Hey Karen Handel, what’s this?
Come back tomorrow to find out!
In the meantime, take a minute to catch up on the latest campaign news.
As we close in on the primary a number of TV stations have done profile segments on Karen.
Click Here for CBS Profile
Click Here for FOX Profile
Click Here for the now famous “Magazine” mail piece about Karen (and, hey, send it to your friends too!)
Click Here for The Regular Guys
Karen Handel Profiles
As we close in on the primary a number of TV stations have done profile segments on Karen. We have links to two of them, and will add other if the become available.
The first one is from Fox 5 Atlanta. In this segment Karen discusses, tax reform, state regulations, budget challenges, education, water, transportation and ethics.
Please CLICK HERE to watch this 3 minute segment.
The second is from CBS Atlanta. In this segment Karen discusses, next generation leadership, budget, taxes, and jobs.
Please CLICK HERE to watch the 5 minute segment.
Handel to Barnes: Where Do You Stand on Suing Arizona?
Calls Suit to Stop Illegal Immigration Law "Hypocritical, Unconscionable"
ALPHARETTA, GA – Former Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Karen Handel today called on Roy Barnes to take a stand, one way or another, on the Obama Administration’s lawsuit to stop Arizona from enforcing its illegal immigration law.
"A Handel Administration will say "bring it on" to President Obama and pass legislation similar to what they have in Arizona. Washington politicians caused this problem by ignoring their responsibilities to secure our national borders for the past 20 years, it is hypocritical and unconscionable for them to try and stop states who must now deal with the problems Washington created."
"The people of Georgia deserve to know where Roy stands on illegal immigration. Does he support a state’s right to enforce immigration laws? Roy can’t have it both ways – running away from being a Democrat while remaining silent on one of their most brazen intrusions into the rights of states to enforce their laws," Handel said.
Handel is committed to passing an immigration law similar to the one being challenged in Arizona. Last week, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer endorsed Handel for Governor saying, "I know Karen Handel. She has the experience, courage and tenacity that make her the best candidate to be Governor. Karen will fight to pass similar illegal immigration laws in Georgia. If President Obama tries to stop her, she will tell him to ‘Bring it On."
"As Governor, I will work to pass an Arizona-style law and I will work with local law enforcement to make sure enforcing it does not become an unfunded mandate for them," Handel said. "Illegal immigration costs Georgia $1.5 billion per year and we owe it to our taxpayers to stop it. I look forward to joining Arizona in its fight against President Obama."
Handel is the only candidate for Governor who has actually implemented programs to fight illegal immigration in Georgia. As Secretary of State, she launched the use of the federal SAVE database to verify the immigration status of applicants for professional licenses. She also initiated Georgia’s voter verification system that includes citizenship verification for newly registered voters and has fought her own battle with the Obama Justice Department.
Karen Handel – Georgia Conservative
Karen’s recent mail piece has received rave reviews. It describes Karen’s biography, working in the White House, her tenure as President and CEO of the North Chamber of Commerce, her service as Fulton County Chair, her service as Georgia’s first Republican Secretary of State, as well as her conservative plan for Georgia Families.
Please click here to see the mailer
Change your email signature to support Karen Handel for Governor
Thanks to Heather Alvarez for this great idea.
Edit or create a signature line in your email. It simple to create and once created you don’t have to re-type this information over and over again.
Write your signature line to say something like this:
“Early voting has begun and official election day is July 20th. Help me get Karen Handel elected as our next Governor of Georgia!! Check her out at www.karenhandel.com”
For instructions on how to create your signature line using various email providers click on the links below. I provided links to the most popular email providers… sorry if I didn’t include yours but a simple google search will likely give you step by step instructions.
Outlook users click here
Gmail users click here
Yahoo users click here
Hotmail users click here
Governor Brewer Endorses Karen Handel for Governor
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today announced her endorsement of former Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel to be Georgia’s next Governor. Governor Brewer recently pushed through a tough new immigration law in her state and is now preparing to battle an Obama Justice Department legal challenge to that law.
In her endorsement, Governor Brewer said:
“As a former Secretary of State, I know how that office prepares you to be Governor. I’ve had to make tough choices. When Congress failed to act on illegal immigration, I took action to solve the problem. Now I’m taking on the Obama Administration as they try to stop us. I know Karen Handel. She has the experience, courage and tenacity that make her the best candidate to be Governor. Karen will fight to pass similar illegal immigration laws in Georgia. If President Obama tries to stop her, she will tell him to ‘Bring it On.”
“I am humbled and excited by Governor Brewer’s support,” Karen said today. “She has become an inspiration to conservatives and represents the new kind of leadership that we need across the country. She stood firm and pushed forward with the nation’s toughest law to fight illegal immigration and she’ll stand firm against the Obama Administration too. She also made the hard decisions and cut Arizona’s budget to align with today’s economic realities. She is a conservative hero and I thank her for her strong support and friendship.”
Handel noted that she is the only candidate for Governor who has actually implemented programs to fight illegal immigration in Georgia. As Secretary of State, she launched the use of the federal SAVE database to verify the immigration status of applicants for professional licenses. She also initiated Georgia’s voter verification system that includes citizenship verification for newly registered voters and has fought her own battle with the Obama Justice Department.
“There is a difference between executive experience and legislative experience: career legislators – whether in Georgia or in Congress — seem to think that casting a vote, sponsoring legislation or sending out a press release is all that counts,” Karen said. “Well, what really counts is delivering results. That’s leadership, and the people of Georgia know the difference.”
Karen Handel on the Obama Administration and Illegal Immigration
Our federal government has failed us at every turn when it comes to protecting our borders from illegal immigration. Now, as ridiculous as it sounds, the Obama Administration is planning to sue a state for getting tough on illegal immigration.
That is right! The Obama Administration confirmed that it is building a case to sue the State of Arizona for its common-sense immigration policy.
My friend Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona has every reason to be outraged that the Obama Administration is going to sue her in an attempt to overturn Arizona’s recently enacted immigration laws.
Illegal immigration is, by its very definition, illegal. It costs the taxpayers of this country tens of billions of dollars each year. Here in Georgia, the costs associated with illegal immigration are over $1.5 billion annually!
Apparently, it is not enough for our federal government to turn its back and ignore the illegal immigration problem in this country. Now, they are attempting to prevent the states from doing what we need to do to address the problem.
As your next Governor, you can count on me to deliver a similar law here in Georgia. And, just like I did as your Secretary of State — when the liberal special interests and the Obama Justice Department sued me — I’ll fight for the people of Georgia and common-sense legislation like this.
To top it off, Arizonians first learned of the impending legal action from a television news interview with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Ecuador.
That’s right! The citizens of Ecuador knew about the planned lawsuit before the citizens of Arizona. And, to make matters worse, Secretary of State Clinton is traveling around Latin America apologizing for American citizens who are trying to protect our borders.
Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona legislature took decisive action. And, as your next Governor, so will we.
For far too long the career politicians have failed us. Congress failed us. They have had opportunity after opportunity to take action and have done nothing. As your next Governor, I will provide the leadership and take decisive action against illegal immigration. And, I will be a partner with our local governments and local enforcement to ensure that, together, we are doing what is best for our state.
See my comments about the Arizona law and illegal immigration here.
Karen Handel
Karen speaks about Zero-Based Budgeting
The federal government is on a massive spending spree, piling up debt and mortgaging our nation’s future. Fundamental change to this spending mentality in Washington must start at the state capitols and Georgia must set the example. There is simply a lot of waste in government today and frankly, I can’t wait to have the opportunity to get my hands on state agency budgets and make the same sensible cuts I made as Secretary of State.
Because my experience has been in the corporate world, I know that every budget should start each year at zero and that you must prioritize your programs each and every year, build your budget based on your priorities for what you want to accomplish, and realign your funding accordingly.
Without zero-based budgeting, agencies tend to roll over their previous budget and focus on justifying significant increases. Under that system, bad programs never end. Zero-based budgeting helps foster a culture in which every program is examined to ensure that those that are ineffective and duplicative are eliminated.
I know that there are many areas of our state government that are over-staffed, bloated, wasteful and inefficient. We can and must do better. We must put effective budget controls in place now so that when the economy turns around state government doesn’t once again go on a spending spree. Zero-based budgeting will help drive the fundamental discussion that must take place regarding what state government should and should not be doing.
Recently I spoke at the monthly North Fulton Republican Breakfast in Roswell and discussed my experience at the local and state level in implementing policy and how, as governor, I intend to implement zero-based budget. You can watch a video here.
The truth about Karen Handel and life
Yesterday Georgia Right to Life released its endorsements of candidates for Governor, endorsing all of the Republican candidates – including Ray McBerry – but Karen Handel.
In statements yesterday, GRTL also chose to attack Karen Handel for two reasons. First, her pro-life position includes the exceptions for rape and incest. Second, Karen disagrees with the positions stated by their leadership that invitro fertilization and fertility treatments are immoral and she does not agree to support their goal of prohibiting them.
Karen said, “My husband Steve and I tried for nearly ten years to have children. It is the single greatest disappointment in my life, and I can say with certainty that no one in this race cherishes human life more than I do.”
In response, GRTL President Dan Becker said, “Someone’s desperate right to parenthood – because they’re infertile, they’re barren, whatever term you want to use – is an emotionally fraught subject that has our highest sympathy. But it should never be attempted to be addressed where a life is taken in the process.”
Karen said, “I am saddened that this group would resort to fabricating quotes and distorting my beliefs. I shared with the group’s leadership very personal information and experiences that helped form my pro-life beliefs. They are well aware of my true beliefs. I am dismayed and very disappointed by their actions.”
“I believe that life does indeed begin at conception, that an embryo is a life, and that an unborn child is a human life. While I oppose all abortions, I believe that, in addition to GRTL’s exception for life of the mother, there should also be exceptions for rape and incest.”
“Further, I am absolutely opposed to severely limiting fertility treatments, including invitro fertilization, and am saddened that my opponents appear to support it.
“Tens of thousands of couples have been able to have children through fertility assistance. Their lives have been blessed by miracle of birth and enriched by the blessings that children uniquely have added to their lives.”
Pro-life leaders offer their support of Karen:
“I am pleased to reinforce my endorsement of Karen Handel for Governor. Being very pro life and having been endorsed at every election by Georgia Right to Life, my credentials as a very strong advocate for life are solid.
“Like Karen and Steve, my wife Susan and I share a common bond in that we could not conceive a child. Susan and I were very fortunate to be in position in 1991 to adopt an infant from Romania who has rounded out our lives and is now an ordinary 19 year old American teen.
“No one can possibly understand the heartbreak and sadness that accompanies realizing there will be no laughing children in a family unless they are actually faced with that prospect. Karen and Steve have been and are there now. I believe that she is the last person who would accept aborting a baby after what she has been through.
“I consider Karen and Steve very close personal friends. I remain committed to working for her election as our Governor and am very comfortable with her anti abortion, pro life beliefs.”
John Douglas
GA Senate
“My husband and I got involved in politics through the pro-life movement in the 1980′s and I have been a pro-life office holder since 1992. I was shocked to see Georgia Right to Life’s endorsements yesterday and I found their comments about Karen Handel to be insulting. I have been and continue to be a proud supporter of my friend, and pro-life candidate, Karen Handel to be Georgia’s next Governor.”
DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer
“Karen Handel is absolutely committed to promoting a culture of life here in Georgia. And while I happen to share GRTL’s views on the issues in question, I am disappointed that it has chosen to make the perfect the enemy of the good. I have spoken with Karen at length about these issues, and I am convinced that she has a heart for protecting unborn children. Her
willingness to permit abortions in certain rare circumstances is grounded in the reality of the current political landscape, and should in no way be interpreted as a belief on her part that children conceived by rape or incest are somehow less than fully human. Karen firmly believes that each and every unborn child has inherent dignity, that every abortion is a tragedy, and that government has a role, along with the faith community, in encouraging women to choose life in even the most difficult of circumstances. I am proud to support Karen Handel’s candidacy to be the next governor of our state, and I strongly encourage my fellow pro-lifers to do so as well.”
Stephen Dillard
Georgia 8th Congressional District Chairman for Governor Mike Huckabee (2008)
The Momentum Continues: Congressman Tom Price Endorses Karen Handel for Governor
– Touts Handel ‘leadership and courage’, calls her a great candidate who would make a wonderful Governor–
– ALPHARETTA, GA – Congressman Tom Price (R- 6th District) today endorsed former Secretary of State Karen Handel for Governor of Georgia..
“Karen Handel has demonstrated the strength, courage and leadership in business and public office that we desperately need in the next Governor of our great state of Georgia. Karen is not only the best candidate to win the nomination and take on Roy Barnes and the Democrats in November, but she will also be a wonderful Governor for our state,” Congressman Price said today.
Price continued, “I know Karen. We have worked together on important issues for our constituents and our state. Karen will fight for transparency and accountability in our government and has the vision we need to create jobs, cut taxes, improve education and finally tackle the transportation challenges faced by so many Georgians.”
“I am very excited to have my friend and Congressman join our campaign,” Handel said. “He is a highly respected leader – not only in Georgia, but nationally. The addition of his counsel, as well as his energy and enthusiasm, will be invaluable in the weeks and months to come.”
Biography of Congressman Tom Price
While in Congress, Price has worked on bold, principled solutions to our many challenges, including energy, the economy, tax and health care policy.
Congressman Price has actively and aggressively fought for patient-centered health reform. He was the primary author of H.R. 3400, the Empowering Patients First Act, which would solve the remarkable challenges America faces in the realm of healthcare without putting the government in charge. He understands that what is needed is a system that maintains the highest quality care in the world while correcting the failings in the area of insurance coverage and non-medical decision-making.
Because of his strong leadership, Congressman Price was by his colleagues to chair the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Price received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Michigan and completed his Orthopedic Surgery residency at Emory University. He established an orthopedic clinic just north of Atlanta, where he practiced for 20 years, helping grow his group into the largest private practice of orthopedic surgeons in the nation. He then returned to Emory University School of Medicine as an assistant professor. Before coming to Congress, Dr. Price was medical director of the Orthopedic Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, teaching resident doctors in training.
Price is active in the Atlanta community, is a past president of the Roswell Rotary Club and has served on Boards of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Orchestra Atlanta, the Arthritis Foundation, and the North Metro YMCA. Congressman Price with his wife, Elizabeth, and family reside in Roswell. They are members of the Georgia Ensemble Theater, Roswell Clean and Beautiful, and the Chattahoochee Nature Center.
