Johnson outpolls McHenry on election day

Yup. Just this month, more more 10th District voters chose Daniel Johnson than incumbent Pat.

With only 60 percent of Democrats choosing him, Johnson received 41,076 votes. With more than 67 percent of 10th District Republicans backing McHenry, he still only got 34,457 votes. That's not looking so good, come fall, Patty-boy.

According to the NC state BOE website, there are 411,425 registered voters in NC-10. 147, 701 are registered Democratics, 178,085 are registered Republican and 85,639 are unafiliated.

Now it's up to you, Daniel Johnson

Lance Sigmon got creamed by sleazy Pat McHenry 67 to 32 Tuesday. BUT did anyone notice he almost beat our little man in the most populous county in the district?

Patrick McHenry (REP) 50.94% 7,038
Lance Sigmon (REP) 49.06% 6,778

And while Lance Sigmon might not help out the Democrats come November, it doesn't look like he'll be behind lil Pat either. From GoBlueRidge net:

“I’m not going to help them [Democrats] either, I’m just not going to endorse him [Patrick McHenry].

McHenry has already started throwing mud at our guy. This is from his website:

But Nancy Pelosi's chosen recruit, a trial lawyer from Raleigh, already has his pockets stuffed with cash from Washington liberals, and we know there will be more to come.

That didn't work next door in the eleventh in 06 but who knows, Pat, a lack of imagination never stopped you before, eh?

Here's Johnson's response:

"This is an untrue personal attack, and exactly the kind of politics that we in the 10th District are sick and tired of," said Johnson, "I am proud of my record serving the state of North Carolina as a prosecutor and standing up for the victims of violent crimes. I was encouraged to run by leaders from our community, and I look forward to serving my friends and neighbors in Washington."

The politics of division and the politics of fear are exactly what are keeping Congress from finding real solutions to the serious problems facing our community and our nation. The Johnson campaign looks forward to a campaign about the issues affecting our families in the 10th District--the rising cost of gasoline and healthcare, the need for new, high-paying jobs, and the care of our military men and women.

And talking about cash, Johnson had raised $217,062 and had $166,188 unspent by the mid-April reporting date. McHenry raised $871,846 during the same period. He spent $679,844 and had $325,663 in cash.

Go throw some money at Daniel, folks!

Statesville Landmark disses Pat

And endorses Sigmon!

Republican voters in the 10th District, which includes a big chunk of South Iredell, should thank McHenry for his service in Congress and then force him to get a real job. They can do just that by voting for Sigmon.

Wanna "weekend retreat" with McHorny?

Got $9200? You'll be part of Congressman Patrick McHenry's "Congressional Circle." Your benefits include "Private Washington, DC retreat" with Pat, including "meals and a reception." And what else????

It also gets you a"two complimentary tickets to all campaign events" and the "Annual McHenry Christmas Party," "free subscription" to an exciting campaign newsletter called the McHenry Campaign Insider (a fiction writer wouldn't make this stuff up), a commemorative pin," and (not last and not least) a semiannual conference call "update."

And supposedly campaign contributions don't buy access.

(Click on graphics and keep clicking for larger versions.)





What I want to know is what will it cost to get me a weekend with DUI staffer Brett Keeter and how many diamonds does he rate.

Cross posted at BlueNC and ScruHoo.

McHenry "stacking the district" with incompetent allies?

That's what news@norman is saying:

McHenry has been stacking the district with his puppets for several years in a power-grabbing machine-building scheme that is alienating many in the party, including a number of folks in East Lincoln who are now leaning towards McHenry’s opponent, Lance Sigmon.

He has more to say about insider Republicans:

While the primary campaign is beginning to heat up, Mitchem, Funderburk and McConnell reportedly had their pictures made with the Pillsbury Doughboy (aka McHenry) at a recent county GOP function.

That makes it appear to me as though the young, abrasive congressman is giving them the wink-wink in the GOP primary against more intelligent, thoughtful and community-minded candidates.

Things Look Bad for Pat

Things aren't going so well these days for the 10th's Pat McHenry, aka Patty McHorny (for those of us who like to get in some image framing with our news).

This started as a quick and easy short post but as the list grew and grew, I decided to present it in three parts. Starting with:

The Little Things

Yellow Brick Redux gave Patrick McHenry the Laziest Politician Award Gold for "Feeding at the Public Trough while accomplishing nothing." They noted that in the 110th Congress, Pat proposed one "feel-good" bill, four "bills that did something" and 6 amendments to bills. The poorest record for the entire NC state delegation to Congress.

Even Republicans like news@norman like Democratic opponent Daniel Johnson better.

Old time Lincoln Republican leader Jonas Harvey Jr. endorsed his primary opponent Lance Sigmon.

And last, but certainly not least, poor Pat lost 49 - 11 to Lance Sigmon Catwaba straw poll

Next in our series "Things Look Bad for Pat"

Part II: The National Situation for Republicans

"Photo Op" McHenry avoids debate with Iraq trip

I guess it's a good excuse to avoid debating a respected conservative opponent. And I suppose for security, he wasn't "allowed" to say where he'd be. But Democrat congressional candidate Daniel Johnson hit the nail on the head about Pat McHenry's recent publicity stunt to be seen with non-district troops in Iraq. From the Statesville Record & Landmark:

Hickory attorney Daniel Johnson, a Democratic candidate for McHenry’s seat, is not sure trips like this are necessary.

“I think a lot of politicians like to have their pictures taken with the soldiers in Iraq,” Johnson said.

Of course, Johnson, a decorated former Naval officer would know all about that . . .

“Iraq is one front on the war on terror,” he said. “And the question becomes, ‘Do we have enough troops and forces to deal with the other fronts?’ ”

Johnson said he believes the Taliban has been able to “re-establish a foothold” in Afghanistan.

“And al-Qaida, the people responsible for 9/11, are still out there,” he said.

Johnson said trips like the one made by McHenry are valuable only if “new” information can be gathered.

“But my concern is that too many politicians are going over there for the photo ops,” he said.

And why didn't McHenry go to Afghanistan? Not enough publicity boom for the risk? Those troops and those citizens have been virtually forgotten by both legislators and the press.

No word on the trip's cost to taxpayers, of course.

McHenry leaves US to avoid debating Lance?

According to PGBB commenter joyfulrunner (with thanks):

A friend of mine called his office to find out where he was that was so important that he could not attend - he was told that McHenry was "out of the country". Maybe he should stay out!!

Okay, maybe he had already planned the junket before the debate was scheduled. No wonder they were so touchy about it. Obviously, they don't want people to know. Is it because he's traveling abroad on your dime? Or because of where he's going in particular.

One would guess it's not Iraq since NC Congressmen went there just last month. Of course, if that is the destination, it would explain the secrecy (for security one would suppose).

And we know veterans pretty much despise him these days. But if it isn't Iraq, what could it be that would require such coyness? Public records will give it away, McHenry folks. Can't keep it secret forever . . . . and why do you want to?

Anyone else make the call? I'd love to hear if they're telling different things to different people. Or, if they think they can keep his travel secret, especially if we're paying for it (as is the case for most Congressional foreign travel)

Here's his contact info on your representative in Congress:

Washington, D.C. Office:
Phone: (202) 225-2576
Fax: (202) 225-0316

Hickory Office:
Phone: (828) 327-6100
Fax: (828) 327-8311

Pat refuses to attend debate

Hickory Record's Andrew Mackie wrote: "McHenry spokesperson said he couldn’t attend due to a non-disclosed scheduling conflict."

I guess it isn't the funeral or he would've said so.

Anyone want to find out where he is going to be hanging out?

If you use the EMAIL ME option on the upper left and ask for confidentiality I guarantee it.

Pat's DUI staffer Keeter runs Gaston GOP convention

It seems Republican Congressional candidate Lance Sigmon can go fuck himself, at least as far as Gaston County Republicans are concerned.

What else was the GOP thinking to have the deputy district director for one candidate run a convention that is allegedly for the entire party:

Here are a few 'graphs from the Gaston Gazette coverage:

Four Republican candidates for governor - Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, state Sen. Fred Smith, former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr and Salisbury attorney Bill Graham - spoke first during Saturday's breakfast and then quickly departed for the Mecklenburg County GOP Convention in Charlotte.

. . .

Convention Chairman Brett Keeter said the attendance Saturday was better than past conventions of the Gaston GOP and that's a good sign during a heated presidential race.

Writer Daniel Jackson needs to talk to his sports staff about how not to drink the subject's koolaid when covering the news. Brett Keeter has been in their own paper for several months for getting suspended as McHorny's Deputy District Director for his September DUI arrest and February guilty plea.

Not only is it weird to write Brett Keeter's name as if his DUI wasn't fairly recent news, it's completely illegitimate reporting not to mention Keeter is a high-level (and well-paid) McHenry staffer (or staffer on suspension).

I've never heard of county conventions being run by either campaign or district staff of a Congressman, particularly the year of a contested election. 11th District Congressman Heath Shuler's District staffer Randy Flack had to step down from running for Buncombe County Democratic Party Chair because of the potential conflict of interest.

It looks like Pat McHorny doesn't care too much about conflicts of interest, potential or otherwise. He must have too much to hide.

10th deemed a race to watch

Congressional Quarterly still calls our district "safe republican" but Election Inspection includes it in a list of "House races to watch:"

In the 10th District, Daniel Johnson has been a complete surprise. A Navy veteran and attorney, Johnson has raised more money than any challenger in this dsitrct in recent memory. While this district is heavily Republican territory, underfunded Democratic opponents hav consistenly gotten around 37% of the vote. Republican Patrick McHenry holds this seat and will be tough to defeat, but opportunities like this one can not be passed up in years like this.

And someone named John M. Setzler Jr. is obviously worried about the primary. He says Republicans don't have a reason to vote because the presidential candidate is already determined. But then (as he opines about how long it takes to change registration), he shows a photo of McHorny . . . and no mention of Lance but why else post the comments with the gigantic photo?

McHenry and money: what's he trying to hide?

Thoreau at BlueNC raises some good points:

It seems like Patrick McHenry has the stereotypical edge here in the 10th District- having claimed $140,000 earned in the last quarter (according to the Charlotte Observer). In fact, he's got a huge campaign fund, which he intends to use to blast his competitors off the map... or so we'd think. Unfortunately, due to his backwards view on finance, nepotism, and the money required to hide his illegal/immoral actions, McHenry may as well have no money at all.

Patrick McHenry is a man with many things to hide- be it his blatant homosexuality (which there is apparently photographic evidence of in some Dem. hands, though apparently they're hiding it... which should NOT be happening when he has so much of his term left), his misuse of finance (such as potential abuse when he was with the College Republicans), and basic problems all over the board. The man is a walking talking slew of secrets and coverups, which allows him to operate... though very nervously.

So where is this huge amount of money from places like Time Warner, Lowes, and Wells Fargo going? Here are a few reasons why you WON'T be seeing it going to traditional campaigns:

- Patrick McHenry hires his sister as a Campaign Treasurer for $1,200 a month. To the best of our knowledge, he does nothing.
- Patrick McHenry may be bribing some Democrats to keep a certain collection of pictures secret.
- Patrick McHenry seems to be spending an inordinate amount of money (over $25,000) on retaining lawyers (Wiley Rein, LLC) for his campaign, who, quite ironically, specialize in "Election Law and Government Ethics"- and this is right after more news comes out about the elections (in which he won) being rigged. Hmm...
- McHenry also sends an amazing amount of kick-back to the NRCC (over $70,000), a lot of which is rumored to be ensuring that McHenry stays on their good side... and keeps their mouths shut. This group is rumored to possess more McHenry info. In comparison, he only "gifted" $2,000 to the NCGOP.
- McHenry has even spent his cash on one of his big supporters, the "Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree", which (to the best of my recollection) is one of the places that promotes his help in this district (which has never come). Fact: He spent over $4,000 there. I wonder.
- Despite McHenry Real Estate being... well, fake, McHenry still seems to get a LOT of money (over $40,000) from that realm- when he doesn't even own a house he lives in, and, according to the rumor mill, lives with his new female staffer or his lover Brett Keeter, Mr. DWI (you know, the guy who wants to work in government but refuses to obey the most basic of laws).

Thoreau got this information from OpenSecrets.

He concludes:

Congress is in control of our purse strings, and if we want to give them that control, we have to see how they handle what they give them. And if this election is any indicator, the last man we need touching any of our money is Patrick T. McHenry.

Hey Pat, what exactly are you doing instead of debating Sigmon?

Running scared, methinks.

I saw this written by your beard girlfriend Lisa, at CharO:

McHenry declines to attend debate

Rep. Patrick McHenry says he won't attend a debate set up by Catawba County GOP leaders because of his schedule.

The Cherryville Republican says he'll continue to work with 10th Congressional District officials to set up a debate with his primary challenger, Lance Sigmon, an attorney from Newton.

"Congressman McHenry was not notified or consulted in any way before this was publicized," spokesman Wes Climer said. He declined to say where McHenry intended to be March 18.

Catawba County GOP Chairman Chip Canupp said the event, announced Friday, was scheduled after McHenry and Sigmon expressed an interest in debating. -- lisa zagaroli

Bu you know and we know that you have nothing in Congress that day. (Duh, that's why the organizers scheduled the debate then, bozo). So, what's up Pat? Don't bang the door on your way out, okay?

Interesting ad

McHenry burns half a mil, out-monied by Johnson

According to his FEC filing, 10th District incumbent annoyance Pat McHenry has burned over a half million dollars in campaign cash before the primary season has even begun.

And if you count McHenry's outstanding $90,000 2004 debt against his cash on hand, he has less in campaign funds right now than challenger and political newcomer Daniel Johnson.

This cycle (since the 2006 election), McHenry has raised 610,000 and spent 571,000. And the money isn't coming in fast enough to keep up with his spending. He raised $140,000 in 2007's fourth quarter. According to the FEC reports, Daniel Johnson raised just under $124,000. Thing is, Johnson only spent $5,000 to raise that nice chunk of change and McHenry spent $135,000. Oops.

What's up Pat? Things not going so well? I’ve heard your staff and allies are deserting your sinking ship. So sad.


UPDATE: Oh and what's that nine grand for DC law firm, Wiley Rein LLC? I notice that other candidates don't keep a lawyer on retainer with campaign funds.

Crossposted at BlueNC and Scrutiny Hooligans.

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.

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.