McCAIN AND MYRICK PUSH TO LOWER GAS PRICES
McCain plays with fire on offshore drilling
By Charles Mahtesian and David Mark
Politico.com
June 18, 2008
By calling for an end to the federal ban on offshore oil drilling, John McCain is placing a risky bet. He is wagering that skyrocketing gas prices have finally reached a tipping point, a threshold moment that has led voters to rethink their strong and long-held opinions against coastal oil exploration.
The stakes couldn’t be higher: If he is wrong, McCain will have seriously damaged his chances in two key states with thousands of miles of coastline — California and Florida — and where opposition to offshore oil drilling has been unwavering. And he will have undermined some of his closest political allies in those states and others, including potential fall battlegrounds such as Virginia and North Carolina. …
State Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa, a Northern California Republican who favors offshore drilling, acknowledged drilling would be a heavy political lift but said rising prices may be a mitigating factor.
“Traditionally in California, it’s very difficult to move anything that even hints of being an environmentally sensitive issue. ... But people are sick and tired of creeping up to $5 gas. Will $5 a gallon be enough? $6? $7?” he said. "If [McCain] can articulate that we can safely and responsibly do this kind of exploration off shore, and that will lower gas prices and help national security, reasonable people would buy that notion.”
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) also brushed off concerns that calls to lift the oil drilling moratorium could alienate environmentally minded independent voters.
“I don’t see it as a problem. In paying $4 a gallon for gas, the American people have come to realize we’ve got to get oil for ourselves,” said Myrick, who recently introduced legislation that would overturn a long-standing moratorium on drilling for oil and natural gas off the Atlantic Coast. “Everybody wants clean beaches. I certainly would not do anything that was going to destroy anything.”
Myrick and others pointed to a new Rasmussen Reports survey — conducted before McCain announced his proposal on Monday — which found that 67 percent of voters believed drilling should be allowed off the coasts of California, Florida and other states. Only 18 percent disagreed and 15 percent were undecided. According to the poll, conservative and moderate voters strongly support offshore drilling, while liberals are more evenly divided: 46 percent of liberals favor drilling; 37 percent oppose it.
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FROM THE TRAIL: Perdue Still Refusing to Match McCRORY Debates
Pat McCrory, has committed to 10 debates including three with a statewide audience
By Rob Cross
County NC News
June 17, 2008
Beverly Perdue is still refusing to join Pat McCrory in a series of joint issue forums across North Carolina. Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue has only agreed to just three regional debates and two regional forums. Meanwhile, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, Pat McCrory, has committed to 10 debates including three with a statewide audience. …
McCrory Campaign Manager Richard Hudson, released the following statement on the issue:
"All too often, Raleigh politicians like Lt. Gov. Perdue think they're above being responsive and accountable to the folks they've been entrusted to represent. She continues to reject all statewide debates and clearly feels no need to make her positions known to the very people she hopes will choose her as their next governor.
"Beverly Perdue was able to find time to attend a PAC reception for a special interest group of trial lawyers. Obviously, raising money with liberal special interests is a higher priority for the lieutenant governor than participating in two UNC-TV debates that would reach voters statewide on public television. If elected governor, Pat McCrory will represent all of North Carolina, not just special interest fringe groups."
It is not surprising that Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue is still refusing to expose herself to the general public in a subjective atmosphere. History always repeats itself, and it is no different here in this gubernatorial race. Visibly, from Beverly Perdue's past history as Lieutenant Governor, she opines the "have a need to know" point of view in regards to the North Carolina general public. …
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NCGOP IN THE NEWS
Delegate, 18, eyes GOP convention
By Justin Vick
Concord and Kannapolis Independent Tribune
June 16, 2008
Nelia Hamby of Kannapolis will be among the 2,380 delegates who will determine one-half of this year’s presidential ballot during the Republican National Convention in September.
Hamby, an 18-year-old sophomore attending UNC Asheville, was recently elected to represent the 8th District Republican Party as a delegate at the Minnesota convention.
Her undertaking defies stereotypes that members of the Republican Party are getting close to retirement age, said Chris McCartan, chairman of the Cabarrus County GOP. She has been a mainstay at GOP functions.
“She’s bright and up-to-date with current events and partisan politics,” McCartan said. “She’s very much the new face of the Republican Party.”
Hamby has been heavily involved in the Republican Party for a long time, partly because she’s the daughter of District Court Judge William Hamby Jr. She attended her first GOP meeting before her first birthday.
“I was a very well-behaved child so my parents dragged me to pretty much everything, including Republican meetings,” she said. “I’m a conservative person. It’s been a place I’ve grown up and known and have been able to participate pretty much my whole life.”
She used youth to her advantage in campaigning for one of three delegate positions in North Carolina’s 8th District. She said the Republican Party needed youth representation to counter that of the Democratic Party.
“There’s a place in the Republican Party for youth, too,” she said. “You don’t have to be young and on one side.” …
Brent Woodcox, communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party, believes she is among the youngest elected to serve as a delegate.
“I think it’s awesome to have someone who understands they have a voice and can be part of the process,” Woodcox said. “We always talk about elections being about the next generation. Maybe they ought to be a part of it.”
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FROM THE PRESS ROOM: DEMOCRATS HAVE NO NEW IDEAS FOR EDUCATION
Same Failed Policies Bring Same Failing Results
NCGOP Press Release
June 17, 2008
RALEIGH—A recent study by the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center (EPE), the non-profit organization that publishes Education Week, highlights that North Carolina’s high school graduation rate stands at 67.0% for the class of 2005. North Carolina ranked 40th of the 50 states according to the study. The EPE report also pointed out the fact that the state reported a graduation rate of 95.0% for 2005, the top reported rate in the nation, by using a calculus far different than the cohort rate employed by the EPE report and far closer to the real number of students graduating in 2005. To see the full details of the report, please visit: http://www.edweek.org/ media/ew/dc/2008/40sgb.nc.h27
Chairman Linda Daves, North Carolina Republican Party, made the following statement:
“This report confirms a sad truth about North Carolina’s education policy: We are failing one in three high school students. Instead of addressing the problems in our state’s schools with common-sense solutions or rethinking the same failed educational policies of the past, the Democrat leadership has offered more of the same in its new budget. Instead of considered alternatives to the paths we have already followed to dead ends in education, Democrats prefer to continue to throw more money at the problem while providing no oversight or accountability to ensure that North Carolina taxpayers are getting their money’s worth when it comes to education. Democrats have refused to consider worthy ideas such as expanding career, technical and vocational education options for our high school students. They have refused to lift the cap on charter schools even though we have seen great success stories in many of these schools. They have refused to evaluate the effectiveness of pet projects like More at Four or Smart Start or examine the efficiency of previous grants directed at dropout prevention. We need a change. We need accountability. We need leadership. We need vision in education if we are to solve the problems we face in our state’s public schools. The unfortunate fact is that Democrats are more interested in serving unions and special interests to maintain their power than they are in serving the best interests of children in North Carolina. We can do better and we will do better with Republican leadership in Raleigh.”
FROM THE BLOG: The new guilt by association
By Brent Woodcox
Communications Director/Assistant Legal Counsel, North Carolina Republican Party
When the NCGOP ran the “Extreme” ad nearly two months ago, we were universally condemned for engaging in “guilt by association” politics. Nearly every newspaper in the state accused us of being malicious, twisting the facts, or worse. So-called “guilt by association” was universally decried as a scare tactic not worthy of serious debate. Here are just a few examples of the press coverage at the time.
“That's a ludicrous defense of this kind of guilt by association, twice removed.” (“Action, low-down,” News & Observer, April 25, 2008 http://www.newsobserver.com
“Let's call it guilt by association by association.” (Curtis, Mary C., “‘Extreme” link, twice removed,” Charlotte Observer, April 26, 2008 http://www.charlotte.com/local
“…this old and tired guilt-by-association gimmick.” (Betts, Jack, “GOP ad the latest in N.C. to rely on race,” Charlotte Observer, April 27, 2008 http://www.charlotte.com/291
“…guilt-by-tenuous-association tricks…” (“Despicable Ad,” Winston-Salem Journal, April 25, 2008 http://www2.journalnow.com
Now, of course, there is a new guilt by association tactic being deployed by Democrat candidates against Republicans. Suddenly, guilt by association is all the rage. It looks to be positively fashionable for the fall. It’s as in as designer jeans and big sunglasses. Most prominently, you see the new guilt by association tactic being employed by Barack Obama. Obama can’t utter a single sentence anymore without somehow trying to relate John McCain to President Bush. Everything now is the “Bush-McCain” policy or “Bush-McCain” tactic. Even Kay Hagan has got in on the mix by sending out a mailer trying to tie Senator Dole to President Bush.
Maybe Democrats need to be reminded that the Constitution term-limits President Bush. His name will not be on the ballot this year. However, Democrats without new ideas of their own would rather run against an unpopular incumbent President than actually offer solutions to the problems facing North Carolinians. The media is quick to go into lockstep with the Democrat talking points. Suddenly over their initial qualms with guilt by association politics, reporters are all too eager to remind voters that Republicans come from the same party as the President.
Never mind that John McCain has parted with the President on some of the most important issues being debated this year. Senator McCain has taken principled stands on wasteful spending, earmarks, the surge strategy in Iraq, and energy policy. His positions have not always made him well-liked by the left or the right, but he has always stuck to what he believed was the correct course for the country. Senator McCain has his own vision for the country and would set his own bold course as President. Lest we forget, Senator McCain was the last Republican to oppose President Bush in his run to the White House. With these facts, it cannot be seriously contended that John McCain represents a third Bush term.
The same can be said of Senator Dole. Though Kay Hagan would not like to admit it, Senator Dole has been a vocal critic of the Bush Administration on issues important to North Carolinians. That includes being a primary sponsor of the 287(g) program that gave tools to local sheriffs so they can work with federal officials to see that illegal aliens caught committing further crimes are deported and not released back on our streets. It also includes pushing for the Iraqi government to start shouldering the financial responsibility for the War in Iraq so we can do more to improve our economy and rein in government spending here at home. She has also consistently been an advocate for North Carolina farmers and workers to make sure they get a fair shake from the federal government.
It is time for the media to stop parroting the talking points of opportunistic Democrat politicians and start focusing on the issues of this campaign. Simply yelling the name “George Bush” at the top of your lungs as many times as you can is not an agenda to change our state and nation for the better. It is a tired, unimaginative attack and North Carolinians deserve better. We deserve a full airing of the issues of this campaign and I hope the media will do its part to provide that debate.
TAKE BACK OUR STATE RALLY SET FOR JUNE 25
Bob Dole to join Michael Steele at NC Take Back Our State Rally
I’m pleased to announce that Senator Bob Dole will be joining former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele at the Take Back Our State Rally on Wednesday, June 25th at 4:30 pm at Halifax Mall behind the General Assembly.
This is an opportunity for you to reach state leaders about some of the most important issues facing North Carolina today and let our elected officials know how you feel about issues like higher taxes and big government, with renowned national and state conservative leaders by your side.
There will be Free Food! LIVE Beach Music with The Craig Woolard Band!
The Take Back Our State Rally is an event for the entire family! Make your voice heard in the battle for lower taxes, smaller government private property rights, and laws that protect traditional families.
So, REGISTER today and join Bob Dole, Michael Steele, and hundreds of conservatives on June 25th on Halifax Mall behind the General Assembly at 4:30 pm and together we can Take Back Our State!
Sincerely,
Dallas Woodhouse
Americans for Prosperity Foundation
North Carolina, State Director
P.S. We’re offering bus transportation from different areas of the state, check out the links below for one near you.
Coming from Asheville? Ride our bus for only $10.00.
For more information Register Here.
Coming from Wilmington? Ride our bus for only $10.00.
For more information Register Here.
Coming from Jacksonville / New Bern? Ride our bus for only $10.00.
For more information Register Here.
