Ga. DU'ers: Was Sen. WYCHE FOWLER a Liberal?

[liberalpragmatist]

I know that Sam Nunn was a Conservative Dem (although I think a pretty loyal one). Cleland was Centrist. And, of course, Zell isn't a Dem at all.

But the Democrat that held Zell's seat till 1992 (when he was unexpectedly defeated in a runoff by Republican Paul Coverdell) was Wyche Fowler.

What was he like? Was he a liberal? Could he have been a good replacement instead of Zell when Coverdell died?

[vetwife]

1. He was not a liberal..But my cat could have been better than Zell

Wyche Fowler was no Max Cleland or Sam Nunn. Sam was conservative but no cut throat and true to the party. Fowler...Well he didn't do much.

[Prodemsouth]

Liberal by Georgia standards- but pissed off many Liberals with

his vote for Clarence Thomas to sit on the Supreme Court. He beat Paul Coverdell in Nov 96- but lost a run off election in a very close race. Thats my take, (at the time I was still leaning right myself) I didn't vote for Coverdell or Fowler- But supported the Libertarian in the race. The Libertarian presence in Nov. election is what caused the runoff. The Georgia Democratic party changed the run off law after Fowler lost. That is when Georgia Democrats had thick control of the State. Way back when Zell was a good sort of progressive Governor. It is hard for many outside of Georgia to believe- but Zell was a good Governor. Ask my fellow progressive Georgian Mike Malloy- who briefly mentioned that last night on his show.

[Eloriel]

2. Um, he was okay

Not terrific, but a fairly solid Dem. He was in that run-off with Covedell, and failed to get the women's organizations (well, N.O.W., anyway) to endorse him because they were realllly mad at him for some vote which fades from my memory after all these years. Don't know how instrumental that was in his defeat, but it was part of what went on.

Word had it that he was another politician for which it was widely known that he was gay. I think he went on afterwards to some cushy job (ambassador somewhere??) and I don't think he was particularly interested in electoral politics after that. Maybe someone who follows state politics will have better, more complete info.


Edit: ah, yes, that was it: the Clarence Thomas vote.