Jim Neal
The goal: Galvanize Northwest North Carolina’s moderate and liberal Democrats. The hope: The ouster of radically conservative U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx.
That’s the stated purpose of Saturday’s Democratic North Carolina Fifth District Convention. It all kicks off at 11 a.m. at the Mitchell Community College Continuing Education Auditorium.
Party members will welcome one-time candidate for U.S. Senate, openly gay politician Jim Neal, who will be the featured speaker.
“I don’t plan on attacking Virginia Foxx, per se,” Neal told Q-Notes. “I want to use Virginia Foxx, her ignorance and complete disregard for family values as a teaching opportunity.”
Neal said Foxx “crossed the line” when she said the 1998 hate crime murder of Matthew Shepard was a “hoax” in late April. (“Local PFLAG to Virginia Foxx: ‘Hate is no Hoax,’” May 6)
The state’s Fifth District covers almost all of Northwest North Carolina, including the mountain town of Boone and part of the Triad’s Winston-Salem. David Crawford, the district’s Democratic chair, says the district’s conservative nature makes it difficult to organize and win.
“The energy Obama generated everywhere seemed to bring out the opposition here,” he told Q-Notes. “It galvanized our opposition — that’s not just Republicans, it is conservative Democrats, too.”
Crawford said he thinks Foxx’s move to the right is just a part of the game. “The fact that Virginia Foxx is on this crusade to make herself look outrageously, radically right, I think that is calculated on her part. I think that is how she thinks she is going to energize her base.”
Running a campaign portraying Foxx’s actions as counterproductive for the district will be the key to success. “We can elect a moderate democrat here,” he said. “It is a question of presenting somebody who is palatable to the people who have voted for Virginia Foxx, to the Democrats who have voted for her.”
Neal understands the frustration of district Democrats. Although he doesn’t live there, he’s more than happy to help constituents find a way to bring new representation to the area, replacing the “out of touch” elected official they currently have.
“She isn’t only reflecting poorly on herself, but she’s up there to represent the people of the Fifth District, to represent North Carolina,” he said. “She’s an embarrassment. She needs to be fired.”
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related stories:► Cunningham, Marshall speak out on ‘Don’t Ask’, May 26th, 2010
► Charlotte: Foxx to speak at ‘Happening’, April 17th, 2010
► After meeting with McIntyre, gay constituents report no progress, March 3rd, 2010
► Preview: Q&A with Anthony Foxx, November 19th, 2009
► Watch out Sue Myrick, the Tar Heel State is turning, November 14th, 2009
► Anthony Foxx triumphs in Charlotte mayoral race, November 3rd, 2009
► Local PFLAG to Virginia Foxx: ‘Hate is no Hoax’, May 16th, 2009
► N.C. congresswoman calls Matthew Shepard hate crime a hoax, April 30th, 2009
She really should be terminated. Hopefully the people of that district will never make such a mistake again.
Comment by Lorraine Piepkorn — May 15, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
David Crawford is correct. The Fifth District has many conservative Democrats who continue voting for Foxx. In order for a Democrat to win he/she will have to be moderate and run a campaign which portrays Foxx’s actions and voting record as harmful for the district. Foxx has been losing her home county for the past two election cycles. If we could manage a defeat in the Republican strongholds around the city of Winston-Salem we would oust her from office. The Fifth District is gerrymandered to where it is predominately Republican all around the city of Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem itself is Democratic and mostly in Mel Watt’s District (NC12). There needs to be a redrawing of the districts to make them more competitive!
Comment by Wade — May 16, 2009 @ 8:48 am