, the people do have the ultimate say.”

-- Perdue, quoted in the AJC on May 11, 2003, a few weeks after the Legislature voted to allow the flag referendum

“You can’t do government really by referendum.”

-- Perdue, commenting Jan. 17, 2007, on Q100-FM about the widespread interest to put Sunday liquor sales to a votE

“You have to always be attuned to where public opinion is, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to follow that. ... Think of it this way: It really helps you plan ahead for the rest of your life — buying on Saturday, rather than Sunday. Time management.”

-- Perdue on Q100-FM, moments after he hinted that he’d veto legislation for a Sunday-liquor-sales referendum