Hickory-based blogger Joe Womack noticed on his Facebook news feed that he wasn't seeing many messages from his Congressman, U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry.

The abrupt end followed some comments Womack made on McHenry's page about why the nation even needs health insurance companies, Womack writes on his "Pretty Penny" blog. Then Womack realized what had happened:

"I had been "de-friended," he wrote.

A message from McHenry's page explained that McHenry, a Cherryville Republican, keeps a page for friends and another "fan" page for everyone else.

If the online slight is still stinging next year, Womack could always de-friend McHenry on election day.