Wednesday, February 05, 2014

When Good People Get Fed Up

Clay Aiken is announcing today that he is indeed running for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District of North Carolina. Incumbent Republican Renee Ellmers' campaign immediately began playing the only gay card they could think of: Aiken, sez Ellmers' flack, represents "San Francisco values."

Please!

I believe that the young man who rose out of a bad domestic situation, who became a teacher of special needs students in public school, who started a foundation to help kids with disabilities -- I believe he represents North Carolina values far more than does Renee Ellmers.

A young man who had an amazing talent and who got rich because of it.

He's pictured this morning in the N&O with "consultant" Betsy Conti and "advisor" Gary Pearce, so he's also smart enough to surround himself with some smart, experienced people with deep North Carolina political knowledge.

Aiken has a primary in May with a couple of other contenders, but one of his primary opponents has already announced that he's dropping out and will endorse Aiken.

Clay told the N&O that Ellmers' flailing attacks on him suggested that she was nervous. Yeah. Call it "flop sweat."

4 comments:

Sally May said...

I watched Clay Aiken's announcement video. Straightforward and honest, just talking to the camera about what really matters to North Carolinians. Lordy! We need our own Clay Aiken in the 5th District! You can see Clay's video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpePzRPiB30&feature=youtu.be

Henery said...

This just in:
In a statement, Ellmers spokesperson Jessica Wood used traditional code words and phrases to attack Aiken, contrasting Aiken’s supposed “San Francisco” values with Ellmers’ support of families.

Wood called Aiken a “performer whose political views more closely resemble those of San Francisco than Sanford.”

Wood added, “Renee best represents the values of the voters in the 2nd District and remains focused on fighting for their families.”

The statement garnered swift criticism from a former executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party.

In an email to Wood, Dan Gurley, who is gay, criticized the statement and its tone.

“I’m sure you thought you were being clever with your statement yesterday when you said the following, ‘and Aiken, a performer whose political views more closely resemble those of San Francisco than Sanford,’” Gurley wrote. “Well, you weren’t. You were offensive and childish, and if you worked for me or any client of mine I’d fire you. Surely you know better than this. You have offended many on both sides of the political aisle with your ill thought out comments. Not only are you uncreative, but your [sic] small minded.”

Gurley, who’s also previously worked for the Republican National Committee and a variety of national Republican officials, called Ellmers a “good and decent woman who deserves better than this” and suggested Wood do better research on the candidates she represents. Ellmers publicly opposed North Carolina’s anti-LGBT state constitutional amendment in 2012.

“I’m embarrassed for [Ellmers] that this has happened. You should be ashamed. And you should be reprimanded,” Gurley told Wood.

Anonymous said...

Got to love how all these politicians claiming to know & represent NC values aren't even from here. I don't really think that should matter, but since they keep bringing it up, Renee Ellmers is from Michigan, Thom Tillis is from Florida, Dan Soucek from New Jersey... I'm sure there are many more to list.

Meanwhile, I was born and bred in the Old North State, and I can tell you right now that Clay Aiken represents MY idea of North Carolina values more than any of these pompous politicians who presume to talk for us.

Anonymous said...

Exactly what qualifications does Mr. Aiken have that makes you want to vote for him? Does he have any experience?