Ga. GOP gov. candidate: Gibbs comments unusual
Eds: Clarifies in 3rd paragraph what Gibbs was referring to about Deal.
By SHANNON McCAFFREY
Associated Press Writer
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial nominee Nathan Deal on Thursday called White House comments on ethics allegations against him unusual.
On Wednesday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs was asked about Deal’s call last year for President Barack Obama to produce his birth certificate to prove he was born in the United States. Deal told The Associated Press he was simply passing along concerns from his constituents and now believes the matter is settled.
But Gibbs talked instead about Deal’s ethics accusation he had faced in the House.
“Well, I think if you look at what Nathan Deal is probably going to have to explain over the course of this primary, that might be some of the least of his concerns — in terms of some ethics investigations that are currently ongoing,” Gibbs said.
Earlier this year, the Office of Congressional Ethics found Deal may have violated U.S. House rules by lobbying state officials to keep intact a lucrative deal with the state that earned his auto salvage business $1.5 million from 2004 to 2008. Deal stepped down shortly before the office issued its findings to run for governor.
“Certainly, I think there’s no question they would prefer I not be the next governor of Georgia but you know they don’t a get a say-so in that,” Deal quipped about the White House.
The White House on Thursday declined to elaborate on Gibbs’ remarks.
Georgia’s revenue commissioner has received a federal subpoena related to his discussions with Deal, who says he has not been told he is the target or subject of a federal investigation.
The White House on Thursday declined to elaborate on Gibbs’ remarks.
Deal made the comments Wednesday at a meeting with Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue in his office at the state Capitol. The campaign of Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Roy Barnes said it was inappropriate for a political event to take place there. Perdue brushed off the criticism.
“We just invited you down here to enjoy and watch out conversation,” Perdue told reporters.
The Barnes camp fired back that location was a familiar one to Deal.
“Congressman Deal is very familiar with doing business around the governor’s office,” Barnes’ campaign manager Chris Carpenter said. Deal’s meeting with state Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham — that became the focus of the federal subpoena — took place in a conference room belonging to Perdue’s chief of staff Ed Holcombe, according to the subpoena.
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