Henderson County GOP No Longer Co-ordinating With Mumpower

The Hendersonville Times-News is reporting that the Henderson County GOP is distancing themselves from congressional candidate Carl Mumpower:

Danos provided no other details for the decision, though he had said that party officials were increasingly frustrated in recent weeks with Mumpower’s positions, including his support for impeaching President Bush over border security, his opposition to the domestic surveillance bill and his threat to suspend his campaign if mountain counties did not endorse his “Principles First” campaign.

Commentary

For the most part, I believe Mumpower is hitting the nail on the head.

What I think is hard on regional Republicans is that Mumpower is an involved candidate. Congressman Taylor was not involved in his campaigns, and was a very hard person to get in contact with (I never was able to speak to him in person during the 2006 Campaign, and spoke to Heath Shuler several times, even though I am a Republican).

Republicans in the NC-11 District have forgotten what it is like to have a candidate that is not controlled by handlers and gate keepers.

Mumpower Campaign Suspension Ends Macon County GOP Unanimously Supports party Principles

See WNC Citizens Blog for the story.

Six NC-11 Counties Support "Principles First Campaign"

I wrote about it on WNC Citizens Blog.

I am really surprised at how everyone has misinterpreted this move by Mumpower, and misunderestimated him. Just ask his former opponents in the GOP Primary. I know I did.

In my opinion, the core of his support comes from people seeing him portrayed on WLOS as the sole adult on City Council (not on purpose, to be sure) all these years. Take this video I posted of Mumpower making Mayor Bellamy (and The Fab Four) look like idiots on the matter of partisan elections in Asheville. He was vindicated by the voters of Asheville, when they rejected the measure.

Mumpower Interviewed On The Morning Report By Jerri Jameson

The host of WWNC’s The Morning Report, Jerri Jameson, interviewed Dr. Carl Mumpower regarding his latest press release. I was able to record the interview and put together a slide show to accompany the audio.

Previously:

Mumpower Challenges District Party Leaders To Stand On Principles,
Puts Campaign On Hold

Mumpower Challenges District Party Leaders To Stand On Principles, Puts Campaign On Hold

**update** 10.06 AM Mumpower was interviewed on WWNC-AM this morning, and I recorded the interview.

Here are two Press Releases from the Mumpower e-Express:

July 12, 2008

From: Carl Mumpower, 11th District GOP Congressional Candidate
To: Mr. Steve Duncan, 11th District Chair
Subject: Principles First Campaign

Dear Mr. Duncan:

As you know, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has defined the 11th District to be a “frontline race”. I am looking forward to an accelerating campaign that finds us earning versus purchasing a seat in Congress. To that end, it is my belief that as Republicans, we must reestablish a foundation of trust and authenticity with the conservative and independent voters of Western North Carolina. There is a keen and widespread belief, that at a local, state, and especially national level, the GOP has betrayed promises made to the American people. I believe that reestablishing our credibility with the voters is and should be Job One and would offer the following observations-

* When you have no party operating from principles, then the party with the least principles will win.
* That is why the Democrats are successfully using an appeal to people’s selfish interests as a ticket to power.
* Unless we Republicans return to being Republicans, America’s drift toward big government socialism will continue.
* The Republican Party has a defined platform of principles that have been sacrificed to power and other priorities.
* There are many in the 11th District who wish to ‘unite and ignite’ our party around the core principles of being careful with other people’s money, keeping people big and government small, and protecting the sanctity of America.
* It is our responsibility to uphold and ground our own party – not a Democrat party kidnapped by extremists and special interests.
* Job Two, successfully challenging Heath Shuler, requires the foundation of Job One. Without that foundation, I will be just another puppet for a corrupt party – like our current congressman.

With these concerns in mind, I am formally requesting the following-

* That a majority of counties in the 11th district commit to a renewed dedication to our core principles.
* That each develop a sincere process for challenging local, state, and national Republican elected officials on votes that sidestep or otherwise betray our core guiding principles.
* That these communications be shared with the District Chair, me, and others at each county’s discretion.

Effectively immediately, my direct fight against Heath Shuler will be on the back burner until the Republican Party has achieved a rededicated focus in the 11th District. At that point it will no longer be necessary for me to publically challenge my elected colleagues, as there will be a persisting and credible system in place that will help assure accountability by our Republican elected officials. I can then focus my full attention on holding Congressman Shuler accountable for the mismatch between his words and actions and unprincipled efforts to purchase a seat in Congress. I welcome your help and assistance with each of these goals.

With regards,

Carl Mumpower
11th District Republican Congressional Candidate

Copy(s):

———————-
Principles of the Republican Party

I’m a Republican Because…

I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.
I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.
I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.
I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.
I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations, and that the best government is that which governs least.
I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.
I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.
I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.
FINALLY, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

———————

“I will always place principle before party, power, or popularity – and take the heat that comes with that position.”

Carl Mumpower – 11th District Republican Congressional Candidate
###

Then the second one:

Mumpower Puts Congressional Campaign On Hold

In a Saturday open letter to 11th District GOP officials, Congressional candidate Carl Mumpower has taken the unusual step of putting his campaign on hold, calling a “Principles First” campaign to be Job One. Stepping away from his fight against Shuler in the interest of the betterment of the Republican Party is courageous, considering that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has called this contest “a frontline race”.

Mumpower says that Job One has always been to unite and ignite his party around their stated principles – most of which center on being careful with other people’s money, keeping people big and government small, and protecting the sanctity of America. “In that there has been no timely action on an earlier call toward principles, it falls on me to press for action,” says Mumpower. “Without that foundation, I will be just another puppet for a corrupt party – like our current Congressman.”

“When no party is operating from principles, then the party with the least principles will win,” notes Mumpower. “The Democrats are successfully appealing to people’s selfish interests as a ticket to power. Unless we Republicans return to being Republicans, America’s drift toward big government socialism will continue. Republican leaders and elected officials have been sidestepping their principles and courage buttons for years. Hopefully, this will be a refresher course on the good things that can happen when one voice refuses to give into the herd running toward a cliff.”

“To this end, I am asking for a majority of counties in the 11th district to commit to our guiding principles and develop their own process for challenging local, state, and national Republican elected officials on votes that ignore those principles,” said Mumpower. “Until we get that commitment in place, campaign efforts with Republican organizations are on hold. WNC will know shortly whether the Republican Party of this District is going to stand for something voters can count on or not.”

“The fight for ‘Principles First’ can begin here and now in the 11th District,” says Mumpower. “We will unite and get back to our roots, or I will fail knowing that I tried. Not until this fight is out of the way will I focus my full attention on holding Congressman Shuler accountable for the mismatch between his promises and actions.”

Carl Mumpower – 11th District Republican Congressional Candidate

Principles before party, power, or popularity – always.

###

Candidate Website

Commentary

Mumpower is correct. The Republican Party nationwide has shirked from standing on principles, and as a result (deservedly so), lost it’s majority in Congress. Aside from The Hit Men who are removing RINOs from office by convincing them to “take early retirement”, I see little evidence the party leadership has changed.

Locally, some of the party leadership took umbrage at Mumpower’s stand that Bush had not fulfilled his oath of office when it came to Illegal Immigration. I am glad these people have exposed themselves so the party members can work on elected new leaders when the time comes in Polk and Jackson Counties.

While I do not agree with Mumpower on every issue, I am assured that he will follow his principles, and not the dictates of corrupt party interests.

Congressional Candidate Dr. Carl Mumpower: Taking A Stand On Principle

This is a video of Dr. Carl Mumpower, who is challenging Congressman Heath Shuler for the US House Seat representing the North Carolina 11th Congressional District, speaking and taking questions at the monthly meeting of Citizens For Change in Buncombe County.

He goes over some of his principles, and discusses recent activity and controversy in his campaign, and takes a few questions from attendees.

What makes this video different is that it is the work of longtime conservative activist, Kathy Rhodarmer. She will be another set of of eyes and ears on the ground for the people of North Carolina, and Buncombe County. Another Citizen Journalist is being born!

I look forward to seeing more of her work in the future, and collaborating with her, and others in Buncombe County on event coverage.

Mumpower: A Conspiracy of Complacency on Illegal Immigration

~PRESS RELEASE~

Two of the largest public works projects in Asheville, the county parking garage and city water system upgrade, are playing a big role in the widespread conspiracy on illegal immigration in WNC. In both cases a majority of the hands on workers do not speak English – a pointed indication of extraordinary success in hiring disadvantaged legal immigrants or patterned indifference to the illegal status of a large group of employees. Though the use of public dollars to fund law breakers is especially galling, our city and county governments are certainly not alone in sidestepping the rule of law.

Throughout WNC, industries, restaurants, and small businesses dodge the law and wink at the false documents routinely used by people who are here illegally. The Catholic Church of North Carolina recently took the veil off their internal policy of appeasement with a formal position paper that included statements such as, “We are particularly distressed by the recent tragedies of our brothers and sisters who are faced with the escalation in deportation enforcement in our states.” What about the fact that most of those deported have repeatedly violated our borders or engaged in criminal activities within our borders? The Catholic Church, along with many other denominations, is apparently no less self-serving in their efforts to recruit new Hispanic members than our President and Congressional leaders are at recruiting new Hispanic voters.

Affirming the legal status of an employee is not difficult. Through a Federal program called E-Verify (www.vis-dhs.com/EmployerRegistration), any registered employer can obey the law and support the sanctity of our borders by assuring that a worker is also playing it by the rules.

Reversing the flow of illegal immigrants overloading our social service, school, health care, and criminal justice systems is not impossible or even complicated. It all begins with the word accountability – most specifically for those employers who are providing the money and jobs that are funding the flood at the expense of the rest of us. Enthusiastic federal, state, and local enforcement with fines and other consequences will quickly motivate employers to stop side stepping their competition, shifting real costs to tax payers, and ignoring the law.

For any of the above to come to fruition, the majority of Americans who believe that illegal immigration is wrong are going to have to hold our politicians accountable for their complacency. Democrats and members of my own party alike are co-conspirators in dodging this issue and allowing employers and enablers to conspire to break the law. What started as a wink and a surrender to self-service has evolved into the greatest law breaking scheme in America’s history. That is not something that any of us should be complacent about.

Carl Mumpower
11th District Congressional Candidate

Principles before party, power, or popularity – always.

###

Campaign Website

Commentary

I notice that on the construction projects on the campus of Western Carolina University, there are a lot of Spanish-speaking people as well. I wonder how many of them are illegal aliens, and how many local people would love the opportunity to work on these projects.

I think I’ll note the numbers of the construction companies and ask if they use eVerify, and I’ll ask the college as well about their policy on this matter.

This is something we can all do, you would be surprised at how effective a few phone calls can be in bringing about policy changes.

WNC Citizens Protest Mexican Consulate in Hendersonville

The protest I wrote about yesterday is previewed in the following video shot by Richard Bernier of URTV‘s Sound Off Buncombe:

He hopes to have full hour up by Sunday Night on Google Video, and it will be airing on URTV in Buncombe and Madison Counties on Charter Cable Channel 20.

Shuler, Foxx, and McHenry Vote To Pass FISA

Democratic Congressman Heath Shuler (NC-11) joined with Republicans Virginia Foxx (NC-05) and Patrick McHenry (NC-10) to pass HR 6304, better known as FISA, in a 293 to 129 vote.

This bill will provide much needed immunity from prosecution to Telecomms who have cooperated in good faith with the Federal Government in monitoring the communications of terrorists.

I salute Congressman Shuler and the Democratic Leadership who voted to support President George W. Bush and the Republicans in the effort to protect our nation from future attacks.

Congressman Shuler has proven himself as a Democrat much like Senator Joe Lieberman, only more conservative.

**update** 2.52pm June 22, 2008

Shuler’s Office has a Press Release on the FISA Vote, and it follows:

Rep. Shuler Statement on House Passed FISA Legislation

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Heath Shuler released the following statement today after the
House passed, H.R. 6034, The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Act of 2008.

“The FISA legislation passed by the House today strikes the important balance between protecting our
nation from new and evolving terrorist threats, while also safeguarding our civil liberties. I am glad that
after working for nearly a year on this legislation, Democrats and Republicans came together to achieve a
positive, long term solution.

“This legislation improves the civil liberties protections in the original FISA by specifying that individual
warrants are required to conduct surveillance on Americans residing inside or outside of the United
States, and outlaws the practice of reverse-targeting. It also affirms that FISA is the only means available
to the U.S. government to conduct surveillance.

“The bill we passed today does not provide retroactive blanket immunity for warrantless wiretapping.
Instead, it requires any telecommunications company that provided information to the Department of
Justice following the attacks of September 11th
to prove in Federal court that this information was
demanded by Federal agencies and that the Department of Justice provided written assurance that its
actions were legal.

“Courts will not have the discretion to provide any immunity for government officials who have violated
the law. This requirement will ensure that the truth will finally come out in open court, and that any
government official who broke the law will be held fully accountable.”

###

Mumpower: Shuler Votes More Liberal Than Murtha and Kucinich

I haven’t been posting these as regular as I should have been:

~PRESS RELEASE~

According to many national issue surveys, the state of the economy is the number one concern for most Americans. The Club for Growth, a national policy body with a primary focus on economic growth issues, tracks the pro-economic growth votes of leaders in the House and Senate. Per their calculations, 11th district Congressman Heath Shuler votes against economic growth 98% of the time – a record more anti-growth than that of his liberal colleagues in Congress – John Murtha, Charles Rangel and Dennis Kucinich.

The organization uses the following pro-economic policy goals to assess leadership standing-

· Making the Bush tax cuts permanent
· Death tax repeal
· Cutting and limiting government spending
· Social Security reform /personal accounts
· Expanding free trade
· Legal reform to end abusive lawsuits
· Replacing the current tax code
· School choice
· Regulatory reform and deregulation

John Murtha scored 5%, Rangel 12%, and Kucinich 6% while Shuler scored 2% on the pro economic growth screen. In contrast, North Carolina Republicans Sue Myrick, Patrick McHenry, and Virginia Foxx scored 89-90% on the same criteria.

Shuler’s Republican opponent in the 11th District race, Carl Mumpower, points to the score as an objective measurement of the Congressman’s true political leanings. “As politicians we are defined by our voting record, not by what we call ourselves,” said Mumpower. “Mr. Shuler may have a few conservative positions, but that does not make him a conservative anymore than a bank robber taking off Sunday can be called a preacher.” “Most people in WNC are concerned about the direction of our economy, and these folks at the Club for Growth are too. That’s why they are shining light on actual voting records over common perceptions. Mr. Shuler is not a conservative and with those percentages his independence and concern for the economy also merit challenge.”

Carl Mumpower
11th District Republican Congressional Candidate

Principles before party, power, or popularity-always.

###
Mumpower Campaign Website