A Saturday political breakfast originally planned to discuss Columbia County consolidation turned into a support rally for state Rep. Sue Burmeister.

The Augusta Republican angrily rebuked an Atlanta newspaper story that attributed racially tinged comments to her in a Justice Department memo.

"The (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) said they quoted me; there were no quotes in that 51-page document," Mrs. Burmeister told a friendly crowd at the monthly Columbia County Republican Party breakfast in Evans.

On Friday, the Atlanta newspaper reported that Mrs. Burmeister was quoted in an internal Justice Department memo saying that the late Ed McIntyre, a former Augusta mayor and one of its most prominent black political leaders, had once offered her votes in exchange for $2,000. She was also reported to have said that black voters will not vote in her district unless paid.

Justice Department lawyers prepared the memo as part of the approval process of Georgia's new voter identification law, of which Mrs. Burmeister was a chief sponsor.

She said the memo followed three hours of telephone interviews about the bill's impact on black voter turnout and statements in it were rewritten and taken completely out of context.

She also told the crowd that she did not make the comments about Mr. McIntyre and black voters.

Mrs. Burmeister said the reporting reflected the Atlanta newspaper's agenda.

"The only way that liberal rag in Atlanta can help defeat this bill is play the race card," she said. "I resent what they have done, and I'm appalled at what they have done."

Friday's story about the memo prompted the Richmond County Democratic Party to call for an apology from her, and her resignation.

"It's a mystery why Democrats are so opposed to the idea of showing your ID when you go to vote," said Rep. Barry Fleming, R-Harlem, the House majority whip. "And that is what this is really about.

"They (the AJC) are making a personal attack against Sue Burmeister because she was the one that carried that bill."

After the meeting, Mrs. Burmeister said her working relationship with the state's largest newspaper had been fractured.

"I explained myself to Sonji (reporter Sonji Jacobs), and she chose to not use any of that and instead go with what she wanted. Consequentially, I will never give them the consideration of another interview ever again.

"I do not have a racist bone in my body, and I am disgusted (by the comments)," she said. "I look at everybody as equal. I want to represent all the people and I do. I think the people are happy with that, and if they're not, they'll turn me out, but they'll have a fight on their hands."

Her remarks drew applause by the 83 county leaders and party members in attendance.

Meanwhile, a Republican state senator who sponsored the controversial voter ID bill says he is willing to make changes to the law.

State Sen. Cecil Staton, R-Macon, said Friday that changes could include letting local governments issue photo identification cards that would let people who don't have a driver's license vote.

Another idea, he said, would eliminate a provision under which voters can get a photo ID without paying a fee by signing a pauper's affidavit.

"We'll make it free," he said.

A federal appeals court has blocked enactment of the law, which requires Georgia residents who do not have a driver's license or another state-issued form of identification to buy a separate card for as much as $35.

Amanda Seals, a spokeswoman for Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson, R-Savannah, said Mr. Staton has discussed the revisions with Mr. Johnson and other Republican colleagues.

Associated Press reports were used in this article.

Reach J. Scott Trubey at 868-1222, ext. 109. or jeffery.trubey@augustachronicle.com.