Harry Taylor for Congress: Power to the People!

Harry Taylor’s campaign for Congress in North Carolina’s 9th district is a genuine grass roots campaign. He’s running against well funded, 7 term incumbent Republican Sue Myrick with a campaign that’s short on everything but a great candidate, lots of enthusiasm, good policies and a real alternative to the way people in Washington think and act. Harry Taylor is a real public servant in a way that I didn’t think was possible anymore.

An opinion column in The Charlotte Observer on October 11 by Mary Newsom, “Something Profound Is Happening”, states that there is a fire blazing that began several years ago.

But the kindling was glowing as early as April 6, 2006. That day in Charlotte, a gray-haired real estate broker named Harry Taylor, attending a speech by President Bush to an applauding audience, stood and said into a microphone:

“In my lifetime I have never felt more ashamed of, nor more frightened, by my leadership in Washington, including the presidency. And I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and the grace to be ashamed of yourself. I also want to say I really appreciate the courtesy of allowing me to speak.”

Many in the audience booed. Letters to the editor in the Observer flayed Taylor as “embarrassing,” “boorish,” and “wimpy.”

But that day in 2006, some subtle shift was already occurring in the political atmosphere, and Taylor's remarks were the fluttering of a butterfly's wings. His words rippled around the globe. He was interviewed on national TV and deluged with approving calls and e-mails. Seven months later, the Democrats captured Congress.

While it may be a stretch to give Harry credit for the Democrats gaining control of Congress in 2006, his willingness to confront the President in what was supposed to be a ‘safe’ environment for Bush, helped to expose the President’s political vulnerability. Newsom characterized Harry with these words,

He comes off as smart, passionate – bordering on, though not tipping into, zealotry – but politically naïve in a Jimmy Stewartish way. Asked what he'd do if he won and an issue arose where he thought one thing but knew most in his district disagreed, he said, “I'd follow my heart.”

I swear to you, he sounded sincere.

It’s hard to call Harry Taylor a politician because he’s a politician with principles. We need more like him and hopefully on November 4, the voters in North Carolina’s 9th district will agree.

While Mary Newsom didn’t go so far as to give Harry Taylor her endorsement, I think her article is actually better than an endorsement. She finishes with this,

Harry Taylor got mad. Finally he got so mad he stepped out of his quiet, nonpolitical life and lit a small match.

Today, a fire is burning.

Originally posted at Marc's Musing