More DC and less NC from Cal Cunningham

Good luck on that one. The whole point of campaigning any more is to avoid taking a stance at all costs. I still think somebody could run a nice issues-oriented campaign and win, but maybe I'm just fooling myself.

Looks like the DSCC has annointed Cal as the "one." The primary campaign appears to be perfunctory. I think they will try much harder with Cal due to their embarrassing performance in Massachusetts. Ken and Elaine have been left out in the cold. I have know Elaine for many years and I must say she has provided excellent service to the Democratic Party for many, many years. It is a shame to see her treated in such a way by the DC Democrats. But that is politics and I guess the computers indicate that Cal is the best to oust Burr.

What we, as democrats, must do in this pre-primary period in NC is to get as many facts as we can about the three candidates vying for Burr's Senate seat and then make an informed decision on who we will ultimately vote for. I favor Cal currently because I think he is an extremely energetic, young, experienced candidate with a good vision for our state with a good military background (from what I have read and heard so far). I do like Elaine Marshall as well and respect the things she is doing and has done in her long career in government. I couldn't give a crap who the DSCC "annoints", as you put it Mountebank (and, yeah, I see that also and wish they would leave we North Carolinians to picking our own candidate, thank you). But, it does not dissuade me on Cunningham. Here's his latest email. He is pretty specific on his beliefs and his vision in this one: (Oh, and I have resisted becoming a "friend" of Cal's on Facebook. I'll do that if he wins in the primary, or will do it for ANY of the three democratic candidates that would win)

Dear Friend,

During last night's State of the Union, President Obama underscored the need to make creating jobs "our number one focus" going forward. I could not agree more.

That's why -- starting today and over the next several weeks -- I am rolling out a series of specific proposals to put North Carolina back to work and grow our economy from the bottom up.

You can be the first to know about my ideas for "Creating Jobs and Restoring Innovation to our Economy" by becoming a supporter on Facebook.

But this isn't about me, it's about you -- and every North Carolinian who knows what it's like to struggle to find work or pay the bills in this tough economy. In fact, many of the best ideas have come in from folks like Dana in Connelly Springs -- who suggested we develop stronger incentives and partnerships for sustainable, "green" job creation -- and countless others who have shared their ideas to jump start private sector job growth, close the federal deficit, end unfair trade practices, and hold Wall Street accountable.

And since creating and attracting competitive jobs starts in the classroom, I'm launching my jobs and innovation policy series with a detailed plan to "Invest in American Competitiveness Through Education."

VIDEO: Meet Lydia Mack, an elementary school teacher in Welcome, NC -- and learn what I think must be done to improve public and higher education.

Let's put the power of change behind bright, enthusiastic, hardworking teachers like Lydia Mack -- and lift up our kids in the process. We must grasp the fundamental connection between supporting higher education and growing our economy.

Together we can implement my detailed jobs and education proposals, which will:

Improve incentives to create new jobs and recruit more teachers;
Fix No Child Left Behind to improve K-12 education;
Expand job training programs;
Offer tax incentives for higher education, more federal student loans, and more funding for community colleges;
Create jobs by modernizing public schools;
Expand access to early education; and
Provide additional federal funding to educate students with special needs.
Click here to read my complete plan to "Invest in American Competitiveness Through Education."

We can implement these education initiatives without adding to the deficit. It starts by ending tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs overseas, and by closing capital gains tax loopholes. And that will take the kind of tough decision-making and political commitment that we haven't seen in Washington for quite some time.

Thanks for keeping in touch by becoming a supporter on Facebook -- and sharing your thoughts with me as we roll out more specific proposals to get our economy back on track.

Sincerely,

Cal Cunningham
Candidate for U.S. Senate

Both the DLCC and the Cunningham campaign have the exact same graphical format for their unsubscribe pages. The picture and wording is different, but otherwise (backgrounds, color, fonts, textures etc.) the webpages are identical.
Not a big deal in grand scheme, but telling.

:)

Cal's introduction & why he's running:

Cal speaking in NC:

Cal on education:

Cal states: "We can implement these education initiatives without adding to the deficit. It starts by ending tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs overseas, and by closing capital gains tax loopholes."

There must be a huge amount of money in these tax breaks and capital gains tax loopholes.

President Obama is pushing for job creation. I am all for that but I would prefer that the bulk of jobs be created in the private sector, not more government employees.

I would like to see some detailed elaboration on how anything can be done without adding to the deficit. It sounds good but I will remain skeptical as long as the Congress keeps raising the deficit cap. What was that amount this week - well over a trillion!

I would like for Cal to come out with a program to grab some of this big money the sleazeball lawyers make in these personal injury and medical malpratice lawsuits. If the lawyers don't quit crowding the corridors of the emergency room then the patients will die before getting to see the doctor they are going to sue - and the goose who layed the golden egg dies.

Maybe Cal will tell us how much can be made from tort reform. I am all for taxing the Wall Street bonuses and I am all for taxing these huge legal fees. What do the victims get - half if they are lucky. I don't think the bankers are any more sleazy than the lawyers!

There are more villians in the world than those greedy corporations. Leads me to wonder if it is the plan to kill all the corporations. Tell me again where the tax revenue will come from when we have beat the corporation to death. Let's spread the wealth.......and spread the damn pain!

I do pity all those who have lost their jobs and are losing their jobs at staggering rates. I'm not one of those who blame all the ills of the world on corporate profits as I prefer to think business built this country. Many historians credit America's industrial base as one of the primary reasons the Allies won WWII. And I do not think these corporations are laying off millions just for fun or because the corporations are evil.

Many individuals pay federal tax income because they receive a coroporate payroll check.

I know it is not fashionable to be in business these days nor is it fashionable to make a profit. But explain how our economy will survive without profit.

(I have owned my corporation for over 30 years. I appreciate you telling me how much easier it is for us. The accounting department must have made an error.)

People who make millions are already getting killed by the current tax code. Absolutely killed by state and federal taxes.

I do not have any facts but I would venture a guess that many, many people who make minimum wage page zero tax. If they do not pay zero then they certainly pay very little.

I do not want to see the US get to the point that a businessman or businesswoman decides it's easier to sit on the sidelines and clip coupons rather than open a company and hire people.

The tax code has been "progressive" for decades. Those that are in the upper income brackets in America have always paid a higher percentage of their income in taxes. Now, having said that, I do believe that because of the disparity between the "lesser income" folks and the "upper income" folks, those that make more are being counted on more and more to pick up our ever-increasing cost of government expenditures.

I do not believe that we should change that. What we must do is to get our economy growing again which will grow our individual employment numbers which will, in turn, create more tax contributions to the general fund.

Neither the last administration (which counted on the so-called "rich" just as much as any other administration in addition to the CURRENT administration) wants to stifle innovation or small business growth or even corporate profit margins. That is the source of revenue for government. That is the ONLY source of revenue for government, if you care to check it.

I think you have read or listened to one too many gloom and despair pundits. And, yes, I know they are coming from both sides of the aisle these days.

Please, PLEASE follow up on this. If Cal really hung out at Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, it's worth investigating.

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2010/02/excitement-in-north-carolina...

"The "meet & greet" was at the offices of sleazy corporate lobbyists Mehlman, Vogel, & Castagnetti, and hosted by Kelly Bingel & Jonathon Jones. The firm’s client roster reads like a who’s who of the groups that have fought to kill healthcare reform: AHIP, Pharma, Humana, and major pharmaceutical companies."

I think Rachel's comments about Republican whores should remind us that hypocrisy is a bad thing. Cunningham has been very outspoken that he is not fund raising for lobbyist money and supports President Obama on health care reform. What does this fundraiser mean? Is Cal being hypocritical on his lobbying stance? On health care? Both?