Two Georgia Heavyweights Just Dropped Their Boots on the Porch for Thurmond.

This morning, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports Roy Barnes and Andrew Yound have thrown their full support and endorsement behind Michael Thurmond bid for Governor. 

When Andrew Young and Roy Barnes step into a race, it’s never just ceremonial. These are two of the most recognizable Democrats in modern Georgia politics, one a civil rights icon and Atlanta statesman, the other the last Democrat to win the Governor’s Mansion. Their endorsements don’t crown a nominee, but they do shift the ground under a campaign’s feet.

And for Michael Thurmond, they matter in three distinct arenas:  

The primary, rural Georgia, and a potential general election.

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1. What It Means for the Democratic Primary

Young and Barnes speak to two pillars of the Democratic coalition that still matter in a primary:

- Older Black voters, who trust Andrew Young’s judgment and moral authority  

- Long‑time Democratic loyalists, who remember Roy Barnes as the last statewide Democratic governor  

Their support signals something simple but powerful:  

This is a serious campaign with real credibility.

Inside the party, endorsements like these open doors with donors, county chairs, activists, and local officials. They don’t guarantee votes, but they change the conversation about viability.

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2. What It Means for His Push Into Rural Georgia

This is where the Barnes endorsement especially hits.

Roy Barnes still has name recognition in rural counties. He campaigned there, governed with them in mind, and remains one of the last Democrats rural voters remember personally. His backing gives Thurmond a level of familiarity and trust in places where Democrats have struggled to reconnect.

Andrew Young’s name carries weight everywhere even in small counties with small Black populations. His endorsement signals steadiness and seriousness.

Together, they help:

- Open doors with rural elected officials  

- Ease skepticism in counties Democrats haven’t carried in years  

- Strengthen turnout operations in places where every vote is hard‑earned  

It’s not magic. But it’s meaningful.

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3. What It Means for a Potential General Election

Endorsements don’t win general elections.  

But they help shape the coalition needed to compete.

A. Credibility With Moderates and Independents

Barnes still resonates with older white moderates, rural Democrats who drifted right, and business‑minded independents. His support signals competence and stability.

B. Moral Authority With Black Voters

Andrew Young’s endorsement carries weight in Black churches and communities across the state, especially among older voters who still view him as a civil rights leader with unmatched credibility.

C. Institutional Strength

Both men have deep networks. Their backing can help:

- Attract donors  

- Bring in validators  

- Strengthen statewide infrastructure  

In a general election, that matters.

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The Bottom Line

These endorsements don’t decide the race.  

But they do something just as important:

They signal that Thurmond’s campaign is credible, serious, and capable of building a broad Democratic Coalition,

the kind needed to win a primary and compete statewide.

They don’t guarantee victory.  

But they absolutely reshape the landscape.

Endorsement: Michael Thurmond for Governor

For 24 years, I’ve known Michael Thurmond as more than a public servant. I’ve known him as a friend, the kind who listens before he talks, shows up when it matters, and treats people from every corner of Georgia with the same respect. That’s rare in politics, and it’s even rarer in statewide politics.

Michael Thurmond

That’s why I’m supporting Michael Thurmond as Georgia’s next Governor and as the Democratic nominee.

And let me say this plainly: this isn’t about disrespecting any other Democrat in the race. Every candidate deserves credit for stepping up. But out here in rural Georgia, we don’t judge leadership by who gives the best speech or who trends online. We judge it by who can win, who can deliver, and who understands the difference between performing politics and practicing it.

Thurmond comes from the last generation of Democrats who knew how to win statewide... the Miller, Murphy, Talmadge school of politics. Not because they were perfect. Not because they were loud. But because they understood Georgia from the dirt up.

They knew rural counties weren’t an afterthought. They knew working families weren’t talking points. They knew that if you wanted to lead this state, you had to earn trust in places where folks don’t hand it out easily.

Michael Thurmond is cut from that cloth.

I’ve spent years advocating for rural Georgia and rural Democrats, and I can tell you this: people out here can spot sincerity from a mile away. They know who’s been in the trenches and who just shows up for the photo. Thurmond has been showing up for decades in small towns, in farm communities, in places where the spotlight never reaches.

When the Georgia Department of Labor needed rebuilding, he delivered.  

When DeKalb County Schools needed stability, he delivered.  

When communities needed leadership grounded in service, not spectacle, he delivered.

That’s the old‑guard discipline, the kind Bill Shipp and Tom Crawford wrote about with respect, even when they wrote with fire. They understood that Georgia politics isn’t won by vibes or purity tests. It’s won by coalition, credibility, and consistency.

And right now, Democrats need a nominee who can do more than inspire a base. We need someone who can win. Someone who can narrow margins in rural counties. Someone who can energize Black voters without taking them for granted. Someone who can speak to independents who want competence, not chaos. Someone who understands Georgia’s political DNA because he’s been part of shaping it. That’s Michael Thurmond.

He stands at the crossroads of Georgia’s past and future, the last of a Democratic tradition that knew how to win, and the leader who can build the kind of coalition the new Georgia requires.

This moment calls for steadiness, not slogans.  

Coalition, not factions.  

Winning, not wishful thinking.

That’s why I’m standing with Michael Thurmond as a friend of 24 years, as an advocate for rural Georgia, and as someone who believes deeply in a Democratic Party that can win again.

2012 a Litmus Test for Georgia Dems?

With the 2011 season coming to a end, now is the time to start talking about the 2012 political season.

With all of the attention being to paid to happenings up on Capitol Hill & rightfully so, down here in Georgia, 2012 will be sort of a litmus test for the future of the Georgia Democratic Party.

Now if you want to talk about a party that's at a serious crossroads look no further than the State Democratic Party here in the Peach State & 2012 will be the year that sets the tone for the party going forward

Operatives at the State Party have to decide what direction the party should take....do they want to continue to take it to the murky waters of the left, which will never gain a strong foothold here in the empire state of the south....OR...do they want to reposition it to what it was when they had its most successes of the 1990s all the way up to 2001......back to the center?

There are some who think that taking the party to the left will eventually appeal to everyday mainstream Georgians who mostly are centrist/conservative in nature. NO IT WILL NO'T!

There are those who think that the Latino population will rescue the party from its doldrums, but you're talking about 10-15 years down the line. And there's no guarantee that the Latino population will continue to increase here in Georgia over the next few years & who's to say that they will be a monolithic voting bloc for the party like African-American have been for over 45 years? Do you really want to put all of your eggs in that basket?

I remember attending a democratic party meeting down in South Georgia last year where a white liberal burst out saying..."Hey let's forget about the white working class vote, we don't need then anymore" & let's focus on increasing our minority strength here in Georgia. Now that's where the "Let's wait for the population to shift" theory comes in. That kind of attitude will absolutely hurt the party even more in its attempt to appeal to Whites.

There will be some Conservative Democrats running for office next year for the state legislature & it will present the democrats with another opportunity to show that they are really a BIG TENT PARTY because right now that moniker doesn't apply to them. Its not healthy for the party in the long run....hell RIGHT NOW to be a party basically made up of only majority Black Georgians, sprinkled with Latinos, Gays, Lesbians & a handful of Urban/Suburban White Liberals.

2012 will the litmus test for the party. Will they show a openness for helping elect Moderate/Conservative Democrats, black or white? Or will they continue to support one track minded, out of touch, weak candidates who can only appeal to one demographic & have the inability to appeal to those who doesn't share the same views as they do?

The key person to keep an eye on is Miguel Camacho who was elected to recruit candidates for the party. This is a whole different ballgame, this isn't Chatham County where you can look around the corner to find a candidate with a snap of a finger, you're talking about statewide, especially Rural Georgia where he's got to find democratic candidates that has the ability to appeal, to connect to every person no matter of race, religion or background. That's going to be the hard part for Camacho who probably has never ventured to isolated areas of rural central 7 South Georgia

The Democratic Party after the 2010 elections: Part 1

Okay, here’s the deal. Election day was brutal, crushing, utterly demoralizing. There’s been much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth and general despair about what this means for Democrats in the future; what it says about the mood, needs, and intelligence of the electorate; and what will become of the state under Republican control of the house.

Got that out of your system yet? If so, good! We have work to do. If not, then hurry it up. We have work to do.

I’m not irrational. I’m simply seeing things very clearly. I think I understand exactly what caused voters to choose as they did, and it’s far from simple. But the answer to what we, as Democrats, need to do to reverse those voter choices is quite simple, although it’s far from easy. It’s going to take a lot of work, a lot of time, and most importantly, a relentlessly positive attitude. It’s going to require us to believe in our own power to succeed even when the odds seem stacked against us.

There was no one magical thing that Republicans did to win so many of the elections a few weeks ago. They did it with empty promises, backed by no specifics or utter nonsense (“We’ll reduce the deficit by lowering taxes.”) and an epic tsunami of corporate money that was funneled through groups that, I suspect, will someday once again be legally barred from funding political campaign ads as they did this year.

Let's face it people, republicans won by utilizing a massive media machine that masquerades as a “news network,” but which most of us recognize as the unofficial propaganda apparatus of the Republican party. Some have said they won by igniting, fueling, and ultimately harnessing the inarticulate rage of a class of people who are fundamentally ignorant about politics, economics, social justice, and our political process and governmental procedures.

Then they used the misery and suffering of the general population – which they themselves caused and prolonged – to amplify their campaign message, which boiled down to “Democrats did it! Don’t vote for them!”

None of these tactics is appropriate for Democrats to adopt and modify as their own. They are not going to defeat the destructive, negative influence of the Republican party by becoming a mirror image of it. And more importantly, they don’t have to do that to win. No way the party need a liberal Fox News and they don’t need to pump the American people full of lies that cast Republicans as villains and Democrats as knights on white chargers.

All we need to do is tell the truth.

Now, I can hear some of you already shouting in response that “We already did that! We told the truth, but the people couldn’t hear us over the sound of Fox News and Glenn Beck and the tea party rallies! The people believed the lies because that’s all they were hearing!” And you’re right about that. Therein lies the real problem – that the American people aren’t hearing us.

But the answer is not to get a bigger megaphone. I think this election made it pretty clear that corporate America is almost entirely in the Republican corner. Any megaphone Dems build is going to be dwarfed by the one they can buy. Theirs will always be bigger, fancier, and louder. But they won’t need a megaphone anyway, because we’re going to reach the people by talking to them. One at a time.

People don’t want Republicans or Democrats. They want people with real answers to real problems. They want someone to hear their pleas for help and respond with actions that make their lives better. They will elect anyone who seems to get what they are going through and has ideas that make sense to them. This year, they went mostly with Republicans because of that messaging infrastructure they have. But Dems messaging structure will be even more powerful.

What Dems must do is to meet people where they are. They can’t judge them for their views, whether they are tea party or lifelong Republicans or libertarians or whatever. They need to get out among them and help them. If they are down, they should help them up. If they have a problem, they should work alongside them to help solve it. They will teach them by example what it means to be a Democrat; that “liberal” is not a dirty word; that “progressive” is not an epithet & that "conservative", yes, "conservative democrats" have a place in the party as well. (Or I hope they still do)

This is going to take patience, it’s going to take time, and it’s going to take hard work. The temptation to lecture people will be overwhelming, but that’s not what will win them over. They can’t win elections by arguing with the people, because most of the population has forgotten or never learned the art of debate. They think what they think because they have been appealed to emotionally; logic and reason were contorted to serve the emotional purpose. Dems can’t tell them what to think, but we can show them who and what we really are. And in the end, that will be the key.

Dems spent the past two years fretting over what the Republicans have done, laughing at the ignorance of the tea party people (some are ignorant, but not all), and browbeating our elected Democrats for their perceived failures. But what dems need to understand is that this administration and this Democratic Congress have faced a combination of obstacles unprecedented in our history.

They were up against a corporate media machinery that served Republicans interests far more often than it served up the truth, plus the exhorbitantly partisan voice of Fox News. They were up against a Republican party that publicly decided not to help govern, but instead fought every every single bill that would have aided the economy or made life easier for suffering constituents. They were up against a corporate conspiracy that not only laid off far more workers than necessary when the recession hit, but deliberately failed to start rehiring when it ended, thus keeping the economy weakened and prolonging the misery of voters in my opinion.

And Democrats were up against a conservative “grassroots” movement that has been carefully nurtured and extravagantly bankrolled by billionaires intent on keeping America the promised land for corporations and the ultraric. I think dems fell into polarization mode – which is perfectly understandable and expected – but that in doing so, we played right into the hands of the Republican puppetmasters.

But this isn’t all a bunch of hippy-dippy, kumbaya crap. There are very pragmatic, concrete things to be gained by keeping the message positive. For one thing, it’s a lot more efficient – maintaining a negative attitude and constantly attacking uses far more energy. It also takes a spiritual toll and tends to make one petty, mean, and embittered. I think they can all agree that petty, mean, embittered people are far less attractive to others, less fun to be around. And that brings me to another practical concern: young people

Young people are much more likely to be motivated to take part in politics – as activists, and even as voters – when there is positive energy. One look at a tea party rally should tell you that; how many young adults do you typically see there? And young people turned out in droves to organize, politic, and vote in 2008. Why? Because Barack Obama’s positive message and energy inspired them. I’m not a young person, but that’s what drew me in.

It worked in 2008, and it will work now. Notice that I didn’t say “it will work in 2012.” Dems can’t wait for official campaigning to begin our new ground game. If we want to educate voters about the realities of Democratic policies, we have to start now. Where do we start? Well, there’s a meeting of my county Democratic party next week. I’m going to attend. That will be the first time I’ve ever done that.

What happened to the old Democratic Party? Bring back the party of Truman, Roosevelt before its too late.

What happened to the party to the former democratic party?

I'm not old enough to remember, but I always hear about the Democratic Party's "Glory Days", those days which have slipped away, days when the Democrats led the country out of "The Great Depression" with a bank holiday, the W.P.A., the C.C.C.,the P.W.A., the N.R.A., and I don't know how many other alphabet combinations.

It was Democrats who created the minimum wage. They were always in the forefront where labor gains were concerned. But nowadays days are not "glory days." It was Democrats who fought for Social Security, civil rights, and Medicare. Social equality is still a claimed Democrat priority, but these aren't the "glory days."

Environment is a contentious issue, and when there is a conflict between environment and profit, Democrats defend environment. The other guys defend profit. Preservation is a higher purpose than making money, but that doesn't make these the "glory days."

Democrats improved the economy and and achieved a deficit reduction during the Clinton years.

They enacted a crime bill in spite of heavy opposition, but those were not the "glory days."
Why not? And why so many defections from the working middle class which has benefitted so much from past Democrat effort? What's missing?

Nothing is missing. Something has been added: a form of immorality. In its zeal to be all things to all people,the Party has tried to become all-inclusive and the voters' perception of the Party has changed. Many of the faithful have deserted their Party because they can't stomach their fellow travelers. Some have a deep-rooted moral aversion to abortion. Some believe the rights of law-abiding citizens have been subordinated in favor of predatory felons. Most abhor and are disgusted by social acceptance of sodomy and other deviant sexual practices. Their consciences force them to reevaluate ptriorities.

Rightly or wrongly, a very large number of defectors believe that permissive liberalism is responsible for moral decay, bastard babies, proliferation of drugs, crime and pornography, unwarranted welfare, suppression of public prayer, and practically evry other social evil. In their minds, lurks a simple equation. Democrat equals liberal, atheist, permissive, criminal-coddling, homosexual, and abortion.

I recognize the problem, but I don't think desertion is a viable solution. The country needs two strong opposing parties. It needs a healthy, moral Democratic Party. The Party must be retaken by Moderate and Conservative Democrats and former Democrats.

Sometimes when I listen to members of the GOP country club elite, I come to believe that the true meaning of G.O.P. is Greed, Oppression, and Profit. Those who deep down believe that must not be silent, passive observers. We owe it to ourselves to reclaim our party.

Letters to the editors, call-in radio shows, probing questions put to candidates in the primaries, direct correspondence with elected representatives, and most important,the vote, are all tools capable of reshaping the Party.

Our Democratic Party has a shining past. We must not abandon it to the special interest fringes with immoral agendas. Let's take it back!

Is The Democratic Party Losing Its Democracy?

It's difficult to digest the truth and often the truth does hurt. When something hurts us, we find out what the problem is and fix it!

By Former Ray City Mayor, Gubernatorial Candidate & USAF Veteran Carl Camon (D-Ray City)



It is very clear to me that the people of Georgia and around the country have spoken loud and clear through the electoral process and have elected the Candidates of their choice. As Georgians, it is now time that we unite and try and bring our state back from the brink of economic disaster. It seems as though our state has maintained its "Red Status", as a majority Republican state. As a Democrat, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand why this continues to happen.

Over the past 15-20 years I have watched our the Democratic Party seemingly lose sight of almost everything that the party was built upon. Many of the Democratic leaders have sold out just to satisfy certain groups of potential voters and to retain their positions. Many have succumb to the pressures from various organized groups, such as the Gay/Homosexual/Transgendered community, even if it went against what they really believed. Others, whose parents would probably roll over in their graves have embraced Abortion, when deep down in their hearts they know that it's wrong. Even more Democrats have distanced themselves from traditional Christian values, and have allowed others to seemingly obtain a monopoly on Christianity and some seem very comfortable in allowing them to do so.

Traditionally, most of my family has voted Democrat, and I chose to become a Democrat because I am a Christian and I believed in the values that our party once possessed. As a 2010 Gubernatorial Candidate, my views were aligned with what most of the "Old Democrats" used to believe, and because of that, many "New Age Democrats", may have felt that my message seemed outdated. However, it wasn't outdated, but it appeared to be that way because the "so called leaders" in our party had strayed so far away from traditional Christian values, that what is right seem to be wrong, and what is wrong seem to be right. During my run for Governor, very few if any of the Democratic leadership embraced my message of "Hope for all of Georgia". Why? I believe that they were set in their ways and felt that they knew what was best and who was best for the people of Georgia, but it is clear to me that most Georgians don't think so. Many of them questioned why I even decided to run. There were even attempts to silence me by ignoring me or not inviting me to various functions, but I refused to allow that to stop me from representing those whose voices had been ignored for far too long (all the people of Georgia). Several times I wondered if I was in the right Party, then I quickly realized that I was, but it was just our message that was wrong.

After the Primary elections, I still felt an uneasiness, with regards to the Democratic Party in Georgia. I felt that we hadn't done enough to get back to our roots and our traditional values. It seemed as though things were going in slow motion, at least for some of our Democratic Candidates. As Democrats, we can no longer rely solely on telephone calls from famous or well known Democrats, to get the job done. We have got to start listening to the needs of the people and stop putting all of our eggs in one basket and hoping that most survive the trip without getting cracked. We have got to rethink who we really are and for what and for whom we should be taking a stand for. As a result of the Georgia Democratic Party's inability to take a stand for what is right and do what is honorable, even if it is unpopular; we continue to see the demise of what was once a strong united force for all of the people of Georgia. As I watched the results come in, I knew that we were in trouble. I didn't think that we were in trouble because we had elected another Republican Governor, and a majority of other Republican state officials, but rather because the Democratic Party had failed once again to listen to the people of Georgia. I applaud and highly respect former Governor Roy Barnes for attempting to revive our party and for acknowledging the fact that we must focus our attention on issues that affect Georgia and Georgians, rather than what can be obtained by holding a political position. Until we can get ourselves and our party together, we'll continue to get the same results. Until we stop looking at how much money a candidate has and start looking at what that candidate has to offer, we'll continue to get the same results

I was taught to never complain unless I offered some solutions. If we are once again become a formidable force in the State of Georgia and around our country, we must at least make a start with the following five steps:

Democrats must clearly define what it is that we propose to accomplish for our state and its people and ensure that the people know what that is.

·Democrats must return to a sure foundation, which is based on Christian Principles and Moral Standards and clarify our position on issues of importance to the electorate.·

Democrats must rely on the voice of all Democrats and not just on a small group of party leaders to dictate policy for the party.·

Democrats must embrace lesser known candidates who bring with them a fresh face and logical ideas to the political process and the democratic way.·

Democrats must adopt measures to ensure that the voices of all the people of Georgia are heard, regardless of political affiliation.

As Americans, we should continue to respect our democracy and as Georgians, we should all respect and support our next Governor, Governor-Elect Nathan Deal in any way that we can, as long as he puts all of the citizens of Georgia first. Written By: Carl Camon (D) - Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate - 2010