The Elders Bless Thurmond and the New Folks Catch the Holy Ghost for the Wrong Reason

Church, gather ‘round for a quick word this Sunday morning, because some of y’all are acting like you’ve never seen politics before.

Tell me why folks are clutching their pearls because former Governor Roy Barnes and civil rights legend Andrew Young offered their support in a race? When did that become a crisis? When did a simple endorsement turn into a thunderstorm?

Let me preach this slow:

This ain’t new.  

This ain’t shocking.  

This ain’t even unusual.

Former elected officials endorse candidates every single cycle — Republican, Democrat, and everybody in between. It’s as normal as a deacon falling asleep during the sermon.

But here’s what I’m seeing, especially around Atlanta:

Some of the newer Democrats get real tense whenever the old guard speaks up.  

Not because of the endorsement itself, but because they don’t like the idea of voices with history and mileage still having something to say.

But hear this Sunday truth:

An endorsement is not control.  

It’s not a coronation.  

It’s not a backroom deal.  

It’s not a puppet string.

It’s simply seasoned folks  people who’ve lived through the highs and lows of Georgia politics saying,  

“Here’s who I believe in.”

You can shout amen to it, or you can sit there with your arms crossed.  

You can agree or disagree.  

That’s your right.

But let’s not pretend this is some wild new phenomenon.  

Let’s not act like the sky is falling because elders in the movement still have a voice.

This is normal politics.  

Nothing more, nothing less.

Now pass the plate and let the congregation say hallelujah.