G.K. Butterfield

No spotlight for North Carolina

bkrueger — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:30:48 -0400

DENVER - The great state of North Carolina, home of the First Flight, yada, yada, yada.

Never happened.

North Carolina never had a chance Wednesday night to announce its vote for Barack Obama after he was nominated by acclamation, reports Rob Christensen.

The North Carolina vote was to have been announced at the Democratic National Convention by state party chairman Jerry Meek, Gov. Mike Easley and U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield.

Obama supporters followed different paths

bniolet — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:18:42 -0400

DENVER — When Barack Obama accepts the nomination tonight, it will be a powerful moment for many black Democrats.

While most now support Obama's candidacy, they traveled different paths to get there. A Congressman, a state legislator and a delegate highlight how expectations of black people may depend on when they grew up.

Many older people were initially cautious, skeptical that the country was ready. For many younger blacks, Obama represented a generation more optimistic about the possibility of biracial politics.

Veteran North Carolina black leaders such as U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield and U.S. Rep. Mel Watt of Charlotte initially endorsed former Sen. John Edwards. Younger blacks, such as state Rep. Ty Harrell of Raleigh and Sidney Echevarria, a Bank of America worker from Belmont, were more likely to sign on early with Obama. (N&O)

N.C. trio to call state's vote

bkrueger — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:07:47 -0400

DENVER – When North Carolina's roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention is announced tonight, it will be delivered by three people – state Democratic Chairman Jerry Meek, Gov. Mike Easley and U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield.

That is, if it's announced at all.

There is talk that when the roll call gets to New York, Sen. Hillary Clinton will move that her one-time rival, Barack Obama, be nominated by acclamation. If that's the case, North Carolina will not get its moment in the sun, reports Rob Christensen.

Meek said it unusual, but not unprecedented, that three people would announce the vote. He plans a meeting this afternoon to decide what should be said.

His own personal preference, Meek quipped, is “the home of Duke basketball.” Meek, of course, is a Duke alum.

The actual voting by the delegation began this morning at a delegation breakfast. Because Obama won North Carolina, the outcome is not a mystery.

Kennedy, Kissell and the coming campaign

bkrueger — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:24:43 -0400

DENVER – All seven Democratic congressmen representing North Carolina showed up Tuesday morning at a state delegation breakfast in an unusual show of unity.

Rep. David Price of Chapel Hill talked about U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy's speech Monday night and how much it meant to someone who had come of age politically during the Kennedy years. reports Rob Christensen.

He also said there was a strong chance that Democrats would add to their numbers by electing Larry Kissell over Republican Rep. Robin Hayes in the 8th District.

Reps. Mel Watt of Charlotte and G. K. Butterfield of Wilson urged delegates not to emphasize race in the presidential campaign despite the historic nature of Barack Obama's candidacy. Both said there are other ssues far more important to the country, such as the economy, the war in Iraq and the growing federal budget deficit.

“Don't let the media here or back home let you get trapped in the race question,” Butterfield said.

Two Democrats know their homes

DavidIngram — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:04:14 -0400

State Rep. Dan Blue and U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield know how many homes they own.

The two Democrats held a news conference Thursday at Barack Obama's Raleigh office to criticize John McCain. The presumptive Republican nominee for president had expressed confusion about how many homes he and his wife Cindy own.

"Senator McCain is not in touch with the American people," Butterfield said.

"If you own so many that you can't keep up with them," Blue said, "then you ought to make an effort to see what regular people are going through."

So how many do Blue and Butterfield, both of whom are lawyers, own?

For Blue: one, in Raleigh. For Butterfield: two, a one-bedroom in Washington and a house in Wilson.

And, Butterfield added, the Washington home cost him more.

UPDATE: Linda Daves, chair of the N.C. Republican Party, released a statement in response to Blue and Butterfield. She accused Obama of being out of touch with average North Carolinians, citing his recent vacation to Hawaii and the millions he has made from writing two books.

"No, when it comes to being an out of touch celebrity, Barack Obama has no equal," Daves said. "The only thing Obama and his friends proved today is that they are more interested in raising taxes than in raising the level of debate."

How N.C. delegation voted, Part II

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:03:05 -0400

How often have North Carolina's members of Congress voted with President Bush?

Congressional Quarterly, a Washington-based news service, has compiled statistics based on votes taken in which the president has a clear position.

Here are the results of a recent study of all roll-call votes from Bush's inauguration until the August recess in 2008:

Republicans:

Rep. Sue Myrick: 89 percent
Sen. Richard Burr*: 88 percent
Sen. Elizabeth Dole*: 88 percent
Rep. Virginia Foxx*: 88 percent
Rep. Patrick McHenry*: 86 percent
Rep. Howard Coble: 77 percent
Rep. Robin Hayes: 72 percent
Rep. Walter Jones: 57 percent

Democrats:

Rep. Mike McIntyre: 40 percent
Rep. Bob Etheridge: 30 percent
Rep. David Price: 21 percent
Rep. Heath Shuler*: 19 percent
Rep. Brad Miller*: 18 percent
Rep. G.K. Butterfield*: 17 percent
Rep. Mel Watt: 13 percent

Members who were elected since 2001 are noted with an asterisk.

A recent post used the averages of each year's score by Congressional Quarterly, but a representative of the news service said that method is inaccurate.

How often N.C. delegation voted with Bush

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:43:26 -0400

How often have North Carolina's members of Congress voted with President Bush?

Congressional Quarterly, a Washington-based news service, has compiled statistics based on votes taken in which the president has a clear position.

Here are the averages since Bush took office through last year:

Republicans:

Sen. Elizabeth Dole*: 91.6 percent
Rep. Sue Myrick: 91.4 percent
Sen. Richard Burr*: 89.4 percent
Rep. Patrick McHenry*: 87.3 percent
Rep. Virginia Foxx*: 87 percent
Rep. Robin Hayes: 81.9 percent
Rep. Howard Coble: 79.6 percent
Rep. Walter Jones: 65 percent

Democrats:

Rep. Mike McIntyre: 50.7 percent
Rep. Bob Etheridge: 37.3 percent
Rep. David Price: 27.4 percent
Rep. G.K. Butterfield*: 24.8 percent
Rep. Heath Shuler*: 19 percent
Rep. Brad Miller*: 17.9 percent
Rep. Mel Watt: 16.1 percent

Members who were elected since 2001 are noted with an asterisk.

Dole has been in office since 2003. Burr's score is an average of his Senate score since 2005 (88.7 percent) and his House score from 2001-2004 (90 percent).

McHenry and Foxx have been in office since 2005, Butterfield since 2004, Shuler since 2007 and Miller since 2003.

Update: A representative of Congressional Quarterly said that averaging the yearly scores is mathematically incorrect. A complete tally of voting scores is available here.

Close (and not-so) ties to Obama

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:55:21 -0400

How closely tied are North Carolina's Congressional Democrats to their presidential nominee?

Though all but one of the state's seven Democratic representatives will cast their superdelegate vote for Barack Obama, they're at slightly different levels.

Here's where they stand, from closest to least close:

G.K. Butterfield: Switched endorsement from John Edwards before the South Carolina primary. Stumped in Tennessee, Louisiana and Georgia. Participated in multiple teleconferences. Talked to reporters. Served on "Truth Squad." Attended rallies. District backed Obama by 63 percent. Name-checked in acceptance speech. Still working.

David Price: Defended Obama. Endorsed before primary, after Edwards dropped out. Participated in teleconferences. District backed Obama by 66 percent. Name-checked in acceptance speech. Still working.

Mel Watt: Previously skeptical of black candidate's chances. Endorsed before primary, after Edwards dropped out. Participated in teleconferences. Served on "Truth Squad." District backed Obama by 78 percent. Name-checked in acceptance speech.

Brad Miller: Wife sat behind Obama for acceptance speech. District backed Obama by 63 percent Stayed neutral before primary, endorsed shortly afterward.

Bob Etheridge: District backed Obama. Stayed neutral before primary. Endorsed Obama the day before Clinton dropped out. Attended Obama rally.

Mike McIntyre: District backed Clinton. Stayed neutral before primary. Endorsed Obama the day before Clinton dropped out.

Heath Shuler: Received $10,000 from Obama's PAC in 2006. District backed Clinton. Endorsed Clinton after primary. Staff says he's been too busy to think about race since then.

Dem. delegation endorses Hagan

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:42:01 -0400

The state's Congressional Democrats endorsed Kay Hagan.

The seven U.S. representatives issued a joint endorsement of the Democratic nominee, who faces U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole in November.

"Kay Hagan has a decade-long record of effectiveness in the North Carolina state Senate, and has earned the distinction of being one of the Senate's top 10 most effective lawmakers for three consecutive terms," said U.S. Rep. David Price in a statement. "She's a work horse, not a show horse."

Along with Price, U.S. Reps. Mel Watt, Mike McIntyre, Bob Etheridge, Brad Miller, G.K. Butterfield and Heath Shuler backed Hagan.

"I'm so honored to receive these endorsements," Kay said. "I'm looking forward to working with them in my campaign and of course, when I am up in Washington working in the U.S. Senate."

Obama's shout-outs

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:19:31 -0400

Barack Obama recognized Democratic pols in the crowd.

At the N.C. State Fairgrounds today, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee recognized Gov. Mike Easley, John and Elizabeth Edwards, U.S. Reps. Bob Etheridge and G.K. Butterfield.

He also noted the three Democratic governors being escorted by Edwards: Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana, Gov. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and former Gov. Roy Romer of Colorado.