Category Archives: News
Letter from Kay Hagan on UN Gun Treaty
Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting me regarding Second Amendment rights. I greatly appreciate your thoughts on this important matter.
As you know, in 2006 the United Nations (UN) began discussions regarding an Arms Trade Treaty. While the United States originally opposed these discussions, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has more recently stated that the United States would support and participate in these talks. In October 2009, the UN adopted, by a vote of 153-1 with the United States in support, a resolution laying out a timetable for negotiations. However, even should a treaty be signed, it would require the approval of two-thirds of the Senate before it would be considered ratified and in effect. Continue reading
These NC Republicans Voted for Agenda 21 Food Council Bill
Here are the Republicans who voted with Democrats to defeat Rep. Bradley’s amendment to strip pro-Agenda 21 language from the Food Advisory Council’s charter. They joined with Joe Hackney to provide the swing vote; most Republicans voted with Bradley and AGAINST Agenda 21. Clearly, the below Reps agree with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which claims that Agenda 21 doesn’t exist, and is just an …”anti-government conspiracy theory.”
Remember them well, as they all clearly need to be replaced at their next election.
Rep. Bill Brawley – 919-733-5800
Rep. Larry Brown – 919-733-5607
Rep. Jimmy Dixon – 919-715-3021
Rep. Mike Hager – 919-733-5749
Rep. Mark Hollo – 919-715-8361
Rep. D. Craig Horn – 919-733-2406
Rep. James Langdon, Jr. – 919-733-5849
Rep. Bill McGee – 919-733-5747
Rep. Chuck McGrady – 919-733-5956
Rep. Efton Sager – 919-733-5755
Rep. Ruth Samuelson – 919-715-3009
Rep. Paul Stam – 919-733-2962
Rep. John A. Torbett – 919-733-5868
http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/blogpost/11222178/
Walter Jones on Obama's Amnesty for Illegal Aliens
- FROM:
- TO:
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- Kenneth Lang
Monday, June 18, 2012 4:57 PM
Dear Mr. Lang:Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns regarding the DREAM Act, and the Obama Administration’s memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that closely resembles the DREAM Act. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me and I’m honored to respond.As you are likely aware, the DREAM Act is a bill that has been introduced for the past few years that would provide legal status to illegal aliens. Specifically, the DREAM Act would allow illegal aliens who came to the United States as minors to obtain permanent residency if they meet certain requirements such as either completing college or military service. I have long opposed the DREAM Act and have always voted against it because, very simply, it rewards illegal behavior. Although these children came to our country through no fault of their own I cannot support amnesty—we are a nation of laws. The American people have consistently voiced their opposition to this legislation. In fact, so many voiced their concerns that the DREAM Act was not able to pass the Democrat controlled Senate in 2010.Unfortunately, President Obama’s Administration recently overruled the will of the American people and the Congress and issued a memo that closely resembles the DREAM Act. This memo directs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to use discretion when deciding whether or not to deport illegal aliens if they are currently in school, have a family member serving in the military, or are pregnant or nursing. I am adamantly opposed to the DREAM Act and to the new ICE memo, and will continue to fight to ensure that our nation’s laws are enforced. You will be pleased to know that I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2497, the HALT (Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation) Act– legislation that would prevent President Obama from bypassing Congress and providing any amnesty. The Constitution, in article I, clause 8, section 4, grants Congress the power to establish immigration policies and President Obama’s end run around the Constitution and the Congress must not stand.Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. Please know that I understand and agree with your concerns and will oppose any effort to provide amnesty to those who break our nation’s immigration laws. If I may be of any further assistance please feel free to contact my office.
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NC Legislature May Pass Pro-Agenda 21 Legislation
Wow! Your grassroots pressure on NC House Republicans to fight Agenda 21 is really working!
As I told you in a previous email, the Local Food Policy Council is an advisory board funded by taxpayers operating under the authority of the NC Department of Agriculture. The Council’s job is to provide advice to policymakers with the goal of strengthening NC farms and local food producers.
This past Wednesday, the NC House was scheduled to vote on HB 1098, a bill which would have re-inserted pro-Agenda 21 “sustainability” language into the charter of the NC Local Sustainable Food Policy Council.
Wednesday morning, Campaign for Liberty members bombarded House Republicans with phone calls and emails demanding that the House adopt Rep. Glen Bradley’s amendment to remove the progressive Agenda 21 language from the bill, or kill it completely. As a result, House leadership backed off, and pulled the bill from last Wednesday’s agenda. Your pressure worked!
At first, they rescheduled the bill to be voted on next Wednesday. But now that Campaign for Liberty members have HB 1098 on their radar, NC House Republicans are trying to hide the Agenda 21 language we’re fighting in another bill, scheduled for an earlier vote.
The new bill we need to target is SB 491, and it’s scheduled for a floor vote on Monday, June 18th.
To that end, I need you to do two things:
First, contact your NC House Representative and instruct him/her to either support Rep. Glen Bradley’s amendment to remove Agenda 21 language from SB 491, or vote against the bill. You can look up your Representative’s contact information here.
Next, contact Rep. Thom Tillis at 919-733-3451 or by email at Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net and tell him to oppose Agenda 21 in NC!
We don’t have a lot of time, but our goal is still the same. It’s time to turn the heat all the way up, so that the politicians in Raleigh understand that it’s more controversial to ignore the progressive left’s Agenda 21 than it is to stand up for private property rights and individual liberty!
Time is of the essence, so call now!
In Liberty,
Adam Love
NC State Coordinator
Campaign for Liberty
P.S. NC House Republicans are trying to pass pro-Agenda 21 legislation SB 491, scheduled for a vote Monday, 6/18! Contact Speaker Thom Tillis at 919-733-3451 or by email at Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net as well as your own NC House Representative and tell them to oppose Agenda 21 in NC!
“What is the NCGOP Leadership Hiding?”
Letter to the Editor
“What is the NCGOP Leadership Hiding?”
In February 2012, I wrote a Letter to the Editor (LTE) of our local paper. It asked the question “What If” and followed with a number of questions about what appeared to be interference in local and district elections in North Carolina. It began with the question “What if two NC Senators and a NC Representative came to our County and picked the candidate to run for the Senate seat that represents you, the voters of Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico Counties?” Well, that did happen in NC Senate District 2 Primary race (and they lost). Similar stories are being circulated about other counties in eastern NC like in Pitt County, and more recently in NC House District 6. In fact, it has been claimed that at the recent NCGOP Convention in Greensboro, a delegate from Carteret County was passing out a flyer that asked questions similar to those in my February LTE. Questions like “Is the NCGOP intruding into local or state and national primaries,” and “Are they recruiting and supporting newly switched Democrats and opportunist RINOs to run against conservative incumbents and principled new candidates,” and “Are they running Decoy Candidates so as to manipulate elections and place their puppets?” The flyer also cited portions of the NCGOP Plan of Organization that prohibits such actions by Party officials. The flyer, and the lady distributing the flyer quickly attracted the attention of no less than four senior Party officials, , who confronted the lady distributing the flyer with fingers wagging, tongues lashing, and threats of suing for libel and slander flowing. But wait, there’s more!
United Nations Arms Treaty (video)
We must seriously pursue getting out of the United Nations. They are systematically trying to usurp the U. S. Constitution and the rights afforded thereunder. The Law of the Sea Treaty (separate post), and not the UN Arms Treaty in this video…
Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST); Obama Gives USA Royalties to UN
Morning Bell: The Danger of Article 82 and Obama’s Latest Treaty
May 22, 2012 at 9:05 am
Back in 1982, President Ronald Reagan decided not to sign a treaty known as “Law of the Sea” (LOST), a United Nations convention that would raid America’s treasury for billions of dollars, then redistribute that wealth to the rest of the world by an international bureaucracy headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica. But today, the Obama Administration has revived that treaty, and tomorrow Senator John Kerry (D-MA) will hold hearings designed to illustrate its supposed benefits and generate support for its ratification. Without a doubt, Reagan’s decision should stand, and LOST should remain relegated to the trash bin of history.
The rationale for LOST is that it supposedly brings order to the world’s oceans, defines the rights and responsibilities of nations as they navigate and conduct business across the seas, protects the marine environment, and allows for the development of natural resources of the deep seabed. On the surface, these all sound like worthwhile goals. The thing is, the United States doesn’t need to join another United Nations treaty to make it happen.
For more than 200 years before LOST was adopted in 1982 and for 30 years since then, the U.S. Navy has successfully protected America’s maritime interests regardless of the fact that the United States has not signed on to the treaty. The United States’ navigational rights and freedoms have been secure, and they are best guaranteed by a strong Navy.
LOST is not without consequences, either. One of the more nefarious and insidious of its provisions is Article 82, which requires the United States to forfeit royalties generated from oil and gas development on the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles – an area known as the “extended continental shelf.” That money, which one estimate says could be worth many billions, if not trillions of dollars, would go to the International Seabed Authority, a new international bureaucracy created by the treaty and based in Jamaica. Heritage’s Steven Groves explains that from there, America’s money could be shipped to the Middle East, Africa, China, and even state sponsors of terror:
LOST directs that the revenue be distributed to “developing States” (such as Somalia, Burma … you get the picture) and “peoples who have not attained full independence” (such as the Palestinian Liberation Organization … hey, don’t they sponsor terrorism?). The assembly – the “supreme organ” of the International Seabed Authority in which the United States has a single vote to cast – has the final say regarding the distribution of America’s transmogrified “international” royalties.
The assembly may vote to distribute royalties to undemocratic, despotic or brutal governments in Belarus, China or Zimbabwe – all members of LOST. Perhaps those dollars will go to regimes that are merely corrupt; 13 of the world’s 20 most corrupt nations, according to Transparency International, are parties to LOST. Even Cuba and Sudan, both considered state sponsors of terrorism, could receive dollars fresh from the U.S. Treasury.
In addition to shipping America’s money overseas to unsavory recipients, LOST could have other negative consequences, as well, by exposing U.S. industry and manufacturing to baseless international lawsuits. In fact, environmental activists and international legal academics are actively exploring the potential of using international litigation against the United States to advance their agendas. And for those who say LOST is a tool for mediating international disputes, take a look at the Philippines, which signed on to the treaty and yet today is finding itself browbeaten by China and its claims in the South China Sea.
If America truly wants to preserve its rights on the sea, then it needs to bolster the one tool that has guaranteed those rights throughout history — a strong U.S. Navy. Unfortunately, under President Obama’s watch, the United States is seeing its fleet diminished in size and ability. A lone piece of paper will not defend America’s interests on the sea, and neither will transferring billions of dollars to an international authority in Jamaica for redistribution the world over. LOST should not be ratified and signed, and instead Washington should turn its attention to ensuring that the U.S. Navy has the resources it needs to protect America’s interests on the high seas.
Quick Hits:
- Things aren’t looking any better for the euro zone. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has slashed its forecasts for the region’s economic growth and warned that the debt crisis could lead to a downward spiral.
- The Big Labor / National Labor Relations Board revolving door continues to turn. Craig Becker, a former member of the NLRB who was appointed by President Obama in 2010, is returning to the AFL-CIO as general counsel.
- The Yemeni government is blaming an al-Qaeda affiliate for the bombing that killed 101 of the country’s soldiers on Monday. Jihadist websites posted a statement supposedly from the terrorist group in which it claims responsibility for the attack.
- Facebook’s shares dropped 11 percent yesterday prompting a round of finger pointing that aimed at Morgan Stanley’s role as lead underwriter, Facebook’s greed, and the Nasdaq Stock Market, which handled last week’s IPO.
- Yesterday the University of Notre Dame filed a legal challenge against an Obamacare regulation that requires health care plans to include coverage for contraception. Read more about it on The Foundry.
Posted in American Leadership
We Need Help for MAJOR State Legislation and Projects
We Need Help for MAJOR State Legislation and Projects
Hello Everyone,
I received the following from NC House member Glen Bradley, a strict constitutionalists. He sees great importance in passing 2 critical bills/resolutions in the short session and needs our help. These bills touch ever so strongly on individual liberty and on the notion that states are supposed to STICK UP and PROTECT our rights and not help the government take them away.
Please get the message out as best you can.
The bills are as follows (copied from the email) —
First project I want to discuss is our bill to refuse compliance with Agenda 21. Because this is a bit complicated, I will try to explain what is going on.
A non-budgetary bill may only be introduced in the short session with 2/3 support of the members. A resolution may be introduced at any time, and does not count towards out 10 bill limit. Therefore we have a resolution to introduce the noncompliance bill, and then the noncompliance bill itself that will be introduced upon 2/3 passage of the resolution. The resolution to introduce will gain a bill number on May 16th when it is introduced.
Here is what we need, we need 2/3 support from members of both the House and the Senate on the introduction resolution here:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByAbMc4d18WVamVYZjJJbkNfcHc
So please contact your State Representative and State Senator and express to them how much you want them to support the anti-Agenda21 resolution and noncompliance bill, so that we can get the 2/3 support we need to introduce the actual noncompliance bill here:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByAbMc4d18WVR0VIUjN0ZUVBdnM
If you State Representative or State Senator is a Democrat, there are a wide variety of “Democrats against Agenda 21” groups out there in existence, so it may help to look a few of them up first and reference them when contacting your Rep or Senator. I will also be attempting to rally those groups.See More: 2011-LB-428B.pdf – Google Docs
And the second project I want to bring to your attention is a resolution composed by OathKeepers and the Patriot Coalition to DENOUNCE the provision for the indefinite detention of American citizens in sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense and Authorization Act (NDAA).
This one is a lot more straightforward even if the bill is significantly longer. It is simply a resolution (a Nullification resolution), which means that it can be introduced on Day 1 of the short session and it does not count towards my 10-bill limit. So we also need your help to support the resolution to oppose/object to the indefinite detention provision of the NDAA. It too will aquire a bill number on May 16th.
Check it out here: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByAbMc4d18WVbG5wLUdTOUdveVU
More: 2011-LG-149.pdf – Google Docs
Richard Morgan, Disgraced Republican for NC Insurance Commissioner
On Richard Morgan, candidate for Insurance Commissioner and traitor to the GOP (made co-chair deal with Democrat Jim Black, backstabbing the GOP)
From: “Capital Area Republicans” <carepublicans@excite.com>
Resolution of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party
Be it resolved by the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican party that,
Whereas Richard Morgan is registered Republican, and
Whereas Richard Morgan is the Co-Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
Whereas Richard Morgan is the Republican leader of the House as defined in Article VI.B.1.d. of the North Carolina Republican Party State Plan of Organization, and,
Whereas Richard Morgan is a Member of the State Executive Committee and State Central Committee pursuant to Article VI.B.1d. and Article VI.C.1.a. of the North Carolina Republican Party State Plan Organization as a result of his position as Co-speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, and
Whereas the Republican Party and the NCGOP State Central and Executive Committees exist, according to the preamble of the NCGOP State Plan of Organization, “for the purpose of uniting and coordinating our efforts for maximum power and efficiency,” and
Whereas Richard Morgan has stated publicly his intention as Speaker to defeat his political enemies within the Republican House Caucus, and
Whereas Richard Morgan was intimately involved in the design of the adopted unconstitutional redistricting maps that would likely prevent the Republican Party from obtaining a Republican majority, and
Whereas Richard Morgan has since the adoption of the maps joined in as a plaintiff in legal actions designed and contrived to prevent a Republican majority, and
Whereas Richard Morgan refused to vote for either of the Republican House Caucus nominees for Speaker of the House, and
Whereas Representative George Holmes was the duly endorsed nominee of the House Republican Caucus for Speaker of the North Carolina House, and,
Whereas Richard Morgan’s activities within the Republican House Caucus directly and substantially contributed to the loss of a solely Republican Speakership of the North Carolina House, and
Whereas Richard Morgan’s vote in favor of the House resolution naming himself and Democrat Jim Black as Co-Speakers falls within the meaning of “influencing the outcome of any election against a Republican endorsed by the appropriate Legislative Caucus,” and
Whereas Article VII.G. of the NCGOP State Plan of Organization states that “Each officer and each Member of the State Executive Committee shall refrain from utilizing the powers and dignity of his or her office or position in any Republican Primary for public office at any level,” and
Whereas Article VII, E.2. states in part “Any registered Republican attempting to influence or influencing the outcome of any election against… a Republican endorsed by the appropriate… Legislative Caucus may be declared ineligible to hold office under the State Plan of Organization at the State, District, and Precinct level for Party disloyalty by 2/3 vote of the State Executive Committee,” and
Whereas Article VII.A.7.a. states “Any Member of a Committee organized under this Plan may be removed by a 2/3’s vote of the respective Committee…,” and
Whereas Richard Morgan was furnished with notice of the charges against him signed by not less than 50 of the Members of State Executive Committee two weeks before this Committee meeting.
Therefore the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party finds that Richard Morgan’s political agenda is different from and injurious to the North Carolina Republican Party, and
Further the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party finds that Richard Morgan’s political agenda and his position on the NCGOP State Executive Committee are in conflict and thus his service on the Executive Committee is therefore grossly inefficient under Article VII.A.7. of the NCGOP State Plan of Organization, and
Further the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party finds Richard Morgan culpable of disloyalty to the North Carolina Republican Party, and
Further the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party orders Richard Morgan’s immediate removal from the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party pursuant to Article VII.A.7. of the North Carolina Republican Party State Plan of Organization.
Lastly the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party declares that Richard Morgan is ineligible to serve in any Office under this Plan of Organization for a period of five years pursuant to Article VII.E.2. of the North Carolina Republican Party.
Resolution of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party to Order Richard Morgan’s Immediate Removal from the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party
IRS Fraud
A Letter to Randy Ramsey from the former Carteret County Chairman of the Democratic Party
Shubert for Auditor
Shubert for Auditor
An Important Message from Fern Shubert
You have a golden opportunity to do something that will save you money and really irritate those who profit from bad government. But you must act now, because in less a week it will be too late.
In less than a week the Republican primary will be over and the Republican nominee for State Auditor will be decided. Since the State Auditor is the person responsible for being sure our state’s books are honest and above board and your tax dollars are not wasted or stolen, it is in your personal interest to be sure you elect the most experienced, most competent and most outspoken advocate for the public’s right to know what’s happening in government that you can find.
I’m Fern Shubert and I’d like to serve you as your State Auditor.
I am a current and longtime CPA with extensive audit experience, including audit management.
I’m familiar with state government from my work as a Representative and Senate Republican Whip.
I’ve proven my ability to identify problems before they’re readily apparent and my willingness to speak out to inform the public.
Please, please, please compare the records of the candidates running for auditor and I think you’ll see why you want to be sure I win.
Author and radio talk show host Jason Lewis called me North Carolina’s most fearless fiscal leader. My audit experience made it easy for me to spot what others missed. I was so outspoken about the unethical behavior of Jim Black and Mike Easley that in 2004 Ed Williams of The Charlotte Observer actually told me people thought I was nuts. Now Black has spent time in federal prison and Easley has been publicly disgraced and any honest observer would have to admit I was right all along.
This link will take you to a YouTube clip that introduces me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-oWnukLXNg
For more information about me, please go to my website, www.FernShubert.com and check out the Bio. Or on Facebook check Shubert for Auditor. ( https://www.facebook.com/#!/Shubert.for.Auditor )
As in any campaign, contributions are welcome and most assuredly appreciated, but votes decide an election. I’m seeking your vote and the votes of your friends. Please talk to your friends. Better yet, please forward this message to your friends and ask them to share it with their friends. In order to win, I need your help.
Thanks for your help! Thanks for your support!
Fern
Fern H. Shubert, CPA _________________________________________________________________________________________
505 South Elm Street, Marshville, NC 28103 Phone 704-296-2175 Fern.Shubert@gmail.com
Paid for by People Who Want Better Government
In N.C. Senate Race, Republican Ramsey Gets Help From Other Aircraft Providers
In N.C. Senate Race, Republican Ramsey Gets Help From Other Aircraft Providers
Political newcomer receives significant support from outside district
May. 4th, 2012
RALEIGH — Campaign finance disclosures made available this week show that Randy Ramsey has outraised and outspent his chief rival, Norm Sanderson, significantly in the Republican primary in N.C. Senate District 2.
Ramsey, a first-time candidate for the General Assembly, was associated closely with Democratic politicians until he chose to run. His support from Democrats includes air travel for Gov. Bev Perdue and a $2,000 contribution to her campaign in July. Before this year, he had given $3,750 to Republican candidates, but more than 10 times that amount to Democratic campaigns and to the state Democratic Party. Moreover, some people connected to the flying scandal that led to the criminal prosecution of and felony plea by Democratic former Gov. Mike Easley also have donated to Ramsey’s campaign.
Ramsey is the owner of Jarrett Bay Boatworks, a boat-building company located in Beaufort. His previous financial support of Democrats — even though he is a registered Republican — was the subject of a recent Carolina Journal cover story.
Sanderson, a first-term member of the N.C. House representing Craven and Pamlico counties, is a small business owner in Havelock. He decided to run for state Senate this year rather than seek re-election to his House seat. A third candidate, Ken Jones, also is running. The State Board of Elections could not locate Jones’ campaign finance reports by press time.
With days left until the election Tuesday, Ramsey has raised $418,649 — including $234,000 in money he has loaned to his campaign — and spent $285,299. Sanderson’s fundraising and spending totals dwarf those figures. He raised $32,613 and spent $28,691 over that time period.
The Senate district comprises Craven, Carteret, and Pamlico Counties. Approximately half of Ramsey’s actual contributions came from persons living outside the district. Ramsey also received the maximum individual contribution of $4,000 apiece from Daniel M. Doyle, Nicole Doyle, and Daniel M. Doyle Jr. of Belleair, Fl.
In addition, Ramsey received donations from the family of Elizabethtown businessman D.M. “Mac” Campbell Jr., who had close ties to the Easley and Perdue administrations and in the past by provided unreported flights to the chief executives, as documented by Carolina Journal.
One of Mac Campbell’s sons, Raleigh businessman McQueen Campbell, was at the center of the scandal involving unreported flights for former Gov. Mike Easley. McQueen Campbell’s wife Laurie Campbell gave Ramsey $1,000 using her previous name Laurie Perkis, but Ramsey’s campaign report listed her last name as Perkins. (The Campbells married in January.) McQueen Campbell’s brother Wesley gave Ramsey $250 and their father Mac Campbell gave Ramsey $1,000.
Jimmy D. Clark of Greensboro, who also was involved in Perdue’s unreported flying activities, gave Ramsey $1,000. Former N.C. Supreme Court chief justice Burley Mitchell, a Democrat, gave Ramsey $250.
The primary is May 8.
David N. Bass is an associate editor of Carolina Journal. Don Carrington, executive editor of Carolina Journal, provided additional reporting for this story.
Ramsey Donations Exceed $367,000
Reference: http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/cf_pdf/2012/20120501_111387.pdf
Ramsey’s campaign report shows Total receipts of over $367,000.
Ramsey has personally contributed over $180,000. Why would someone spend over $180,000 of their own money to run for State Senate seat that pays $13,000/year? What does Ramsey know about NC politics that we don’t know?
Over half (52%) of the money generated by personal contributions came from outside the District. Why are so many contributors from outside our area and our state pouring money into Randy Ramsey’s campaign?
Ramsey received over $20,000 in contributions from Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Ohio, Maine, South Carolina and Virginia.
One family from a small town in Florida contributed more money than Ramsey’s entire hometown of Beaufort.
The report includes a contribution from the N.C. Advocates for Justice PAC, the political action committee of trial lawyers that was the largest PAC contributor in state legislative races in 2010.
The report includes several contributions from individuals who traditionally give almost exclusively to Democrats, including Wendell Murphy, who was subpoenaed in the Board of Elections hearings against Governor Mike Easley and was also listed in the list of unreported campaign flights for Bev Perdue. Randy Ramsey was included in that list.
Letter to the Editor – Will they be “Honor Bound and Fearless?"
Editor
The current Republican Primary Election in particular, a local race for NC Senate Dist 2, has the public and many voters confused with blatant twisted distortion of facts, innuendo and outright lies that are being spun to a mostly uninformed electorate. This confusion is as bad as I have ever seen in my participation in Republican Politics beginning about 1950, as a high school kid. I grew up in a household in which the Honor Code of the U.S. Military Academies was instilled in me and later had the honor of becoming and serving as an Army Officer via Army OCS where it was also expected of me. To “Lie, Cheat / Steal or to Allow or Condone Others or Those That Do” is just beyond the pale for me whether it is done as a military officer, civilian corporate executive, businessman, political candidate, local state or Federal employee or an elected official at any level from the township to the White House. Do I know it occurs, Yes. Do I ignore it, No. Do I condone it, No. Am I willing to confront it, Damn Right!
Recently, Representative Pat McElraft ( R ) who represents both Carteret and Jones Counties in the NC House, stood up and in a Letter to the Editors of local area newspapers ( Ignored by the New Bern Sun ) set the record straight in a gutsy political move. You see Representative McElraft, did what darn few elected officials seem willing to do today, she did the right thing without regard for her own political public service future or personal gain, SHE TOLD THE TRUTH! That was refreshing and that is what we all clamor for in our elected officials. Party loyalty or silence is great, but not at the expense of ones personal principles or the possible election of an unfit candidate. The same applies to elected public servants who sit on the sideline based on some idea/myth that because it is a primary election you should; sit back and not say anything even when you know what is being said is a lie or distortion . This is one of the problems in our modern American politics, elected officials/leaders who fail to stand on Principle and Truth and their seeming loss of a political moral compass once elected and /or their fear of loss of personal political legacy. The political lie moves quickly in the multiple modern systems of communication and is hard to refute.
So, will our Eastern North Carolina leadership, as elected officials/ public servants / party officials, continue to sit on the political sidelines in this critical 2012 NC. Primary Election or will they stand up and help set the public voting electorate straight? Will they be “Honor Bound and Fearless”?
Austin M “Gus” Wilgus, Lt.Col. Army Retired, Republican Precinct Chairman Emerald Isle NC
Emerald Isle NC
A Message from Representative Norman Sanderson
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Another Note from Representative McElraft re. House Bill 810
Editor’s note: Ramsey continues to lie about Norm Sanderson’s record. This time he is lying about his support to our troops. If Ramsey so easily lies during the campaign, can you trust him as your NC Senator in District 2?
Ramsey is just wrong about what H115 is and he continues to send out these mailers. He knows that negative campaigning works. When you have a quarter of a million dollars to spend against Sanderson’s $30,000 you can buy your way. It is unfortunate that this is the way a Republican works against another Republican and especially a VERY conservative one like Rep. Sanderson.
On House bill 810 the “non bank” lenders were asking the state to allow them to charge higher interest rates when they had not had an increase in over a decade. I do understand that because they have a very high failure rate. These are legitimate lenders and not “loan sharks”. I have learned much more about this bill since I voted against it. I spoke to a business owner who owned one of these loan companies and he said only 5% of his loans were military. We all know how hard it is to get a bank loan right now and sometimes when people’s credit is not the greatest they go to one of these loan companies. Many of these loan companies are just hanging on by threads. So it was a vote that I truly have mixed emotions about. I certainly did not want a legitimate business to fail by my “against” vote.
I voted against the bill in more of a “Navy Relief” volunteer way. I remembered when I volunteered for Navy Relief as a budget counselor that I saw the young troops get in trouble for bad loans. I have realized since that by voting agaomst this, if it had passed ,could have sent these young troops into the arms of loan sharks. That was not my intention. I had a friend at Family Services who asked me to vote against this bill. Only a few Republicans voted against it because it was truly a “jobs” bill and a “pro business” bill. I was very torn on how to vote for this bill but being a military spouse for 30 years, a volunteer for Navy Relief and a mother trying to protect our young military, I did vote for it.
Rep. Sanderson and all but a couple of us Republicans voted for this bill because it is a “jobs” bill and because they had amended the bill to make it more palatable to the military by saying that a service person would not be able to get one of these loans without prior permission from his or her commanding officer.
A vote for this bill certainly was NOT an anti military vote. I know Rep. Sanderson’s history on supporting the military. The attacks on him again are just wrong and unethical. When will it stop?
Thanks,
Pat
________________________________
Pat McElraft
pmcelraft@ec.rr.com
patm@ncleg.net
Ferry Toll and Representative Norman Sanderson
Friends in the NC 2nd Senate District,
Here is an elected official; Scott Dacey, Commissioner Craven County, speaking up for Norm Sanderson’s stand and work on the Ferry Toll Problem on radio. Listen to this u-tube of the Phil Knight Show out of New Bern this morning the 27th of April. Pass this important information on to every 2nd District Voter you know. I wish we had more elected public servants like Scott Dacey and Pat McElraft that would stand up and set things straight for the voters. But, that takes guts and a willingness to lose a vote or two for “Principle”. The web site is http://youtube.com/watch?v=HuAjo5hyOFw&feature=youtu.be . Sit back and listen and be informed.
Gus Wilgus
Phil Knight Interviews Randy Ramsey (Excerpts)
Letter to the Editor: Ramsey Looks Out for Number One
In his letter to the editor (Sunday, April 22), Rick Poillon defends Randy Ramsey’s substantial donations to Democrat candidates and the NC Democrat party. Mr Poillon says that as a business owner, Mr. Ramsey’ way of looking out for his own business interests, a way for him to grease the skids to gain favorable treatment for his business. Mr. Ramsey himself made similar comments at a recent GOP meeting in which he said that he is a business man, and that in an effort to develop a “conduit” between his business and the people in Raleigh, and to gain “inroads” in Raleigh for his business, he had contributed heavily to Democrat candidates, but that he had “been disappointed in them” (although he continued to contribute to their campaigns). Mr. Poillon defends Mr. Ramsey’s actions as “just the way politics work”. But I beg to differ. Norman Sanderson and his wife Linda have been small business owners for more than 20 years. But there is no record of them making huge political contributions to candidates and a political party that they simply don’t agree with in an effort to curry favor from Raleigh. So, is it “politics as usual”, or is Randy Ramsey just “looking out for number one”? And as your Senator, will he look out for the interests of all of eastern North Carolina, or will he still “look out for number one”? You decide.
Jennifer Hudson
Letter to the Editor re. Randy Ramsey's Latest Misinformation
Editor,
If anyone had any doubt about Randy Ramsey’s true political leanings this week had to be the clincher. We have see more of the endless stream of slick glossy mailers and now radio attack ads targeting Norm Sanderson. The strange thing is that these attacks only go to show that Randy Ramsey is exactly what a number of us have been saying for weeks that he is really a liberal just like the folks he has been supporting and he has actually impugned every Republican in both the NC House and Senate for their stand against Obama-care.
The “misinformation” mailers say that Norm Sanderson voted to implement Obama-care. Anyone who follows North Carolina state politics knows this is pure BULL as Norm Sanderson co sponsored the Health Care Freedom Act which would have outlawed Obama-care in North Carolina.Unfortunately, Ramsey’s best political friend Governor Beverly Purdue VETOED it!
So, knowing that Sanderson was a leader in the fight against Obama-care what are these mailers referencing? Ramsey, cites House Bill 115 and perhaps he should have read it before letting his hot shot, out of state political handlers start a firestorm of lies. I have looked up the Bill on line and here are some facts you can look up also if you and your reporting staff or readers wish to.
1. The bill (115 ) is subtitled “ AN ACT TO PRESERVE STATE BASED AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THE NORTH CAROLINA HEALTHCARE INSURANCE MARKET AND PREVENT FEDERAL ENCROACHMENT ON STATE AUTHORITY BY ESTABLISHING THE NORTH CAROLINA BENEFIT EXCHANGE. Does that sound like a bill that supports Obama-care??
First this bill is a safety net for North Carolina in case the Federal Government forces Obama-care on us. We would have a plan in place to protect ourselves if the Supreme Court does not declare the whole thing null and void and if it does so, then House Bill (115) becomes null and void. This Bill was co-sponsored by Carteret’s NC Representative Pat McElraft and further it was supported by every Republican in the NC House, plus 18 Democrats. Only the most liberal Democrats voted against it so that tells you where Ramsey stands. It proves to me and others that Ramsey will do and say anything to get himself elected. He is more than willing to distort the Truth for his personal political gain which means to me he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing or RINO (Republican In Name Only) and probably thinks and hopes the electorate and average voters are to stupid to check things out.
I know there are people that will still support Ramsey no matter what he does or says. Some see him as a local who “is from around here” and that seems to trump the pile of evidence that grows as high as his mountain of mailers. It still amazes me when people who claim to be conservative Republicans can’t see that Randy Ramsey has all the trademark characteristics of a liberal Democrat used to buying influence, power, and position by hook or by crook. I am also amazed still that the only media in North Carolina really on this story is the Carolina Journal
Austin M. “Gus” Wilgus
A Letter from Representative Pat McElraft
To the Editor:
As a State Representative, I am fully aware that politics is not for the faint of heart. Any elected official understands that they will be judged on their voting record and I stand on my record over the years. But when people distort that record, you must defend yourself and those who stand with you.
Upon hearing of my legislative colleague Norman Sanderson’s intention of running for State Senate, I promptly endorsed his candidacy. I have personally witnessed his conservative values and work ethic in the State House and have no doubt he will be a strong conservative voice for Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties. After lending my initial endorsement, I made no other public comment. I thought that was the right thing to do as a Republican to let the candidates fight this out. However, I can no longer remain silent since I, personally,and 67 other Republican Legislators have been brought into this with the latest Randy Ramsey Ad and flyer.
State Senate candidate Randy Ramsey recently aired a radio ad and sent out a mailer that accused Representative Sanderson of voting to implement ObamaCare. I was the co-sponsor of the bill that was referenced (HB115) and it was supported by every Republican member of the House as well as 18 conservative Democrats. Only the most liberal Democrats voted against this largely procedural bill that saved North Carolina taxpayers countless dollars. In fact, the full title of the legislation was An Act to Preserve State-Based Authority to Regulate the North Carolina Health Insurance Market and Prevent Federal Encroachment on State Authority by Establishing the North Carolina Benefit Exchange. As the name implies, it was designed to limit the power of ObamaCare. Randy Ramsey’s blatant misrepresentation of this bill was not only an attack on Norman Sanderson but on every Republican who voted for this piece of common-sense legislation.
The very first piece of business for the Republican led legislature in 2011 was passing House Bill #2, entitled Protect Health Care Freedom. I was proud to co-sponsor that bill with Representative Sanderson, knowing that it protected North Carolina’s citizens from ObamaCare and the overreaching authority of the Federal Government into your health care decisions. That important piece of legislation would be law today if had not been vetoed by Governor Bev Perdue.
For anyone to say that Norman Sanderson, myself or any Republican legislator supports ObamaCare is outrageous and a blatant misrepresentation of the facts. Randy Ramsey has either chosen to resort to distortion in a desperate attempt to gain votes or he has not researched the information his campaign team is releasing. Either way, the practice is unacceptable and should immediately cease.
Pat McElraft
Emerald Isle, NC
District 13 State Representative
Primary Candidates that Support the Tea Party Principles
Crystal Coast Tea Party Patriots believe the follow
ing Candidates best support the Tea Party
principles of Limited Government, Fiscal
Responsibility and Protection of the Free Market.
President: Mitt Romney
U.S. House District 3: Frank Palombo
Governor: PAT McCRORY
Lt. Governor: DAN FORREST
State Auditor: DEBRA GOLDMAN
Commissioner of Agriculture: STEVE TROXLER
Commissioner of Insurance: MIKE CAUSEY
Secretary of State: MICHAEL (MIKE) BEITLER
Superintendent of Public Instruction: JOHN TEDESCO
NC Treasurer: STEVE ROYAL
NC Senate District 2: : NORM SANDERSON
Carteret County District Commissioners
District 3: TERRY FRANK
District 5: HARRY TAYLOR
District Judge: DAVE MCFADYEN
Board of Education
District 3: MARK MANSFIELD
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: Vote “FOR“
NC Democratic Party Executive Director Resigns
Updated at 08:38 PM today
Former NC Democratic Party Executive Director Jay Parmley (WTVD Photo)RALEIGH — The executive director of the North Carolina Democratic Party announced his resignation Sunday in the wake of frustrations by party activists over high turnover at the party headquarters and harassment allegations there.
Jay Parmley took over as executive director last year after serving three years in the same post in South Carolina. Before that, he served in the same position in Oklahoma – his native state.
In his resignation letter obtained by ABC11, Parmley vehemently denied harassing any party worker.
“Let me be clear: I have never harassed any employee at any time,” he wrote in part.
Click here to read the entire letter(.pdf)
News of the rumored allegations first surfaced Friday on conservative websites, including the Drudge Report.
The stories were based on emails between top North Carolina Democratic Party officials which the ABC11 I-Team also obtained. The messages reference rumors of allegations of sexual harassment within the headquarters of the North Carolina Democratic Party.
The emails don’t show who was allegedly harassed, but they mention rumors of a financial settlement that allegedly was reached between a former staffer and a top party official which allegedly included a non-disclosure agreement.
While Democratic officials confirmed some staffers had left their employment with the NCDP, they declined to comment further on personnel matters.
Contacted by ABC11, other top Democrats called the rumored allegations – if true – troubling and called for further investigation.
In his resignation letter, Parmley called the reports false and misleading.
“The over one thousand political people who have worked with me over the years know this kind of behavior would be unconscionable to me. In fact, fighting against actions like these is one of the reasons I’m a Democrat,” he wrote.
In a statement that accompanied Parmley’s resignation letter Sunday, NC Democratic Party Chairman David Parker accepted the resignation and said he believes there have not been grounds to fire Parmley.
“As an attorney who has successfully prosecuted harassment and discrimination cases, I have seen the devastating consequences of hostile environments on harassed workers and also on those inappropriately accused of creating them. I am strongly committed to the principals of a harassment, hostility and discrimination free environment, both at work and in general society and to justice fairly and impartially rendered. My commitment applies equally to same gender relationships and harassment as to any other form of harassment or discrimination,” wrote Parker.
“After consulting legal counsel, and based on my own experience in harassment cases and my own personal philosophy, it became my opinion that there have not been grounds for termination for cause of Jay Parmley.”
“In this political world of rushing to judgment and the presumption of guilt, however, my legal and personal opinion has been outweighed by this having become a political distraction and issue.”
Parmley did not say what his future plans include.
“Everything happens for a reason and I’m sure this unfortunate chapter will lead to a new challenge in my life and career,” he wrote.
(Copyright ©2012 ABC11-WTVD-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved – The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Who's Fault is It? Bush or Obama
Please read this very carefully and let it soak in … Whose fault is this
problem we have?
This tells the story, why Bush was so bad at the end of his term.
Don’t just skim over this, it’s not very long, read it slowly and let it
sink in. If in doubt, check it out!
The day the Democrats took over was not January 22nd, 2009; it was actually
January 3rd, 2007. That was the day the Democrats took over the House of
Representatives and the Senate, at the very start of the 110th Congress.
The Democrat Party controlled a majority in both chambers for the first time
since the end of the 103rd Congress in 1995.
For those who are listening to the liberals propagating the fallacy that
everything is “Bush’s Fault,” think about this:
January 3rd, 2007 was the day the Democrats took over the Senate and the
Congress. At the time: The Dow Jones closed at 12,621.77; The GDP for the
previous quarter was 3.5%; The unemployment rate was 4.6%.
George Bush’s economic policies had set a record of 52 straight months of
job growth.
Remember the day …
January 3rd, 2007 was the day that Barney Frank took over the House
Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking
Committee.
The economic meltdown that happened 15 months later was in what part of the
economy? Banking and financial services!
What was the Democratic response to this crisis among MANY other things):
dumping 5-6 trillion dollars of toxic loans on the economy from YOUR Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac!
Bush asked Congress 17 TIMES to stop Fannie and Freddie – starting in 2001
because it was financially risky for the US economy.
And who took the THIRD highest pay-off from Fannie Mae AND Freddie Mac?
OBAMA!
And who fought against reform of Fannie and Freddie? OBAMA and the Democrat
Congress! So when someone tries to blame Bush.
Remember January 3rd, 2007 … The day the Democrats took over!
Budgets do not come from the White House. They come from Congress and the
party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democrat Party.
Furthermore, the Democrats controlled the budget process for 2008 and 2009
as well as 2010 and 2011. In that first year, they had to contend with
George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending, when Bush somewhat
belatedly got tough on spending increases.
For 2009 though, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bypassed George Bush entirely,
passing continuing resolutions to keep government running until Barack Obama
could take office. At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill
to complete the 2009 budgets.
And where was Barack Obama during this time? He was a member of that very
Congress that passed all of these massive spending bills and he signed the
omnibus bill as President to complete 2009.
If the Democrats inherited any deficit, it was the 2007 deficit, the last of
the Republican budgets. That deficit was the lowest in five years, and the
fourth straight decline in deficit spending. After that, Democrats in
Congress took control of spending and that includes Barack Obama, who voted
for the budgets.
If Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself. In a nutshell,
what Obama is saying is I inherited a deficit that I voted for and then I
voted to expand that deficit four-fold since January 20th.
There is no way this will be widely publicized,unless each of us sends it
on!
Brutal week for Obama, the worst of his presidency
Friday, April 6, 2012 10:32 PM
How would you like 4 more years of his leadership?
HURT: Brutal week for Obama, the worst of his presidency
By Charles Hurt
Thursday, March 29, 2012
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
The past seven brutal days will go down as one of the worst weeks in history for a sitting president. It certainly has been, without any doubt, the worst week yet for President Obama.
Somehow, Mr. Obama managed to embarrass himself abroad, humiliate himself here at home, see his credentials for being elected so severely undermined that it raises startling questions about whether he should have been elected in the first place — let alone be re-elected later this year.
Consider:
• Last Friday, Mr. Obama wandered into the killing of Trayvon Martin. Aided by his ignorance of the situation, knee-jerk prejudices and tendency toward racial profiling, Mr. Obama played a heavy hand in elevating a tragic situation in which a teenager was killed into a full-blown hot race fight.
Americans, he admonished, need to do some “soul-searching.” And then, utterly inexplicably, he veered off into this bizarre tangent about how he and the poor dead kid look so much alike they could be father and son. It was election-year race-pandering gone horribly wrong.
• By the start of this week, Mr. Obama had fled town and was racing to the other side of the planet just as the Supreme Court was taking up the potentially-embarrassing matter of Obamacare. While in South Korea he was caught on a hidden mic negotiating with the president of our longest-standing rival on how to sell America and her allies down the river once he gets past the next election.
• Meanwhile, back at home, the Supreme Court took up the single most important achievement of Mr. Obama’s presidency and, boy, was it embarrassing. The great constitutional law professor, it turns out, may not quite be the wizard he told us he was.
By most accounts, Mr. Obama and his stuttering lawyers were all but laughed out of the courthouse. They were even stumbling over softball questions lobbed by Mr. Obama’s own hand-picked justices.
• Mr. Obama closed his week pulling off a nearly unimaginable feat: He managed to totally and completely unify the nastily-fighting Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Late Wednesday night, they unanimously voted — 414 to zip — to reject the budget Mr. Obama had presented, leaving him not even a thin lily’s blade to hide behind.
So, in one week, Mr. Obama got caught whispering promises to our enemy, incited a race war, raised serious questions about his understanding of the Constitution, and then got smacked down over his proposed budget that was so wildly reckless that even Democrats in Congress could not support it.
It was as if you lumped Hurricane Katrina and the Abu Ghraib abuses into one week for George W. Bush. And added on top of that the time he oddly groped German Chancellor Angela Merkel and got caught cursing on a hot mic.
Even then, it wouldn’t be as bad as Mr. Obama’s week. You would probably also have to toss in the time Mr. Bush’s father threw up into the lap of Japan’s prime minister. Only then might we be approaching how bad a week it was for Mr. Obama.
Not that you will see any trace of embarrassment in the face of Mr. Obama. He has mastered the high political art of shamelessness, wearing it smugly and cockily. Kind of like a hoodie.
• Charles Hurt can be reached at charleshurt@live.com.
Letter to the Editor: NC Marriage Protection Amendment
A March 26th letter in Friday’s Carteret News-Times from Dr. Anne S. York made several untrue assertions about North Carolina’s Marriage Protection Amendment, which will appear on the May 8th ballot. Dr. York claims that the MPA will adversely affect NC’s economic future; label NC as an intolerant state; increase mental health disorders and medical costs; and waste state resources on domestic violence cases. None of this is true. Nor, as she also maintains, is the amendment ambiguous. The MPA is very brief, simple and straightforward: “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights or private parties pursuant to such contracts.”
Except for strengthening the existing law (NC General Statute 51-1.2), nothing really changes . Same-sex couples may still cohabitate; private businesses may still provide benefits to such couples if they so wish. Passage of the MPA — misnamed “Amendment One” by those opposed to it — will bolster the current definition of legal marriage as “one man and one woman,” ensuring that North Carolina’s children will mature in stable, balanced relationships, in families with both a father and a mother. As an amendment to the state constitution, the MPA will make it impossible for an activist judge to declare same-sex marriage unconstitutional. The current GS 51-1.2 is already under attack from a lesbian couple who have filed suit after being denied a marriage license.
Do not be misled by the myths from the ultra-liberal opposition. Do not allow the further erosion of the morals of our state.
On May 8th, vote for the Marriage Protection Amendment. To learn the truth about the MPA, visit VoteFORMarriageNC.com. To learn the truth, read your Bible.
Jere Geurin
Morehead City, NC
Will the backlash against "Congress" imperil Walter Jones?
Will the backlash against “Congress” imperil Walter Jones?
Is the Super PAC a substitute for term limits?
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March 30, 2012
There’s a storm brewing in Eastern North Carolina. And Walter Jones may be in the eye of that storm. He has been targeted by the Campaign for Primary Accountability (CPA). And if recent results in Ohio, Illinois and Alabama are any indication of things to come, Jones may face the fight of his life in May. CPA has targeted him in the May primary.
Here’s how CPA defines “the problem:”
AMERICANS ARE FED UP There’s one thing all Americans are fed up with: Trillion-dollar federal deficits. They destroy jobs, burden future generations with crushing debts and benefit only the corrupt, entrenched establishment in Washington, D.C., which wants ever-greater control over our lives.We’re also disgusted with a Congress that is, directly or indirectly, responsible for these problems. How disgusted? In November 2010, the approval rating of Congress was just 17%, which was the lowest in our history.
But in that same month–when the approval rate of Congress was at an all-time low–86% of incumbent members of the U.S. House of Representatives were re-elected! Imagine working for a company that is losing money, lays off half its workers, pollutes the river but then gives its top executives huge bonuses. Something clearly is wrong with such a system, and it’s high time we did something about it.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM More than 80% of congressional districts are controlled by one of the two political parties. Most general elections aren’t even close. The incumbent wins in a landslide, with an average margin of victory of 26%. Most long-term incumbents–the ones who control Congress–come from one-party districts. The general elections in which they cruise to victory election after election are really fake fights, like the ones in pro wrestling.THE REAL CONTEST IS IN THE PRIMARY But here’s the killer. Primaries are far less competitive than the general elections. During the past decade, House incumbents were as likely to die in office as to lose a primary election. Incumbents enjoy other huge advantages. They write the rules by which elections are conducted, get favorable coverage from the media simply because they are in office and have lavish travel expenses and other perks of office. Lobbyists shower them with campaign funds.It’s just not right.
Driven by frustration with Washington, citizens are hungry for a way to regain control of a runaway federal government. We’re desperate to end the fraud, mismanagement, corruption and crime. For far too long, Americans have mistakenly pinned their hopes on a political savior, a white knight, or some other figment of our imaginations, who will win the presidency, roll up his (or her) sleeves and “clean house.” Others place their trust in a political party or ideological “movement.” If bitter experience is any guide, we’ve been wasting our energy, money and time. The way to regain control of Washington is to regain control of Congress. Congress, after all, is the most powerful branch of government, and the most powerful members of Congress are entrenched House incumbents.
PRIMARIES ARE THE OPPORTUNITY Primaries, remember, are where very few people bother to vote and where a small fraction of the electorate decides who will run in November and return to Washington. Remember that 10% of voters participate in the dominant primaries. This equates to an average of only 40,000-50,000 voters in each district. As pathetic as this seems, the low turnout in primaries represents a real opportunity. That’s because just a small percentage of voters in any district can change the outcome of the primary and, therefore, change who will end up representing that district in Congress.
Jones has come under scrutiny as never before as a result of his voting record in recent years. He was elected, and touts himself, as a “conservative.” Yet he has the most liberal voting record of any Republican in the North Carolina Delegation and one of the most liberal records of all Republicans in the House. Some have pointed out that he has been in Congress long enough that he should have risen to a leadership position but he does not chair any significant committees. His challenger in the Republican Primary, Frank Palombo, contends he has lost touch with the “people back home.” Others contend it is not so much losing touch as it is “the arrogance of incumbency.” That is where CPA comes in. It is their stated objective to make incumbents compete for their seats.
What compounds Jones’ problem is a growing and intense negative reaction against incumbents. Congress itself has some of the lowest approval ratings in history, and it has not changed with the change in partisan control of the House in 2010. But in the past surveys have shown that while a heavy majority of people express frustration with “Congress” they still vote for their incumbent. Incumbents have seldom lost.
But that may be changing. The previous efforts to unseat incumbents has tended to focus on the General Election, where partisan politics played a key role. However, the approach CPA is using is to focus on the primary where viable candidates are challenging incumbents. That may change the End Game. Indications are that the popular backlash against “politics as usual” and the shift of attention to the primaries may portend trouble for Jones and other entrenched incumbents.
Jones is perceived by some observers as being especially vulnerable because of his positions on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He represents a heavy military oriented district. He has long called for pulling the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, a position that some consider surrender rather than insisting that our troops be given the support necessary to win. One retired Marine colonel told us: “Jones’ position is dispicable. While our troops were in harm’s way he advocated ‘cut-n-run.’ That does nothing but encourage the enemy. What we need are leaders in Washington that do not send our troops into battle unless they intend to let them win. War is hell, but once the President deploys our troops Congressmen should support whatever is necessary to get the mission accomplished.” At a recent public meeting in the district that comment got a standing ovation. Jones has come under withering criticism for the following:
We shall see how it all plays out.
If you have read this far you will most likely be interested in this article that recently appeared in the National Journal.
Early Primary Voting in Carteret County
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OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE CARTERET COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS – Friday, March 30, 2012 – 2:25 pm |
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