Looking dapper and tan in a well-tailored blue suit, Congressman Heath Shuler talked about job creation, partisanship, the need to balance the federal budget — and his own ambitions to be Speaker of the House — at a luncheon today sponsored by the Council of Independent Business Owners. Xpress covered the event live and shot a brief video interview with Shuler after his speech:
The two-term “Blue Dog” Democrat spoke for approximately an hour and took questions from the audience. In response to a question about whether or not he supported Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, Shuler expressed his own interest in the position, saying:
Here's what I've been talking about. Who have I been talking about running our country? The middle. So I haven't ruled out the idea that I might not run. So I may have… we'll wait and see. We'll see who's actually up for it, and who decides to put their hat in the ring. You never know, maybe a Blue Dog will make it.
Watch the video of the Shuler speaking about the issue:
The monthly “Power Lunch” kicked off with CIBO President Rod Hudgins presenting a special award to CIBO member Colonel Tom Cathey for his heroic service in Iraq. Shuler presented him with a flag that had flown over the United States Capitol. The event was held at Magnolia’s Bar & Grille in downtown Asheville.
Editor's note: Xpress reporter Michael Muller was the campaign manager for Dr. Carl Mumpower in the 2008 Republican primary, although he left that campaign after Mumpower won the election. We don't feel that Muller's reporting on Congressman Shuler is necessarily influenced by his past association with Mumpower or the Republican Party, although we believe it is in the interests of full disclosure to share this fact with our readers.
The two-term “Blue Dog” Democrat spoke for approximately an hour and took questions from the audience. In response to a question about whether or not he supported Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, Shuler expressed his own interest in the position, saying:
Here's what I've been talking about. Who have I been talking about running our country? The middle. So I haven't ruled out the idea that I might not run. So I may have… we'll wait and see. We'll see who's actually up for it, and who decides to put their hat in the ring. You never know, maybe a Blue Dog will make it.
Watch the video of the Shuler speaking about the issue:
The monthly “Power Lunch” kicked off with CIBO President Rod Hudgins presenting a special award to CIBO member Colonel Tom Cathey for his heroic service in Iraq. Shuler presented him with a flag that had flown over the United States Capitol. The event was held at Magnolia’s Bar & Grille in downtown Asheville.
Editor's note: Xpress reporter Michael Muller was the campaign manager for Dr. Carl Mumpower in the 2008 Republican primary, although he left that campaign after Mumpower won the election. We don't feel that Muller's reporting on Congressman Shuler is necessarily influenced by his past association with Mumpower or the Republican Party, although we believe it is in the interests of full disclosure to share this fact with our readers.
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Don't you have to actually be able to speak to be Speaker of the House?
By shadmarsh
08/26/2010
Anyone but Shuler. What a joke, speaker of the house...ha ha ha.
By bbbb
08/26/2010
Speaker Of The House???
Not over my dead Progressive Democratic Voter body.
Get a clue, Heath: Your vote of "No" on the Health Care legislation vote with over 21% of your constituents without health care coverage or insurance of any kind in the 11th District should have sent a wake-up call to you by now. If not, then wait and see what November brings.... It may be a squeaker for you, or it may be.... Either way, there isn't much of a difference between you and your Blue Dog DINO's than Brand "R".
By Lamont Cranston
08/26/2010
Only language Bush spoke was monkey gibberish & he was appointed to office twice. Apparently the qualifications for lying, corrupt, sleazy politicians have been lowered.
By Bjorn
08/27/2010
Would Rep. Shuler be interested in running for Minority Whip?
...............................
By timothypeck
08/27/2010
I don't think that the Left, Right or Center wants Heath as Speaker.
By JWTJr
08/27/2010
Shuler will win re-election, his district applies to more then just down town Asheville.
Go Shuler!
By Asheville Dweller
08/27/2010
Go Shuler!
I'd love to tell him where.
By Ken Hanke
08/27/2010
He will win. Not that that's a real victory for anyone.
By JWTJr
08/27/2010
SoH ??? Is this Shuler's 'August surprise'???
ROFLMAO!
By UnaffiliatedVoter
08/27/2010
I wouldn't discount Congressman Shuler's remarks. He's extremely personable — and from what I understand, very well-liked on Capitol Hill.
By Michael Muller
08/27/2010
"He’s extremely personable" -- I never knew "personable" was a synonym for "dumb." Shuler might be a good political opportunist, but as far as smarts go, he took too many sacks as an NFL blowout.
By luther blissett
08/27/2010
"We don’t feel that Muller’s reporting on Congressman Shuler is necessarily influenced by his past association with Mumpower or the Republican Party". I agree with you Editor. Mumpower and Schuler are both Republicans, or Schuler sure acts like one, so there should not be a conflict of interest in your Republican reporter reporting on Republicans.
By MusicLover45
08/27/2010
Who is this Schuler?
By shadmarsh
08/27/2010
Better send this video to Nancy...
By UnaffiliatedVoter
08/27/2010
He will win. Not that that’s a real victory for anyone
For once, I agree with you on both counts. It'd be nice for once to see him get elected because of who he is instead of who he isn't. But I don't think he can get elected that way.
By Ken Hanke
08/27/2010
Based upon what I've heard and read from Congressman Shuler, I'd say he has a much better chance of capturing the title formerly held by Virginia Republican William Scott as the 'Dumbest Member of Congress', gained back in 1974. In reality, Scott was well-educated (law degree from George Washington U.) and experienced, he was just inarticulate.
Congressman Schuler is less well-educated and even less articulate, so that is a goal he could realistically obtain. But Speaker of the House? Ha ha ha ha. And ha.
By Dionysis
08/27/2010
I think he would be a Great Speaker of the House.....maybe even run for Prez.
He's Handsome, so lets have some eye candy for a change!
By Russ Rhymer
08/28/2010
Shuler has never debated his opponents until days before the election, hidden away in a radio studio where a limited number of people can be present, and never in front of a forum at a podium that can be attended by the general public.
The Republican candidates debated each other multiple times in nearly every county in the district before the voters (multiple times in some counties)...Shuler knows he could never stand up to that kind of scrutiny.
By Thunder Pig
08/28/2010
I'd rather see an actual Republican holding his office than a Republican who pretends to be a Democrat.
By pff
08/28/2010
I suppose that it is easy to be popular when you are sucking on both sides of the isle(figuratively speaking, that is;) Geez, it must mean something that all these dolts are getting voted in, but it can't be good for us thinking citizens.
By Killarue
08/28/2010
I can't hear the sound on either of these videos.It's not a MtnX problem.
Was there anything about the C Street house in either vid?
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_152/news/47618-1.html?type=aggregate_friendly
By Jim Shura
08/28/2010
Shuler has said that the progressives have no choice but to vote for him in November. Im not so sure of this - a no vote is a vote to keep Shuler in which the progressives will have to bite their lip & pull for him.
Shuler did run after Charles Taylor but just two years later you can watch Shuler run from Dr.Mumpower.
Watch Shuler run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psQFLjYLuuk
RB
Wow, the Asheville Progressives could Shuler as Speaker of the House....
Run Shuler run....
By R.Bernier
08/29/2010
"I’d rather see an actual Republican holding his office than a Republican who pretends to be a Democrat."
It doesn't surprise me that a progressive says this now. If the wish comes true, I bet the tune changes.
By JWTJr
08/31/2010
The democrat party is completely controlled by the hard left, and especially so in House. No democrat rep who is anywhere near the center has a chance of a significant leadership position.
By Bill
09/02/2010
As a Redskins fan, I should caution one and all about putting too much faith in the abilities of Heath Schuler.
We made THAT mistake once.
He's a good guy, and he has some skills, but he ain't "all that and a bag of chips".
I remind all that Heath was unseated from his quarterback slot by Gus Frerotte, whose best-remembered contribution to the team was when he celebrated a touchdown by ramming his head into a wall and giving himself a concussion in the process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbdq_Zde23E
A Hesiman trophy winner who isn't as good a QB as THAT guy?
Draw your own conclusions.
By Bilgeman
09/02/2010
House Speaker? He'd have to switch to the Republican Party, and then get in line, because the GOP will own the House for the next three or four election cycles.
By higgins1990
09/02/2010
Such snotty comments about the one YOU folks in NC elected...thereby helping to inflict Pelosi as SoH on the country. If only some modern day Rapunzel could spin it into gold!
By Conservadad
09/02/2010
When Heath Shulrer was drafted by the Redskins the knock on him was that he was too stupid to be an NFL quarterback. What does that say about our Reps?
By DC Native
09/02/2010
It sure is easy to judge decisions without having all the info. While all Heath's choices are not supported by me tell me the last time you agreed with everything with your closest of friends. These times are hard to manage and you have to think about the future and his decision on fiscal responsibility while at times unpopular is the true sign of a leader someone who can say this is not going to get me votes but it is the right thing to do. Another thing - being srticulate? give me a break - the most articulate folks are the ones that bend things a hundred ways. Lets be concerned about substance and character. You have a good congressman that is willing to stand up to his party when he disagrees - apprecaite it because I can not think of many others out there that would do that in good times or bad.
By Bamaboy
10/30/2010
It doesn’t surprise me that a progressive says this now. If the wish comes true, I bet the tune changes.
Why? What possible benefit could come from a "Democrat" like Shuler who IN NO WAY represents my interests? I have no interest in the flaccid policies of the DNC, or of the way that Heath Shuler epitomizes them.
I'd far prefer to see someone who at least is honest about their political ideology. As it stands, we have two republicans running, but only one has the decency to admit it.
The democrat party is completely controlled by the hard left, and especially so in House. No democrat rep who is anywhere near the center has a chance of a significant leadership position.
I'd submit that you have no idea what the 'hard left' is. IT certainly aint pro-war pro-corporate Pelosi and her neo-liberal ways.
You might want to review the political spectrum some time.
By Piffy!
10/30/2010