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Posted on 08/09/2004 11:19:43 PM PDT by Conservative Firster
With U.S. Rep. Richard Burr retiring from the House to run for U.S. Senate, the conservative 5th district of North Carolina sports an open seat. Political legacies, millionaire businessmen, and incumbent politicians all declared their intention to run for the Republican nomination. The race quickly became one of the most contested in the nation.
Many candidates distinguished themselves. Businessmen Jay Helvey and Nathan Tabor both drew considerable attention and are likely to seek high office again. However, most pundits narrowed the field to three likely contenders. For some time, the campaigns of businessman Ed Broyhill (son of former U.S. Sen. James Broyhill), State Sen. Virginia Foxx, and Councilman Vernon Robinson were predicted to garner the most support.
With eight candidates running—and five polling double digits—no one received the 40% necessary to avoid an August runoff. Robinson and Foxx polled at 24% and 22% respectively, leaving them the top two vote getters of the most expensive congressional primary in the nation. Broyhill’s defeat surprised most N.C. politicos. The supposed frontrunner lost the race for second place by 511 votes.
For the most part, Foxx has run a traditional, grassroots campaign. The constituents from her state senate district turned out in large numbers during the primary. Virtually all of her modest finances were drawn from North Carolina. Foxx’s conservative message and record as a five-term state legislator have buoyed her to the top.
Robinson, on the other hand, has courted national attention from the very beginning. Were he to prevail, Robinson would become the first African-American Republican to serve in congress since the retirement of J.C. Watts. Contributors to popular, conservative publications such as ChronWatch, NewsMax, and GOPUSA point to the Winston-Salem city councilman as the next generation of black conservative. Using this image, Robinson has raised and spent over two million dollars—amassing a king’s ransom from out-of-state donors.
The Robinson campaign is best characterized as highly negative. The councilman joined Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado in criticizing President George W. Bush on immigration policy. Robinson even stated that the Republican Party was to blame for America’s immigration crisis. The rhetoric was so hot that former U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp withdrew his endorsement of Robinson. It was later reported by NCRumors.com that the Bush campaign quietly informed Robinson’s staff to resign for the sake of their careers.
That said, the councilman’s attacks have not been confined to excoriating the Bush administration. He has often portrayed his competitors as dishonest or liberal. No love is lost between Robinson and his defeated opponents. Former candidate Nathan Tabor, a Christian conservative, was labeled as pro-abortion and pro-gay by the Robinson machine. “I would highly encourage voters in the 5th District not to vote for Vernon Robinson in the upcoming runoff election,” said Tabor, “[He] has a credibility and character problem.”
Now, Robinson is referring to Foxx as a liberal senator. He falsely claims that Foxx is pro-tax and pro-gay. “With her liberal record I did not believe she would be able to get a toe-hold in the race,” sniped Robinson. “But she ran away from her record and told people she was just like Vernon, only old and white.”
Robinson’s attacks have outstripped the negativity of all his opponents combined. His incessant, biting criticism of fellow Republicans is seen as a coup by N.C. Democrats. Pamphlets that read, “Vote Robinson…then [Democrat],” are already circulating. Though Robinson’s smear campaign has turned off many voters, most pundits are confident that even he could beat the Democrat challenger. The real concern is that Robinson could tank his own Party at the state and national levels.
Like Foxx, U.S. Rep. Richard Burr depends heavily on his old base for the coming elections. If the voters of Winston-Salem and the 5th district fail to turnout in large numbers, the five-term congressman could easily lose his U.S. Senate bid to former Clinton Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles. With Republicans holding a razor-thin 51-seat majority in the U.S. Senate, every seat counts. Frankly put, the Party cannot afford to have a Bush-basher on the ticket. Bush and Burr are too closely associated.
Former State Sen. Patrick Ballantine also counts on strong support from the 5th district. In his race to replace N.C. Gov. Mike Easley, Ballantine needs high turnout from traditionally conservative counties. He needs popular Republican candidates to electrify the base and bear up his ticket. Foxx has been a strong supporter of the Ballantine campaign. Robinson has been a strong distraction.
Less likely, but more troubling, Robinson’s anti-Bush rhetoric could snowball into a victory for the Kerry-Edwards ticket. While few consider North Carolina a swing state, a lot can happen between now and November.
In the humble opinion of this editorialist, a vote for Virginia Foxx is a vote for Bush, Burr, and Ballantine. A win for Vernon Robinson may portend the end of the N.C. Republican Party’s political momentum.
John T. Plecnik is a twenty-year-old law student at Duke University and Executive Editor of The Devil’s Advocate. As Policy Advisor for the Duke Chapter, John authored the first-ever statewide platform for the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans.
"John T. Plecnik is a twenty-year-old law student at Duke University and Executive Editor of The Devil’s Advocate. As Policy Advisor for the Duke Chapter, John authored the first-ever statewide platform for the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans."
He should do a little more learnin' and livin' before he starts attack a republican who actually stands by their ideals.
Must be the same RINO trick - attack any republican with conservative beliefs who dares to call someone on being a RINO.
"You can't attack them! They're a republican! You're being devisive!!! Oh, by the way, you're a fringe kook right-wing republican!! Neener neener!!!"
I remember Tabor, he was a Freeper for a little while.. some sort of argument between him and Robinson... I forgot all about that
I realise that this problably makes Robinson look like a veritable Nazi to some mama's-boy kid cocooned in Duke, but if Bush loses you need look no further than his open-borders, no-security, be-kind-to-groups-of-festering-arab-males, immigration policty. Hispandering for an additional 1% of the 6% of the vote that is Hispanic, will cost him 20% of the 94% that isn't.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
If Jack French Kemp withdraws an endorsement, then one should seriously consider supporting the candidcate that Jack is undermining. I voted for Jack French Kemp in the 1988 primary -- one of the silliest votes that I ever cast! And, yes, there have been others.
This is just the kind of hyper-partisanship I mentioned in another thread. There's almost a Juan Peron style 'cult of personality' that's grown up around Bush. Any criticism of Bush, no matter how valid from a conservative point of view, is viewed as treason. Offenders are rountinely denounced as racists, nativists, and xenophobes for insisting that laws should be enforced.
Unlikely as it may seem to the liberal mind, Vernon Robinson is actually the political descendant of Jesse Helms, who was nearly alone in fighting to preserve US sovereignty against the endless onslaught of globalists through myriad treaties and International agreements (Read Article VI, paragraph 2 of the US Constitution for a good scare). Crony-capitalists like Kemp and his acolytes are naturally upset at the prospect of Vernon Robinson in Congress standing with Tancredo against the open-borders jihad. It might reduce the bottom line - which is the final arbiter of all morality, you see.
Foxx has also exhibited instances of double-crossing local groups and local leaders on ussues she initially opposed, but later took full credit for. Foxx is unreliable. Robinson is what he says he is. That choice is a no-brainer.
So I am very curious how this allegedly capable writer reached such false conclusions. I hope he reads this thread and is prompted to revisit the subject with greater research and accuracy.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column, "Says the Wuss: Ma, He's Touching Me"
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Uh...which part of that charge is untrue, Mr. Plecnik?
Republicans are like Kerry when it comes to immigration -- they don't wanna talk about it -- but they will accuse the Democrats of creating the currrent situation they refuse to change.
It's as if one man is letting water spring from a hole in a dike when he removes his finger, and a second man is pointing at him, saying it's the first man's fault if the dike gives way, when the finger the second man is using to point would be put to better use in the maddog hole!
If you are reading this, Mr. Plecnik, I dare you to tell me one thing the GOP is doing to address what YOU -- not THEY -- call "America's immigration crisis."
The rhetoric was so hot that former U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp withdrew his endorsement of Robinson. It was later reported by NCRumors.com that the Bush campaign quietly informed Robinson’s staff to resign for the sake of their careers.
Well, Mr. Plecnik...I guess your future is safe now, ain't it.
How much do thirty silver coins go for nowadays, John?
Robinson is a conservative's conservative, just like Alan Keyes. I'm proud to have a guy in our party that doesn't buy the open borders nonsense. Go get em' Vernon.
Good comment. Robinson is called the "black Jesse Helms".
The main thing that frosts me about the open borders crowd is their attempt to put legal and illegal immigration in the same category.
Legal immigrants are required to demonstrate good citizenship by learning our language, showing financial independence, proving knowledge about and loyalty toward their adopted country and a clean police record.
Those who are allowed to cheat on these tests are not the material from which good citizens are made.
Those who spout the refrain that America is a nation of immigrants conveniently neglect that our nation was built from Legal immigrants who arrived to seek religious and political freedom and opportunity, not a government teat to suckle on.
I have watched Vernon for years ..what ya see is what ya get. Im proud to support him. Look out RATS and RINOs, he wont take your crap for a second!
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It pays to look closely at someone who's entire campaign is nothing more than attacks on others.
Usually they do this to move the focus off themselves because a close look would quickly point out major ethical or moral deficiencies.
This editorial writer is worth listening to.
Send Vernon to DC bump!
Exactly. More donors to Republican In Name Only campaigns are the beneficiaries of open borders/cheap, illegal labor and as such, oppose and advise Bush against border/immigration enforcement. They control politicians because they control a larger portion of those donations.
Holding the Bush Administration accountable for their open border Mexican policy is exactly the correct thing to do. God forbid, but should an attack on fellow Americans originate from Mexico, the administration should be held criminally negligent for intentionally ignoring the situation along the border against the wishes of 79% of America's citizens.
Oh my lord. We need to get fainting couches for the democrats and spineless republicans. Can't have too many conservatives in government!
I agree with Robinson here.
Robinson even stated that the Republican Party was to blame for America’s immigration crisis.
The truth sometimes hurts.
It was later reported by NCRumors.com that the Bush campaign quietly informed Robinson’s staff to resign for the sake of their careers.
I'm not sure if the website is true or not, but Bush is rabidly leftist on immigration.
Now, Robinson is referring to Foxx as a liberal senator. He falsely claims that Foxx is pro-tax and pro-gay.
Foxx is a state senator. Her record can be found in her votes for all to see. That's an easy way to find out the truth.
The real concern is that Robinson could tank his own Party at the state and national levels.
I don't see it. Our pro-choice candidate in 98 didn't matter much since we still swept everything and the republicans turned out the vote in my county.
Like Foxx, U.S. Rep. Richard Burr depends heavily on his old base for the coming elections. If the voters of Winston-Salem and the 5th district fail to turnout in large numbers,
I don't see where Robinson has that effect. He's a city-councilman, not the president. They already know Bush, and they know Burr even more. If he po'ed a lot of people, are they going to stay home BECAUSE of a city-councilman? More likely they will leave his spot blank and vote for Bush and their old congressman, Burr anyway. In fact, I think he'd even possibly help Bush by getting people on the fence who'd stay home(because of immigration issues, etc) to vote for Robinson and then hold their nose for Bush.
I think some don't care for Robinson since he'll make waves and speak his mind and fire up the right flank(which sorely needs it after Jesse Helms retired).
That's the same reason why I'd vote for Vernon Robinson.
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