11th Congressional District Republican candidate Mark Meadows answers the Xpress questionnaire ahead of his July 17 runoff contest against Vance Patterson. Both men are vying to be the party’s nominee against Democrat Hayden Rogers in the fall.
Mark Meadows
Slogan: Life, Liberty & Less Government
Profession: Small-business owner
Residence: Cashiers
Top three donors: House Conservatives Fund, Family Research Council Action PAC, Madison Project
Total raised: $223,225
Top three endorsements: Family Research Council Action PAC, House Conservatives Fund, U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C. 10)
What’s the first bill you’ll introduce if elected? Why?
I will fight for true spending cuts and a Balanced Budget Amendment. During the Obama administration, our national debt has skyrocketed to over $15 trillion, while borrowing over 40 perce of every dollar spent. That has to change immediately. We can create jobs by cutting red tape and lowering taxes.
What local issue do you think you can have the most impact on? Why?
Creating new jobs is one of the most crucial issues facing Western North Carolina. My “20/20” plan will create tens of thousands of jobs by: closing corporate tax loopholes, reducing corporate taxes, allowing repatriation of earnings held abroad, cutting regulations across the board and reducing our dependency on foreign oil.
What do you see as Congress’ role — and yours, if elected — in channeling federal dollars to your district?
I will fight for Western North Carolinians to get their fair share of their tax dollars back, but I oppose the earmarking process that has corrupted the system and bankrupted our government. I will be a strong advocate for Western North Carolina in Congress.
What issue(s) does Buncombe County have in common with more rural areas of the district such as Graham County? How do they differ?
Apart from Buncombe County being larger in population, the issues in all of Western North Carolina are the same. We need more and better jobs, and more opportunities to provide for our families. We must get government off the backs of small business and eliminate regulatory laws that hamper growth.
Do you consider yourself more or less conservative than your runoff opponent? Why?
We’re both conservative. We agree President Obama has run roughshod over our values. I won’t rest until his policies are repealed and replaced with conservative solutions, so our economy can grow and Western North Carolinians can have jobs. I am humbled that my vision has earned support across the district.
Why would you be the strongest candidate to run against Democrat Hayden Rogers in November?
I’m a Christian, conservative small-businessman, and I’m running to stop Barack Obama’s assault on WNC values. My top priority is turning around our economy and creating jobs — immediately. I started my business from scratch and know what it takes to balance a budget, maintain a payroll and create jobs.
Wow. Nothing at all canned or stupid there.
Since you have no original ideas, and can only regurgitate the same discredited buzz phrases we’ve all heard for decades, how about a specific answer to a specific question:
You and Vance Patterson both have stated you believe President Obama was born in the United States, yet both of you publicly promised your Tea Party faithful that if elected, you would use taxpayer dollars to “investigate” whether he was actually born here.
Why are you promising to use our tax dollars to “investigate” a non-issue? It would be one thing to reach in your own pocket to fund this appeasement of the lunatic fringe, but using public dollars?
Let’s see….
Lower Taxes…Check
Smaller Government…Check
Create tens of thousands of jobs (no specifics)…Check
Reducing corporate taxes…Check
Allowing repatriation of earnings held abroad Corporate profits earned “over there” won’t be taxed over here)…Check
Cutting regulations across the board…Check
Reducing our dependency on foreign oil…Check
Oh and…I’m a Christian (and Hayden is …..???)
Sounds like he memorized the talking points memo from the Tea Bag/Republican “Party of No” perfectly. He’ll do fine in the red meat distribution department.
Let’s see….
Lower Taxes…Check
Smaller Government…Check
Create tens of thousands of jobs (no specifics)…Check
Reducing corporate taxes…Check
Allowing repatriation of earnings held abroad Corporate profits earned “over there” won’t be taxed over here)…Check
Cutting regulations across the board…Check
Reducing our dependency on foreign oil…Check
Oh and…I’m a Christian (and Hayden is …..???)
Sounds like he memorized the talking points memo from the Tea Bag/Republican “Party of No” perfectly. He’ll do fine in the red meat distribution department.
derp.
I’m always amazed that people call themselves Christian conservatives, and then go immediately into telling what they will do that will harm the poor, the middle class, and everyone else that is not rich. Since when did everyone in WNC get rich, and when did everyone in WNC get all their opinions and ideas from Fox news? If this is Mr Meadow’s platform, I think it came straght from Fox.
“We can create jobs by cutting red tape and lowering taxes.”
Exactly. IF Obama had just extended those Bush era tax cuts for the job creators, we would have jobs right now.
Oh, wait…
“I
But the Founders were all secret Jesus Freaks, so that part of the Constitution totally doesn’t count. It’s sort of super double-secret talk that means that we should require the religious test. I’m certain there’s a Glenn Beck history lesson about this somewhere.
So the number one reason he considers himself the strongest candidate is because he’s “a Christian?”
Pssst…so what? You’re not competing for an office in some theocratic state. And since you have no real plan whatsoever, just worn-out ideologically-driven platitudes, you really have nothing. Zip. Nada. Zilch.
http://tinyurl.com/cjeft7y