Free Republic

The Republican candidate for U.S. House in North Carolina’s 6th district recently suggested that the United States military could use force in Mexico to prevent the flow of foreigners crossing the border with drug cartels. During a GOP runoff forum in June, hosted by a tea party group in Rockingham County, Mark Walker was asked how he would secure the United States’ southern border.

On Sunday, I wrote an article about the GOP's poor messaging on the “war on women” narrative. I posted some comments from Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., who said GOP men need to bring their messages “down to a woman's level.” Ellmers called me a “liberal woman reporter” and said I had taken her quote “completely out of context.” Below are her full comments from the event Friday, along with the audio of her segment. I have bolded the comments I used in my original post. "And we are, I will tell you that definitely at chairing the Republican Women’s Policy...

It’s really frustrating when Republican candidates say really dumb things that allow Democrats to come out sounding down-right sensible. Case in point: Rockingham County prosecutor Phil Berger, Jr., who is locked in a runoff fight with Greensboro pastor Mark Walker for the GOP nomination for North Carolina’s Sixth Congressional District. Berger recently gave Laura Fjeld, a former UNC system employee and the district’s Democrat nominee, a chance to score some points: (SNIP) “We are going to put ourselves in the position to represent the people of the sixth district most effectively. And going to Washington and supporting leadership is one...

Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg's pro-amnesty organization FWD.us bought deceptive advertisements to help Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) defeat underfunded primary challenger Frank Roche in Tuesday's North Carolina primary. The group promptly celebrated Ellmers' win. FWD.us's Joe Green said that Ellmers' victory "makes clear" that "the time is now for House Republicans to bring" amnesty legislation to the floor. Lobbying groups like FWD.us want high-tech visas that will lower the wages of American workers, even though no evidence suggests there is a shortage of American high-tech workers.

Two weeks before the primary, a super PAC that backs Republican women has entered a competitive House race in West Virginia. Women Lead PAC had endorsed former International Trade Commissioner Charlotte Lane’s bid for the 2nd District in the Mountain State. The super PAC has put $40,000 into a direct mail effort to boost Lane’s bid before the May 13 primary, according to a source involved. The source added that the group is likely to put more money behind the piece:

What is the GOP establishment thinking? The establishment, with some help from one of our newest lefty billionaires and the left leaning media, helped reelect the least qualified candidate in the 2nd District Republican primary. They failed the 2nd District and America. They overstepped their pledged boundaries of neutrality during the primary and again demonstrated themselves to be part of the problem. Local petty political gate-keepers assisted their poorly qualified incumbent in ways that require they be removed from their volunteer Chairmanship positions.

She’s been all over the country and all over the media talking up the subject. “Comprehensive immigration reform.” “A pathway to citizenship.” Some may see those terms as code that tap-dances around its true meaning: amnesty for illegal aliens. Ellmers has positioned herself with Latino groups as an ally on immigration reform.

Former Arkansas governor and presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee traveled to Wilmington Friday to raise money for congressional candidate Woody White. White, chair of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, faces former State Senator David Rouzer in the Republican primary.

Early voting is underway. We’ve got a GOP leadership in Washington looking to sell us out on amnesty and ObamaCare. In Raleigh, we have a state party leadership reportedly looking to toss out opposition to toll roads and ObamaCare, and water down the official stance on amnesty. You can grumble all you want. But the only way to send a message to these people is at the polling place. You’ve got the opportunity, from now until May 6, to do a little RINO-hunting.

The GOP primary challenger to incumbent Renee Ellmers picked up a big in-district endorsement today. Former Moore County GOP chairman Bob Levy — the immediate predecessor to current chairman John Rowderdink — has publicly endorsed the candidacy of Republican Frank Roche for North Carolina’s Second congressional district seat: “Based upon the position of Congress Member Ellmers endorsing amnesty for illegal immigrants, I am proud to endorse the candidacy of Frank Roche for Congress.

Outmanned and outgunned, local law enforcement officers are alarmed by the drug and human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping and money laundering that Mexican drug cartels are conducting in the U.S. far from the border. U.S. sheriffs say that securing the border is a growing concern to law enforcement agencies throughout the country, not just those near the U.S.-Mexico boundary.

In a constituent meeting gone awry that was captured on shaky, amateur video, embattled Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) berated a group of local activists who oppose amnesty legislation, suggesting they were racist and saying they didn't have “any damn facts.” “You're telling me what people have told you? You don't have any damn facts!” Ellmers exploded at one of the activists when he said that employers – who often claim a labor shortage to argue for amnesty – frequently don't post job openings in that region. “Facts – numbers. Facts – documents,” Ellmers lectured, her voice dripping with disdain. She...

In a constituent meeting gone awry that was captured on shaky, amateur video, embattled Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) berated a group of local activists who oppose amnesty legislation, suggesting they were racist and saying they didn't have “any damn facts.” “You're telling me what people have told you? You don't have any damn facts!” Ellmers exploded at one of the activists when he said that employers – who often claim a labor shortage to argue for amnesty – frequently don't post job openings in that region. “Facts – numbers. Facts – documents,” Ellmers lectured, her voice dripping with disdain. She...

Yesterday, Ron Woodward of NC Listen reported on a meeting he had with Renee Ellmers on the topic of immigration and amnesty. He claimed he had exited the meeting appalled both by her positions and by her behavior.One of the constituents attending the meeting recorded the conversation.The Randolph Tea Party posted the clips online, and exclusively forwarded the links to PJ Media. Four clips of the meeting are embedded below.At one point, Ellmers says of Woodard: “You don’t have any damn facts.”Ellmers claims he is stereotyping, and constantly interrupts him. This conduct occurred after she had inconvenienced the group by...

Clay Aiken appeared on CNN today to discuss his total serious and won't be a huge joke campaign for congress in North Carolina. Yesterday, rumors swirled about whether he was going to run, with insiders in NC and DC holding their breath, crossing their fingers, and looking up Ruben Studdard on YouTube. But now the awful suspense is over and we have our answer. Yes. Clay Aiken is definitely probably going to be a kind of candidate for congress from North Carolina for sure almost.

“To the best of your knowledge, has a man ever delivered a baby?” Representative Renee Ellmers (R., N.C.) jocularly asked Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius, as part of her line of questioning as to why maternity coverage will be required in all insurance plans, including for single men. Ellmers argued at Wednesday’s House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing that the requirement is one of the many provisions in the Affordable Care Act driving up health-care costs.

Dunn, N.C. — Demonstrators picketed the Dunn office of 2nd District Congresswoman Renee Ellmers on Wednesday, calling for more federal spending to create jobs. About two dozen demonstrators said they wanted to persuade Ellmers to change her hawkish stance on the U.S. deficit. The nation has a jobs crisis, not a deficit crisis, they said, and more spending, such as a public works program to rebuild roads, bridges and schools, could create jobs. "(We need) something like FDR did back in the 1930s, when he had his Works Progress (Administration) program," said Rohima Miah, a member of the liberal group...

Democratic Rep. Bobby Etheridge has conceded to Republican Renee Ellmers, handing the GOP a victory in a race few thought the party would win. When local election officials completed their recount of votes cast in North Carolina’s 2nd District race on Friday, Ellmers led Etheridge by 1,489 votes. “Now, the election recount has concluded, and the numbers confirm that despite the incredible support we had - and neither candidate getting to 50 percent - in the end we came up just a little too short,” Etheridge told supporters at a news conference. With the victory, House Republicans have now picked...

WASHINGTON -- After a weeklong recount, Friday's vote tally showed that Republican Renee Ellmers did, indeed, win election to the 2nd Congressional District seat that had been held for 14 years by Democrat Bob Etheridge. Etheridge acknowledged Friday afternoon what the numbers had said since Nov. 2, that he was ousted by Ellmers, a tea party darling and political newcomer. Despite the ongoing recount, Ellmers has been acting the role of congresswoman-elect. She was on Capitol Hill all week with other House freshmen, attending orientations, hiring staff and searching for a place to bunk in Washington.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Republican Renee Ellmers has unseated veteran Congressman Bob Etheridge, according to unofficial results of a recount in the tight Second District race. "What's done is done," Etheridge said Friday afternoon in conceding defeat. The seven-term Democrat picked up six votes on Ellmers after voting results were tabulated a second time, but it was nowhere near enough to overcome her 1,489-vote lead following the Nov. 2 election. The State Board of Elections still must audit the results and will meet next Tuesday to certify the results of all elections statewide. Etheridge touted his accomplishments during a brief news...