North Carolina

Sigh. This report is sitting right out in the public domain, and in light of some really nasty (and now relevant) comments by a member of Cal Cunningham's team at the Blend yesterday in the Jim Neal endorsement thread, people need to see the truth.

The inalienable rights of man may not be a zero-sum game, but lately it seems like the more rights we citizens have to share with corporations, the more they have and the less we keep. A recent report by the National Institute on Money in State Politics highlights the increased threat that campaign donations pose to our democracy, exacerbated by the supreme court's recent decision that the amendment protecting freedom of speech and press also extends to unlimited, anonymous campaign contributions. Specifically, the report throws into sharp relief the difference between the viability of candidates running behind just a platform and those running behind a platform and the mighty bulwark of fund raising and incumbency.

I don't usually get involved in Democratic primary contests, but this race was too important to stay on the sidelines. In North Carolina we have three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination, but one stands out above the rest. That candidate is Ken Lewis.

I know what it takes to defeat an incumbent. I have seen Ken's ability to connect with young voters, progressives, and African Americans, the same groups that drove Barack Obama to victory in North Carolina in 2008. In an off year election where Democrats are not showing high levels of engagement, Ken is the best candidate to inspire and turn out the coalition of voters that will be necessary to defeat Senator Burr in November.

Your help will ensure Democrats put forward the best candidate to defeat Richard Burr.

Despite the well, unfortunate communications situation with the Cal Cunningham campaign last week, I've continued to be in touch with others in the campaign to get him to participate in a liveblog.

Naturally, because of the time lost earlier due to the lack of response from the campaign the liveblog will occur after my endorsement tomorrow. It will be on Sunday, April 25 at 7PM. The reason for this extraordinary measure is that if Cal were to prevail in the primary, it's essential that he be on the record and openly engage Blend readers about his positions on LGBT issues, and willing to explain the difficulties that made his campaign stumble in addressing the matter earlier. That's what LGBT North Carolinians -- and those around the country -- need to know.

I do believe that good politicians can learn from mistakes -- it was clearly a tough message for his campaign to swallow that many in our community are no longer willing to be engaged in the closet.

My Fellow North Carolinians,

This is former Congresswoman Eva Clayton. With the May 4 election approaching people have been wondering where I stand. I'm writing today to tell you that I'm standing with Ken Lewis.

Yesterday, the Institute for Southern Studies released a report showing how the economic crisis could spell trouble for the 2010 Census count, looking at the example of recession-rocked North Carolina.

You can read the full report here, and check out news coverage of the study here, here and here.

Congratulations Duke! Now it's time to take on the 53 western counties of Virginia.

I feel a chill running down my spine as I open yet another envelope. I know that folded within is another medical bill I won’t be able to pay. The healthcare reform bill that was signed into law this week and praised by Cal Cunningham has the potential to change my life. My story isn’t really all that different from the stories of millions of other Americans who have played battle royale with health insurance companies. But I feel like my story needs telling, if only to provide a comforting nod of solidarity to others in similar circumstances.

It was great to see over 500 supporters turn out for Cal’s hometown campaign kick-off event in Lexington last night. It felt like a big family gathering, and Cal even led folks in singing Happy Birthday to a member of his staff. He spoke directly with the community that helped to raise him and reiterated his commitment to work on their behalf in the U.S. Senate for a prosperous economy, better schools, and a restoration of American values abroad.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is in the process of overhauling the curriculum for North Carolina Public Schools. The DPI has asked for feedback on the proposed curriculum through February 15, 2010. I reviewed the proposed curriculum. There is a glaring problem with the proposed history instruction in North Carolina high schools. The proposed curriculum eliminates the teaching of United States history prior to 1877 in North Carolina public schools. A few pre-1877 concepts are covered in other parts of the curriculum, but the proposed curriculum would not teach children:

Who came to the Americas and why
The states were once colonies of England
We fought a war to free ourselves from an imperial crown
We had a lot of discussion of how people in a democracy best rule themselves, culminating in the Constitution.
Western Expansion
Death and Displacement of Native Americans
Wars of U.S. Territorial Expansion
Slavery
Civil War
Reconstruction