Rep. Patrick McHenry - Designated Pit Bull


There's a report by Tim Whitmire of the Associated Press that Rep. Patrick McHenry, North Carolina's Representative from the 10th District, will be the designated Republican pit bull in the next Congress. Whitmire's report highlights McHenry's past role as the sharp point of the spear in attacking Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia and claiming that the timing of Mark Foley's downfall was engineered by the Democrats.

McHenry, at 31, is both the House's youngest member and one of its most conservative. However, what really sets him apart is his enthusiasm for fierce outspoken partisanship (in other words, a Tom DeLay with a lot less milage.) Serving in one of North Carolina's most Republican districts he's in a position to slash and burn without complaint from his constituents.

According to Jonathan Collegio, McHenry's former deputy chief of staff, "There's the sense that Patrick, rather than running away from a battle, will run toward the sound of gunshots and I think a lot of people appreciate that," he said. "When nobody wanted to touch Tom DeLay with a 10-foot cattle prod, McHenry was on the cable television circuit defending him."

According to Whitmire...

"...there's no doubt that McHenry's primary target remains the Democratic Party. Just weeks after the election, before the new Congress had even convened, he was already scoffing at the notion of a spirit of cooperation between the Republican White House and Democratic Congress.

"I think it's great rhetoric, but there will be little reality of bipartisanship in Washington," he said. "I'm going to be very mindful about their (Democrats') actions, and point out their hypocrisies."

Comments

NC Conserv "outs" and slams McHenry

Word has gotten to "conservatives" abot McHenry's double life.

Here is a rather unflattering article about McHenry on a conservative website. This same site slammed Charles Taylor repeatedly.

McHenry let Republicans down by Dennis A. Benfield

In two years as de facto party “leader” in the district, McHenry made many promises to Republican groups to “lead the ticket” this fall. Instead, the landscape is littered with defeated Republicans across several counties, and the young congressman was all bluster. He “meddled” a lot more than he “campaigned....”

...He’s lied, apparently often (remember “McHenry Real Estate”? No phone, no employees, etc.).
He’s taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from individuals and corporations who shouldn’t be concerned about the 10th District (sugar refiners, cigarette makers, Tom DeLay). According to Federal Election Commission reports bearing his signature, his “personal net worth” now is “more than $301,000 and less than $1.2 million.”

Three years ago, he had next to nothing. McHenry Real Estate, by the way, lists “zero assets” and “zero liabilities”—which means, it exists in name only.

He’s done the dirty work for Washington’s powerful GOP leaders, but now, he’s under the Mark Foley investigational umbrella into inappropriate contact with congressional pages. There are legal questions, too, about his relationship with at least one man who votes in Gaston County, but attends college and has a driver’s license in another state.

http://www.northcarolinaconservative.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1165265545&archive=&start_f...

It is ironic that the most right wing, anti gay republican congressman in our state is being "outed" by a conservative paper/website.

Dems are being given a golden opportunity.
By 2008, conservative support for McHenry will be slim to none.

video would be great on You Tube

and who cares if the NC Conserv gets some geography wrong.

They will keep after him like crazy over the next two years like they did Charles Taylor.

Taylor had his attorney send them a letter telling them to stop.

: O

If someone had photos or video,they would be a real deal breaker.

Sam.....

I don't think they're talking about coattails. I think McHenry had promised to help campaign with/for some folks and either he didn't or he wasn't very effective. I heard something else about this and now can't remember where I heard it.

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.



***************************
Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.

Thanks for backing me up, anonymous stranger!

You do agree, also, that we could destroy McHenry in a Senate race, no?

I always wanted to be the avenging cowboy hero—that lone voice in the wilderness, fighting corruption and evil wherever I found it, and standing for freedom, truth and justice. - Bill Hicks

This is where we should run...

a ferocious beast of a Democrat. Someone who can spew fire and brimstone on why the Democratic Party is better than the Republican Party. Give voters a man or woman with a backbone, who isn't cowing to the religious right, but is standing up calling them out for their transgressions.

Backbone will excite the base and win more converts than a DINO in such an election.

I know that every good and excellent thing in the world stands moment by moment on the razor-edge of danger and must be fought for. ~ Thornton Wilder

Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me

agree but disagree

I think a whole slew of fire and brimstone, loud, agressive, extremely progressive candidates across the ticket could do some good. But one true blue candidate running alone in the 10th is just wasting their time. Its about taking back the assumptions that everyone operates under. I think people would be shocked at how conservative people are in areas where Democrats havent been doing any of the talking on a local level.

HelpLarry.com

"Keep the Faith"

What local pols would do well challenging him.

This is another seat where someone like Heath Shuler could win, a moderate Dem, NOT CONSERVATIVE, as the traditional media would have you believe, but moderate. Or, look at Larry, he showed up at the NRA meeting and it was grins and greetings all around by people he knew and who knew him. Someone "local".

I know that every good and excellent thing in the world stands moment by moment on the razor-edge of danger and must be fought for. ~ Thornton Wilder

Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me

Patrick Hairdresser is from Moore County and he is a Republican

will be the designated Republican pit bull in the next Congress. Whitmire's report highlights McHenry's past role as the sharp point of the spear in attacking Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia*GP

More like a pet monkey in the House. His warrior like cultural spear is out in the open and he is history in 08. Do you really believe that little Patrick pre-gay hair is cheap dye that went south in the closet of Republican politics?

whats the deal r/e GOP Hair?

What is up with the bad hairstyles the GOP are known for sporting?

Agh.

McHenry seems to be emulating Bill Frist with this painted on helmet head type hair.

I would rather see a flat top hair style
(the tester look) than these creepy outdated glued on looks many GOP sport.

What are they hiding under it?

The homophobic nature of the GOP seems to signify a inner struggle against their nature. :}

requires a few things

#1 another nasty and expensive primary battle. which might not happen
#2 a huge chunk of change
#3 a candidate that can shake hands 24/7 for a year at least

i agree that McHenry could lose. But this isnt a netroots district/fight.

HelpLarry.com

"Keep the Faith"

Shaking hands

How about a candidate who can shake hands 24/7 from January 2007 through November 2008? How many of 250,000-300,000 hands does one have to shake to win?

50 states, 210 media market, 435 Congressional Districts, 3080 counties, 192,480 precincts

50 states, 210 media market, 435 Congressional Districts, 3080 counties, 192,480 precincts

Conservatism in NC-10

I don't think that US Senator Sam Ervin's old home turf is quite the conservative bastion that will permit McHenry unlimited room to move to the right, as he seems to be doing. In 2008, we do not need to pass on this race. We need a strong candidate who can appeal to the people of this district with a lot of the same kitchen table issues Sam Ervin used.

If McHenry does have hidden issues, all the more reason to get a strong candidate who can put on the pressure on policy and be available for voters to vote for if McHenry self-destructs.

50 states, 210 media market, 435 Congressional Districts, 3080 counties, 192,480 precincts

50 states, 210 media market, 435 Congressional Districts, 3080 counties, 192,480 precincts