Robin Hayes, Charlie Taylor ... Doofuses on Parade

News is out all over that two North Carolina congressmen are responsible for the passage of CAFTA ... Robin Hayes and Charlie Taylor. Hayes just plain flip-flopped under pressure. Taylor failed to vote, and his promised "no," along with Hayes' promised "no," would have sunk it.

Hayes, a frail reed on which to balance a sacred honor, had previously bragged "I am flat-out, completely, horizontally opposed to CAFTA," and "It's not in the best interests of the core constituency I represent," and "Every time I drive through Kannapolis and I see those empty plants, I know there is no way I could vote for CAFTA."

A little arm-twisting later, Hayes completely changed his mind (such as it is).

Meanwhile, Taylor didn't vote and is scrambling to claim that he did vote NO but that the machine malfunctioned. That's a "dog ate my homework" excuse, and we trust that in the N.C. 11th District the people won't buy it. Taylor has a real viable opponent in 2006 already, former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler of Waynesville, who may remind voters that Taylor couldn't accomplish even the most basic functions of his job in D.C. -- i.e., VOTING on a bill that has a direct impact on his constituents.