Dems host Johnson fundraiser

Submitted by bkrueger on May 21, 2008 - 1:36pm.
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The state’s Democratic congressional delegation hosted a fundraiser this morning in Washington for Daniel Johnson, a candidate for the 10th Congressional District seat.

Johnson is challenging Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of Cherryville in November.

The fundraiser was held at Tortilla Coast, a popular restaurant about a block from the House row of office buildings on Capitol Hill. Most tickets ranged from $250 to $1,000 a plate, though House staffers could get in for $100, reports Barb Barrett.

The event was hosted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and its chairman, Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, along with U.S. Reps. David Price, Bob Etheridge, Mel Watt, Heath Shuler, Brad Miller and G.K. Butterfield.

Of Tar Heel representatives, only U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre’s name was omitted. Spokesman Dean Mitchell said McIntyre was a host, but that the invitation was sent before the office’s official approval. McIntyre was not able to attend.

State Republicans jumped on the fundraiser as proof that Johnson is a Washington-backed politician. GOP Chairwoman Linda Daves today wrote Johnson a letter:

Only a few days after issuing a patently false press release claiming that your pockets have not been stuffed with cash from Washington liberals and attacking Congressman McHenry for pointing that out, I am shocked and appalled to discover that you are in Washington today for a fundraiser hosted by several liberal, Washington politicians.

You owe Congressman McHenry and the people of Western North Carolina an apology.

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Re: Dems host Johnson fundraiser

Submitted by FFC1304 on May 22, 2008 - 6:36am.

Careful, Congressman Shuler refuses to be branded a lieberal...lol...

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Re: Dems host Johnson fundraiser

Submitted by Proctor on May 22, 2008 - 3:36am.

The Republicans are to be commended for elevating the Democrats in the 10th District to the status of liberal Washington Insiders. The last Democrat to win election to Congress from the 10th District was Basil Whitener in 1960 before Republican Jim Broyhill of Lenoir reeled off the first of 12 congressional terms there in from 1962 through 1984.

Of course, Sen. Sam J. Ervin Jr., whose hometown of Morganton was also in the 10th District, served the Western Piedmont and the rest of North Carolina in the U.S. Senate until 1975, but Senator Sam was not known for dining regularly on caviar and champagne with all those limousine liberals in Washington.

And the neighboring 9th District was not exactly the bastion of Democratic congressional clout in Congress. The 9th started voting Republican on a regular basis in 1952 when Dwight Eisenhower was elected to his first term as President. So if Western Piedmont Democrats can keep up this pace, they can figure to win a U.S. House term every half century or so.

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