Paying price for politeness

Sometimes we are just too dang polite.

It all started when a helpful Columbia County deputy gave directions to Barry Gordon Irwin of Madison, the Democrat lawyer and goat-farmer running against Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood.

Go up North Belair Road the deputy started, offering directions that actually would have misled Irwin. Another deputy corrected his fellow officer: No, go over to Evans-to-Locks Road, follow it to the end, he said.

Thus, Irwin finally huffed into Savannah Rapids Pavilion Tuesday night as the political forum drew to a close. Gracious as we are, we sat back down and listened politely to Irwins tedious, rambling dissertation.

A root canal may last longer. But it couldnt be as painful.

First, we need to put that deputy who gave Irwin the right directions on desk duty. But we also should applaud ourselves for the patience not to boo Irwin off the stage.

Norwoods other opponent, Republican Lee Dickerson of Loganville, is ripping into the congressman with a series of harsh attacks that Norwood counters with rebuttal pieces as patient as last Tuesdays crowd.

Norwood should easily win the primary. And Irwin, who will probably need help finding his own polling place in November, will have a difficult time locating voters attracted to his loopy fringe of Democratic politics.

Anna: Time to quit

Most discussions at Tues-days event were more tolerable, even if some candidates believe the quantity of words is a substitute for quality.

One candidate was too brief. Anna Hargis, a Dem-ocrat challenging state Sen. Joey Brush, R-Appling, was overcome by dizziness as she started.

Hargis passed out at Grovetowns Fourth of July picnic. Since then, she has been plagued with such spells.

Embarrassed and apologetic, she left the room Tuesday evening. The next day Hargis was still upset, hoping an adjustment in medication would prevent future spells.

Something else would help too: Quitting.

Our politics are poles apart, but I admire Hargis because she is unafraid of taking on better-financed and better-connected candidates. Shes running against Brush in a redrawn, heavily Repub-lican district. Hargis admits she has little chance of victory; shes running so Brush wont get a free ride.

But in the most loving way I can put it: Anna, for your own good, call it quits. Making a political statement isnt worth the sacrifice of your own health.

(Barry L. Paschal is publisher of The Columbia County News-Times. E-mail comments to barrypaschal@ yahoo.com, or call 863-6165, extension 106.)