Barnes focuses on foreclosures in yet another ad
Democratic gov hopeful wants mandatory negotiations between bankers and at-risk homeowners
In his campaign’s 283rd commercial in Georgia’s long slog of a gubernatorial race, Democratic hopeful Roy Barnes focuses on the foreclosure crisis that’s rattled development-happy Peach State. The spot, which the former governor is airing in metro markets across the state, is set in one of those idyllic new neighborhoods where a sheriff watches over a family as they tote their belongings to a U-Haul truck. It’s obviously not very realistic, as the young boy is playing with stuffed animals — not an Etch-a-Sketch, which today’s youngsters prefer. (When will these people learn?) BREAKING VITAL UPDATE: Political columnist Tom Baxter notes that one of the stuffed animals is... an elephant. Clever!
Much has been made over Barnes’ claim that, if elected, he’d require banks and homeowners to negotiate before foreclosures occur. Some folks on the right — House Majority Whip Ed Lindsey, for one — say Republicans already passed such a measure. The Barnes campaign disputed the claim, basically saying that legislation was toothless. It should also be noted that the ad doesn’t include the word “Democrat” — a smart move in this more-red-than-blue region at a time when donkeys are constantly hammered with accusations of socialism, big government, and other knee-jerk reactions.