POLITICAL Gay politician speaks to Foxx constituents One-time U.S. Senate candidate featured speaker at 5th District convention by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff STATESVILLE, N.C. — The goal: Galvanize Northwest North Carolina’s moder ate and liberal Democrats. The hope: The ouster of radically conservative U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx. h« That was the stated purpose of the Democratic North Carolina Fifth District Convention on May 16 at Mitchell Community College. Party members welcomed one-time candi date for U.S. Senate, openly gay politician Jim Neal, as the featured speaker as they started to chart a course toward possible victory in the 2010 midterm elections. “I don’t plan on attacking Virginia Foxx, per se,” Neal told Q-Notes a couple days prior to his speech. “I want to use Virginia Foxx, her ignorance and complete disregard for family values as a teaching opportunity” Neal said Foxx “crossed the line” when she said the 1998 hate crime murder of Matthew Shepard was a “hoax” in late April. The state’s Fifth District covers almost all of Northwest North Carolina, including the mountain town of Boone and part of the Triad’s Winston-Salem. David Crawford, the district’s Democratic chair, says the district’s conserva tive nature makes it difScult to organize and win. “The energy Obama generated everywhere seemed to bring out the opposition here,” he told Q- Nbfes.'Tt galvanized our opposition — that’s not just Republicans, it is conservative Democrats, too.” Crawford said he thinks Foxx’s move to the right is just a part of the game. “The fact that Virginia Foxx is on this crusade to make herself look outrageously, radically right, I think that is calculated on her part. I think that is how she thinks she is going to ener gize her base.” Running a campaign portraying Foxx’s actions as counterproductive for the district will be the key to success. “We can elect a mod erate democrat here,” he said. “It is a question of presenting somebody who is palatable to the people who have voted for Virginia Foxx, to the Democrats who have voted for her.” Neal understands the frustration of dis trict Democrats. Although he doesn’t live there, he’s more than happy to help con stituents find a way to bring new representa tion to the area, replacing the “out of touch” elected official they currently have. “She isn’t only reflecting poorly on herself, but she’s up there to represent the people of the Fifth District, to represent North Carolina,” he said. “She’s an embarrassment. She needs to be fired.” t 2718 Monroe Rd. Cbriotte,NC2820S fe704-374-m2t (lOl-AOidStatomlkM' [Hnntenvill^ NC 28078 |70«48-3959 [ Enidi lupieihipjai^rom GLBT Charlotte Business Guild Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Program: Hike Kennedy, Sean’s Last Wish Crowne Plaza Hotel 201 S. McDowell Sc, Uptown Charlotte Time: Cash bar social: 5:30 pm • Heavy hors d’oeuvres: 5:30 pm To Reserve: Cost: $15 members, $25 non-members Call 704-565-5075 by 12 pm, Friday June 12, 2009 or email businessguild@yahoo.com and request tickets for fhis event. www.charlottebusinessguild.com iV! Lasting memories... served nightly. The Melting Pot is the most unique and interactive dining experience that is perfect for any occasion. The^« Melting F>ot. a fondue restaurant fine aged cheeses I assortai wines i seafood and st^ks I chocolate fondue www.meltingpot.com I fondue coast to coast I locally owned and operated MAY 30.2009‘QNotes 17

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