Charges Fly Between Two GOP Congressional Candidates
Dr. James Taylor and Cathy Hinson at candidate forum held at Sandhills Community College April 10.
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Tension appears to be mounting between two candidates challenging Rep. Howard Coble for his U.S. House seat.
Cathy Hinson, one of five Republicans contesting Coble for the party's nomination in the May 4 primary, told The Pilot last week that fellow challenger Dr. James Taylor, a physician who practices in Laurinburg and lives in Southern Pines, offered to pay her filing fee of $1,740 if she withdrew her candidacy and endorsed him.
Hinson, an educator and businesswoman from High Point, said Taylor has asked her to withdraw four times. She said the filing fee offer came in the form of a phone call on March 22.
"It was just a telephone conversation between him and myself," she said, "so there's no way I can prove that. But he has asked me four times to quit and back him, but this was the first time he's offered any kind of financial (incentive)."
Hinson said she refused, adding that she didn't enter the race to drop out before the primary.
Taylor issued a response in an e-mail statement.
"Cathy and I met several times both before and during the campaign in the interest of discussing our goals and issues," he said, "and we agree on most of the issues. During our last conversation I asked her, since I felt that at that point I was the stronger candidate, for her support.
"In an offhand comment, I told her that if at any time she decided to withdraw from the race, I would make a contribution to her campaign in the amount of her filing fee so that she could recoup that cost. It was never taken seriously by her, and I dismissed it."
Hinson said that she didn't trust Taylor and told him as much.
"He's a deal-maker, and he tries to work everything with an angle," she said. "To me, that's what we've got in Congress already."
The issue was first raised at a candidates forum sponsored by Moore TEA Citizens on April 10, when Hinson's father asked Taylor how many times he had asked Hinson to drop out and how much money he offered her if she did.
Taylor explained at the forum that the fight to unseat Coble, a 13-term incumbent, would be "uphill" and that he would, in fact, ask all of the candidates to drop out and back him, as he did with Hinson.
"I think that is the right thing they should do," he said, "because I am the better candidate, and it will save a lot of us a lot of money along the way. And that's what I was trying to do, save hard-earned taxpayer money so we didn't have to use it fighting against each other."
Hinson said she didn't know her father would ask the question.
The other Republican challengers are Guilford County Commissioner Billy Yow, of Greensboro; Jon Mangin, of Stokesdale; and Jeff Phillips, of Greensboro.
A Democrat, Sam Turner, of Salisbury, will face off against the Republican nominee in the fall's general election.
Contact John Krahnert III by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com.
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Comments
concerned 3 years ago
I shot a video of this. You can see it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARx-x5IjREw
webmom 3 years ago
This was a cheap shot by Kathy's father. He was insinuating that Dr. Taylor tried to bribe his daughter. Kathy knows herself that there was no attempted bribery. She must be feeling desperate to resort to such low measures.
Concerned, you really need find something legitimate to do. Do you have a paying job? You seem to have too much time on your hands.
concerned 3 years ago
Webmom, I am glad we are Americans and can have opinions and cival debate here. I do have a job, make that two jobs. I think that was a cheap shot against me, but who am i ? I am just a concerned citizen wanting my children to have an America that is free and is allowed to speak his mind when they see something they are concerned about. Thanks for your comment!! Cheers
webmom 3 years ago
Concerned,
Sorry, I had you confused with some other guy. I thought you were the aspiring video guy (who moonlights as a house-hold handyman) who solicits the candidates to let you follow them around, video them and then uses the videos against them.
My apologies!
TheNeedle 3 years ago
I like James Taylor. I particularly like his version of "Handy Man."
concerned 3 years ago
Webmom Thanks for the cheap shot again. That is me. You are batting two for two I dont solicit anyone. Dr Taylor asked me to do sme video of him. I have two videos on his site that he got for free. Anyway I dont want to argue. Cheers
webmom 3 years ago
Sorry Concerned.
I apologize again. Like I said, I am mistaken about who you are. I am certain the doc would not even know how to contact someone like you.
I had you confused with a guy who solicited the campaign by offering his services for free. This guy became disgruntled when the campaign didn't employ him.
So this other guy is shopping his "skills" around to see if some other campaign will bite. What a way to make a living!
But I am sure this has nothing to do with you.
EndStatusQuo 3 years ago
A video was posted on Dr. Taylor's website of the misconstrued incident, it was filmed by his own campaign staff because Dr. Taylor's campaign has been transparent from the beginning, nothing to hide, nothing hidden. Furthermore, I can understand Ms. Hinson's frustration and embarrassment after having her father blurt out the fact that Dr. Taylor had approached her in front of the Moore Tea Citizens forum.....after all Dr. Taylor was only being considerate and it was no different than what she did when she approached Mr. Coble asking him to drop out of the race and support her, no she didn't offer to refund his filing fee, she didn't have the funds, but after all Mr. Coble has $100's of thousands of dollars given to him by the PAC's and more at his disposal. If I were in her shoes I would have used a little more common sense and courtesy and not tried to make this a black eye for Dr.Taylor by taking it to the Pilot, Even with this perceived debacle developing on stage Dr. James Taylor still received 56% of the straw poll vote because the people could see through the political rhetoric and it may very well be the bone of contention that Ms. Hinson's has with Dr. Taylor, Kathy only received 2% of the straw poll and according to the FEC has received -0- donations, Source: http://tinyurl.com/265j8qu . After all that she knew that Dr. Taylor was correct in his analysis of her chances. Dr. James Taylor is the only candidate that can unseat the entrenched career politician, Mr. Howard Coble, he is also the only candidate to post a Bonded Term limit to run three terms and to pledge to refuse the Medical and Retirement plan when elected. For the life of me....I'll never understand how printing this story was a service to the community? http://tinyurl.com/33n4nau
EndStatusQuo 3 years ago
By the way...here is a link to the video I spoke of that was taken by the Dr. James Taylor campaign staff...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-42mY...
None 3 years ago
"to pledge to refuse the Medical and Retirement plan when elected." Why wouldn't he? He is a Doctor. He is also opposed to providing health care for those who are not employed by virtue of Free Trade Agreements that sent American jobs offshore; those who can't afford to pay excessive insurance premiums, or those who die because of pre-existing medical conditions and have no choices since they struggle day to day just to buy food and medicine.
In my opinion Dr. Taylor is just another politician whose interest is in becoming a US Congressman like many other Congressman who have MD at the end of their titles. How can the most affluent among us understand what the loss of income, living from pay check to paycheck, scathing off big banks who hold mortgages from foreclosure. As with those of privilege who has never worried about having their electric service terminated, or their children having to attend school and receive free meals because their parents' income is below the poverty level.
The Republican point of view has always supported the theory that everyone should work hard, have at least a college education, and a career that supports their family and lifestyle. Good concept if we all came from a gene pool that bestowed those intellectual quotients to everyone and born to families who have unlimited financial resources to grow educationally. The reality of life is that we are not all born equal: our society is akin to India and a cast system; where the poor serve the wealthy, and the wealthy accumulate wealth from those who can least afford to lose their hard earned dollars. Case in point: Wall Street Hedge Fund Managers earning billions a year - does anyone think for a minute that those people have any compassion for the average American. The answer is NO.
BTW Doc ~ nice shoes. They cost more than some families pay for food for a month.
Woody 3 years ago
Toda, what a load of garbage!! There are millions of people in our country who were born into the circumstances you describe, yet through hard work and perseverance have raised themselves and their families up. Our country is NOTHING like India. And the shoe comment, poor taste. You are correct about one thing, we do have a class system in the US, you either have class or YOU don't.
EndStatusQuo 3 years ago
Toda, you seem out of touch with reality??? When was the last time someone was refused medical treatment due to not being able to pay? Howard Coble was a culprit in voting for NAFTA that unemployed 34,000+ people in the 6th district alone! Along with those 34,000+ people loosing their Jobs, they also lost their HEALTH CARE!
Toda said:
Where do you get your information? Dr. Taylor doesn't treat patients according to their ability to PAY, Dr. Taylor treats patients on their need for treatment. If you took one minute and went to his campaign website here: http://www.jamestaylorforcongress.com/ you would find out that he OPPOSES NAFTA, which has left Millions across America without Jobs and Health Care. Who's fault was it that NAFTA was passed? It was a NON-PARTISAN VOTE, both Big Box Political Parties Voted to decimate America's manufacturing jobs, not just a single Party.
Toda said:
Toda, have you ever had a job where the owner of the business you worked for was a POOR person?....I thank God for the rich people that provide US jobs that produce a viable commodity, UNLIKE Government the bureaucratic jobs that bite the tax payers hand that feed them and keep them indentured.
Can you name one Country where socialism has brought prosperity? 2Th 3:10 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."
None 3 years ago
@Woody ~ and everyone is entitled to an opinion. What you call "garbage" I call equal opportunity. So in your opinion where does the "Middle Class" fit into our social hierarchy? There isn't a middle class any longer. Either one is wealthy or poor; no longer is there an in-between with the rising cost of health care. Where have you been? Go to First Health and not have insurance, they will turn your account over to a collection agency. Credit is ruined, judgments executed;perhaps you should share your solution with those who have lost everything they thought they owned and are homeless. Let's agree to disagree...as far as your "Classy" comment about my comments being "garbage", that is real class - Sir!
@EndStatusQuo : obviously you are the campaign manager for Taylor. I am a licensed general contractor who has operated a construction business for over 30 years ~ until the IRS was taking more from my business than customers were willing to pay. You can't tell me anything about small businesses and the tax burden placed on businesses by the federal government. Have you ever operated a business?
And please don't throw out the socialism label. That started centuries ago with the formation of the IRS.
If you choose to cite scripture: Leviticus 18, 6-24: so you are opposed to life-partners??? And what makes you think that Taylor is in touch with the people he will represent => let me guess? The country club crowd and gated community retirees. Not the waitress, checkout person at the local Wal Mart, or the person hawking newspapers for The Pilot. You Sir are as out of touch with reality as Taylor. Just my opinion....
webmom 3 years ago
toda,
Do your research.
Dr. Taylor put himself through undergrad and medical school.
He comes from a background similar to the rest of us.
He is the people's candidate.
None 3 years ago
@webmom ~ Good for him! Candidate Billy Yow, Greensboro, owns and operates a small business. He has a grasp on hardships facing the working class. He is also a Mason and a Shriner as am I. He supports burned and crippled children hospitals. One can't get more grassroots and a candidate of the people than Billy Yow.
Most folks I know do not come from a "similar" background; I'm sure his parents never had a meter reader come to their front door with a disconnect order...I know some of those salt-of-the-earth people who are experiencing trepidation with week to week survival. With unemployment reaching 20% - 11.4% of known unemployed, we need someone who is in touch with their constituents, as opposed to the country club crowd.
Some bloggers may be of the opinion that I support Howard Coble ~ nothing could be further from the truth.
None 3 years ago
@EndStatusQuo: "I thank God for the rich people that provide US jobs that produce a viable commodity", you wouldn't work for a Hedge Fund brokerage house - would you? Or Bank of America, Chase - Morgan, Fidelity, AIG, Capital or Goldman Sachs ~ some of the Wall Street investors that "provide US jobs that produce a viable commodity" like the availability of T.A.R.P. funds loaned to banks to help people stay in their homes? How do you spell - derivative swaps? BUSH Administration. But he wasn't asleep at the helm, just dozing....
webmom 3 years ago
Shriners do so much good.
But, where would the Shriner's hospitals be without the good physicians and nurses who take care of the crippled and burned children?
I have nothing against Billy Yow. However, he isn't Washington material. Lets keep him here in NC.
None 3 years ago
@Webmom: shouldn't the same be said about Dr. Taylor. Don't we need more physicians and fewer politicians who are doctors?
webmom 3 years ago
Toda,
We need people who are smart enough to be doctors but are willing to sacrifice the income and convenience of working locally because they are deeply concerned about the direction our nation is heading. We need people of charactor who work in the (stressful!) real world, taking care of and protecting human life, who are problem solvers, not problem creators.
We need people who are running for congress not because they need the money and attention but because they love our country and want to make a difference.
We need people who will be taken seriously in Washington.
Recent polls have shown that 90% of people trust their doctors, but only 20% trust their politicians. To me, this says everything.