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(AP) -- Former Senator Zell Miller is calling President Barack Obama's decision to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay "nuts" and says it would risk the lives of civilians while giving terrorists new freedoms.

Miller, who also served as the state's governor, addressed a gathering of more than 1,000 lawmakers at the American Legislative Exchange Council on Thursday.  He said Obama's effort to close the prison would treat the terrorists as they were run of the mill criminals.  He drew more applause from the mostly Republican legislators who packed a downtown Atlanta hotel ballroom when he said Obama needed to spend more time in Washington and less time traveling abroad.  He said White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel needs to put "Gorilla Glue" on Obama's chair to keep him in the Oval Office.

Two black leaders who know Miller well said they were not offended by the remark.

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