From the Hendersonville Times-News:
Miller will offer change in Congress
Four years ago, this newspaper endorsed Heath Shuler when the upstart former NFL player and real estate developer ran against Charles Taylor, the Brevard Republican banker, developer and tree farmer who held the 11th Congressional District seat for 16 years.
We argued then that it was time for a change and that Shuler would bring a new voice to represent the mountains in Washington. We predicted correctly that Shuler would be a strong supporter of the environment that so many WNC residents value.
Shuler has proved himself to be a moderate to conservative Blue Dog Democrat who, despite what his vociferous local GOP critics say, is not a lapdog for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. For intance, he voted against health care reform and other progressive measures.
In May, this newspaper endorsed Hendersonville businessman and HonorAir founder Jeff Miller in a six-way contest for the GOP nomination to challenge Shuler in the General Election that concludes Tuesday. We say concludes because for many folks, it’s not too late to take advantage of early voting that ends at 1 p.m. Saturday.
In the primary, Miller barely avoided a runoff with Dan Eichenbaum, a Libertarian-leaning eye doctor from Cherokee County who polled a strong second. Since then, Miller has proved himself to be the strong contender we predicted he would, solidifying the Republican base in Henderson County while reaching out to independents and GOP voters across the district.
While the N.C. Democratic Party and Shuler’s campaign have slung mud, twisting Miller’s words in TV ads and sending out nasty fliers painting him as “the Mad Taxer,” Miller has stayed largely true to his pledge to run a clean, issues-based campaign. Judging from his enormous popularity in much of Henderson County, the mud just isn’t sticking to this small-town dry cleaner.
Miller is the son of a World War II veteran and owner of a local dry-cleaning business that has been in his family for almost 100 years. He founded HonorAir in 2006 as a tribute to the Greatest Generation to fly every World War 11 veteran who wanted to go and see the war memorial in Washington.
Running for Congress was probably the last thing on Miller’s mind as he led a patriotic effort that has taken off and been imitated across the nation. If he’s elected in the GOP surge that is predicted Tuesday, we hope he will represent WNC as Shuler has and be an independent voice, not beholden to extremes on the left or the right.
Shuler has done good things for the 11th Congressional District. He has supported apple farmers, businesses and job training efforts, while keeping his pledge to end the boondoggle known as the “Road to Nowhere” in favor of a cash settlement to Swain County.
But voters are still hurting from the Great Recession and demand change. Who better to deliver it than a small-business owner with no political background but vast leadership and community-service experience?
We believe Jeff Miller should be given the chance to show his leadership in Washington. We recommend voters choose him as our congressman.
Read the full article
Miller will offer change in Congress
Four years ago, this newspaper endorsed Heath Shuler when the upstart former NFL player and real estate developer ran against Charles Taylor, the Brevard Republican banker, developer and tree farmer who held the 11th Congressional District seat for 16 years.
We argued then that it was time for a change and that Shuler would bring a new voice to represent the mountains in Washington. We predicted correctly that Shuler would be a strong supporter of the environment that so many WNC residents value.
Shuler has proved himself to be a moderate to conservative Blue Dog Democrat who, despite what his vociferous local GOP critics say, is not a lapdog for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. For intance, he voted against health care reform and other progressive measures.
In May, this newspaper endorsed Hendersonville businessman and HonorAir founder Jeff Miller in a six-way contest for the GOP nomination to challenge Shuler in the General Election that concludes Tuesday. We say concludes because for many folks, it’s not too late to take advantage of early voting that ends at 1 p.m. Saturday.
In the primary, Miller barely avoided a runoff with Dan Eichenbaum, a Libertarian-leaning eye doctor from Cherokee County who polled a strong second. Since then, Miller has proved himself to be the strong contender we predicted he would, solidifying the Republican base in Henderson County while reaching out to independents and GOP voters across the district.
While the N.C. Democratic Party and Shuler’s campaign have slung mud, twisting Miller’s words in TV ads and sending out nasty fliers painting him as “the Mad Taxer,” Miller has stayed largely true to his pledge to run a clean, issues-based campaign. Judging from his enormous popularity in much of Henderson County, the mud just isn’t sticking to this small-town dry cleaner.
Miller is the son of a World War II veteran and owner of a local dry-cleaning business that has been in his family for almost 100 years. He founded HonorAir in 2006 as a tribute to the Greatest Generation to fly every World War 11 veteran who wanted to go and see the war memorial in Washington.
Running for Congress was probably the last thing on Miller’s mind as he led a patriotic effort that has taken off and been imitated across the nation. If he’s elected in the GOP surge that is predicted Tuesday, we hope he will represent WNC as Shuler has and be an independent voice, not beholden to extremes on the left or the right.
Shuler has done good things for the 11th Congressional District. He has supported apple farmers, businesses and job training efforts, while keeping his pledge to end the boondoggle known as the “Road to Nowhere” in favor of a cash settlement to Swain County.
But voters are still hurting from the Great Recession and demand change. Who better to deliver it than a small-business owner with no political background but vast leadership and community-service experience?
We believe Jeff Miller should be given the chance to show his leadership in Washington. We recommend voters choose him as our congressman.
Read the full article
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"Shuler has done good things for the 11th Congressional District. He has supported apple farmers, businesses and job training efforts, while keeping his pledge to end the boondoggle known as the “Road to Nowhere†in favor of a cash settlement to Swain County."
So he's "done good things for the 11th Congressional district" etc., but nonetheless, the paper endorses Miller.
"But voters are still hurting from the Great Recession and demand change. Who better to deliver it than a small-business owner with no political background but vast leadership and community-service experience?"
And the "hurt" that voters still feel is a direct result of the mess Republicans left the country in, yet in spite of this, the paper thinks more of the same from someone who seems to be running not against Shuler, (not straying from his Republican overlord's directive) he makes his opponent Nancy Pelosi. Other than pat GOP talking points and platitudes, he's offered nothing specific.
The endorsement makes no logical sense whatsoever. Maybe it's a payoff for the prestige of having Miller and Eric Cantor dazzle a handful of senior citizens.
By Dionysis
10/30/2010
Who writes for the Hendersonville Times-News? This reads like something from a bad high-school paper. Sheesh.
By shadmarsh
10/31/2010