Coming as a surprise to nobody, Republican Sue Myrick endorsed Jim Pendergraph as her hand picked successor Monday - following that up quickly with an email blast seeking fundraising support for the former Democrat running in the heavily Republican and newly re-drawn NC-9 Congressional District.
I say this is no surprise because the two are long-time friends, and as was pointed out in this Examiner.com article, they even lived in the same building during Mr Pendergraph's short stay in Washington while working for Homeland Security in the Bush administration. Incidentally, it was during that stay way back in 2008 when Mr Pendergraph underwent his conversion to the Republican party. Since Mr Pendergraph was the first to announce for the NC-9 seat mere hours after Rep Myrick announced her retirement, its not unreasonable to think that announcement probably didn't come as much a surprise to Mr Pendergraph as it did everyone else.
I understand that it certainly must have made life easier in DC being a Republican in a Republican administration, but I have to ask myself why Mr Pendergraph waited so long to make the switch. Maybe Rep Myrick convinced him that being a Republican wasn't so bad. He could still support massive boondoggle train spending like she has for the Charlotte Streetcar - being the only elected Republican to write a letter of recommendation for the project. Or maybe it was her votes for massive government expansion like Medicare Part D and the Patriot Act?
NC-9 voters have the opportunity to pick a solid, long-term conservative this election. I'm highly doubtful that Mr Pendergraph influenced by Rep Myrick's brand of conservatism fits that description.
NoteClick on name for link to page with Facebook comment.
Myrick was not a Conservative. Pendergraph is NOT a Conservative.
ReplyDeleteSteinberg and Shaffer were actually the first two in the race, having announced they were taking Sue on before she announced she was leaving.
This endorsement is nothing more than Establishment politics at its worst. If the Establishment and the Ruling Class Elites make you sick vote for ABP (Anyone BUT Pendergraph)
(via Facebook) - what's the problem with sue endorsing him? we all endorse someone and if he's her choice, whats wrong with announcing it? jim has worked hard on illegal imigration issues and so has sue.. i would think yea, that would make the 2 of them have something in common... i stay with friends when im in dc, saves me monies.. not being argumentive with your post but some of the basis of it is stuff thats "normal", my opinion.. :)
ReplyDelete(via Facebook) - There's no problem at all with someone endorsing someone they support. Just pointing out that we have the opportunity to pick the most solid long-term conservative, and Rep Myrick's endorsement doesn't necessarily equal that. (And you weren't being argumentative at all.)
ReplyDelete(via Facebook) - This is lame mainly because Myrick previously swore up and down she wasn't going to endorse anyone in this race. That, coupled with the fact that I saw a Pittenger television ad last night, makes me think Myrick supported Pendergraph from the get-go, and wasn't confident Pendergraph could pull it off without her.
ReplyDelete(via Facebook)- Why would Ms. Myrick endorse anyone this early. Let the people hear what the candidates have to say. Mr. Pittenger has been a force for good for many years, as have others. To limit the support to Mr. Pendergraph who strapped us with Mr. Mackey after quitting,... quitting his position leaves many wondering what she is thinking.
ReplyDelete(via Facebook) - Pendergraph is going to do the same thing he did during the county commission race - sit back on his laurels banking on name recognition. While other candidates that have a real true message are busting their asses and truly engaging voters directly, he talks to news cameras...just like he did in the BOCC race.
ReplyDeleteIf he makes it to Congress as a GOP candidate - after only being in the GOP a few years - it will say to me that the GOP primary voters that get him to DC either didn't bother doing their homework, or just flat-out don't care, and don't mind voting for who the news media and GOP Good Old Boys-n-Girls club tell them to.
(via Facebook) - That would be a shame wouldn't it? It would say a lot about the state of things.
ReplyDelete(via facebook) - If you look at his Facebook page, you will see that Pendergraph has been actively campaigning and not resting on his laurels. He's been all over the 9th District in the last week and today is holding a press conference on illegal immigration with several area sheriffs.
ReplyDelete(via Facebook) - There are candidates for District 9 that haven't wavered from their party and don't jump office to office for whatever reason. They are who I am looking at for where my vote will go. He also pulled a stunt during the county commission race that had my jaw on the ground. The party may be able to forget if they think they have a sure thing, but my vote has to be earned, not just because someone goes in assuming a win.
ReplyDeleteJim Pendergraph is a political opportunist. Plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteJim Pendergraph is not even the 10th most Conservative candidate in the race. Plain and simple.
Jim Pendergraph has never worked in the private sector. How's he going to do anything meaningful to grow jobs.
To all of you that Pendergraph supporters, I suppose the truth hurts.....but its still the truth.