NC-5: Sen. Virginia Foxx Is NOT the Answer

The Clemmons Courier | Dwight Sparks

[RepublicanLady]

While I think her heart may be in the right place, I still don't believe that Senator Foxx is the answer for the 5th District of North Carolina. She has taken $ from liberal associations and doesn't live in the epicenter of this district (Winston-Salem surrounding area). Robinson's criticism of her is accurate. As I stated on a prior post, there's a candidate with legislative/past political experience in this race outside of Foxx and Robinson--Ed Powell. He has the resume second to none in this race. I have seen him speak and have read about him in a Davie Enterprise-Record article and he is a Davie County native that is right for the job. Senator Foxx may mean well, but she is merely banking on the fact that she has represented a large area of the district to get her elected. I also believe that Ed "Bankrupt" Broyhill's entrance into this race will significantly hurt her support in the western areas. This is not a State Senator race, it's for a much higher position. Senator Foxx is doing just fine as a State Senator--she should remain there as one.

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[alancarp]

Okay, I got dibs since I'm in this district: "paragraphs are our friends."

That was in the Courier?? Gee, the most political that pamphlet usually gets is in discussions about Village Council meetings!

I just love how everybody in this race are trying to be the ________ Jesse Helms (multiple choice answer, fill in the blank with your favorite adjective -- it's like Mad Libs). At least you've got about five candidates trying to "out conservative" each other.

Even Jay Helvey is peppering the local Rush Show radio spots with "And now a conservative minute, with Jay Helvey." And he's the carpetbagger liberal by comparison (the northern Jesse Helms?).

[TaxRelief]

Paragraphs are our friends. < P >

[Axeslinger]

I would highly recommend all of us Freepers who live in NC-5 check this out:

www.nathantabor.com

[TaxRelief]

There is one proven conservative in the race: Vernon Robinson.

And Vernon is the one who has demonstrated that you can get elected on a conservative platform in a district full of democrats; The others would be insane not to copy his campaign platform.

He rocognizes that their claims of conservatism are diluting his ability to achieve his goals, but what should he do? Call them copycat liars?

I think it's fun to watch them copy every move he makes; at least it indicates who the true leader is.

[JohnnyZ]

When you’re in Congress, like when you’re in the legislature, you have to get along with other people. No one does anything unilaterally. If you are constantly belittling and criticizing other people, then you are not going to be able to accomplish anything for your district and the people you represent

I agree about this part. Vernon is launching grenades at people three feet away from him, and that is not smart; it will affect his chances of drawing support in the primary and in Congress if he's elected.

He needs to wise up his campaign strategy. It's not like he's in a two-person race.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Vernon is the man to support.

[Constitution Day]

¶ bump...

[TaxRelief]

Nice Pic, where'd you find that?

[RepublicanLady]

I'll split it up next time. Although I agree with most of what Vernon says, he is just way too offensive for me.

Being a woman, I can tell you that his brash style and overbearing antics will not catch on with female voters. He may appeal to your everyday staunch conservative, but he DOES NOT possess the ability to get along with others. This is why he should not be supported.

Our delegation could not get along with Robinson.

[alancarp]

Check the link: it's from VR's campaign website!

[alancarp]

A fair point: Vernon tends to deliver delicate messages with a sledgehammer. The campaign (that he lost) in 2002 for state rep. against a woman accused of embezzlement from a bankrupt charter school (I think that's right) is prime such example of a horribly run campaign.

The question is this: who else?

Virginia Foxx - seems to be willing to make any deal to get what she's after (though I can't quantify that any better - it's a feeling/hunch thing). She's gotta prove to me that she'll only do deals with the GOP as a member of the majority. I always wonder about things like abortion and women's issues with women in politics, too. Most are social libs.

Ed Broyhill - shyster; more 'used car dealer' than businessman; liar (campaign ads call him "considered one of America's leading businessmen" when he bankrupted the one major business he had. BTW - he fails to mention that business in his new resume!). Running on Daddy's name and reputation; not fit for office. Neither his corporate office nor any elected office, that is.

Ed Powell - lousy capaigner; Ex-Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and ex-state Representative turned lobbyist. No distinguishing characteristics.

Jay Helvey - a moderate at best; recently moved back to NC, I understand. Annoying fluffy commercials that mean nothing. One positive point: he's not used Helms' name. Negative? I suspect he wouldn't be caught dead doing so.

Nathan Tabor - the "young Jesse Helms" probably will be good, but far too young with zero political experience. Has not answer my littany of questions from a month ago (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-campaign2002/1041062/posts?page=16#16)

Given these options, if I had to vote today, it would have to be Robinson, with Tabor second and Foxx a distant third.

[alancarp]

Having gotten through the article in more detail, I hereby request the opportunity to revise and extend my remarks.

While the words above come from V Foxx in the context of a campaign pitch, I have to admit that there are thing I do like about her:
-- If she is indeed a social conservative as claimed, then that helps a bunch.
-- She DOES have a reputation for getting things done -- not just talking about them.
-- She does represent the district (the WHOLE district) better since she's not from Forsyth county. IMHO, this is still a plus over Ed Powell
-- In the NC Gen Assy, she has had to operate as a minority member, which limited her options. By all accounts, she managed to overcome this and I can't really complain about deals in that kind of environment.
-- I know from radio stints (WSJS) that she's a bit of a budget hawk

I hereby elevate Foxx to #2 on my virtual ballot, with the race (and my actual vite) still up for grabs. Sorry, but Ed Powell doesn't generate any enthusiasm or interest. I believe he gets smothered in this campaign, as there's way too many "names" on the ballot better known than his.

[Dan from Michigan]

What's their views on the 2nd Amendment.

Robinson(who I like the best) stood up for it in the past when it counted. Have any others?

[RepublicanLady]

Ed Powell is a lousy campaigner? Is this just based on money raised??? True, he has not had the kind of fundraising that he needs, but his credentials are unmatched.

Yes, Foxx is a current State Senator, and yes, she is a conservative on budget issues, BUT, she tends to lean whichever way she needs to on social issues just to pass the grade.

Powell lost to Decker in an election that no one in NC could have beaten Decker for State House in '02. He did perform better than anyone else ever has vs the 9-time incumbent turncoat. We all know that with Decker's shady political turns, that he is one hard man to beat. Powell stood up against that even after his district was redrawn heavily into Decker's favor. Just take a look at how many elections Robinson has lost, if this is your argument.

I guess Robinson, IYHO, is a great campaigner b/c he makes news for falsely claiming that the W-S Journal called him "the next Jesse Helms". That was just a clever way to turn the words in Robinson's favor.

Honesty means something to me. Ed Powell is an honest candidate that would know what to do when he lands in DC. Excitement? How can you gauge excitement at this point? I guess you are saying that Vernon raises excitement. He does, but not the kind of excitement that you want. As I said before, ROBINSON WILL NOT FAIR WELL AT ALL WITH WOMEN VOTERS.

Broyhill = sleazebag. Your Daddy may have been great, but here the apple falls far away from the tree.

Tabor = Doubtful. His time may come, but for now, he's just too young, too inexperienced, and will have to have a slew of the religious activists show up for him to have a chance. He'd be better suited to run for State House first.

Foxx = See prior post.

Helvey = Sleazy, carpetbagging, liberal in Republican's clothing.

That's how Ed Powell has gained my support. As a conservative, middleage female, he appeals to me. Hear him speak, read his bio, then tell me that he is not the best qualified.

Powell knows about rural people, too, as he's a Davie County native. That speaks to me and many others outside of Winston-Salem.

[alancarp]

Ed Powell is a lousy campaigner? Is this just based on money raised??? True, he has not had the kind of fundraising that he needs, but his credentials are unmatched.

It's based on his unsuccessful 2002 run with the stupid "Ed Powell says; Ed Powell says" ads that really didn't "say" anything of use at all.

Powell lost his primary race to (Party Jumping) Mike Decker 61% to 39%... and there were only 28 precincts involved. Not exactly a ringing endorsement when heading into a hotly contested Congressional race. He's gonna get steamrolled.

[RepublicanLady]

Glad to hear that you hated the ads. I understand that it was a primary. Please let me know, how many races has Vernon won? I would like #"s as far as how many he's entered and how many he actually won.

I think you'll find that Ed Powell has a higher percentage there. Of course, your % will increase if you run 1,000 times like Vernon has seemed to.

Decker also has a church following of several thousand people. This is well known. That's hard to beat.

[alancarp]

Tabor = Doubtful. His time may come, but for now, he's just too young, too inexperienced, and will have to have a slew of the religious activists show up for him to have a chance. He'd be better suited to run for State House first.

Note for the future: I agree completely, BUT don't short-sell the religious activists bit. I'm one of those (but not for Tabor) who worked for Dr. David Weldon, a military doctor who made his first political run in 1994. He also ran for Congress, and also beat up a "well qualified" field of 6 Republicans in Eastern Florida. He had everything against him -- the media, the experience of the other candidates, and the endorsements of others.

All that and he won anyway due specifically to church support. And he's still in the US House today.

Now: why do I think that won't work here? Tabor's age, and the fact that the churches in this area aren't nearly so political as they are in Brevard County, Fl.

[alancarp]

Point well taken on Decker -- although I'd hate to be his campaign chair this next go-around!

Vernon: can't tell you about the whole history -- he's mostly been a county alderman and I can't get all of his returns. As I say, he ran a lousy campaign in a black district for state house last time out, but they were going DEM if he walked on water. Note that I'm not entirely comfortable with him since I get the impression that This Is All About Vernon and this "Next JC Watts" or "Black Jesse Helms" thing. He'd better settle down or that won't wash.

All that notwithstanding, the one who sells her/himself better is the one who wins. Everybody knows Vernon is running -- can't say that about Powell yet.