Video: Take a tour of Asheville’s newly proposed Congressional Districts
Posted on by Christopher George, David Forbes and Jake Frankel
Take a tour of the controversial proposed dividing line between North Carolina’s 10th and 11th Congressional Districts with Xpress reporters Jake Frankel and David Forbes. Released July 1 and then later revised July 19, the proposed line would divide Asheville, placing most of the city in the 10th District (currently represented by Republican Patrick McHenry of Hickory), while leaving some portions in Democrat Heath Shuler’s 11th District. For more on the controversy, including the latest Congressional Redistricting map, check out Xpress’ ongoing coverage here.
Video produced by Christopher George
Music: The Underscore Orkestra via Busk Break
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5 thoughts on “Video: Take a tour of Asheville’s newly proposed Congressional Districts”
[b]This is absolutely ridiculous and obvious gerrymandering. What do we have to do to fight it? The hearing was a waste of time.[/b]
Encourage everyone you know to move to Asheville before the next census.
That’s about it, really. If the lawsuits don’t quash it, then it will just be a fact of life for at least the next ten years.
Of course, considering the incredibly good odds of a complete embarrassment of the GOP at all levels next year, it might work out OK anyway.
You just never know.
[b]No, the new district lines are not fair. They are a continuation of precedent.[/b]
Could you elucidate? I’m not sure I follow how these are a continuation of precedent. Is there a precedent for carving up areas without regard to traditional concerns of culture or geography?
Or, perhaps, do you see this as political gerrymandering in response to racial gerrymandering? Do you consider this as a proper and measured response to correct past injustices done to the GOP, as the districts drawn to represent minority populations were drawn to correct the injustices against the black population from colonial times up through around the 1950s?
Certainly you wouldn’t equate the disenfranchisement of a group of people due to race to the political disenfranchisement of a party based on historical election results?
Would you?
Jake
Thank you, Jake & David, for the demonstration of Raleigh’s disdain for Asheville, and the absurdity of Redistricting 2011.
No, the new district lines are not fair. They are a continuation of precedent.
…………………………
This is absolutely ridiculous and obvious gerrymandering. What do we have to do to fight it? The hearing was a waste of time.
Full disclosure: Forbes and Frankel are both registered Democrats. It’s a pretty funny video, though.
[b]This is absolutely ridiculous and obvious gerrymandering. What do we have to do to fight it? The hearing was a waste of time.[/b]
Encourage everyone you know to move to Asheville before the next census.
That’s about it, really. If the lawsuits don’t quash it, then it will just be a fact of life for at least the next ten years.
Of course, considering the incredibly good odds of a complete embarrassment of the GOP at all levels next year, it might work out OK anyway.
You just never know.
[b]No, the new district lines are not fair. They are a continuation of precedent.[/b]
Could you elucidate? I’m not sure I follow how these are a continuation of precedent. Is there a precedent for carving up areas without regard to traditional concerns of culture or geography?
Or, perhaps, do you see this as political gerrymandering in response to racial gerrymandering? Do you consider this as a proper and measured response to correct past injustices done to the GOP, as the districts drawn to represent minority populations were drawn to correct the injustices against the black population from colonial times up through around the 1950s?
Certainly you wouldn’t equate the disenfranchisement of a group of people due to race to the political disenfranchisement of a party based on historical election results?
Would you?
Thank you, Jake & David, for the demonstration of Raleigh’s disdain for Asheville, and the absurdity of Redistricting 2011.