Posted on 03/30/2008 5:42:17 AM PDT by MitchellC
Candidates for the Republican nomination in the 11th Congressional District slammed Rep. Heath Shuler for comments he made at a speech this week in Hendersonville.
Shuler, D-Waynesville, spoke to the Rotary Club on Tuesday and claimed Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain was blocking his immigration bill from getting a vote on the House floor.
Former Henderson County Republican Party Chairman Spence Campbell, who is seeking the right to face Shuler in the November general election, did not believe Shuler's version of the story.
"Who is he kidding? His motivation in saying this is purely political and designed to try to attack the Republican presidential nominee," Campbell said in a released statement. "He does not want what is best for America or this district. He wants what is best for the liberal Democrats in Washington."
Shuler wrote the Security and Verification through Enforcement Act, which increases funding for border security and requires more stringent residency status verification by employers.
Republicans in the House tried to force a vote on the bill recently through a process called a discharge petition. With the rule, a vote can be called if a majority of representatives signed the petition. Shuler claimed that McCain called Republican representatives, telling them to not sign it.
Another candidate in the Republican race, Highlands attorney John Armor, also weighed in on Shuler's statements, blaming the Democrats for the bill not getting a vote on the House floor.
"Those reluctant Democrats who co-sponsored the bill but haven't signed the discharge petition have no reason to listen to any requests from Sen. John McCain, a Republican," Armor said in a released statement. "They have every incentive to listen to demands from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat."
Carl Mumpower said he did not want to say much on the issue but believes Shuler was off base with the comments.
"To shift the blame to a senator is missing the point," Mumpower said.
Shuler's statements have sparked controversy in Washington. The Republican Congressional Committee doubted the validity of McCain's involvement, and McCain's office denied playing any role in the discharge petition process.
Freepmail or ping me on the thread to be added to the John Armor for Congress ping list.
Whay was it LBJ said about Gerald Ford?
Something like, “That ol boy played too much football without his helmet on.”
It’s simple: John McCain is in the Senate, not the House. Nancy Pelosi runs the House, and she’s the one who’s blocking this bill.
The fact that Schuler tries to blame McCain, who has no control over the bill, demonstrates that he’s not sincere about getting the bill passed in the first place.
crappy quarterback ~ crappy congressman.....
in both cases.....he should be SACKED!!!!!
For all I know, McCain may well have called around to Republicans. But as John said, that doesn't explain why the Democratic co-sponsors didn't sign onto the discharge petition.
If the bill is not going to pass the Senate anyway (which it would not), I see nothing wrong with making the Dems push it thru with their own votes. Dems should not get credit for pushing thru an immigration bill that was passed with GOP votes. Make them work for their votes.
I totally agree with your statement above and I wouldn't doubt for a moment that Pelosi would and has interfered and forced her house Rats to vote against this country's best interests on the immigration issue.
One three part question: do you know whether or not McCain has put pressure on house Republicans not to sign the discharge petition; ARE there house Republicans who supported the bill but won't sign the discharge petition; if so, why not IYO.
Thanks in advance for your illumination on this one.
D.C. area sports writers went to interview Shuler when the skins drafted him and walked out shaking their heads. One said that you only had to talk to him for 15 seconds to comprehend that he was not bright enough to play quarterback in the NFL and another was heard to exclaim "Oh my God, they've just drafted Gomer Pyle..."
Total loser.
Nancy Pelosi may have reason to block this bill: I’ve seen reports she uses “undocumented workers” to tend and harvest here multi-million dollar vineyards.
Gotta take good care of those Almoden grapes,you know.
GRRRREAT article! Thanks to James Shea. Thanks to Spence Campbell, John Armor and Carl Mumpower for exposing this lying fraud, Heath Schuler, masquerading as a politician. What’s he doing, running the 2-lie offense, trying to catch up to Hillary Clinton?
What?!!! One of these guys is a FReeper? WOOOHOOO! All the better!
Thanks Congressman!
The liberal schuler will never cross his queen nancy
Since Speaker Pelosi can put direct pressure on those Democrats -- "No funding for YOUR projects" -- I don't think anything said by McCain would amount to a hill of beans. In short, Shuler was lying to the Hendersonville Rotary Club when he sought to put the blame on McCain.
Congressman Billybob
John / Billybob
And he got away with it. Scored a touchdown on a quarterback sneak. He was on offense and was very offensive.
Something incongruent in his words and deeds. BUMP-TO-THE-TRUTH!
Thanks John.
Hence, why I always say this when there’s a Heath Blarb: “Heath Schuler, doing to America what he did for the Washington Redskins”.
NC ping
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