B.J. Lawson, a Ron Paul-endorsed candidate for U.S. Congress in North Carolina's 4th District. B.J. is, to quote blogger Daniel McCarthy, a "sterling" Ron Paul Republican. There are guys like this that are running for election this year that can be strong Paul allies in congress. He's having a money bomb organized for him tomorrow at http://lawsonlibertyfund.com

If you connected with Ron Paul this primary season, look into B.J. Lawson. http://youtube.com/user/LawsonForCongress

6/28/2008 5:31:12 PM

isn't there already a thread here about Lawson?

6/28/2008 6:54:07 PM

Quote :

"Limited government is a painfully hard sell, it turns out, even among the GOP faithful. As a 2005 Pew poll revealed, only 11 percent of registered voters are in the "leave us alone" camp. Other, larger GOP-supporting groups ("social conservatives" and "pro-government conservatives," for instance) tend to want more government involvement, not less, particularly regarding economic issues. Over the past forty years, the authors write, "this problem--that the working class wants, and needs, more from public policy than simply to be left alone--has prevented the Republican party from consolidating an enduring majority.""

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/grand_new_party.html

6/28/2008 9:46:07 PM

If Republicans were actually like this, I might be one.

6/28/2008 10:27:13 PM

Just got my absentee ballot yesterday and started doing real research on the candidates (its hard to follow local politics 13 hours away ). I'm VERY impressed with Lawson and will be voting for him. I'm leery of any politician's promises, but at least he tells me the lies I want to hear.

9/23/2008 1:22:45 PM

I can't wait to cast my vote for Brad Miller.

9/23/2008 1:30:37 PM

B.J. Lawl!son

[Edited on September 23, 2008 at 2:39 PM. Reason : ``]

9/23/2008 2:33:14 PM

Quote :

"If Republicans were actually like this, I might be one."

9/23/2008 2:43:37 PM

^^^ Except that he isn't running against Lawson. gg

9/23/2008 8:31:14 PM

9/26/2008 8:32:49 PM

Quote :

"NEEDS MORE VOLUME"

9/26/2008 8:50:58 PM

I call he gets 4%.

9/26/2008 10:31:13 PM

I can't wait for the blimp

9/27/2008 12:10:22 AM

Lawson & Jim Neal were having a discussion over the economic situation on bluenc.com earlier today
http://bluenc.com/node/11868#comments

9/27/2008 1:01:52 AM

^^^ From 9/16:

Quote :

" How We’re Doing: First Polling Numbers By: BJ Lawson As you know, I’m a big believer in transparency in government. That translates into transparency in campaigns, as well — especially since our campaign is supported by so many people. Many have asked for insight into how we’re doing, and tonight we received results from our first poll. We called a sample of 1,105 households across the district, stratified by precinct. Before we hit the results, let’s review our district’s demographics: Democrats: 46% Republicans: 28% Unaffiliated: 26% As you can see, while Democrats far outnumber Republicans, Unaffiliated voters and any swing Democrats can provide a margin of victory. Here is the sample that we polled: Democrats: 57% Republicans: 26% Unaffiliated: 17% So our sample had significantly more Democrats than the overall district, with slightly fewer Republicans, and significantly fewer Unaffiliateds. Here are our results: Price: 56% Lawson: 31% Undecided: 13% Considering that our ten-term incumbent typically wins this district with 65% of the vote, he’s off from his typical pace. Furthermore, the presence of 13% undecided is not exactly bullish for a ten-term incumbent who advertises liberally with taxpayer-financed mailings. At this point, it appears we have reason to redouble our efforts towards this election. Not only are we maintaining our base, but we picked up five percent from Unaffiliated and Democratic voters — only 26% of our sample was Republican, and we’re polling at 31%. While our incumbent is polling at 56%, the sample was 57% Democratic — and the overall district is only 46% Democratic. We know it’s time for change. I wouldn’t want to run against change this year. Nor would I want to run against a federal government that follows the Constitution."

9/27/2008 3:23:38 PM

^ ah, so there is no Republican opponent in this race.

I was assuming if it was dem vs rep vs lib it would br 4%.

9/27/2008 6:21:29 PM

Lawson, by some fluke, is the Republican. He beat out a much more conservative Republican, Augustus Cho, in the primary.

9/28/2008 12:15:40 AM

^ What are you talking about? Lawson-Cho was close to a 70%-30% split. That is not even close to a fluke. More like a landslide.

9/28/2008 8:48:28 AM

10 terms ?!?!? David Price has been in office since dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Our last chance to get rid of him was squelched when he noticed the district becoming more conservative and then got the democrat-run state legislature to re-draw his district.

He's an ancient democrat-hack... Let's get some new blood into District 4!

9/28/2008 10:37:14 AM

Quote :

"What are you talking about? Lawson-Cho was close to a 70%-30% split. That is not even close to a fluke. More like a landslide."

I mean the fluke that Republicans would actually nominate a more libertarian-oriented person rather than some neoconservative. It's a fluke given their track record, not that Lawson somehow squeaked by.

9/28/2008 11:26:01 AM

what i wouldn't give to vote for david price

9/28/2008 11:37:30 AM

What we wouldn't give for you to just shut the hell up already. Just for one day, even.

9/28/2008 11:44:12 AM

Quote :

"Our last chance to get rid of him was squelched when he noticed the district becoming more conservative and then got the democrat-run state legislature to re-draw his district."

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

Don't act so all high and mighty, not like the Republicans wouldn't do the same damn thing. Also, didn't he lose in 94 and re-win in 96?

9/28/2008 6:14:45 PM

David Price helped my fiance get a passport processed (after like half a year of waiting and it still hadn't been processed) and had even opened up the option of using the same congressional passport agency that he uses in Washington if the pressure he was using wasn't able to get it processed in time. That effort saved my fiance a one time scholarship/funding and chance to spend a summer in Rome learning directly & first hand stuff relative to the classics graduate program.

I know EarthDogg opposes him (he's made several threads about it) because of some of the "pork" he's directed North Carolina's way, but he has also done positive and good things as a representative of the triangle area for many years, and I am specifically fond of his support of ENDA, and I like a politician who can stand up for LGBT concerns even in a state that has certain elements that try to use it as a wedge issue. Plus it was kind of cool seeing him as an opener for Obama when he was in town.

9/28/2008 6:51:32 PM

how many more times are you going to bring up that stupid story about the passport. I'm tired of hearing about it. it's like the 1556789th time you've said it. give the guy a blowjob and get it over with.

jethuth chritht

9/28/2008 7:06:18 PM

Quote :

"it's like the 1556789th time you've said it."

Closer to 3rd time (in threads started by others regarding David Price or his challenger), but maybe reading a few sentences 3 times is a lot for you? Either way I think its pretty cool that a politician actually tried to help a constituent, when people like Dole either wouldn't respond or said there was nothing they could do.

9/28/2008 8:11:04 PM

^ Did you watch the video I posted? It seems old Price runs and hides when his constituents come a knockin'. Then speaking of Obama, how about we get some 'Change' and get this 10 term geezer outta here!

9/28/2008 9:23:18 PM

He made a surprise and unscheduled visit to one of Price's 3 offices and didn't get a meeting with a congressman? I'm shocked! Every time I've e-mailed or called Price's office I've received a prompt response from him or one of the staff. That video was weak, besides having no volume whatsoever, its a cheap shot to try to paint that as running from constituents.

You're argument that you prefer change to experience is fine, but he is the most constituent responsive politician I've ever dealt with despite that politically gimmicky video.

9/28/2008 10:20:54 PM

Quote :

"David Price helped my fiance get a passport processed "

Again..that's great. But I think we could get someone in office who can do basic stuff like process passports..
...and not vote for the LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN HISTORY!

Quote :

"he is the most constituent responsive politician I've ever dealt "

You know Jesse Helms was great at constituent services too...maybe even better than Price. But I'd bet even if Helms processed your passport faster than Price, you still wouldn't have voted for ol' Jesse.

Looks like you and I will be cancelling each other's vote out Supplanter.. no hard feelings though!

9/29/2008 12:48:41 AM

Price voted Aye.

That pretty much locked up my vote for Lawson

9/29/2008 3:15:41 PM

Price nominated me for West Point, I still wouldn't vote for him. While constituent services are nice, I'm more interested in a congressman who won't run the country into the ground. I'm not saying David Price has done it single-handedly, but we need more voices who will start standing up to the madness of throwing money at every problem we've got.

Aside from the bailout, Price also voted for the Patriot Act. That alone should get him out of congress.

10/3/2008 7:52:10 PM

If you use the Patriot Act on basis of whether or not people should be in power, then all but two of the Senators would be out and only 65 congressmen would remain....


(Sen. Landrieu did not vote on the Patriot act and Senator Feingold was the only one to vote against it in the Senate)

Full lists of house votes(only 4 republicans voted against it): http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll398.xml#N

Full lists of senate votes: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00313

10/3/2008 8:09:49 PM

Works for me.

10/3/2008 8:12:44 PM

Ron Paul endorsed Money Bomb Today
http://www.lawsonforcongress.com/pages/october-7/

10/7/2008 4:07:08 PM

David Price's accomplishments in government:

http://price.house.gov/congress/legislation.shtml

Quote :

"Legislative Accomplishments Education & Research - Currently, I am working to pass my Teaching Fellows Act, which encourages our nation's best and brightest students to become teachers. I authored a bill in 1993 to establish the Advanced Technological Education program at the National Science Foundation, which upgrades training for jobs in high-tech fields. I also sponsored the Price Education Affordability Act, enacted in 1997, which allows families to deduct the interest on student loans and to withdraw money from an IRA for education expenses without penalties. I am a longtime advocate of increased federal investment in biomedical, environmental, and other research, much of it based in North Carolina. Foreign Policy - I am chairman of the House Democracy Assistance Commission, a 16 member-panel I initiated in 2005, that works directly with leaders of emerging democracies in every region of the world. I have taken the lead on pushing legislation to regulate use of private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have also introduced legislation to require the Bush Administration to implement a realistic strategy to bring our occupation of Iraq to an end. And I continue to be active in the effort to negotiate a just peace in the Middle East. Campaign and Election Reform - My "Stand By Your Ad" Act, which requires candidates to appear in their ads and take responsibility for the ad's contents, was included in the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act. I am currently working to extend the "Stand By Your Ad" bill to Internet ads and automated phone calls and to reform the presidential public financing system so that more candidates will participate. I also helped author legislation that enables local jurisdictions to "buy out" inaccurate voting machines and replace them with new, improved equipment. That legislation was included in the Help America Vote Act, signed into law in 2002. Housing - I worked in Congress to help make home financing available to many more low-income families through a program that successfully demonstrated how to make more families eligible for mortgages. I have also successfully pushed for increased housing opportunities for senior citizens and first-time home buyers. And I initiated the 1988 Home Equity Loan Consumer Protection Act, requiring lenders to disclose the full terms of home equity loans to consumers. Transportation - I have persistently advocated for expedited construction and expansion of US 1, US 64, NC 55, and the Raleigh Outer Loop and have pushed for an improved rate of return on North Carolina's federal gas tax money. I am also a longtime proponent of transportation alternatives to ease clogged roadways in the Triangle. Environment - In addition to supporting improvements in the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, I secured planning and construction funds for the state-of-the-art Environmental Protection Agency facility in Research Triangle Park. I also helped push the Army Corps of Engineers to raise the Falls Lake dam level to ensure Raleigh's future water supply, and I have secured grants for stream restoration and wastewater processing in North Carolina communities. "

http://price.house.gov/congress/projects.shtml

Quote :

"Local Projects As the Representative of North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District, I have the responsibility to advocate for the needs and interests of my constituents, whether it involves building the EPA research facility in Research Triangle Park or securing funding to bring affordable housing within reach of our families. My position on the Appropriations Committee affords me many opportunities to create partnerships between the federal government and local governments or organizations to improve the quality of life in the Triangle. And as the state’s only member of that committee, I regularly work with other members of the North Carolina delegation to secure federal resources for high priority items throughout the state. On December 26, 2007, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which funds the bulk of the fiscal year 2008 federal budget, was signed into law (Public Law 110-161). Click on the links below to find out about initiatives for the 4th District and for North Carolina that I had included in that law. The projects are grouped according to the jurisdiction of the appropriations subcommittees. Agriculture and Rural Development Commerce, Justice and Science Energy and Water Development Financial Services Homeland Security Interior and Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Transportation and Housing & Urban Development"

B.J. Lawson's accomplishments in government:
Born in Florida, Lawson attended Lakeland Senior High School in Lakeland, Florida, where he was president of the student council
-wiki article on b.j.


[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 4:42 PM. Reason : .]

10/7/2008 4:38:49 PM

You forgot,

"Supported the bailout"

and

"Got my fiancee's passport processed."

Let's face it - you'd vote for a goddamned shit sandwich if it had a "D" next to its name. Let's not pretend this is suddenly about credentials.

10/7/2008 5:17:07 PM

Quote :

"I worked in Congress to help make home financing available to many more low-income families through a program that successfully demonstrated how to make more families eligible for mortgages"

From his own admission, it looks like he was part of the problem with the mortgage fiasco.

David Price has been a democrat lackey for his whole political career. He has always voted whatever the democratic leadership wanted. No sense of individual thought.

He has been there too long. We need some new blood.

10/7/2008 11:08:33 PM

^How does your new blood argument line up with your support for Dole? And what about Obama?

10/7/2008 11:17:14 PM

So, this is interesting.

How does your support for Obama line up for your support of David Price? We need "change," except when it means pork for North Carolina and completely ignoring your constituents when it comes to a massive corporate welfare bill? (I thought liberals didn't like corporate welfare - surprise!)

Because, in fairness, I'm not voting for either of those turds - Dole or Price. But whatever.

10/8/2008 12:07:20 AM

Quote :

"How does your new blood argument line up with your support for Dole? And what about Obama?"

My vote for McCain & Dole is to keep the bad blood out.

10/8/2008 2:05:44 AM

Quote :

"My vote for McCain & Dole is to keep the bad blood out."

By how, exactly? Keeping the bad blood (Dole) further entrenched, and handing the reigns of power to someone who clearly believes the constraints of the Constitution are for chumps (McCain)? Are you serious, here?

10/8/2008 9:20:26 AM

^
Assuming the idiot voters are going to put Obama in office, you want as many opposing senators in there to prevent him from putting William Ayers or someone with the same political outlook onto the Supreme Court.

10/8/2008 10:31:05 AM

Quote :

"Assuming the idiot voters are going to put Obama in office, you want as many opposing senators in there to prevent him from putting William Ayers or someone with the same political outlook onto the Supreme Court."

Assuming Obama does get put into office and begins making appointments, this equally assumes that Liddy Dole is an actual watchdog.

...which we have yet to see evidence of.

10/8/2008 11:08:42 AM

Heard David Price on the radio today and he sounded ridiculously stupid. Couldn't answer questions and changed the subject like 10 times. I don't see how anyone voted for him in the first place.

One guy asked him why the tax bracket for the rich was determined to be 250K, and he had no clue. He just said he agreed with Obama and that was it.

[Edited on October 8, 2008 at 11:30 AM. Reason : irk]

10/8/2008 11:15:29 AM

Whenever he gets close to getting voted out the district boundaries are redrawn in his favor.

10/8/2008 11:22:04 AM

Man, they raised a shitload of money for Lawson yesterday... almost doubled his stack.

I urge any of your Wake County residents to vote for him, PLEASE

10/8/2008 12:06:47 PM

what is his district exactly? I like him, but i live in durham.

10/8/2008 1:22:37 PM

You are most likely in luck, Mr Digital:

http://www.lawsonforcongress.com/4th-district/

pour some out for me while you're there, I'd love to have such an inspirational figure representing my district.



[Edited on October 8, 2008 at 1:56 PM. Reason : d]

[Edited on October 8, 2008 at 1:57 PM. Reason : d]

10/8/2008 1:55:35 PM

*bump*

10/12/2008 2:14:12 PM

Quote :

" Looks like you and I will be cancelling each other's vote out Supplanter.. no hard feelings though!"

None at all. I've met Lawson, and for a republican I like him more than most, but being anti-choice, and opposed to federal funding for health care, education, social security, research in the research triangle & more, and being anti-gay marriage just made me unable to back him.

I volunteered for Price throughout early voting (& donated to his campaign), and today I went to like 15 different voting sites passing out Price info to the orange county democratic party people to make use of that party machine. Price will vote with Obama during times when Lawson wouldn't, and Price is one of the best in constituent services.

11/4/2008 8:20:44 PM