Letter: Van Duyn is no friend

Graphic by Lori Deaton

We moved here from Orange County, Calif., in late 2016. Fed up with Trump conservatives, we were looking forward to a progressive community. Then [Sen.] Terry Van Duyn voted for a bill to ban cities from passing anti-discrimination legislation for LGBT people in cities. She said she was supporting the Democratic governor and called it a compromise that even LGBT groups opposed.

Our GOP member of Congress back in California voted for anti-discrimination legislation. “If the Democrats like Van Duyn and Gov. Roy Cooper were going to be worse than our GOP member of Congress back home, why should my husband and I register with the Democratic Party?” I asked the Democrats of Buncombe County. My email was forwarded to Van Duyn, who replied “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn …” We registered with “No Political Party” affiliation in response.

In seeking how to contact Van Duyn, I saw she had a picture of herself in a rainbow flag T-shirt. Apparently, she wears her principles on her T-shirt so they are easy to shed when they become inconvenient. If she was simply supporting her party leader, how does that make her any better than the GOP officials who vote against what they believe to support Trump? Who does Van Duyn actually represent if not Asheville?

[A recent Xpress] edition said Van Duyn was running for lieutenant governor. Van Duyn doesn’t have our backs, so she won’t get our votes. She shouldn’t get the votes of anyone else in our region, either. “Fool us once, shame on you.” When Republicans vote against basic human rights, we rightfully challenge them. When I ask local Democrats why they support Van Duyn for doing the same thing, I get silences and awkward shrugs.

Buncombe County and the state deserve better than phony friends. At least with an honest enemy, we are allowed to keep fighting. But thanks to Van Duyn and Gov. HB Two-per, the leverage we had in that fight is gone.

— James Vaughn
Asheville

Editor’s note: Xpress contacted Van Duyn with a summary of the letter writer’s points, but she declined to provide a response.

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7 thoughts on “Letter: Van Duyn is no friend

  1. NFB

    Where on Earth did you ever get the idea that Asheville was “a progressive community?”

  2. Enlightened Enigma

    liberal progressives eating each other up in hatred … don’tcha just love it ? progressives are mostly mentally ill.

  3. WNC

    I think there’s a couple spots open on the crowed sidewalks/home stead’s in the progressive towns of California. You sure created a large carbon foot print to join us.

  4. Bill Grindstaff

    Senator Van Duyn does not represent the voters that elected her. The senator appears most interested in any deal that she calculates affords her one more rung on the ladder. Ms. Van Duyn’s ambition is evidenced by her collusion in gerrymandering and now by her inability to comprehend equal rights. Democratic candidate for Lt. Gov.?!? I think not….. Not on my ballot, anyway.

  5. bsummers

    Who does Van Duyn actually represent if not Asheville?

    She represents most of Buncombe County, not just Asheville.

    • NFB

      “She represents most of Buncombe County, not just Asheville.”

      And it’s a pity a lot of people don’t seem to grasp that.

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