Earlier today, at DownWithTyranny, we discussed how the Republican brand is so tarnished nationally, that even in deeply red districts in The South, voters are turning away from the hatred and divisiveness the GOP represents to embrace the Democratic message of change and of shared prosperity for working families. Nowhere is that more obvious than in North Carolina's 8th CD, where progressive Larry Kissell is successfully challenging Bush rubber stamp Robin Hayes to a rematch. Hayes is best known in the district for crying like a little girl when Tom DeLay forced him to change his "no" vote on CAFTA, an unfair trade bill that helped to devastate North Carolina industry. Other than that rather embarrassing and humiliating episode, the multimillionaire out-of-touch congressman has kept his emotions to himself. Today's NY Observer, however, reveals, just in time for Halloween, another side of Robin Hayes: the Michele Bachmann side.
McCain called on two of the most dependable GOP rubber stamps in the North Carolina congressional delegation to work the crowd up at a rally in Concord, NC on Friday-- hyperbolic closet queen Patrick McHenry and the generally more cautious Hayes. But Hayes had a little... episode. After McHenry riled up the audience-- not very hard when you consider the kinds of little fascist animals who go to Republican rallies these days-- Hayes, at least at first, tried to calm it down so it would resemble a political rally instead of a KKK cross burning.
"It's like black and white," someone in the crowd at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center yelled out, laughing. McHenry let the remark pass and finished his speech. He yielded the microphone to Representative Robin Hayes, who prefaced his comments by saying it was important to "make sure we don't say something stupid, make sure we don't say something we don't mean." Republicans, he reminded the crowd, were kind people. Plus, he added, the liberal media had shown itself eager to distort such remarks. With the crowd duly chastened and put on best behavior, he accused Obama of "inciting class warfare" and said that "liberals hate real Americans that work and achieve and believe in God."
What is it with these lunatic fringe Republicans, who have failed our country so badly in office, trying to claim Democrats and liberals aren't "real Americans?" This weekend we saw McCain's chief spokesperson saying that northern Virginia isn't "real Virginia," which, she claimed, is more "southern." Palin routinely refers to areas where Republicans dominate as "real America." What is wrong with these divisive, ignorant people? McCain and his despicable crew would rather destroy the American compact than lose an election. Are they trying to foment another Civil War?
Larry is leading Hayes in the polling right now, but Hayes and his corporate allies are pouring money into the district. As of September 30 Hayes had $1,113,272 in his campaign bank account and Larry has only $250,134. Hayes is blanketing the district with negative smear attacks and Larry isn't up on broadcast TV. Two ways to go here-- donate directly to Larry's campaign at his Blue America page or go to our SaysMe.tv site, pick one of the two approved Kissell and run your own campaign on whatever stations you want. Prime time ads on MSNBC are $57 and on CNN late nights they're $29. We have a 30 second version of this great spot: