Zell Miller in A National Party No More

On Gun Control: Southerners don’t want to hear about gun control

Southern voters may say they’re for gun control, and they may well be for gun control, but they simply don’t trust anybody who spends too much time talking about it. Bill Clinton understood that. Al Gore did not. Source: A National Party No More, by Sen. Zell Miller, p. 15 Oct 1, 2003

On Health Care: Medicaid must be managed for fraud and abuse

Runaway Medicaid growth was stopped in its tracks. In the 10 years before I took office [as Governor of Georgia], the Medicaid budget had increased 376%. As Governor I decided to put on the brakes. Through managed care and tougher fraud and abuse provisions, the increase during my 3 years was less than 3%! This could be done on the federal level, if we had the will to do it, for the system is filled with abuse and fraud that is beyond belief Source: A National Party No More, by Sen. Zell Miller, p. 57 Oct 1, 2003

On Crime: Implemented two strikes law for violent felons

[In Georgia], we opened a record number of prison beds, more than 20,000, almost doubling the capacity when I took office. The additional bed capacity enabled me to end the practice in Georgia that had gone on for years of managing inmate population thro Source: A National Party No More, by Sen. Zell Miller, p. 58 Oct 1, 2003

On Principles & Values: Democratic party is value-neutral and misguided on issues

In the eyes of Middle America, the Democratic Party has become a value-neutral party. Everyone knows the key issues: capital punishment, late-term abortion, trying violent juveniles as adults, national defense, and the teaching of values in school l(though not necessarily prayer). As issues, these trump prescription drug costs and health care. Source: A National Party No More, by Zell Miller, p. 3 Oct 1, 2003

On Government Reform: Democratic Party does not represent the values of the South

Obviously, Southerners believe the national Democratic Party does not share their values. The most important values for Southerners are related to the questions of money and trust. National security is a value. Fiscal responsibility is a value: if you don’t look and act as if you are serious with people’s money, they won’t trust you. [They feel that government] needlessly wastes taxpayers’ hard-earned money. Source: A National Party No More, by Zell Miller, p. 3,15,16 Oct 1, 2003

On Principles & Values: The Democrats in power don’t care about the South

Once upon a time, FDR, looked south and said, “ I see one-third of a nation in poverty ” Today our national Democratic leaders look south and say, “ I see one-third of a Nation and it can go to hell. ” Either the party is not a national party or the candidates were not national candidates. Source: A National Party No More, by Zell Miller, p. 9-10 Oct 1, 2003

On Principles & Values: Democratic party leaders too liberal for the South

In the 2002 elections, not a single national leader could come to the South to campaign without doing more harm than good. They were strangers in a foreign land. National chairman Terry McAuliffe couldn’t come. He was too liberal. Former President Bill Clinton couldn’t come. He was too liberal. The party’s titular head, Al Gore, couldn’t come. He was too liberal. Senate majority leader Tom Daschle couldn’t come. He was too liberal. So, if this is a National party, sushi is our national dish. Source: A National Party No More, by Zell Miller, p. 10 Oct 1, 2003

On Tax Reform: Once, Democrats believed in cutting taxes

There was a time when the leaders of the Democratic party understood both the policy and political value of cutting taxes. The Kennedy-Johnson tax bill in 1964 cut all tax brackets, including at the top. I know from personal experience that you can be a Democrat and have a solid Democratic agenda while cutting taxes and holding the line on spending. Source: A National Party No More, by Zell Miller, p. 16 Oct 1, 2003

On Government Reform: Civil service is corrupt and must be reformed

Presently we’re operating under a system of governmental gout and personnel paralysis. Despite its name, our civil service system has nothing to do with civility. It offers little reward for good workers. It provides lots of cover for bad workers. Source: A National Party No More, by Zell Miller, p. 70 Oct 1, 2003

On Social Security: Do not tax Social Security

When our seniors contributed to Social Security through the payment of payroll taxes, they did this with the understanding that later in time of need they would receive those benefits tax-free. But starting in 1993 these benefits were taxed. This is wrong. Source: A National Party No More, by Zell Miller, p.103 Oct 1, 2003

On Abortion: Abortion is a moral issue, not a political issue

There was a time, when the question of Abortion came up, I automatically answered that a woman should make that decision about her body. Without a shred of soul-searching, I supported the Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court. But, I came to realize this is a much more complicated issue. I took the position that parents should be notified and consent obtained before a minor could proceed [with an abortion]. Also, I took the position that public funds should not be used for the procedure. Viewing abortion as appropriate only in the 1st trimester. Then as Governor [of Georgia], I signed a state law in 1997 outlawing the terrible procedure of partial birth abortion. Still I stuck with my position of supporting abortion. But ultimately, for me, it is no longer a political issue but a moral one. I hope someday Roe v. Wade will be reversed. Source: A National Party No More, by Zell Miller, p.105-6 Oct 1, 2003

On Government Reform: Soft money from special interests is bribery

I’m angry because of the thoughtless and needless waste of taxpayers’ hard-earned money. Angry because soft money--big money--from special interests to both parties controls things in a way that is nothing short of bribery. Source: A National Party No More, by Zell Miller, p.68 Oct 1, 2003

The above quotations are from A National Party No More, by Sen. Zell Miller (D, GA), Oct. 2003. Click here for other excerpts from A National Party No More, by Sen. Zell Miller (D, GA), Oct. 2003. Click here for other excerpts by Zell Miller. Click here for a profile of Zell Miller.
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Page last updated: Feb 19, 2019