Peach State Piffle

Summary
Georgia voters are being hit with misleading ads from both sides as Republican Sen. Chambliss battles Democratic challenger Martin in a Dec. 2 run-off election.

    * Chambliss claims in an ad that Martin would work to raise taxes on "nearly every small business in Georgia." In fact, only around 2.4 percent of small businesses nationally earn enough to be affected by the tax plan Martin favors.

    * Chambliss also says Martin "refused to return $100 million of surplus taxes" to Georgians. That's false. Martin voted in favor of the tax relief bill in question.

    * A Martin ad claims Chambliss "opposes a middle-class tax cut." In fact, he supported cuts for middle-income taxpayers. What Chambliss voted against was an amendment that also would have increased taxes on corporations and others.

In one exchange, Chambliss accuses Martin of supporting the largest tax increase in state history, while Martin says he supported the largest middle-class tax cut in state history. It turns out both are right, as we explain fully in our Analysis section.
Analysis
If you non-Georgians thought the election went on for too long in your state, pity the poor souls in Georgia who are still being bombarded with political ads. Incumbent Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin, a former state representative and head of the Georgia Dept. of Human Resources, along with their parties' senatorial committees, are continuing to wage a misleading ad war. Any post-election, let's-all-work-together-now spirit won't reach Georgia until several days after Thanksgiving, at the earliest.

Saxby Chambliss 08 Ad: "Martin's Economics"

Chambliss: I'm Saxby Chambliss and I approved this message, because Saxby economics is about cutting your taxes.

But let's look at Jim Martin's economics. Martin voted for the largest tax increase in Georgia history. He increased his own government expense account. But refused to return $100 million of surplus taxes to you. And now wants to help Barack Obama raise taxes on nearly every small business in Georgia. In this election, you have a simple choice: I want to cut your taxes. Jim Martin wants to raise your taxes.

Small-Business Baloney
In one ad, Chambliss tells viewers that Martin "wants to help Barack Obama raise taxes on nearly every small business in Georgia." Not so. What Obama has proposed would affect only the most affluent 2.4 percent of small-business owners, or less.