In Their Own Words: U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss

From: The Fulton County Daily Report, April 29, 2003, page 9.

Daily Report: I wanted to change the subject, if I may. Move onto Georgia politics.

Governor Perdue campaigned on putting the flag to a vote of the people in an effort of racial healing. Do you think he's accomplished that?

Senator Saxby Chambliss: The only involvement I've had with respect to the issue of the flag is that I have been very outspoken about the fact that I think that the issue should have been put to bed before now. I encouraged the Governor to take action on it immediately. Call a vote in 60 days if you've got to call a vote. But get it done and get it over with. This is an issue that is putting pockets of Georgians in different corners. And it's more than - it's not just divisive. It's more than that. It's putting different groups in different arenas. And what we've got to do is remember that Georgia comes first. And this is not good for Georgia, and it needs to be resolved. And I don't know whether it's the right thing to do to vote on one flag versus the other. The thing I do know is that every day that we go without resolving this, it's going to be on the front page of the Atlanta paper. And it's going to be in the minds of people who are contemplating brining their businesses to Georgia or moving to Georgia or whatever. And that's not good for Georgia. So I just think it ought to be resolved immediately.

Daily Report: Do you see a scenario where it would be feasible for the Battle Cross to flay as the Georgia flag?

Chambliss: I don't see Georgia taking that step. I don't see Georgians taking that step.

Daily Report: If they voted for the Battle Cross, would you support the Battle Cross as the Georgia Flag, as part of the Georgia flag?

Chambliss: You know, I'm a Georgian. And whatever Georgians want, that's what I'm going to be for. I've said before that I - when I was asked, whether I'd vote for that flag, it how are you going to vote. You don't know how you are going to vote because you don't know what you are going to be voting on.

I think that what they need to do is to come up with a meaningful solutions that steps forward, doesn't step backwards, and put it to bed now. Don't have a vote next March or whenever it's projected to be now. Let's do it now and get it over with.

Daily Report: Is the Battle Cross a step backwards?

Chambliss: I think it's pretty clear it is.

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