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Character Application and Information Sheet
NS Nation Name: Dentali
Character Name: Elliot James Cragie
Character Gender: M
Character Age: Born April 1947 (Age 60)
Character Height: 5’10”
Character Weight: 210 lbs
Character Position/Role/Job: Congressman Georgia 2nd since 1996, Democratic Caucus Chairman
Character Country/State of Birth: Georgia
Character State of Residence: Georgia
Character Party Affiliation: D
Faceclaim: Rob Portman
Main Strengths: Blue Collar Background, intimate knowledge of Congress, reliable reputation, Culturally conservative, strong ties to the African American community
Main Weaknesses: Lacks ideological pinning, lacks money, increasingly red state, Culturally conservative
Biography: (Minimum 2-3 paragraphs)
Elliot James Cragie was born in 1947 in a small West Georgian town in the postwar baby boom. His father, a WW2 veteran, now worked at US Steel, while his mother was a homemaker and town seamstress. He was the second oldest of 5 children and spent his youth alongside his brother getting up before dawn to start one of their many jobs around the town, delivering papers, milking cows, running errands, anything to make a buck. He was no genius but worked incredibly hard in school, pulling all-nighters and earning good marks again and again. This combined with his exceptional work ethic and a Basketball Scholarship allowed him to be the first in his family to attend college, and in 1965 he began studying pre-law at Georgia Southwestern College.
During his third year studying pre-law he would be drafted into the military and would serve at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina in a non-combat role until 1970. His service was uneventful but he kept up his strong work ethic and impressed many of his superiors and peers. During this time he would also meet Abigail Penrose who lived in a town just outside the Fort, they would marry in 1970 just one week after his tour ended. In 1970 after his time in the military ended Elliot returned to Georgia Southwestern College, and graduated in the top 15% of his class.
From there he attended Mercer University from 1972 to 1975, working nights at a local diner to pay room and board. Between Ft. Bragg and Mercer University, Elliot had a great deal of exposure to African Americans and the civil rights movement and became interested in politics. After graduating in 1975 he served for 2 years as Staff Counsel for Senator Sam Nunn, a Moderate Democrat for Georgia. In 1976 Elliot and Abigail welcomed their first child, Rose.
Once again impressing with his ability, drive, work ethic, and ability to make positive impressions he was made an assistant US Attorney in Western Georgia in 1977. After serving and developing a reputation for toughness and fairness he ran as a Democrat for the open Georgia 2nd Congressional seat and lost a surprising close primary.
With his children growing up and his mother ill he decided it was time to focus on securing his family's future and he took a position at a private law firm. Between 1980 and 1992 he once again became known for his firm but fair conduct, as well as a tireless work ethic and was finally able to provide his family a comfortable life, and made many ties with poor African Americans in the region who he often would represent pro bono. All the while however he remained heavily involved in Georgia politics, advising, financing and supporting local democrats who supported civil rights and in 1991 was an early supporter of Clifford.
In 1993 with a Democratic President finally in the White House, he was appointed the US District Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia by a unanimous voice vote. In 1994 he would prosecute the case against former KKK members who had bombed a church in the early 70s. A high profile trial in front of a Grand Jury, Elliot Cragie got a life sentence for multiple members of the KKK. His strong reputation and newfound fame prompted local democrats to draft him to run in the Georgia 2nd after the incumbent Democrat was forced out. Buoyed by record African American turnout in his district Elliot was elected in 1992.
He established himself as a Moderate “New Democrat” and Clifford loyalist, he joined the house negotiations team on the deal with Republicans on the budget surplus in 1997. In ‘98 he was able to force a Congressional coalition to pressure Clifford into brokering the Good Friday Agreement, and in 1999 he proudly voted against repealing Glass Steagall.
During the Cush Administration he turned into a party warrior, albeit a more moderate one, fighting the tax Cuts of the Cush administration tooth and nail and successfully convincing a number of colleagues to do the same. In 2002 he did vote in favor of the Iraq war, swayed in large part by Senator Clifford on the matter, and was the leading House member on the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of ‘02.
In the 2004 Presidential election he joined those pressuring Senator Clifford to run for President, but after he was rebuffed he endorsed (Not-Edwards) later helping heal the party after a contentious primary and giving a well received speech at the convention about improving education for the working class. That same year he spoke out against the Constitutional Amendement that would ban same sex marriage though stopped short of coming out in favor himself. And in 2004 his son Robert was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives.
In 2005 he was instrumental in instituting the “Six for 06 Agenda”, specifically convincing Democrats in the South to get on board with the proposals, though some of his pet projects such as the federalization of Iraq fell by the wayside. After the wins in ‘06 and his demonstrated ability to convince his fellow Congressman to see things his way, he was made the House Majority Whip.
Elliot Cragie has proven time and again to be an egoless man, an incredibly hard and respected worker, and someone who truly had his finger on the pulse of Congress. He knew each member and their needs, he knew the districts almost as good as they did, and he knew how to make bills seem like they were in the best interest of individual members. He has also maintained strong personal relationships across the aisle, and socially finds himself closer to many culturally conservative members of Congress rather than those he aligns with more ideologically, often privately disdaining “Coastal Elitism” though he’d never say so in public.
Other Info: established liberal stances on health care, organized labor and environmental conservation issues, based on his legislative actions as well as evaluations and ratings by pertinent interest groups
Despite his opposition to partial-birth abortion, Cragieis regarded as pro-abortion rights, as shown by his high ratings from Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America and low rating from the National Right to Life Committee
Cragie has opposed legislation to increase offshore drilling for oil or natural gas. Instead, he has promoted use of nuclear energy as an cheaper alternative to fossil fuels than wind and solar energy.
Chair of Energy and Commerce Committee
Supports School vouchers
I have read and accepted the rules of the roleplay: Dentali
Do Not Remove: DRAFT123123