Matters of truthiness

Wed, January 30, 2008 - 10:11 AM

Barack Obama’s campaign is taking a preemptive strike to set the record straight in Georgia as the state gears up for its Super Tuesday primary.

On Wednesday, they announced the creation of a Georgia truth squad to help put down any unfounded attacks on Obama.

On the squad are some of Georgia’s high-profile Obama supporters: state Sen. David Adelman, U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr., Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Rev. Joseph Lowery.

Adelman said in a conference call this morning the Hillary Clinton camp tried to mislead South Carolina voters on where Obama stands on issues such as healthcare and Social Security reform. Obama won that state’s Democratic primary with 55 percent of the vote.

“We’re hopeful that the Clinton campaign learned a lesson in South Carolina,” Adelman said.

Clinton has her own squad to deploy. Her campaign announced on Monday the launch of Rapid Responders -- truth tellers who respond to inaccurate or misleading attacks directed at both Hillary and Bill Clinton.

They were set up in 22 states that will be hold primaries or caucuses on Feb. 5.

"Facts are stubborn things, and we will insist that Senator Clinton’s opponents be held accountable if they manipulate her statements or her record," said Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said in a written statement Monday.

-- Amy Dominello