NCProsecutor's blog

Winston-Salem's own rightwing nutjob, GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina's Fifth Congressional District, is asking for your input. Seriously!

Click here to see the survey!

The three questions asked:

Do you support a Federal Marriage Amendment that defines marriage in the U.S. as a union between one man and one woman?

Do you support abolishing the current tax code and starting with one that is fairer and flatter?

[She had me until "flatter."]

Do you support the war on terrorism and a victory in Iraq as a key to winning the War on Terror?

[That "and" is pretty darned tricky, isn't it?]

I think that the BlueNC community ought to surf on over and take her survey. Right there on the website, it says, "Congresswoman Fox wants to hear from you..."

Don't you think she needs to hear from us?

Cross-posted from NC House Races
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This article in today's New York Times represents an interesting attempt at balance. The first part of the article highlights the Kissell campaign's focus on Hayes' about-face on CAFTA:

As if by chance, though probably not, both candidates are linked to the old mill. Charles Cannon, legendary founder of the Cannon textile empire and grandfather of Representative Robin Hayes, the Republican incumbent, built it in the 1920’s, and Mr. Hayes worked summers there as a youth.

Larry Kissell, his Democratic opponent, worked there for 27 years before becoming a high school teacher in 2001, when, he says, he saw “the handwriting on the wall” about its future. Now his campaign is organized around the threat of foreign competition and Mr. Hayes’s tiebreaking vote last year for a trade accord with Central America.

Cross-posted from NC House Races
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This weekend, my girlfriend and I went to a wedding at beautiful Lake Lure, North Carolina. On Saturday, we took a drive from Lake Lure up to Asheville, traveling along US 74 through some truly lovely country.

Anyway, the point of this post isn’t to blather on about my weekend. What I noticed as I drove to Asheville was the amazing profusion of Heath Shuler and WNC Democrats signs along the road – and the total absence of Charles Taylor signs. Now, I’m sure that the GOP will get their sign operation up and running soon enough. But Democrats in the western part of the state are doing one hell of a great job making their support visible. [Some press on the sign campaign here and some background from Henderson County Democrats here.] And especially in the 11th District, where I saw so many Shuler signs and not a single Taylor sign.

Cross-posted from NC House Races
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As I wrote here, Charles Taylor has seen the writing on the wall and has decided to try a Hail Mary pass – he’s declared that he is ready to debate his Democratic challenger, Heath Shuler. It would mark the first time Taylor has debated an opponent since 1994.

That is, if it actually happens. The campaigns have apparently deadlocked over the date of the proposed debate – Taylor wants October 29th, Shuler wants November 1st.

Cross-posted from NC House Races
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Wow. I guess even corrupt wingunts like Charles Taylor can see the writing on the wall, because he's finally agreed to debate Heath Shuler:

For the first time since the 1994 election, U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor has agreed to debate his opponent.

Taylor agreed Thursday to a televised debate — with conditions — against Democratic Challenger Heath Shuler. The challenger said he tentatively agreed to debate. The date and format will have to be worked out.

Cross-posted from NC House Races
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Some might wish for more balance, but this piece in the Anson Record *is* a profile of Kissell, after all. And quite good, too. My favorite nugget:

Kissell's most pointed criticism of Hayes concerns the congressman's breaking a pledge to oppose the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

After vowing not to support the measure, Hayes cast a crucial vote to help pass the bill Kissell said devastated a troubled Eighth District economy.

“Robin put party loyalty ahead of the interests of the people,” Kissell said. “He is not the first person to do so. But I believe since he has gotten to Washington, he has forgotten who he was sent there to represent.

bumped by RP - this was FPed yesterday before the Hayes campaign crashed our computer system....well, it worked for Lieberman when he forgot to pay his bill. : )

Cross-posted from NC House Races
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Via kos, a poll released this week finds Hayes at 47% and Kissell at 46% (564 likely voters, MoE 4%). The same poll showed Hayes up 48/40 less than two months ago.

Like I said, if Kissell keeps getting great coverage from small local presses, he can win this race.

Cross-posted from NC House Races
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Interesting AP article on how different campaigns in North Carolina are dealing with the fallout from Predatorgate.

Short version: Kissell is asking questions about what Hayes knew about Foley and when, while Shuler isn't linking Taylor to Foley at all.

My favorite part:

So for a second day in a row the focus was on Hayes, seeking a fifth term representing a district that stretches from Charlotte to Fayetteville. On Monday, Kissell's campaign noted Foley was responsible for lining up GOP votes on the July 2005 Central American Free Trade Agreement, which passed only after Hayes switched his vote at the last minute to support the White House-backed trade deal.

Cross-posted from NC House Races
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A devastating piece in yesterday's Charlotte Observer describes the struggling economy in the 8th District and examines how this economic reality could affect the race for Congress. It deserves an extended quote:

Carolyn Terry runs a sewing machine at a small apparel factory in the heart of town. She's had her workweek cut to three days. She's seen friends laid off from her company and others in this Montgomery County town of 1,400.

"There are so many jobs that have left our county," says Terry, 59. "There are a lot of people just hurting."

For voters such as Terry, the economy is a top concern heading into November's election.