 By JEFF WHITTEN
Observer Staff Writer Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Michael Coles came to Moultrie Tuesday and spent part of the afternoon talking to a group of veterans in front of the town’s eternal flame, a monument to Moultrie’s war dead. After introducing his wife, Donna, Coles, who is running against incumbent Sen. Paul Coverdale, told listeners that if elected, he would do everything he could to see that promises made to veterans were kept. “Veterans with 20 years of service were promised free medical care,” he said. “We need to live up to that promise.” Coles, who is not a veteran, blasted the recent $15.4 billion cuts in veterans benefits. “We should not take $15.4 billion away from veterans to pay for highways,” he said. “It’s shameful. One thing I can promise you for sure is I’ll stop the assault and restore benefits . . . if we have to redesign the entire program to do it, I promise you I’ll work day and night.” That drew applause from the dozen or so onlookers who stood in the sweltering midday heat. Coles then talked of his background. “I’m fortunate to have a great business and a great family,” he said. “I’ve overcome a lot of tragedy. I’m running because I care about health care, I care about public education . . . and if you’ll help me get elected, I’ll fight for hard working people.” Coles’ story is fairly well known. The Kennesaw man took $8,000 and started the Great American Cookie Company in an Atlanta mall in 1977. The first batch of cookies burned so badly the fire department showed up. Now, Coles’ company has hundreds of stores and annual sales approaching $100-million. Coles, who survived a motorcycle crash weeks after founding his company and was told he would never again walk without the aid of crutches, rehabilitated himself and set three records for cycling across the country. In 1996, Coles almost unseated Rep. Newt Gingrich in what has been billed as the most expensive congressional contest ever conducted in Georgia. Coles spent $3.5 million in that contest; Gingrich spent $6.6 million. After Coles finished addressing the veterans, one asked him if he supported a constitutional amendment to outlaw flag burning. “I support it (an amendment),” Coles said. “I didn’t fight under that flag, I didn’t see anyone die under it, but so many did. It doesn’t take away a single freedom from anyone to support an amendment to protect the flag.” After a brief interview beneath the magnolia on the courthouse square, Coles addressed the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce. Earlier Tuesday, the candidate made stops in Cairo and Bainbridge. |
