Opportunism

It’s probably no secret that I generally disagree with Republicans on a base policy level.  But I have no problem with Republicans running for office.  Look, if you’re honest about who you are, what your views are, and what party you belong to, I have no problem with you.  I might not vote for you, but I will sure as hell respect you for being honest with the voting public.

Political opportunism is pretty much the exact opposite.  Opportunists see an open seat, and lie, cheat, and steal their way into it.  If it’s a Republican district, a Democrat might put on a Republican mask, and vice versa.  And that’s where we can start talking about Justin O’Dell.

I had the pleasure of meeting Justin at the Cobb Democrats Breakfast last Saturday.  He’s a nice guy, gives a heck of a stump speech, and is generally personable to be around.  Had I not done some basic research, I probably would have left it there.  Now, for those of you that don’t know, Justin is running to replace retiring Rep. Terry Johnson, a progressive Democrat who I’m going to miss seeing around the Gold Dome.  The district is solidly Democratic, and it would be an uphill battle for a Republican to run there.  Which is probably why the Republican Justin O’Dell put a D next to his name on the ballot.

Now look, I’m not usually the person to cry “Republican!”  Sure, there are conservative Democrats out there, but they still vote Democrat, or at least outwardly appear to be a Democrat.  Justin O’Dell only started pretending to be a Dem in the past few months.

O’Dell, a 35 year old, is listed as a “Strong Republican” in VoteBuilder.  That’s probably because he pulled Republican ballots exclusively, including for the primaries in 2004, 2006, and 2010, and he voted in the Republican Presidential Primary in 2008.  He was given a shout-out in a 2010 Cobb County Republican Women’s Club newsletter.  Worst of all, he filed the petition that overturned the Sunday Sales vote in Cobb County.

Frankly, I think Mr. O’Dell has some questions to answer.  He’s going around to fellow Democrats, and trying to sweep his Republican record under the rug.  Trusting people are taking him at his word, when what they should be doing is asking him why exactly he became a Democrat in less than two years.  I’d invite Mr. O’Dell to explain to all of us why we should vote for him as a Democrat to Represent Cobb County.  I would love to know what he thinks about issues like School Choice, Women’s Rights (aka abortion), LGBT rights– you know, Democratic issues.  And, most of all, I think we deserve an explanation as to why we should now trust him as a hardcore Democrat, when he’s spent the past eight years voting as a Republican, never once pulling a Democratic ballot.  Where are you going to stand on Milton County?  The TSPLOST?  Also, do you have any future ambitions for office, and if so, how do you think the letter D will do you in that effort, or would you just pull a McKillip and change that letter?  Oh, and one more thing, Mr. O’Dell– who’d you vote for for President in 2008?  Are you even planning to vote for Obama in 2012?