Gotta love Republican cannibalism

Check out newsatnorman going after Pat in the name of Repug challenger Lance Sigmon:

What is Rep. McHenry Afraid Of?

“Let’s have a debate on the issues,. . . I’m happy to match my record against anyone. I’m proud of the work I’ve done.”
- Rep. Patrick McHenry

Patrick McHenry can run, but he can’t hide.
And in this case he’s running for re-election and trying to hide from a debate with his GOP opponent, Lance Sigmon.
What is McHenry afraid of?
Is he afraid that he will have to answer some tough questions about his integrity?
Is he afraid that he will have to answer some tough questions about his personal life?
Is he afraid that he will have to answer some tough questions about his live-in buddies and how they managed in 2004 to vote in Cherryville while having legal residences elsewhere?
Is he afraid that he will have to answer some tough questions about his staunch support of disgraced House leader Tom Delay and another congressman who was run out of office for his sexual improprieties with a male page?
Is he afraid that he will have to answer some tough questions about McHenry Real Estate, the company McHenry claimed to own, but never had even a telephone number or a single listing?
Is he afraid that he will have to answer some tough questions about his tax returns, his quick rise to financial wealth and questions about the fat-cats who stuff huge sums of money into his campaign checkbook?
To his credit, challenger Sigmon has made “honesty, ethics and integrity” the centerpiece of his campaign against McHenry and has raised questions about McHenry’s ethics.
He is ready, willing and able to debate McHenry anywhere in the district and has asked party leaders in Catawba County to help get the debates arranged.
To make it easy on the busy little congressman, Sigmon says he will debate him anywhere in the district at any time.
So far, McHenry has not responded, and we doubt that he will ever take the stage with Sigmon and debate the issues.
McHenry may be a little Napolean-esque, but he may have met his Waterloo. Come out, come out, Mr. McHenry.

CharO profiles DJ

Check it out:

"I wasn't really gunning for politics," the congressional candidate said in an interview during a visit here last week to meet with Democratic officials and old friends. "I had grown so disgusted with the status of politics in Washington in particular, I had ruled out in my mind any interest in pursuing elected office."

He changed his mind after being approached by folks in the community who were looking for a challenger to two-term Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Republican from Cherryville.

"My wife and I spent a lot of time thinking about it, praying about it," Johnson said. "We decided the country was facing some very serious challenges ahead of it, and that I could use my experience to help find some effective solutions."

I have to admit I like the coverage so far. Strange, since writer Lisa Zagaroli has a history of favoring the incumbent.

He has shown some early promise with his fundraising ability, having collected $123,000 in a few weeks.

She then appropriately mentions the overwhelming Republican majority in the district but Daniel has a good comeback:

"There's a lot of discontent in that district, just as there is nationwide," he said.

McHenry, he said, is part of the reason Washington manages to turn just about everything into a partisan issue -- health care for children, funding for the war and illegal immigration, as examples."His style of politics is an old style of politics that people are tired of, which is to be divisive, and to not come up with solutions but to bicker about the problems, to continue the inertia that has kept Washington from solving any of those problems," Johnson said."(He) is a huge part of stirring up that partisan rancor in Congress."

So far, so good, but now the article twists to the weird:

McHenry's press secretary, Wes Climer, said McHenry defends traditional family values.

Like when? When he attacked Nancy Pelosi for needing a larger plane than the previous speaker who lived much closer to DC? Or is Wes referrring to when he attacked bike-riders for being from the 19th century? Yeah, riding a bike is anti-family. Or maybe he's thinking back even earlier to when Pat he defended Representative Foley, stating quite clearly that the problem wasn't that Foley had had sex with pages but that the Democrats (out of power) somehow timed the disclosure for maximum value in election season.

Those are some family values, Pat. Good job, Wes.

"Some Washington politicians don't like the fact that Congressman McHenry won't accept the broken status quo, and it's telling that someone would criticize him for that," Climer said.

Criticize McHenry for being against the status quo? He would have to be against Bush and Rove and Tom Delay for that to be true and gee, Wes, it ain't. You're just digging a deeper hole, Wes. Maybe you should take some kind of remedial training in public relations. I hear the Wellstone Institute offers all kinds of campaign training. Oh, that's right, you'd have to actually care about people to be eligible for one of their classes.

As to Dear Lisa, if history is a predictor of the future, I bet she'll do plenty of McHenry articles without going to Johnson for a quote. Let's hope she proves us wrong. And that Daniel's spokesman has ethics and a brain.

Sigmon accepts McHorny debate challenge

According to the Hickory Daily Record, Republican Challenger Lance Sigmon has agreed to debate Patrick McHorny.

“I’m more than willing to accept his offer,” Sigmon said. “I think it gives voters a chance to find out where we stand.”

McHenry said during a media conference call Friday that he welcomed all competitors and wanted to “debate the issues.”

Sigmon prefers to hold three debates, one each in Shelby, Morganton and Hickory.

Of course McHorny's personal rag, the Charlotte Observer, missed McHorny's challenge and bills the debate as Sigmon's idea. They even printed McHorny's original quote but still can't read the words they're writing:

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry's Republican primary opponent said he plans to ask district GOP leaders to sponsor a debate between the two.

Military attorney Lance Sigmon of Newton is challenging the second-term congressman from Cherryville for the Republican nomination in the 10th Congressional District.

Sigmon sent an e-mail to newspapers over the weekend saying he plans to seek a debate with McHenry "as soon as possible."

McHenry said last week that he welcomes competition. "Everybody has the right to run for office and sign their name on the dotted line," he said in a conference call with reporters. "Let's have a debate on the issues that are going to affect our country."

Johnson raises $120,000

At least, that's what his campaign manager Lauren Moore told CharO. Why he puts them ahead of us, I have no idea. Since we all know how much they love the McHorny one.

But, there's no accounting for taste. And $120,000 is about ten times more than the 2004 Democratic candidate raised in her entire campaign and five times what the last candidate raised. So mazel tov, Daniel.

We'll confirm that once we see the FEC filing . . .

Hey, Lauren, don't forget to notify all the small newspapers in the district. There's two in Newland and then there's Spruce Pine and Morganton, Hickory, Lincoln, Shelby, Gastonia, Lenoir. (I've got links for LTEs along the left column) Most of them never ran his announcement so I wonder if anyone told them. But those are the places you need to contact if you want to reach your potential swing voters.

Not that many people read the Charlotte Observer compared to the local papers. And McHenry always gets his stuff in those little ones. They'll print pretty much anything you send them. If you send it and call them to confirm.

Don't expect the CharO to do you any favors. Lisa Z drinks McHenry's kool-aid. Just look her up. Every time he has a scandal, she writes a puff piece. When things get rough, she's going to screw you. Don't say you weren't warned.

McHorny calls for debate

On a media conference call he didn't tell me about (why, Pat, why????): McHorny calls on his challengers to debate the issues.

Well, come on guys. That should be fun. He usually seeds the crowd with supporters and interrupts and/or refuses to answer the questions he doesn't like.

“Let’s have a debate on the issues. I’m happy to match my record against anyone. I’m going to continue to deliver on the promises that I’ve made. I’m proud of the work I’ve done.”

So, Lance and Daniel. Bring it on. He gets really frazzled when faced with the truth of the land he illegally hasn't declared, the home he tried to hide after insisting Democrats not hide their assets, earmarks, bicycles, his support for Ron Paul. Not to mention all the criminals he's associated with . . . there's a lot to work with here, guys. Have at it.

From the Blogosphere: McHorny hearts Ron Paul

From CopperheadNC at the Paulenteer:

I was at a meeting of the Gaston County GOP executive committee last night, and Patrick McHenry decided to pop in and give an impromptu speech. I had previously only known him as the one guy to have an earmark challenged and actually shot down in the House, and otherwise didn’t follow his career very closely.

During his speech, he started talking about the excitement of the nomination process this year, and went through all the normal spiel about the “Top tier” candidates … pretty much what I expected to hear. Then, out of nowhere, he started talking about Ron Paul, and he blew me away.

I wish I had recorded the speech, because it would have gone great on the acclaim page at RP’s site, but the gist of it was that Ron Paul stands for what Republicans SHOULD stand for. He noted that many Republicans feel that the RP movement is an invasion by libertarians, but that they are incorrect, and that we are helping to bring the party back to where it ought to be. I was hoping for an endorsement, which didn’t come, but it is obvious that he really has a lot of respect for Dr. Paul and the revolution!

Considering we don’t have a single endorsement from Congress, I wanted to share this with the board. Looks like we have a friend in Patrick McHenry!

Or at least he wanted these people to think he endorses libertarian ideas while he continues to act without ethics or morals. Anyone else know about this Gaston County meeting?

Meanwhile, at the MLB hearings:

Is anyone watching ESPN and this inquaire by congress? The questions and smugness of the senators makes me sick. This little J/O from NC Patrick Mchenry [sic] is on such a power trip. Its hard to explain it but one thing he keeps bringing up is "change for the children" or "kids look up to these players, set examples" blah blah blah.

My responses would have been something like "clean your own messes: or " you got some balls telling us to think of the children, what about all the lying, stealing and corruption going on in Govt"

this is suck a waste of time and money. Parents be the role model and teach your kids right from wrong. Tell them is Clemens is doing juice that doesn't make it right.

So, McHorny continues to stand on some kind of high ethical horse as he behaves in completely unethical ways. I wonder what else he's trying to hide, particularly from the "top tier" candidates. Like his underhanded financial dealings or his love of bahavior no one would consider Christian or conservative . . .

10th district leaders with Edwards in New Hampshire

At an historic mill in downtown Manchester, former Cleveland County Chair Betsy Wells and former District Chair Judy Gilbert greet their former Senator.

Johnson hires campaign manager

And announces that he and his wife are expecting a baby.

Cool stuff, huh? Gonna be hard for Pat to top that one.

And I see no information on Daniel Johnson's website but this is what the Informer had to say about the nameless campaign manager.

Daniel Johnson, the Democratic candidate for the 10th District congressional seat, has employed a campaign manager. She is a producer for MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” and the wife of his roommate while at UNC law school.

Johnson’s support is encouraging. He has raised over $100,000 and has rented a home in Hickory. His first child is due June 21—right in the midst of the campaign. Johnson will give his campaign his fulltime attention.

Lance attacks Pat for his "improper Influence"

The Hickory Record delineates Republican Congressional candidates Lance Sigmon's take on our Pat:

“We need a representative in Congress who will vote ‘right’ on the issues for our people, not for special interest lobbyists from outside the district,” Sigmon said during a 5-minute speech outside the 1924 Courthouse.

Wow Pat. Lance thinks you don't vote right. I'm pretty sure you're not voting center or left. Could it be that you're voting for personal and corporate interests? That's waht Lance seems to be saying. And check out the next 'graph"

Sigmon, 49, challenged McHenry to refrain from accepting political action committee money from groups outside the district that are trying to improperly influence elected officials.

Ouch number two. Yup. He's saying you are accepting money for "improper" influence. Do the facts fit. Hmmm. Me thinks they do.

Sigmon also drew distinctions with McHenry’s work experience and private life. Whereas Sigmon said the congressman had never worked outside the political arena, Sigmon said he worked in a variety of jobs growing up and was raised in a working-class family. And while Sigmon is married with a family, McHenry is single.

Ooops. Pat. Well, we know you lie about being a small businessman and a realtor. But Lance goes a little bit father. He's saying, you're single. I don't think he means you just haven't found the 'right woman.' I think he means something more significant to your conservative supporters. This really doesn't look good.

I wonder what you'll do to respond to these personal attacks. Can't wait to hear more whining.

And does Lance know more than we've already reported? Do his professional researchers know why you hid the land you own in Lincoln County against Congressional reporting rules. Does he know why you hid your Hickory condo after attacking Democrats for not wanting to report their second homes?

What are you hiding, dear Pat? I bet Lance Sigmon knows.

Lance as in boil?

Jerry Williamson at Watauga Watch has some fun with McHorny's recently announced opposition, Lance Sigmon:

Did you say Lance? Like in "open an incision, lance a boil"?

The boil in question, incumbent Congressman Patrick McHenry, will have to be spending some of that million dollars he's amassed to fight off this primary challenger, and if he can fight off that challenger (not a foregone conclusion, by any means), he'll still be facing this other ex-military challenger in November. All in all, 2008 is shaping up as a rough row for McHenry to hoe.

Curious ... that Lance Sigmon's web site does not contain the word 'Republican' anywhere, though reading through his issues will give you a good case of that dependable conservative Republican vertigo. Lotsa God, lotsa lowering of taxes, lotsa missionary positioning with one woman and one man in Holy Matrimony.

And thereby, naturally, comes the subtle attack on McHenry, plus these carefully chosen words on Sigmon's homepage: "There is no room for unethical behavior or advancement of self-interests." Oh snap!

Thanks to Max the Dog at BlueNC who noted Jerry's comments.

Sigmon announces McHorny takedown

Of course, I'm not on his mailing list so here's the poop from a Norman paper:

Declaring a frustration with scandals in both parties, and a mission to restore the ethics and honesty voters deserve in government, Newton attorney and retired U.S. Air Force officer Lance B. Sigmon today formally announced his candidacy to face 10th District Congressman Patrick McHenry in the May 6, 2008, Republican primary election for Congress.

It is Sigmon's first attempt at public office, which he described as a positive for voters who are disgusted with politicians in general and the 'epidemic' of ethics scandals. I'll just try to do the best I can for our people in the district, and be honest with them at every turn, without self-promotion or looking for personal advancement, Sigmon said.