U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes is taking heat for his warm-up act.
Speaking at a John McCain rally in Concord Saturday, the Republican said that opening speakers need to "make sure we don’t say something stupid" because the liberal media would distort the remarks.
He then accused Democrat Barack Obama of "inciting class warfare” and said that "liberals hate real Americans that work and achieve and believe in God," according to The New York Observer.
A spokeswoman for Hayes, who is running for re-election against Democrat Larry Kissell, at first denied that Hayes had made the remark to the Washington-based political newspaper Politico, calling its account "irresponsible journalism."
However, a reporter with local radio station WFAE had audio of the remarks. (Politico posted the audio here.)
"I genuinely did not recall making the statement and, after reading it, there is no doubt that it came out completely the wrong way. I actually was trying to work to keep the crowd as respectful as possible, so this is definitely not what I intended," Hayes then said in a statement.

Comments
Re: Hayes: Liberals hate real Americans
December 3, 2008 - 3:12pm — deritastudioHayes told liberals what he thought of them, and liberals told Hayes what they thought of him at the polls. Good riddance to bad rubbish! Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey hey, goodbye! Sing it with me! Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey hey, goodbye!
Re: Liberals v. Americans
October 22, 2008 - 12:42pm — awbealAs you say, "lets look at the facts," although almost everything you've written is opinion, not fact. But you do have one "fact" which is wrong: Frederick Douglass was never on a Republican ballot in any election. He was only on a ballot once, as the vice presidential nominee of the Equal Rights Party in 1872. He was, however, a Republican. Douglass got a vote at the 1888 Republican National Convention but that was unsolicited. He was not on a "ballot." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass)
Re: Hayes: Liberals hate real Americans
October 22, 2008 - 11:32am — scharrison"The Republican party is American. We believe in states rates, value the documents of our founding fathers, and believe that nobody can be denied the right to pursue happiness."
Here is a list of all signing statements written by President Bush:
http://www.coherentbabble.com/signingstatements/TOCindex.htm
The tone and impact of his "Unitary Executive" approach to governing would have enraged all but a few of our Founding Fathers, who labored for years to establish the Balance of Powers that Bush has so casually rejected. They would have tarred, feathered, and rode him out of town on a rail, and you would know that if you actually studied the Founding Fathers.
Liberals v. Americans
October 22, 2008 - 10:26am — rpkt06Amazing how the truth can stir up so much controversy. If it was the other way around, "conservatives hate real Americans", then CNN( Clinton News Network, which recently became ONN-Obama news network- would be praising the congressman and label him as a future presidential candidate. In this day and age in America, truthfulness brings out anger in people. In defense of Congressman Hayes, lets look at the facts:
1. Liberals demonize those who support our troops and their fight against evil people whose entire goal in life is to kill as many Americans as possible. Their biggest concern is that a terrorist(s) are read their Miranda rights when arrested, and that they receive a fair trial.
2. Liberals are more concerned with saving the lives of trees - whales - penguins, etc.... more so than they are about the right(s) to life of a baby in the womb.
3. They believe the 10 commandments are really the 10 suggestions.
4. They want to pick and choose which parts of the Constitution (the law of the land) are relevant.
5. Liberals believe that the only people who are capable of holding high ranking positions in government are those who have an ivy league education.
6. Liberals think that anyone who still finds great value in religion and value in exercising their 2nd amendment right to bear arms is nothing more than a back wooded redneck.
7. Liberals believe that anyone who doesn't share their values is either; greedy, racist, sexist, hates the environment, uneducated, ignorant, a bible thumper, close minded.
8. Liberals think that capitalism is and evil and greedy system which doesn't allow us to be "brotherly" to one another.
**Liberals are the most caring and charitable people in the world, with other peoples money.
The Republican party is American. We believe in states rates, value the documents of our founding fathers, and believe that nobody can be denied the right to pursue happiness. This means that no one is entitled to anything, guaranteed nothing, but is free to pursue anything.
Don't forget, Republicans are the party that ended slavery. We were the first party to have a black man's name placed on a ballot, Fredrick B. Douglas.
Republicans love America, Liberals love to hate America.
Re: Hayes: Liberals hate real Americans
October 21, 2008 - 7:00pm — pirmin...I mean, think about it, you all could hold slaves again (you still prejudice immigrants, gay folks and people of color, right?), keep your women biblically in line, and just hang those you don't like...and let the rest of us move on without you. We should've let you go in 1861 when we had the chance.
Re: Hayes: Liberals hate real Americans
October 21, 2008 - 6:59pm — pirminOh my, you are all so unhappy...why don't you work toward NC secession? And how is anti-choice and anti-marriage equality LESS government?
Nice Orwellian Spin Re: Hayes: Liberals hate real Americans
October 21, 2008 - 5:50pm — mike27513Yep, Just because a group calls themselves Liberal doesn't mean they believe in Liberty and Freedom, Much like the Democratic People's Republic of [North] Korean is not a democratic republic.
George Orwell has a book you might read about "Big Brother".
As you also know Washington was concerned about another "King" as President and warned against too strong a presidency.
As Joe Biden says it's patriotic to pay taxes. So let's all be 100% patriotic
Re: Is this not true? Re: Hayes: Liberals hate real Americans
October 21, 2008 - 5:31pm — tobyrenaultmike27513
Obviously LIBERals hate LIBERty. Back in the 60s they considered calling themselves dictatorals but decided it wouldn't play well with the hippie wing of the party.
"This country was founded to break away from an all powerful centralized government" but "Liberals want a powerful centralized government like all despots do."
Actually mike27513, we had that whole constitutional convention thingy to decide that very issue. It turns out, Washington and Hamilton wanted a powerful centralized government (because the General was obviously a liberal despot), but some people (Jefferson) preferred the weak, decentralized variety. Jefferson was too busy palling around with despots in Paris to attend however, and his fellow Virginian (Madison) offered a compromise: the Federal Government.
Washington went on to hang people who didn't pay their taxes arguing: "You've got your representation, now you get your taxes."
Is this not true? Re: Hayes: Liberals hate real Americans
October 21, 2008 - 4:47pm — mike27513Is this inaccurate?
This country was founded to break away from an all powerful centralized government that is dictatorial. [King of England] and for INDIVIDUAL freedom and liberty.
The Liberals want a powerful centralized government like all despots do.
Sadly, most people these days are part of the Welfare State, which is the goal of Liberalism. To make all citizens dependent on the Federal government.
Hey, Governor Easley can you give my wife a 190K do nothing job like you got your wife?
Re: Hayes: Liberals hate real Americans
October 21, 2008 - 4:16pm — dahedgehogHe'll be liberated to his version of "real America" soon enough. No more need for him to go to "fake America" in Washington, DC.
Re: Hayes: Liberals hate real Americans
October 21, 2008 - 3:33pm — maiapinionHe didn't intend to say it, but he did. Maybe he didn't intend to vote for CAFTA, either, but he did.
Hayes has got to go.