John Armor for Congress (NC-11) Update, 4/16

Armor for Congress ^ | April 16, 2008 | Armor for Congress

[MitchellC]

First up, yesterday's radio debate on WWNC 570 AM in Asheville has been turned into video by FR's own Thunder Pig. The video playlist is here.

Thank you Thunder Pig!

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Next up is the response of John's campaign to the incredibly slanderous news releases that have been put out by Carl Mumpower's campaign.

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Desperate Psychologist Explodes in 11th District Congressional Race

It is not very often that any candidate for office puts out a news release which quotes at great length from a release by an opposing candidate. There are exceptions to every rule, and this one has to do with Carl Mumpower and his false attacks on both John Armor and Spence Campbell.

Mumpower's opening paragraph says this (John Armor's comments are in italics):

Republican Congressional Candidate Carl Mumpower has decisively won 6 of the 8 formal Republican straw polls across the 11th District. [No such thing as a "formal, straw poll." Straw poll means informal. Also, only four of these polls were taken after debates of all three candidates. Mumpower lost two of those four.] The remaining candidates have been successful in just one poll in their home counties. Mumpower believes his lead [Political scientists measure leads with statistically valid polls. None such have been conducted here.] is frustrating his competitors and stimulating tactics of desperation typical to political campaigns, but "unbecoming to men who say they want to represent the values of the 11th District". "When you are in the lead by objective measures, you can expect personal attacks and desperation tactics from your competitors," said Mumpower. [Who has become "desperate" can be judged by who is lying about the facts. Read on.]

The next paragraph attacks Spence Campbell. He is an honorable man, and will defend himself. I will comment about only one point which will apply to me when my road signs go up. Three weeks ago, before Mumpower's ethical standards did a 180-degree reversal, his signs were as common as those of Campbell, and close to those of Governor-candidate Fred Smith. Now most of the Mumpower signs are gone, along with most (mysteriously) of the Campbell signs. Mumpower now claims a moral victory. Armor said, "I wonder whether the Sign Fairy sneaked into Mumpower's garage and put hundreds of his signs on the roads, before his cohorts later took them down?"

Mumpower's next paragraph attacks me:

John Armor spent the majority of his professional career as an attorney serving as a part of the very Washington system so many of us find corrupt. "Contrary to the rhetoric, John has never argued a single case before the Supreme Court," noted Mumpower. "He's filed briefs on behalf of non-profit agencies that employed him - something that any attorney with a few references and a little experience can do." "The desperation in John's campaign comes through in his willingness to intentionally twist the truth. John, like many attorneys, can take an ounce of grass and create a pound of manure out of it. Everyone that thinks we need another unprincipled attorney in Washington should certainly vote for John in the primary." [See following.]

Mumpower in apparently grossly ignorant of the fact that more than 99% of all cases presented to the Supreme Court are decided on the papers, without oral argument. I have never said that I argued any cases in the Supreme Court, only that I have briefed (as of now) 19 cases in that Court.

My first victory in the US Supreme Court was McCarthy v. Briscoe, September, 1976, where the Court ordered Governor Briscoe to put the name of Gene McCarthy on the Texas ballot for President, as an independent. Since that was for Emergency Relief, no argument was held.

The best known case I have participated in, was Bush v. Palm Beach Canvassing Board, better known as Bush v. Gore, December, 2000, concerning the Florida results for President. Due to the rapid briefing schedule, only 14 briefs were filed in that case. My brief, and only mine, urged the Court to "strike the Florida Supreme Court decision from the record" and "do nothing else." In Round One of that case in the US Supreme Court, that is exactly what all nine Justices of the Court voted to do.

Also, the "non-profit agencies" that I have represented include Citizens Against Government Waste, the National Tax Limitation Committee, and the American Legislative Exchange Council (conservative state legislators seeking lower federal taxes and fewer federal regulations).

"In short, these are groups organized to do exactly the kind of reforms that Mumpower claims to favor in Washington."

Any reporter can verify these facts with a few mouse clicks on the Internet. If Carl Mumpower thinks that "many attorneys" can do what I did, he is dumb as a hoe handle. If he did not check is facts before launching his highly unprofessional attack, he is incompetent.

Mumpower's last paragraph is below:

"Unlike my colleagues, I am not willing to lie [see above], knowingly violate the law [see above], pander to voters [see above], or resort to desperation tactics [see above] to win," noted Mumpower. "I will win or lose based on clear [variable, the road signs, the Flat Rock flap] commitments, a strong record of public service as an authentic conservative, and a dedication to principles." "I have been elected and reelected in the biggest city in WNC and appointed as Vice-Mayor by my peers in spite of my consistent stand on conservative principles [Perhaps the people of Asheville keep him around because he is amusing to watch. That doesn't mean he ought to be in Congress.]. No matter the spin folks might hear about arrogance, an inability to work with people, or other such nonsense [Most of the reporting on Mumpower in the last three weeks has included this precise subject, that he is a loose cannon.], I have been in the arena fighting the fight and been supported by Republican, Democrats, and Independents who know I will stand up for what is right. I have done it in Asheville and I will do it in Washington - the other guys know that and, frankly, should feel desperate."

As I said at the end of a live debate on the Matt Mittan Show yesterday (15 April, and available now on the Internet), "This race is down to two candidates. If the people of Western Carolina want an able, conservative, grown-up to represent them in Congress, they should vote for John Armor or Spence Campbell. Mumpower has gone off the rails."

- 30 -

John Armor
Highlands, NC
href="http://www.armorforcongress.com">www.ArmorforCongress.com

[MitchellC]

Mumpower and his supporters remind me a lot of the Ron Paul followers that are found all over the internet. There is something entirely disturbing about the personalities of some of these people.

But with that said, I hope that the focus returns to the issues. I suspect that Mumpower is playing games in order to remove attention from his shortcomings.

[MitchellC]

Armor for Congress PING!

John Armor for Congress

John Armor on YouTube

Freepmail or ping me on the thread to be added to the John Armor for Congress ping list.

[MitchellC]

NC ping!

[SoConPubbie]

Hey,

I just visited his web-site and found nothing on the Illegal Immigration issue.

Where does he stand on this important issue?

[MitchellC]

In interviews and debates John mentions he's all for building the wall and cracking down on employers of illegals in order to reverse the illegals’ incentives for being here.

[Congressman Billybob]

I've already replied to the questionnaire from NumbersUSA. I'm on record with them that we should 1) build the fence, 2) enforce the laws against hiring of illegal aliens, 3) deport all illegal aliens who commit crimes immediately after sentences are served, and 4) end the crushing burden of illegals on our schools, hospitals, welfare departments, police departments, and prisons.

Does that about cover the waterfront? I also have the illegal alien issue as one of the four key ones on my campaign literature, which will arrive in hand any day now. (Pant. Pant.)

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, "Bitter"? "Clinging to Guns"? No, "Dumb as a Box of Rocks"

Help a Freeper into Congress.

[MitchellC]

Here's the NumbersUSA survey results that John mentioned. Neither of John's opponents have answered the survey, apparently.

[MitchellC]

Here's the NumbersUSA survey results that John mentioned. Neither of John's opponents have answered the survey, apparently.

(Oops! Meant to post that to everyone.)

[Paleo Conservative]

Any reporter can verify these facts with a few mouse clicks on the Internet. If Carl Mumpower thinks that "many attorneys" can do what I did, he is dumb as a hoe handle. If he did not check is facts before launching his highly unprofessional attack, he is incompetent.

I think that should be classified under calling a spade a "spade".

[SoConPubbie]

Thanks,

That’s all I wanted to hear.

Hope you destroy the competition.

[PGalt]

"Unlike my colleagues, I am not willing to lie [see above],

From my limited view I don't see evidence that Spence Campbell is a liar, John, but Carl Mumpower's name could have been inserted after "Unlike...

Errors of omission are one thing, but Carl's lies and sleazy insinuations are what many have been conditioned to expect.

It all starts with a lie, and if left unchallenged the person getting away with the dehuminization feels a sense of greater power. In North Carolina a particular candidate might feel mumpowered. /sarcasm

Thanks for getting in the arena and trying to make a positive contribution, John.

Thanks for the ping, Mitchell C.

Hooray John! One of FR's finest BUMP!

[Bat_Chemist]

NC *Ping*

Please FRmail Bat_Chemist if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

Apologies for the "day late, $ short" ping.

[Antoninus]

Well done, Billybob. Here’s hoping you make it!