Join us April 3, 2008 for a live-blog chat with Diane Hamby a candidate for congress in the 5th Congressional District. Diane faces Roy Carter in the Democratic primary. Hamby is a small business owner and a community activist. She has served as an Iredell County Commissioner. You can find more information about Diane here.
Comments
Tonight at 7
Thanks, Diane, for your willingness to visit BlueNC. I found your positions on issues pretty closely aligned with mine.
Two questions:
1. If you were in Congress today, would you have signed on to House Resolution 333 to impeach Dick Cheney?
2. Would you support legislation to outlaw the use of armed private security contractors (otherwise known as mercenaries) by the federal government?
Re:James
Thank you for your questions and I am very happy to be here and talk to all of you tonight. I will do my best to get through as many questions as possible and if I miss any I will try to come back tomorrow to get to them. Now as for your questions...
1. I don’t think we should waste the American people’s time and resources doing this. The congress needs to be working to fix America’s problems. With people losing their homes and jobs every day we have more important things to do. The issue of criminal prosecution should be dealt with when they are out of office. No bad dead should go unpunished, but the congress has to deal with the very serious issues facing the American people.
2. I would definitely support legislation to outlaw the use of mercenaries by the federal government. We cannot have soldiers who are immune to prosecution when they do bad things. I also do not think it is a good use of public money to pay private soldiers, especially when our own soldiers do not have everything they need.
Thanks.
Sorry to be late to the party. I appreciate your clear answers to my questions.
I'm personally very much pro-impeachment, but I understand many disagree. My main concern is that we're setting a precedent that president has claimed rights and privileges (signing statements, for example) that should simply not be tolerated. Congress has caved on every front to the unitary executive.
Always a good question...
Which committees in the House would you seek to serve on to best represent your district?
Re: Captsfufp
In congress I would like to serve on the Energy and Commerce committee.
Hi Diane
and pleased to "meet" you.
If you were on the Energy and Commerce Committe, would you support low-interest loans or grants to individuals who had the ability and space to co-generate? Presently, it's almost impossible to get such proposals out of committee.
I've floated this by several elected officials who have responded that it rather makes sense. At the present, only small businesses and tiny municipalities have access to these loans and grants. By and large, these monies aren't being put to use. There are a lot of rural dwellers like myself who oppose Duke's and CPL's desire to build more coal-burning plants and are willing to take on cogeneration of electricity.
Shouldn't we be taking advantage of cogeneration opportunities rather than letting monies lie fallow?
Thank you so much for your time. Best of luck!
Bill
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
Mohandas Gandhi
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
Mohandas Gandhi
Yes. I would support it.
Yes. I would support it. This is part of changing our whole mindset when it comes to energy, there is more than one way to provide energy and certainly more than one provider.
Are there some specific needs
within the 5th Congressional District, possibly unique to the 5th District, that you believe the current Representative has ignored or allowed to go unmet?
"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry Truman
"They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people a dollar 'n a half just to see 'em. Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."
Re: Leslie H
I believe she has ignored the needs of farmers in the district. She has voted against giving drought relief to our local farmers who need it desperately. If elected to congress I would never forget the needs of the people who elected me to represent them. There are many other issues that I disagree with her on, but this is one that I believe is unique and vital to the 5th district.
Gas Prices
Thanks for visiting BlueNC, Diane--we appreciate your time and commitment to engaging the voters.
I was reading over your bio and this piece stuck out (emphasis mine):
I've been reading a bit lately about strike being conducted by some independent truckers in protest of high gas prices. I'd love to get your take on that generally--that is how gas prices impact the trucking industry--and more specifically, I wanted to ask about what you'd do, as a member of Congress, to make the cost of gas more tenable to truckers and all Americans.
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There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy
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There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy
Re: nctodc
Everything you get in a grocery store has been trucked there, so high fuel prices do not only impact the trucking industry but it impacts every American. Independent truckers will not be able to afford to drive their trucks. I have friends still in the business who tell me that many of their clients are not willing to pay a surcharge to cover rising fuel costs so money is coming out of the truckers pocket and it becomes more economical to leave the truck sitting at home rather than taking a job. We need to invest in alternative fuels and really rethink our fuel policies. Tractor trailers only get four miles to a gallon and it has been at that level for over 20 years. We need to work to double or triple to fuel efficiency of trucks just to start.
Great Answer
I haven't heard that being discussed often enough--that is, improving fuel efficiency on tractor trailers.
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There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy
----
There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy
I have a post that talks about diesel prices waiting.
Haven't had time to get to it, glad that you brought up the problem.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
Diane, welcome to BlueNC
What is the most important issue facing the 5th District and what will you be able to do in Washington to correct it?
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
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Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
Re: Betsy Muse
First of all, thanks for all your help in working to set this up. Now, on to your question.
From talking to voters in the district the number one concern is jobs. If elected to congress I would like to create a task force to figure out what we can do to keep companies here in America. We need to take a pro-active role. I would also invest the money we have been giving to big oil companies into the creation of new energy resources and creating new green collar jobs.
What is your position on the war in Iraq?
When can we safely bring our troops home? Is this a priority for you?
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
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Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
Re: Betsy Muse
We went into Iraq with no comprehensive plan or strategy that included what we were going to do once we got there, what the costs would be or how we were going to come home. It would be a priority for me in congress to work on a plan to bring our troops home safely as quickly as possible. We need to work on making more friends than enemies, we should definitely use a lot more diplomacy when it comes to international relations.
nctodc's question
Hi Diane thanks for taking the time to reach out here...
Kinda piggy backing on nctodc's question... I have two:
1) Owning trucking & painting companies do you use union labor?
and
2)How do you feel about right to work laws?
Re:Orpheus
1. The trucking company was an independent company, my husband and I did not have any other employees. With our current painting company there are no local trade unions that cover those workers in our area and most of our work we sub-contract out.
2. As for right to work laws, I would co-sponsor and vote for the Employee Free Choice Act and I would oppose a National Right to Work bill.
I see Diane is online and will be answering our questions soon
Welcome Diane, we're happy to have you visit with us.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
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Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
Here's a general question about the 5th District
What is the mood in the District? Are the voters restless? Are Republicans happy with their current leadership? Can you win some crossover votes?
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Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
Re: Betsy Muse
The mood among voters, no matter what their party affiliation, is one of frustration with the current administration and their policies which the current 5th district representative fully supports. We have had Republicans who are dissatisfied with their current representation contact the campaign or approach me in person to say that they are ready for real solutions, not rhetoric.
That's great, Diane
I'm happy to hear more Republicans are coming around.
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Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
Glad to hear there's dissatisfaction
That's a start. Up in arms might be just around the corner.
I bet I can guess the answer to this question
since you basically have given it, but let's get this on the record under the proper topic.....
Free Trade Agreements. How have they hurt your district? Is there a way to be part of the Global Market without sending American jobs overseas?
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Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
Re: Betsy Muse
Trade agreements need to be fully enforced, with no enforcement of the trade laws other countries are not playing on a level field. There is a way to protect our jobs and still be part of the global market. We need to change our tax laws to work toward fair trade and to make sure we aren’t rewarding companies that take jobs overseas.
Another Question
The lead issue right now among voters seems to be the economy and jobs.
What hasn't Foxx done right with respect to the economy?
And what would you do to bring new jobs to the 5th CD?
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There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy
----
There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy
Re: nctodc
What Foxx has done wrong with regard to the economy is to support tax breaks to big oil, pharmaceutical and insurance companies rather than investing money in workers, education, new forms of energy or finding ways to keep our local businesses open and competitive.
To bring jobs to the 5th congressional district I would definitely want to invest money in new forms of energy. There is a lot of potential to create many green collar jobs in the district. Beyond creating new jobs we also need to work to keep the jobs we currently do have in the district and our local companies open.
I hate to pepper you with so many questions
but tell us about your campaign. When and why did you decide to run for Congress? What's your schedule like?
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Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
Re: Betsy Muse
I was asked to run last summer and thought long and hard over the fall before I committed to running. Part of the reason I am running for congress is so that I can give my grandchildren a better future. I do not want them to ask me why no one did anything to stop the current administration from further mortgaging their future. If no one steps in to stand up for the people my grandchildren will not have the same opportunities I did, they will have been squandered by the Republicans for their own personal monetary gain.
As for my schedule I am constantly working to meet voters and attend events. I love meeting people but I am very busy trying to fundraise, meet voters and still work a full time job.
I liked your announcement video, I posted it elsewhere.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
Thanks! There are one or two
Thanks! There are one or two more videos of me speaking on my website.
FISA
I saw a youtube video recently of Virginia Foxx speaking on FISA and telecomm immunity. What's your perspective on this issue and how would you vote as a member of Congress?
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There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy
----
There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy
Re: nctodc
I would vote against immunity for the telecom companies. All people need to be held to the same legal standards. The average citizen does not get immunity just by saying someone else told them to break the law. My grandchildren know better than that, so the federal government should.
Sure hope Ms. Hagan is reading along
I share your view about this, and really have much difficulty seeing the other side of it.
PS Another example of Congress failing to hold the administration accountable for its criminal conduct, IMO.
Foxx
Virginia Foxx seems to have built a career on the tactics of fear; illegal immigrants, gays, wasteful spending.
Do you think we should be scared of illegal gay immigrants with credit cards?
Re:Orpheus
I think we should all be far more afraid of Virginia Foxx.
Thanks
It was kind of a joke question, but a very real deal with Foxx.
Nice answer :)
Good one.
You've just put the Foxx in a tiny little box that perfectly describes her so-called contribution to our country. Just add a dash of hypocrisy and beat until foamy.
The Fightin' Fifth
Given that the 5th has a strong history of ties to tobacco, I'm curious about your thoughts on expanding the SCHIP program by taxing tobacco. How would you have weighed the interests of your constituents had you been in the House when that bill came up?
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There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy
----
There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy
Sorry to be late . . . got tied up with calculus homework
for my 12th grader . . . speaking of which:
What's your thinking about No Child Left Behind?
Re:James
NCLB was written on false data from a school system in Huston, Texas. The purpose of the bill is a strategic initiative by the Republican administration to defund the public school system and go to vouchers. The federal government needs to get out of the classroom. Our schools need well trained, well paid teachers and not endless rounds of standardized testing.
I <3 this answer.
Thank you.
Thanks again for joining us
As Betsy says below, nice job. Really.
I'm heading back to the calculus books with my daughter, so before you depart as well, let me thank you officially for taking time to answer our questions and share your points of view. You seem eminently practical and grounded.
Cheers!
You make a good point...
that many don't. I do believe NCLB was meant to defund public schools, and force privatization, as the only option.
And it was designed to work from the inside-out.
Today they want to force Carver to close-Tomorrow they will want to close Starmount
Awesome, awesome, awesome answer.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
5th District Media
I have the impression that district newspapers, in particular, give Foxx far more deference than any politician deserves, let alone such a lousy one. What's your take? Are the media giving you a fair shake? Are you meeting with editorial boards? What's the word among the 4th estate about this election cycle?
Virginia Foxx is the
Virginia Foxx is the incumbent congresswoman and has been a state senator so when they want a political question answered they are used to asking her. I am not sure if that’s fair or unfair but it’s the situation we are in. I am doing everything I can to keep the media informed of my campaign events and have gotten some coverage. There are links to some of the news stories on my website.
Diane, I can tell you have taken a hard look at the issues
Great job with your answers.
Here's one that isn't issue related. What will you bring to the job that differentiates you from your primary opponent. I'm not trying to be negative.
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Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
Re: Betsy Muse
I have been a local elected official as a county commissioner. I understand the roll of local, state and federal government in our lives and how important they are. I know how to win in a Republican district without compromising my principles. I am also a small business owner and I have to live with all of the decisions that the government makes and the current administration is killing small businesses and small businesses are the number one employer in the 5th district. I was asked to run last summer because of my diverse experiences and qualifications. If you want to learn a little more about my past experiences you can check out my website (www.dianehambyforcongress.com )
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