GOP moxie in Speaker’s backyardhttp://www.news-record.com/blog/53964/entry/84371I was occupied with the State Board of Election yesterday, but did not want to let the following pass without notice. From the AP via WRAL:
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GOP legislative leaders and party Chairman Tom Fetzer sought to symbolize efforts to win majorities in the House and Senate with a news conference on Thursday in Pittsboro in the district of Democratic House Speaker Joe Hackney.
“We’re here in Joe Hackney’s district to announce that every seat is in play this year," Fetzer said. "From Murphy to Manteo, Republicans will pursue every seat and let the voters know that they don’t have to settle for higher taxes and corrupt government anymore."
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Was the event meaningful? Eh, maybe not. But it was in-your-face and shows perhaps that the GOP seems to be making a more energetic run at unseating the Democratic state House and Senate majorities than has been the case over the past few years. More from a GOP release:
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“The fact that all of these Republicans are gathered in Pittsboro is no accident,” said NCGOP Chairman Tom Fetzer. “We’re here, in Joe Hackney’s district, to announce that every seat is in play this year. We call it our ‘M&M Strategy.’ From Murphy to Manteo, Republicans will pursue every seat and let the voters know that they don’t have to settle for higher taxes and corrupt government anymore.”
Senate Republican Whip Jerry Tillman noted that for the first time in modern history, Republicans have fielded candidates in all 50 Senate Districts. “It’s a sign that Republicans are energized and Democrats are not,” Tillman said. Speaking about the fact that eight Democrat Senators have decided not to run for re-election, Tillman said: “The Democrats would rather retire, because the back row would be too embarrassing for them.”
House Republican Leader Skip Stam spoke about the “most impressive recruiting class in memory.” The House GOP has fielded candidates in 111 of the 120 seats in the House. “We have great candidates who will work hard to put the people first.” Stam introduced Cathy Wright, who is running against Joe Hackney in House District 54.
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Of course, the Democrats didn’t think much of the gathering. From NC Democratic Party state HQ:
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The North Carolina GOP opened its “No Solutions” tour today with a stop in Pittsboro, NC where GOP Chair Tom Fetzer cavorted before a few supporters with his back-up band, the Do- Nothing Obstructionists, led by state Rep. Skip Stam and Senator Jerry Tillman.
The Do-Nothing Obstructionists played no new songs, offered no new ideas, and proposed no solutions. Instead, they simply played the only tune they know -- the tired and worn-out song, “Blame Someone Else.”
“Listening to these broken records would be amusing, if it wasn’t so tiresome,” said NC Democratic Party Executive Director Andrew Whalen. “While Governor Perdue and Democrats in the General Assembly have worked tirelessly to guide North Carolina through this global recession, this little band has stood in the way, said ‘no’ over and over again, and done nothing to help North Carolina families. Because of that, their tour will close with these same characters playing to an empty ballroom.”
While the NC GOP is on their “No Solutions” Tour, Governor Perdue and N.C. Democrats are working to grow businesses and create jobs. Recently, Governor Perdue signed an executive order that provides North Carolina-based business a “home field advantage” when they bid on state contracts. Perdue’s order allows a North Carolina company that loses a state contract to an out-of-state company to match the bid and win the contract if the original bids were close.
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Ah, 'tis truly campaign season.
