Almost two centuries ago, Charles Caleb Colton produced an axiom that’s landed in the campaign of a candidate for one of Georgia’s upcoming U.S. Senate races.
In 1820, Colton - an English cleric, writer and collector – published the phrase “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Applying the phrase to current Georgia politics, Matt Lieberman must be trying to flatter Gov. Brian Kemp.
Last year, Kemp found himself in a runoff for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. His opponent was then-Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.
So Kemp released what’s become known as The Jake ad.
In the ad, Kemp – father of three daughters – is having a conversation with a young man named Jake who’s interested in one of his daughters. Kemp is holding a shotgun in his lap.
He discusses three campaign issues with Jake before asking the young man to name the two things Kemp expects from Jake if he’s going to date one of his daughters. Those two things were respect and support of the 2nd Amendment, which guarantees citizens the right to own guns.
Jake gets the two things right and Kemp ends the ad by saying “We’re going to get along just fine.”
Now comes Lieberman, a Connecticut transplant who moved to Georgia 14 years ago. He has two daughters and runs a health-care consulting business in Cobb County. Lieberman is the son of former U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, who was Al Gore’s running mate during the 2000 presidential campaign.
Like his father, Matt Lieberman is a Democrat.
Lieberman is running for the U.S. Senate being vacated Dec. 31 by Johnny Isakson. The governor will appoint someone to fill Isakson's seat until the next general election, which is November 2020. There will be two years remaining on the term.
In his ad now running in the metro Atlanta area, Lieberman is discussing politics with a young man named Jack. Lieberman is holding a plastic gun in his lap. “Do you think the government should control what happens to a woman’s body?” Lieberman said.
Jack - who doesn’t appear as nervous in the Lieberman ad as Jake did In the Kemp ad – said, “Well, sir, I think a woman should control her own body.”
Lieberman’s next question is, “Do you think every vote should count, or is a little voter suppression okay ever now and then?” Jack said, “I think every vote should count.”
Lieberman then asked Jack what he thinks of the 2nd Amendment. “It comes after the 1st Amendment,” Jack said.
“What do you think of a military-style weapon like this, should a civilian like me be able to buy one like this in a store?” Lieberman asked. “Hell, no,” Jack said. “Hell, no,” said Lieberman. “I’m sorry, heck no,” Jack said. “You were right the first time. Hell, no.” Lieberman said -- adding that the gun he was showing Jack was a toy.
Lieberman, taking a line from Kemp’s Jake ad, said “We’re going to get along just fine.’
Because there will be 10 months from the time Isakson steps down from his Senate seat until the November election, Kemp decided to accept applications for the position instead of just making an appointment.
Lieberman hasn’t applied for the position, but he’ll be one of the candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in next year’s primary.
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery and Kemp may be flattered that Lieberman did a takeoff on his gubernatorial ads. But that’s as far as it’ll go. Kemp and Lieberman aren’t “going to get along just fine.”
