Democrats Attack Georgia Republicans for Name Changes

McDonough GA - Two Georgia Republicans have recently been "exposed" by the Georgia Democratic Party for the dastardly deed of - a legal name change.

The first case involves 34-year old Jason Shepherd, challenger to Democratic incumbent Terry Johnson in the state house race for Georgia District 37.

Born Jason Goldfarb, Jason's parents divorced and his mother reclaimed her maiden name. Moving to Georgia, mom enrolled her son as Jason Shepherd in middle school. The name Jason Shepherd graces his diploma from the University of Georgia. In 2003, Goldfarb made it legal.

The molehill the Democrats are trying to make into a mountain is that, in 2000, Shepherd was accused of domestic violence by his then-fiancée. Charges were filed against "Jason Goldfarb" but were dropped when the woman failed to appear in court.

Shepherd was charged as Jason Goldfarb as, at that time, it was still his legal name. I do not condone domestic violence of any kind, but I also know that false claims have been known to be made. If she was really a victim, the ex-fiancée should have cooperated in his prosecution. Shepherd has definitively stated that the charge was untrue, a total fabrication by the woman.

The second case relates to Georgia State Representative District 28 incumbent Michael Harden, who is facing a challenge by Democrat Chris Irvin.

Harden was born Michael Holland. His birth was the result of an affair between his mother and a married man, Walter "Doc" Harden. Twelve years ago, Michael, a high school senior at the time, personally funded his legal name change to Harden.

Doc died intestate in 2007, and Michael and David, Doc's legally adopted son, were his sole heirs.

Chris Irvin is now flaunting a notarized affidavit signed by David Harden insinuating less-than honorable motives on the part of Michael. David, who admits Michael bailed him out of jail so he could attend their father's funeral, questions Michael's right to any portion of the $204,000 estate and asserts he was monetarily cheated by Michael Harden.

Michael maintains that the in-questioned funds were rightfully spent to pay the senior Harden's debts.

These are not the first instances of male politicians who have undergone name changes.

President Gerald Ford was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr. His parents separated shortly after his birth in 1913. In 1916, his mother remarried and renamed her son, Gerald Rudolff Ford, Jr., after her new husband. It wasn't until 1935 that Ford made the change legal.

In 1946, William Jefferson Blythe III was born to a young widow who had lost her husband three months prior in an automobile accident. In 1950, his mother remarried and Billy began using his step-father's surname. It was a decade later that the future president legally changed his name to Clinton.

In a non-political instance, Country singer Tim McGraw was once known as Samuel Timothy Smith, believing his step-father to be his dad. Actually, he was the product of an affair between the married baseball legend Tug McGraw and Tim's unwed mother. Tim later took Tug's surname even though it would be years before Tug would acknowledge paternity.

If the only offense the Democrats have against these two Republicans is a 7-year old unprosecuted charge of domestic violence and a signed affidavit by a petty criminal, they must be incredibly concerned about the qualifications of these two candidates.

These announcements seem to be nothing more than extremely shady smoke screens to divert attention from real issues and real abilities. It insults my intelligence as a voter.

Sources:

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Wikipedia sites for Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton

Country Music Performers