Bratton best in 6th primary
Friday's No. 2 editorial.
The three Democrats vying for a chance in the May 6 primary to unseat veteran 6th District Rep. Howard Coble all say it’s time for a change.
In addition to sharing a view that Coble’s voting record makes him vulnerable, they have something else in common. All are making a first try at elective office.
Johnny Carter, 59, lives with his family in Summerfield and is general manager for a local plumbing and heating company.
Jay Ovittore, 34 and single, operates a painting business. He’s been active in the local Democratic Party and serves on the Greensboro Human Relations Commission.
Teresa Sue Bratton, 59, is a physician specializing in pediatric allergies. She’s married, has three children and resides in Greensboro.
While they agree on a number of issues including an end to congressional funding for the Iraq war, each has a much different take on health care.
And on that key issue, Bratton offers a more workable approach than her opponents. She favors compatible government and private coverage for people not in employer-paid plans.
Carter calls for quickly expanding coverage now available to members of Congress to everyone. Ovittore prefers transitioning to a government-run single-payer system.
Bratton comes across as thoughtful and knowledgeable. If elected, time spent living in Great Britain and Canada could prove an asset in the national health care debate.
Ovittore’s sometimes intense demeanor can be a turnoff. As for Carter, he’s pleasant enough but doesn’t offer voters much to distinguish himself from the crowd.
Any of the three would face a formidable task in taking on the popular Coble, who has no primary opposition in the heavily Republican 6th District.
However, Bratton emerges as the candidate who best articulates an opposing viewpoint worth hearing.
Comments (6)
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but Carter's blank voting record seems to have successfully escaped any mention by the N&R despite being brought to the attention of editors and reporters more than once.
Posted on May 2, 2008 11:14 AM
As a resident in the 6th district, I couldn't agree more. Theresa Sue Bratton seems sensible, smart and capable of leading us in the direction we need to go. I'd much rather be represented by a pediatritian than Corporatist Coble.
He has been terrible for North Carolina, and terrible for the 6th district. He voted for the Iraq War, and continues to vote for every appropriation Bush asks for -- and, like the rest of Congress does so for the benefit of Wall Street -- not for the benefit of Americans.
Coble voted for the oil company tax breaks last year, at a time when they were posting record profits. He voted for NAFTA. He voted against health care for children last year. (what can you expect from someone who is unmarried and has never had children?)
Coble is cut from the same cloth as these other lazy and dumb conservatives who populate Washinton D.C. nowadays. They want us to believe that all the world's problems can be solved with guns, bombs and tax cuts. It saves them the trouble of having to think.
Posted on May 2, 2008 11:16 AM
"As for Carter, he’s pleasant enough but doesn’t offer voters much to distinguish himself from the crowd."
Really? I find these positions and opinions to be rather unique among the candidates:
-- "Our elected Global elitists will seal this program with a new money called the "Amero"
-- " The North American Security and Prosperity Partnership(as it is called) now exists with U.S., Mexico, and Canada. They have agreed to dissolve the sovereignty thru assimilation by an unconstitutional union with two socialist nations."
-- A year-round school schedule to allow children to "graduate" by 9th grade.
-- "Remove all illegal non-citizens from this country."
-- "Accept no visitors from known terrorist countries"
-- "Accept no visitors from known terrorist countries"
-- "Require the U.S. Arab Community to publicly denounce terrorism of any form or else
remove their tax-exempt status. It is time to evolve."
[from: http://www.johnnycarterforcongress.com]
Contrary to the claims of this column, Carter offers plenty to distinguish himself from the crowd. I'm truly puzzled by the way the N&R glossed over Carter.
Posted on May 2, 2008 11:41 AM
I completely agree with the News-Record. The buzzword right now is change. Change in energy policy, health care, education, the environment, and so on. Our current representatives have failed miserably to address our problems. Having known Dr. Bratton for several years, she is the one candidate most able to truly make a difference. She is incredibly intelligent, well-spoken and well-liked. She has a unique blend of compassion and tenacity that lends itself to the role of a congresswoman.
My vote goes to Dr. Bratton and urge you to consider doing the same.
Posted on May 2, 2008 2:32 PM
I completely disagree with the N&R. I think Jay Ovittore is the only one who can oust Coble in November.
Ovittore has an agricultural/biofuels plan that has major support among farmers and voters. He wants to turn the old manufacturing mills into biofuel refineries to make North Carolina the number one biofuel producer in the country.
He's also the only candidate to offer a single-payer universal healthcare system. In the second debate held among these contenders, Bratton said she was against this system. But at the Moore County Convention, she said she was. Clearly, she's pandering to the crowd, and she's lying to voters.
Do we really want someone who's going to continue lying to voters, or someone like Jay Ovittore who stands up and fights for those who can't afford to make ends meet?
Posted on May 3, 2008 1:24 PM
Hello N&R editors. Are you going to continue to ignore the information brought to your attention about Johnny Carter? No comment? Really?
Posted on May 4, 2008 11:10 AM