Look at Pat lie

Thanks to Greg Flynn at BlueNC we discover what McHenry posted at the RSC blog.

Raising Taxes Is An Accomplishment?

So now we've seen the Democrats' Mother of All Tax Hikes. But Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. The federal government is set to spend more money next year than the GDP of every country on Earth other than Japan. The Democrats have already voted to raise taxes by more than $100 billion this year, so it’s not surprising that their idea of tax reform simply means higher taxes. The surprising part is that they’ll tell you with a straight face that a trillion dollar tax hike is a major accomplishment.

Posted by Rep. Patrick McHenry (10-25-2007, 02:49 PM) filed under Taxes

And, as he lies, he doesn't mind ignoring the trillion the Republicans have spent on a war they lied about to get us into. Oh, yeah and a war that has taken so many lives they don't have the guts to count them.

Johnson announcement coverage roundup

The headline for the Hickory Daily Record:

Hickory Navy hero enters congressional race

And you've gotta like their lead:

A Hickory military hero officially embarked on a congressional campaign Wednesday.

The Raleigh N&O stepped back into Republican framing:

Former sailor, assistant DA announces run for McHenry's seat

A sailor? Since when does a military hero get downgraded to sailor? Oh, right, when the "mainstream" media is talking about a Democrat, of course.

CharO did one step better than their Raleigh cousin:

Ex-Wake prosecutor, a Hickory native, known for saving fellow sailor

Carolina Politics Online's lead:

Pledging to represent the values of North Carolina with character and integrity, Daniel Johnson announced today that he is running to represent North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District in the United States Congress.

And from the North Carolina Democratic Party:

Daniel Johnson served in the United States Navy from 1998-2000, receiving the Navy Marine Corps Medal, the Navy's highest peacetime award for heroism. For the past three years, Daniel Johnson served as an assistant district attorney in North Carolina. As a prosecutor, he began by prosecuting charges of DWI and other misdemeanors and rose to prosecute a wide range of felony cases that included drug trafficking, robbery, and murder.

“I will be a leader who is part of the solution in Washington, not part of the problem. I promise to rise above the divisive politics that have plagued our government for too long, and focus on representing the values and priorities of North Carolina,” Johnson continued. “This means making sure our kids have the heath care they deserve, our families and small businesses get the tax breaks they need, and our veterans are taken care of when they return home.”

Daniel Johnson earned an undergraduate and law degree from the University of North Carolina, where he met his wife, Creecy. He currently resides in his hometown of Hickory.

This is just a sample. Google Daniel Johnson and comment (where possible) on the article to let people know how excited we are about our candidate!!!!

The fun is just beginning folks.

It's official: Johnson announces!!!!

Jerimee has it at BlueNC.

“Running for Congress is a continuation of my service to America and the people of North Carolina,” said Johnson. “I look around the area I grew up in, and see people struggling with keeping their jobs, affording their health care and just making ends meet. It is time for a new brand of leadership – one that the people of this district can be proud of. I have the character and the experience needed to be an effective representative for my state.”

Pat's peep Fraley evades assault charges

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McHenry parties with Delay

at the opening of his new company, First Principles. I guess Delay is trying to invoke the spirit of Thomas Paine who advocated for a government by election and representation rather than one succession and heredity.

But if you look at the list of party-goers, you have to think Delay has chosen his heirs. In crime and politics.

From the Crypt at politico.com

Tom DeLay: used to controlling a party

He wasn’t gone for long, but Tom DeLay has returned to Capitol Hill.

His new firm, First Principles, had its opening party last night . . .

They list the guests: Texans Sen. John Cornyn, former Rep. Henry Bonilla, Rep. Mike Conaway, NC's Rep. Patrick McHenry, as well as Pastor Rick Scarboro of Vision America, former Rep. Bill Paxon and Ken Blackwell.

Being D.C., things got started at 6 p.m. but went into the wee hours of the night — goers were probably encouraged by the fully stocked bar and cigars.

Hmm cigars.

Full disclosure, the photo is from an engagement party and not the Capitol Hill Tom Delay gala.

Xposted at Pat'sGone, BlueNC.

Roll Call blasts McHenry

Thank God someone in the traditional media (with far more resources than yours truly) finally started asking Pat McHenry the financial questions we've been picking at for months.

In a subscription-only article Roll Call not only questions McHenry's new-found wealth, but also has the reportorial balls to highlight his appalling hypocrisy about openness.

Particularly of note, Roll Call uncovered a third unreported property. We'd already told you that McHenry owns two homes in the district whose ownership and financing he is not required to disclose publicly. However, he inherited a $40,000 share of lakefront property in Lincoln County he has also never reported.

And, remember, McHenry sits on the House Committee on Financial Services, whose legislation directly affects companies in the real estate financing business.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) took to the House floor late last spring and ripped into Democrats for blocking his proposal requiring Members to disclose the existence and value of their personal residences. “We’ve seen in recent Washington scandals the results of this loophole that allows Members to hide ownership of properties,” McHenry said.

Roll Call went on to say that McHenry has "taken considerable liberty himself with the House’s personal property exemption" not disclosing two homes and that third lake front property they say adds up to over $300,000.

In addition, since he was first elected in 2004, McHenry’s financial statements overall offer only vague hints into myriad land deals that are transforming Congress’ youngest Member from a college student, who is a licensed real estate agent, into a prosperous man in less than a decade.

Check out my article at PageOneQ.com.

Here are a few more tidbits:

For example, on this year’s forms McHenry disclosed his October 2006 purchase of a house in central North Carolina. Public records show McHenry paid $87,500 for the property, which he bought from a local politician. Within months of the sale, tax assessors determined the house was worth 30 percent more.

UPDATE: The local pol: Gaston County Commissioner Allen Fraley who within a week donated $500 to McHenry's campaign.

And last summer McHenry, his four siblings and a business partner sold a 40-acre plot to a local developer for $1.5 million. The developer, Charlotte-based E.C. Griffith Co., plans to soon break ground on a 1,000-plus-unit suburban housing development. McHenry made a short-term profit of at least 200 percent on the deal.

It's particularly amazing to me how much he won't even respond to their questions.

What do you have to hide, Pat? Or, perhaps I should be asking, is there anything you aren't hiding?

Meet future NC Senator Jim Neal

Read what he has to say for himself taking questions from strangers as he live-blogged on BlueNC for an hour on Saturday.

LINKS: Here's his Senate campaign website. And his ActBlue page.

Here's what BlueNC's Anglico had to say after talking to Jim privately for an hour last week.

On family. Jim Neal raised his two sons as a single parent for 15 or so years. I met one of his sons, who is a bright and warm young man. It was clear that both father and son adore each other. As a person who myself was a single parent for many years, I know what it takes to do what he's done. That should tell you all you need to know about Jim Neal's family values.

On North Carolina. Jim was born in Greensboro. He has also lived in South Carolina, California and probably elsewhere. But he is a Tar Heel through and through. Not a carpet-bagger. Not an occasional visitor. Not a fair-weather friend. He is one of us, and it shows.

On money. Jim Neal knows how to do fundraising. He has done the work of meeting and greeting many of the Big Cheeses, and I feel certain he will be able to raise the $12+ million necessary to run an effective campaign.

On politics. Jim first got involved in politics back when LBJ was running for president. He has been something of a political junkie ever since, though he has not run for office until now. That said, he has been chomping at the bit and his children are now old enough - they have given him their blessing to run.

On campaigning. Jim wakes up every morning with one mission: defeat Liddy Dole. Like many of us, he knows from people all across the state that she is extremely vulnerable. Because despite her efforts to try to distance herself from the Decider, there is one fundamental truth in this campaign. Liddy Dole = George Bush. It doesn't get much simpler than that.

On soft drinks. Mr. Neal favors Diet Coke.

On a primary. Will anyone else enter the race and create a primary contest? Jim says it doesn't really matter to him. A primary would create some visibility, but it would also siphon off resources. In any case, he's very clear that the person he's running against Elizabeth Dole.

On personality. Jim Neal is a nice guy with a razor sharp edge. You can tell within two seconds of meeting him that he is totally driven. He shares our outrage about what Republicans have done to our nation and he is committed to setting things right. He is soft-spoken and articulate, and very, very clear about what's important to him. He asks good questions and he listens to the answers. He seems like a person who does what he says he will do, which is my number one measure of integrity.

Other links:WUNC article, News & Observer profile, Radio Left, Daily Kos, Pam Spaulding.