NC-02: Getting franked by Renee Ellmers
The GOP primary challengers in congressional districts 2 and 3 were in The N&O today bashing the GOP incumbents for allegedly using their congressional franking (AKA free mailing) privileges for political purposes.
You hear that every election year in districts all over the country. The charge usually draws eye rolls. I’ve worked on Capitol Hill. Of course, my time there was prior to the time email and the web were so widely in use. A lot of correspondence had to go out. Constituents voicing their concerns on issues had to be responded to. Folks seeking help with government agencies needed feedback.
Occasionally, some stuff goes out that creeps right up to the line of being campaign propaganda. After reading today’s article, I think 2nd district GOP challenger Frank Roche may have a point about incumbent Renee Ellmers. The article made me go back and look at a mailing I received earlier this week. I know an election is coming up. I thought the mailer was something from her campaign. It was printed on the same paper stock as your typical campaign flier. It was designed with bright colors and photos and fluffy, feel-good jingoism. My second look helped me notice an “official business” notation on the flier, as well as a sentence saying the mailing was paid for by taxpayers.
One side of the flier could be explained away as simple constituent correspondence. (It’s interesting that we’re getting this in the mail a few months before the primary AND after a primary challenger has announced his intentions. ) But the other side of the mailer clearly is campaign propaganda. “Representing Your Priorities … Fighting For Your Values.” Seriously? HOW is that different from campaign propaganda?
You’ve got eight blurbs which look right at home on a piece of campaign literature. One of the blurbs offers up some nonsense about her battle to repeal ObamaCare. Really? How does what’s written there square with THIS, THIS, THIS, and THIS?
And, a fan of “traditional values”? How does that square with her campaign against the marriage amendment to the state Constitution?
And spending and tax reform? How does her rhetoric on this mailer square with THIS and THIS?
Let’s not forget amnesty immigration reform. Ellmers is being elevated as a point person for House Republicans on “immigration reform” and has hugged up to the amnesty crowd here in the state. Word is leaking out that John Boehner and Eric Cantor are going to lead the GOP caucus into a total sellout on amnesty. And Renee is never too far behind those two guys.
Not only did she mail out campaign propaganda on the taxpayer dime. She’s also telling us some serious bald-face lies AND spending OUR MONEY to do it.
Good ole Renee, let’s go back to 2010 election when she told everyone she was a Tea Party republican and and two years later she barely beat a guy who didn’t even live the district. in Lol she narrowly qualifies as a liberal RINO and we are being nice. Her voting record says it all. One issue, OBAMACARE and when it was time to stand up and fight it she tried to reinvent the wheel. The folks down in the second district will have fun with this race. If Renee survives the primary she could have a hard time explaining the difference between her and Aiken. They both rejected the marriage amendment in NC and rumor is he’s a better singer.
It doesnt matter what Democrat runs against her in a possible general election… there’s no reason to ever vote for Renee Ellmers.
From what I’ve seen, my money is on her not really having a clue as to why such activity would be considered even just in bad taste. I dont get the sense from her that she understands or would agree that crony capitalism is a corrupt thing.
If she makes it past the primary then the people of her district have already lost. The November election is just a dead-man-walking futile exercise at that point 🙂
Fully behind Frank Roche! He has the knowledge to be effective. He has the principals that we can trust!
Renee Ellmers is a supporter of Amnesty for illegal aliens, which will destroy the party and indeed the country. She MUST be defeated.
We need to help Frank Roche every way we can.
Renee has shown us that she does not have the strength to stand on her own in Washington. Has become part of the establishment and is supporting Amnesty for illegal aliens. Frank Roche is a true conservative that will not change once he gets to Washington. A man that has enough character to stand on his conservative principals and fight against Amnesty and the out of control spending that is destroying this country.
Frank Roche is who we need in office. He has the background and experience to not make the stupid decisions Renee made. He’s a guy we can trust and will do what’s right for the 2nd district. GO FRANK
Oh how Representative Ellmers has let us down! I support Frank Roche, he will be true to his conservative values and stand on his own principles in representing his constituents.
Enough is enough with Renee Ellmers, Frank Roche is the right man for NC-2. Frank Talk, Frank Solutions is what this district and this country needs. A man with a solid economic background, who STICKS with his ideals and is a TRUE conservative.