Nascar at the White House - Is the Democratic Tent Big Enough for Them?
Submitted by Corndogg on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 11:42am
When Nascar drivers, legends and fans are welcomed to the White House for a wonderful celebration of the sport and recognition of its history, could there be a bit more in play than just a toast to the winning teams? Politico has a fantastic story on the event (even noting that, of the current and former champions in attendance, they have contributed nearly $150k in political donations since the 1980s - all to Republicans!). However, that doesn't stop our President, or a potential future Senator, from recognizing both the significant achievements and passionate assistance the Nascar family has shown to North Carolina and the rest of the country. (Pictures can be found at Talking Points Memo).
A new personal blog post by former State Senator and potential 2010 U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham details Cunningham's long history with the sport, what it means to scores of North Carolinians and how public service emboldens the broader Nascar community.
Cunningham talks about being chosen to eulogize the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr. after his tragic accident at Daytona, his representing the people of "Race City, USA" (aka Mooresville) while he was in the N.C. Senate and how other drivers and owners have stepped up to the public service call and given back to their communities.
When exploring potential Senate bids, a candidate must look not only towards his passionate and powerful base (needed for a primary victory) but also towards a broader constituency that will propel him/her into office. Those who have been unsure of Cunningham's conviction to dive into this race head first can, upon hearing him in his own words, understand just how far sighted and engaged he really is. Much like a driver making a pass, a candidate relies on his experiences, knowledge and commitment to winning at the end of the race to develop the best possible decision at that, or any, given moment. I think this illustrates that Cunningham is patiently making the rounds, both in DC and NC, while setting himself up for a long, deserved victory.
After all, it doesn't matter how good the driver is, if they're out of gas or running in the wrong direction.
Cunningham takes time to show how the values and deep roots of Nascar stretch all the way to the South Lawn of the White House - even if there is a Democrat in office. After all, he subtly implies, the Democratic tent is big enough for them too. Cunningham is using his time and talents to prove, both to current supporters of his bid, as well as those currently across the aisle (that he will need to defeat Richard Burr next November) that those core Democratic principles of liberty, equality, prosperity and community as the same for all North Carolinians. I, for one, am proud he was in Washington yesterday on behalf of all North Carolinians. Here's hoping that in 2011 he'll be up there doing it again.
- Corndogg's blog
- 1567 reads
I sure was glad to see that my guy
Dale, Jr. was not on the giving list to Republicans. I remeber reading that he took his entire staff to see Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth." That's when he became "my guy."
Sweet Union Dem
This is smart
I love the positioning. Does the Democratic Party have a big enough tent to include NASCAR. Brilliant. Good move Team Cal!
Changing the face of NASCAR
And the face of Cal Cunningham ... all in one swell foop. I love it.
Absolutely, James
Here's a take on this. I loved the presentation:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/08/what-ever-happened-to-nascar-da...
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“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument is an exchange of ignorance" __ Robert Quillen
Just what else was he in DC for?
I'm glad he was there yo see this terrific event, but we don't all just head to DC (much less get on the South Lawn) if there isn't something else afoot. I bet he had a very productive trip. Can't wait to hear what else is coming out of Washington about Cal.
But in the meantime, hopefully he can bring us some Jr. autographs!
-- A liberal originally from Yadkin County. Did I just blow your mind?
As we Democrats raise NC liquor taxes from 7 to 8 percent 9/1
I'm so glad to see that honoring the "spirit" of what those early moonshine runners that invented NASCAR is all about is not entirely lost on half assed political maneuvering.
The line for the next Whiskey Rebellion forms behind me. That George Washington SOB won't know what hit him, and we finally will be free from England and D.C. alike.
Oh...
Not to be confused with megatron.
Not sure where you stand on raising NC liquor taxes metatron...
But....I'm wholeheartedly in favor of this. In my view, people make the choice to drink alcohol and, I also believe people make the choice to smoke. Both of these "sins" (as the right would call them) are very good sources of additional revenue for the state. It's not about some christian philosophy or some moral standard. It's about what people do to make a choice. If there's a choice between raising gasoline taxes and alcohol taxes, which one would you make? What about additional taxes on tobacco vs. power or gasoline or food, etc? Our state needs revenue. The state government gets its revenue through mostly one source and that is taxes. We have to be honest with ourselves here.
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“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument is an exchange of ignorance" __ Robert Quillen
As I've said before...
I do not trust you.
It may be the corn mash talking, but you're reasonable as well as pretty. I don't think you belong here.
I'll say it again. I do not trust you.
Not to be confused with megatron.
I'm hurt
Was it something I said or is there something else working here?
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“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument is an exchange of ignorance" __ Robert Quillen
instinct
And you're not hurt, you're flattered.
Not to be confused with megatron.
I don't know what is being said here
Met, I am on a number of blogs and put a lot of comments on many venues on the Internet. I am not "flattered" by you questioning something about me (although I don't have a clue what it is, to be honest). I don't like to get into a "back-and-forth" dialog with people on blogs that aren't set up to accomodate that and I truly do not believe Blue NC is that kind of blog. I hate it that you are suspect of me. I'm just being who I am. I hope that's enough for you and those that put their opinions on here. If not and if people don't want to see what I have to say, I will go to other places. I appreciate your honesty about me.
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“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument is an exchange of ignorance" __ Robert Quillen
As Colbert would say...
You're on notice.
But playing the game rather well. Carry on Sir or Madam.
Carry on Sir... or Madam?
Not to be confused with megatron.
Just like the "right"...
...it seems as though you are advocating the use of government force to support your subjective moral convictions (gas > alcohol?). Not very surprising at all. The "right" and "left" are two sides of the same coin. Two methods of executing the same strategy of totalitarianism. Two hands wrapped around the throat of humanity, gripping... tighter and tighter.
It's only a choice between raising the gasoline tax and raising the tax on alcohol because that's the choice you want. It's the choice between robbing a gas-guzzler and robbing a beer-guzzler. Or robbing someone who drinks once a year or robbing someone who only drives to their minimum wage job and back. Maybe it's the same person? Who cares, right? - We just want money for the glorious state! There are no other alternatives - why? Because you said so!
No, non-violent alternatives don't exist because they don't conform with a fundamental belief that human beings must be controlled and manipulated like livestock by some central authority. And if one thinks that "society" can be "improved" or "planned" by using violence/government to impose some sort of legal regime on human beings one has never even met: it's true that one not only overestimates one's own intelligence/knowledge but that one also views other humans as livestock to be managed.
True "reform", as defined subjectively by each individual human being, can only be achieved by removing the coercive forces that restrict their control over their own lives and "permitting" them (oh so graciously) to pursue their own happiness. But to achieve such reform one must be humble enough to realize that that one is incapable of attaining the wisdom required to make decisions on behalf of others, who will always have far more specialized information regarding their lives than any would-be central planner.
The state needs revenue? So the hell what? I need revenue. Lots of people need revenue - way more than the state does in my opinion. Tell me, should we legalize theft/robbery/extortion by the poor? Oh, that's right, average struggling people aren't THE GLORIOUS STATE, so they don't have the divine right to confiscate the property of others, by gunpoint, to improve their own lives for themselves... (Who exactly would be out of a job if the poor simply took care of themselves using the same methods that the government uses? Who's the middle man here?). Only well-intentioned and 'enlightened' statists can graciously do so on behalf of the poor (after first climbing the ladder of power and corruption, of course). That's "progress"?
Conservatives have "God", and liberals have the "State". Both are supposed (yet terrible/hypocritical) authorities of truth and morality; both are methods of social control and brainwashing; both are the result of well-coordinated and usually unintentional propaganda passed down from generation to generation; both have an indisputable historical record of operating as a vehicle of abuse of the masses for the benefit of a small oligarchy. Sadly they both continue to infest the political system and the minds of many well-intentioned people on both sides of the coin.
You say we have to be honest with ourselves, but are you even willing to admit to yourself the nature of the system that you seem to advocate? Do you even admit to yourself that you want to INCREASE the role of violence in social relations by creating and enforcing tax laws? Can you acknowledge the fact that you place state actors and regular 'citizens' (mere mortals) on entirely separate planes of morality? The hard truth is that defenders of a society based on statism have contradicting beliefs and irreconcilable expectations when it comes to average humans vs. state actors. The real choice is between war or peace, cooperation or force and disrespect or oppression.
Excuse me for advocating the latter of each of the above - any hyperbole was simply employed herein to make a basic point that violence is not "progressive" no matter how one might try to spin it.
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"The natural wage of labor is its product." -- Benjamin R. Tucker
A liberal is someone who thinks the system is broken and needs to be fixed, whereas a radical understands it’s working the way it’s supposed to.
Is NASCAR Hiring?
lot of us need jobs....
Depends on your vernacular
You have to be able to speak "NASCAR". You have to know what "crank" means for one thing and then you must get a real handle on each flag that is waved along the way. In addition, you will need to be extremely quick so as to get out of the way when the racecar comes into the pit to get tires and adjustments and a window wipe-off.
If you have that, put in your resume at www.jimmyjohnsondaleearnhartkylepettymarkmartin.com
Good luck to you.
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“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument is an exchange of ignorance" __ Robert Quillen