Carolina Politics Online

A petty partisan bickering heads up for you.

ROCK HILL — York County Republicans are calling on local Democrats to cancel plans for a barbecue dinner and campaign rally on Sept. 11, saying the timing is inappropriate.

The day should be reserved for remembering terror attack victims and troops who died in Iraq and Afghanistan, GOP Chairman Glenn McCall said Tuesday.

“September 11 is not a day for partisan political rallies,” McCall said. “It’s a time for us to look beyond what divides us and come together to remember those who lost their lives.”

The Herald

You know, I’m just not buying into the “outrage” here.

“If Republicans aren’t capable of campaigning or holding a political rally on 9-11 that allows their candidates to reach out to the voters while at the same time being respectful towards that date’s meaning in our history, that’s their problem,” McCrae said. “We, as Democrats, are more than capable of doing so.”

And I completely agree with McCrae.  I don’t know why we’re even still having a reading of the names ceremony in New York.  It’s been nine years people.  Move on, already!  How long is September 11th supposed to be off limits?  What is the statute of limitations on feigned outrage over 9-11 political activities?  Is Pearl Harbor Day off limits too?  What about D Day?  Would it be wrong to have a political gathering on the day the first shot was fired in the War of 1812?

This is nothing more than a petty pot shot.  Nobody is outraged and nobody cares except the Republican political class trying to squeeze some PR points out of a weightless issue.

Former state Sen. Patrick Ballantine has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, listing assets of $819,937 and liabilities of $6.2 million, according to court records. Under Chapter 7, assets are liquidated to pay creditors.

Star News

No, I am not back from vacation. I’m still in Boston, but I’m breaking my pledge to myself not to post while I’m away because, well, this was just too good to pass up.

As they fight for control of the General Assembly, the N.C. Republican Party has seen its fundraising nearly double since 2008, while the Democratic Party has raised less than half of what it had two years ago.

Democratic legislative leaders, however, still have bigger war chests than their GOP counterparts, according to new reports filed this week with the state elections board.

Second-quarter reports show that GOP fundraising for state races this election cycle is up 75percent from July 2008, while the Democratic Party’s has fallen 62percent.

Analysts say Republicans could make record legislative gains. The GOP is contesting every Senate seat and hopes to win control of that body for the first time in more than a century.

The Charlotte Observer

They have a real shot at it this year.  The Republicans need only to win six Senate seats to take over the chamber and with several Democratic retirements in key districts, they may very well pull it off.

The higher fund raising success is of little surprise.  The GOP and the Democrats have practically traded positions since 2008.  The momentum this year is behind the Republicans as people have awoken to what an Obama nation is really all about and they aren’t liking it.

I don’t know if the GOP will manage to take the state house or senate, but they’re going to come close and undoubtedly make gains in North Carolina as the national party will all over the country.

In lieu of an official budget, John Spratt last week introduced a budget enforcement resolution, eluding any details as to how exactly record deficits will be reduced. The reason for this is obvious. The Democratic Congress is attempting to pull one over on the American people. They caught hell for their $1.5 trillion deficit last year and in an election year they don’t want to be forced to vote on another budget with a similar deficit.

The enforcement resolution is being used because rank-and-file Democrats did not want to vote for a budget resolution that would show large deficits, particularly in an election year marked by worries about the nation’s fiscal solvency.

The measure, written by House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.), calls for a budget by 2015 that would be balanced except for debt interest payments. This mirrors a goal already set out by Obama.

Spratt’s measure doesn’t say what policies Congress should enact to reach that out-year goal, something past budget resolutions have done. Instead, it relies on the White House fiscal commission, a bipartisan panel looking at tax, spending and entitlement policies, to come up with a plan to halve the projected $1.5 trillion 2010 deficit by 2015.

The Hill

Spratt has failed in his duty as our elected representative here in the Fifth District and as the Congress’s Budget chairman. The NRCC has called Spratt out on his dishonesty and deception.

Voters in North Carolina have become more independent over the past decade.

Those who are registered as unaffiliated represent almost one-fourth of the state’s 6.1 million registered voters. In 2000, only 15 percent of voters didn’t belong to a political party.

The analysis is by Democracy North Carolina, a nonprofit organization based in Durham.

Its study showed the number of voters choosing to register as unaffiliated rose 83 percent over the last decade. Registration rolls for Democrats rose 11 percent, and for Republicans 16 percent.

Democracy North Carolina analyzed data from the state Board of Elections and the State Data Center.

The Fayetteville Observer

Of course, electorally it hasn’t made any difference.  More people may be registering independent, but they are clearly still voting for either the Republicans or the Democrats since no independent or third party candidates have won any state or Federal elections.  The rise in independent registration would suggest people are becoming weary with the two major parties, but their actions at the voting booth show they still think they have to choose the lesser of two evils.  What is the point of registering as an independent voter if you aren’t going to be an independent voter?

Speaking from Afghanistan, GOP Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina lambasted Michael Steele for the comments, which McCain called “wildly inaccurate” and Graham characterized as “uninformed, unnecessary, unwise, untimely,” while follow Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina said Steele should apologize to the military.

Both McCain and Graham questioned Steele’s ability to keep his job, but said it was up to Steele and the RNC to make that decision.

“I think that Mr. Steele is going to have to assess whether he can still lead the Republican Party as chairman of the Republican National Committee,” McCain said on the ABC program “This Week.” Graham said in a separate interview on the CBS program “Face the Nation” that Steele’s comments did not represent mainstream GOP thinking.

“It’s not the Republican Party’s position, my Republican Party’s position,” Graham said.

At the same time, Graham joked that “the good news is Michael Steele is backtracking so fast he’s going to be in Kabul fighting here pretty soon.”

DeMint, in an interview on “FOX News Sunday,” called Steele’s comments unacceptable.

Steele “needs to apologize to our military, all the men and women who’ve been fighting in Afghanistan,” DeMint said, adding: “This is a war we can win and we must win.”

CNN

If you haven’t seen the video yet, here it is. Steele was speaking at a fund raiser in Connecticut and while there referred to the war in Afghanistan as a “war of Obama’s choosing” and suggested that it is not winnable.

I think anyone with an ounce of common sense agrees that claiming that Afghanistan was Obama’s war of choice is utterly asinine. Being that this is one of many gaffes Steele has made since his election as RNC Chairman, several prominent Republicans are calling for his resignation, though DeMint and Graham have stopped short of that. Steele has since backtracked on his remarks. He is becoming the Republicans’ Joe Biden.

I don’t believe Afghanistan was a war of choice, but I don’t find it unacceptable to question exactly how effective we are being over there these days. We’re going on nine years now that we’ve been spending billions of dollars and losing American lives trying to stabilize that country. I am certainly no military strategist, but is nine years not enough to form a stable government and an effective law enforcement for the Afghan people to keep the Taliban and other terrorists at bay without so much investment from us?

So up on my side of Pedro’s South of the Border, there are only three races that really matter: U.S. Senate, U.S. House 8, and U.S. House 13. Here are my predictions of who I think will win, and who I think should win.

U.S. Senate- Democrat
That Old Lady vs. Whats-his-Face

Yes, it’s the epic battle of the century- some old lady versus some guy from somewhere who used to be a state senator at some point. This thing is so intense I’ll be happy when it’s over so I can catch my breath.

OK, end sarcasm. If I wasn’t a political nerd, I would have no idea there was even an election tomorrow. This race has been almost non-existent. It’s a statewide primary for a U.S. Senate seat that’s actually winnable, and no one seems to give two rat turds about it. I haven’t even seen a poll on this race, have you?

So who will win? Oh… I’ll go with the Old Lady. She’s run statewide since 1996 and has an entrenched base of support as a result. Run-offs are all about turnout, and I think she’s got the manpower to get her supporters out there. Cunningham is too much of an unknown without a lot of statewide experience. Old Lady- 56%, Whats-his-Face- 44%

Who should win? I could care less.

U.S. House 13th District- Republican
Bill Randall vs. Bernie Reeves

This race has gotten just as nasty and low as the more publicized 8th District run-off. Reeves accused Randall of using viagra on his military record. Randall insinuated that maybe there’s “collusion” between the government and BP. Reeves has more money and establishment support. Randall is the Tea Party candidate and I’ve seen a lot of his supporters out there working for him. Either one faces a huge, huge hurdle against Brad Miller this fall, but I think either one can beat Miller with a good mixture of luck and skill.

Who will win? I’ll take the Navy guy with infantry support. In a turnout game, I’d rather have the committed volunteers that Randall has over Reeves’ ability to shit money. In the first election, a lot of that local support was split between Randall and 3rd place finisher Dan Huffman. I think Randall picks up most of Huffman’s support and wins. Randall- 54%, Reeves-46%.

Who should win? Really, I kinda liked Huffman. Oh well. Of the two of them, I like Randall more because, a) he answers our questionnaires; b) he’s a good guy; and c) he actually shows up to campaign instead of trying to buy votes. I’ve heard bad things about how Reeves acts, and he’s slung mud at Randall. So we here at CPO like Bill and wish him luck tomorrow.

U.S. House 13th District- Republican
Tim D’Annunzio vs. Harold Johnson

Ho boy…   this one sure has been interesting, hasn’t it? I suppose there isn’t much more to say that hasn’t already been said in court documents and on previous posts here on CPO, so let’s get on with the predictions.

Who will win: Johnson. Sorry Timmy D., but money can’t buy everything. I do think Timmy D’s supporters, who are rabidly loyal, will make this interesting though. Johnson 60%. D’Annunzio 40%.

Who Should Win: D’Annunzio. Yup. You read that right. I think D’Annunzio shuld win. Why? Well… he really wants it. That counts for something. And I think it would be great to throw a firecracker right at Tom Fetzer’s and the RNC’s faces. Hey knuckleheads… you wanna  stick your nose in someone else’s primary, don’t be surprised if you come back with no more nose. I know all the problems with D’Annunzio, but I’ll take him over the GOP establishment that has stepped in their own shit for two years in regards to this race. They deserve to have D’Annunzio foisted upon them as punishment.

But Celtic, then Larry Kissell will win. Yeah, he probably will. But what happens if Johnson wins the primary? I think Johnson will beat Kissell. And no, I’m actually not happy about that. Johnson is a RINO. All he’ll be is a GOP “yes” man for 4-6 years. And when he decides to step down, the GOP establishment will pick another RINO, maybe L’il Prince Chucklehead, to replace him. But if Kissell stays in another term, maybe there’s a chance to get a real conservative in there in 2012.

And Johnson is a carpetbagger. This is an unforgivable sin for me. I lived in N.Y. when that evil bitch moved there in 2000 just to run for the U.S. Senate. I thought it was disgusting then, and I think it’s disgusting now. How is what Harold Johnson did any different? He lived in Iredell County for 30 damn years, but moved to Caburrus just to run for office? Homey don’t play that game, Big Guy.

So there’s my picks. I’ll try to provide real-time updates for you tomorrow night, along with Bane’s S.C. analysis.

Republican Cleveland County Sheriff candidate David Morrow has given validity to those immortal words of Edward Bulwer-Lytton, proving that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword.

Former sheriff candidate David Morrow was indicted for felony assault on a legislator and misdemeanor assault on a female, according to the Cleveland County Clerk’s Office.

Witnesses say Morrow, who recently lost the Republican nomination for Cleveland County Sheriff, threw a dozen or more ink pens at N.C. Sen. Debbie Clary on May 10 as a guest from Raleigh spoke from the commissioners’ chambers.

Two of the pens “struck her in the face,” according to a Shelby Police report obtained by The Star.

The Star

Every once in while, Bane Windlow and I zero in on a politician we really don’t like and take them to task. Bane’s favorite targets are Paul Lindeman and Jake “The Fat Man” Knotts, both of whom are very deserving of as much wrath as we can direct their way.

I haven’t been as selective. Richard Stevens and “Fatty” Fletcher Hartsell stuck out as pretty damn pro-government when I did “Dead Republican Walking” during the last session of the N.C. General Assembly. But I didn’t really concentrate on them so much as RINOs and government-lovers in general.

Well, that’s gonna change. I now have a new target- a new object of my affliction, if you will. And ohhhh… what a juicy, fun-to-pick-apart object this little runt is going to be.

And I will pick him apart. If I have to spend my own money to go to Stanly County and look up everything this self-important little twerp has ever done or forgotten he has done, I will. And I will post it here.

Hello St. Rep. Justin Burr (R-Albemarle)- you and I are about to become very, very close, because I have decided to take a special, personal interest in your political career.

L'il Prince Chucklehead

Burr (no relation to the senator) is just 25 years old, or old enough to think he knows everything despite knowing very little. He has been in the legislature since 2009. He defeated an appointed Republican incumbent in the 2008 primary. Funny enough, Bane Windlow actually endorsed Burr back then, but that’s OK. Burr campaigned as a strong conservative and a fresh young face, despite the fact that he was actually a scrawny statist douche who has since let his true colors shine through.

So, why the playa-hatin’? Read on.

Continue Reading »

If PPP’s poll is accurate, then Haley is looking very good heading into tomorrow’s primary election.

And once again your intrepid N.C. correspondent will be there, reporting on all the happenings going on behind closed doors that they don’t want you to know about.

Actually… no I won’t. Oh, I’ll be there. But what goes on behind closed doors usually stays there, unfortunately. But if I pick up any scuttlebutt I’ll be sure to post it. I’m already hearing A LOT of grumbling against Tom Fetzer. Fetzer has, quite clearly, violated party rules by taking sides in a primary. It was also politically stupid of him- all he did was enhance Tim’s “us vs. them” story line. Fetzer is also taking some heat for paying himself a lot of money while state house and senate candidates are starving for funds.

But hey, it’s not like anyone told you to vote for someone else or anything…

If anyone else is attending, I’d like to hear your thoughts on the proceedings; post  ‘em below, and I’ll see you there.

[UPDATE] Day 1 has come and gone, and absolutely nothing of interest has happened. Tomorrow should be interesting, though. I hear on good authority that a resolution condemning the smoking ban will be introduced on the floor. We’ll see how that one turns out. There will be other resolutions, boring speeches, and maybe something interesting. Maybe.

Oh, and our commenter Milko will be pleased to know that there is a nudie bar across the street from the convention center and right next to the hotel! Oh, I’d LOVE to see what might come of this!

[UPDATE 2] And once again I keep wondering why I waste my time on these things. Yeah, yeah… I’m a glutton for punishment. Anyways, Day 2 revolved around kissing Richard Burr’s ass. Funny, considering that he’s been a mediocre senator and a weak conservative. If they wanted to accomplish anything, and wanted to help him win in Novemeber, they should have kicked his ass all day instead.

Then we proceeded into the most boring thing ever: three hours of preening peacocks fully enjoying their time at the microphone. I nodded off a couple times, so I don’t really know what happened, but I’m sure it was totally useless and changed nothing.

Resolutions, one of the few interesting things during these conventions, was ruined again by the dais-dwelling establishment. Resolutions are always fun because we have real debates about philosophy. Or… we should. We don’t, actually, becasuse the resolutions committee is a tool for Tom Fetzer & Co., and they don’t like controversial resolutions being introduced. So instead we had to spend 2 hours talking about… Iran and how awesome Richard Burr is. There were a few others, but I don’t even remember them.

Meanwhile, some activisits tried to bring up some real resolutions that actually mattered, but the convention was conviniently adjourend before they had a chance to do so. Among those resolutions were a criticism of the smoking ban and a pro-gun statement.

The final big event of the convention was a dinner featuring Herman Cain. I didn’t go, but I’m told it went well.

Now it’s time to head back. I’m so glad I wasted an entire weekend and some of my money to do this. Don’t you wish you did too?

“We vehemently oppose these comments and are taking this opportunity to distinguish the Lexington County Republican Party policies from Senator Knotts’ comments,” read a statement the party released Saturday. “We are a party that disregards cultural, ethnic, racial and other superficial distinctions and instead focus on the ideas, philosophies and character of the people running for office and participating in the process.”

The State

If they really want to express their condemnation they’ll not back him for reelection.  As a matter of fact, they can get behind Katrina Shealy.  She has declared today that she will make another primary challenge to the Fat Man in 2012.

If Lindsey Graham were up for reelection to the U.S. Senate this year, he’d be riding down a rocky road. According to the poll taken by Public Policy Polling, Graham would be in line to follow the same fate as his colleagues, Senators Bob Bennett (R-UT) and Arlen Specter (D-PA) who were both defeated in their state’s primaries within the past month. Only 40% of likely Republican primary voters in South Carolina approve of Graham’s job performance, while 45% disapprove. 64% of conservative Republicans and 18% of moderates think Graham is too liberal.

Gee, can’t imagine why. Maybe it’s his unabashed support of Cap and Fraud and his dedication to amnesty for illegal immigrants? The only real mystery here is where in the hell all of these disenfranchised Republicans were two years ago when Graham was actually up for reelection.

The Mitchell Law group which represents 8th District Republican Congressional candidate Tim D’Annunzio has sent a letter to North Carolina GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer telling him to retract his statements regarding D’Annunzio or face a possible $5 million libel lawsuit.  Below is the letter which was posted on ConservativeNC.

Dear Mr. Fetzer:

As you may know, this firm serves as counsel and represents Mr. Tim D’Annunzio.

Mr. D’Annunzio is deeply saddened by and concerned about the recent defamatory statements and allegations you have made including the assertion that Mr. D’Annunzio is “unfit for public office.” He demands retraction.

Certainly, you and Mr. D’Annunzio have had differences. Mr. D’Annunzio has opined that you have, as the Chairman of the North Carolina Republican party, (1) sought to control him and to compel him to act as you direct, and (2) been angered and upset by Mr. D’Annunzio’s independence, affiliation with “Tea Party” voters, and his unwillingness to be required to submit to you and others in your “political oligarchy,” which he believes will do nothing more than maintain the status quo within the Republican party and compromise the conservative values he holds.

Now, Mr. D’Annunzio believes that you have unfairly personally attacked and assailed him and improperly and inequitably used your power and position in an effort to harm him by making deliberately, intentionally, and maliciously disparaging comments concerning him.

Mr. D’Annunzio is considering filing a civil law suit against you in which he would seek damages in excess of five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) caused by your comments, which resulted in matters from his youth and allegations from a divorce which occurred fifteen years ago being used to impugn Mr. D’Annunzio and to hold him up to ridicule, harming him in his campaign, his business and professional life, and causing great pain and anguish to his family.

As you know, Mr. D’Annunzio maintains his commitment to fundamental constitutional values. Yet, he also maintains that the utterances and publications that you have made individually and in confederation with others are not entitled to constitutional protection. As the North Carolina Courts have said:

At the time the First Amendment was adopted, as today, there were those unscrupulous enough and skillful enough to use the deliberate or reckless falsehood as an effective political tool . . . . That speech is used as a tool for political ends does not automatically bring it under the protective mantle of the Constitution. For the use of the known lie as a tool is at once at odds with the premises of democratic government and with the orderly manner in which economic, social, or political change is to be effected. Calculated falsehood falls into that class of utterances which are no essential part of any exposition of ideas, and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit that may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the social interest in order and morality.

Your statements, asserting that Mr. D’Annunzio has not overcome his mistakes, that there is no healing or redemption for those who erred more than 15 years ago in a divorce situation, and that the errors that he made as a juvenile, continue so as presently and always to “disqualify him… from serving [in any] elected office,” are false. This falsity and the structure and form of the statements are such as to cause a hearer or observer of those words to believe erroneously that Mr. D’Annunzio has not overcome, as he has, those difficulties of his past, and that he is not putting the past behind him, learning from it, and moving forward — looking to move this state, this district, and this nation forward, overcoming its own adversities.

In an effort to apply those principles of learning, healing, and overcoming and to move forward, Mr. D’Annunzio is willing to resolve this matter in much the same way as you resolved a civil matter in which you believed you were unfairly cast in a negative light. That is, Mr. D’Annunzio is willing to waive his right to sue, provided that you retract your negative declarations, you issue a letter of apology, and you agree to resolve this matter in a civilized and proper manner.

We will expect your response no later than June 7, 2010. In any event, please accept this notice and demand that retraction is sought.

Sincerely,

The Mitchell Law Group

CONCORD — On Monday, Republican congressional candidate Tim D’Annunzio fired back at GOP leaders who’ve spoken out against his controversial campaign, demanding that the chairman of the North Carolina GOP step down.

“Chairman Fetzer broke the Plan of Organization of the Republican Party by speaking against my candidacy,” he said. “I am officially calling for Chairman Fetzer to step down. He should resign the position.”

Charlotte Observer

D’Annunzio’s position isn’t really off base here.  As I mentioned in my post last night regarding the North Carolina GOP attempting to use allegations from D’Annunzio’s past to paint him as being insane, the Republican leadership may very well be cannibalizing their own.  If D’Annunzio wins the run off then Tom Fetzer has given Larry Kissell all of the ammunition he needs to be reelected and keep the seat in Democratic hands.  Isn’t it incumbent on Fetzer to do what he can to take the seat back for his party?  Undoubtedly, he believes that’s what he’s doing, but it’s quite a gamble.  D’Annunzio has the tea party backing and they’ve been having some success around the country.

“The allegations are unsubstantiated and come from second-hand sources,” D’Annunzio said. “The information printed in yesterday’s newspaper was fed to journalists by certain individuals who are afraid of independent, rugged individualists, like me, who refuse to bow down to those who hold the power and want control for themselves, because they’re more concerned with getting someone elected who will put their version of political party over the people.”

D’Annunzio has admitted to several personal failings in his blog, “Christ’s War,” including using drugs, and being arrested as a teenager and as an adult.

He focuses on his redemption now, he said. “Repentance means you turn around and go a different way.”

That’s another good point.  The accusations made against D’Annunzio by his ex-wife during their divorce proceedings were 15 years ago.  D’Annunzio has admitted to having some problems in his past, but assuming that it is all in the past does not the man then deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt?  The Republican Party is still controlled by the Christian right and isn’t forgiveness the Christian thing to do?  If D’Annunzio just went out two weeks ago and claimed to have discovered the Ark of the Convenent in Arizona then I’d say that’s fair game for his opponents to bring up, but to dredge up alleged statements from 15 years ago that really aren’t relevant to the campaign chalks up to dirty politics in my book.  I’m not on anybody’s side in this race, just playing devil’s advocate here and exposing some possible hypocrisy on behalf of the party apparatus.

All of this is indicative of why I don’t like the party establishment getting involved in primaries.  The tea party folks called Justin Thibault, the Cabarrus County Republican Chairman, a coward for remaining impartial on this.  I disagree.  He’s doing the right thing.  Let the people make their decision at the voting booth.  When the people nominate who they want next month, then the party should step in and provide their support.  The question is, if D’Annunzio wins how can the GOP and his campaign come together after being fractured wider than the Grand Canyon?

The North Carolina Republican Party is not pleased with the outcome of the 8th District primary and are throwing everything including the kitchen sink at Tim D’Annunzio in the hopes of derailing his Congressional bid in the upcoming run off election between he and Republican Harold Johnson.

“Mr. D’Annunzio has disqualified himself by his background, his record and his behavior,” said Tom Fetzer, North Carolina’s Republican Party chairman. He said the GOP embraces the tea party but doesn’t believe a person with such a checkered past should be the party’s nominee.

In Hoke County divorce records, his wife said in 1995 that D’Annunzio had claimed to be the Messiah, had traveled to New Jersey to raise his stepfather from the dead, believed God would drop a 1,000-mile high pyramid as the New Jerusalem on Greenland and found the Ark of the Covenant in Arizona. A doctor’s evaluation the following month said D’Annunzio used marijuana almost daily, had been living with another woman for several months, had once been in drug treatment for heroin dependence and was jailed a couple times as a teenager.

The AP

Oh my….

I’m guessing this was quite a bitter divorce and it’s possible that things were said that nobody really meant.  Or hell, maybe it was just the drugs.  One thing I do know, Fetzer had better hope that his tactic works for the sake of his party, because if D’Annunzio does win the run off, this outing of his alleged past is going to back fire on the GOP in a very ugly way.  Kissell will use all of this ammunition in the general election and will secure himself a second term.  In fact, Kissell has got to be loving every minute of this.  I’m rather enjoying it all myself.  I can say that of all the political chaos that has broken out this past week around the country, Rand Paul, Nikki Haley, etc., this is certainly the most bizarre.

The National Republican Congressional Committee issued a statement Monday saying Rep. John Spratt of South Carolina, who was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, is losing his memory.

The statement calls the 67-year-old House Budget Committee chairman “Amnesiac John Spratt” and contained six bold-lettered allegations that he’s forgetting what’s happening in Washington.

“After 28 years in Washington, John Spratt’s memory is failing him,” it began. He “can’t even recall what Obamacare does … Now – worst of all – it seems he’s completely forgotten who he works for.”

The Herald

Not the brightest move by the NRCC, but I also think that the AP is making a lot of hay out of nothing.  While Parkinson’s Disease is certainly debilitating, it doesn’t cause memory loss.  If the man was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, then Andy Sere would probably have a lot more egg on his face.  In fact, in that scenario they should probably be thrown at him.

As rationale for the criticism, Sere noted a recent comment from Spratt that it is sometimes difficult to remember which provisions were in the different versions of the massive health care bill.

And I’m sure that’s all it was.  Mick Mulvaney who is running against Spratt in the general election has not made an issue out of Spratt’s health stating that it shouldn’t be a factor, but I disagree.  I think the health of a political candidate is fair game.  If I am going to elect someone to represent me in the government I want to make sure they’re physically capable of doing so.  The issue can certainly be brought up without being nasty or mean spirited.

The NCGOP is playing this radio ad across the state in honor of the reconvening of the General Assembly on Wednesday.

Eh… not bad. Kinda clever.