Wilmington Democrat Del Pietro revives his "McIntyre Watch" political GPS system.

Greetings Friends,

After taking several months off it's time to bring back the McIntyre watch as our own Congressman McIntyre continues to thumb his nose to the 7th Congressional District Democrats.  Lets face it, we did him a favor in the last election.  We gave him the benefit of the doubt.  Well, a lot has happened in this session and we've given him a free pass for long enough.  

He needs to be held accountable.  

Today's topic is his press release regarding his fundraising for the second quarter.  Mr. McIntyre hides behind the disguise of a fine Christian gentleman.  However, as I'm going to show you in his own words, he has no problem blatantly lying to the the citizens of the 7th district if it will help him.  We've been giving him a free pass on these white lies for a long time now, but I have to ask myself, "What else is he lying to us about"?  

The following statement from the Congressman says that 70% of his donations come from individuals, but the Federal Elections Commission Report clearly shows that the real number is 51%.  The congressman's statement isn't even remotely close to being true.  He is attempting to manipulate the facts to show that he is not bought off by special interests groups and PACS.

Here is the link to the Federal Elections Commission to review McIntyre's report:  http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00306829/734980/

Look at the detailed summary page:

Total Individual contributions:  $148,140

Total Contributions:  $286,126

As you can see when you divide individual contributions by the total it =51%

Have a wonderful day,

Del Pietro

Now here is Congressman McIntyre's statement in his own words:

McIntyre Finishes 2^nd Quarter with More Than $376K Cash On Hand

Raises $286K in 2^nd Quarter Alone

Representative Mike McIntyre (NC-07) today announced that his campaign will report more than $376,000 cash on hand after the second quarter, having raised more than $286,000. The amount raised by Rep. McIntyre more than quadruples the amount he raised during the same quarter in 2009, and nearly 70% of the contributions came from individual donors.

“I am tremendously appreciative of all the support I have received from the people of Southeastern North Carolina,” said Representative McIntyre.  “They understand that the future of our country is at stake in the next election, and I intend to keep fighting on their behalf to protect Medicare and Social Security, create jobs and grow our economy.”

Representative McIntyre finishes the quarter with $376,881.48 cash on hand, and he raised $286,126.93 in the second quarter from 385 contributors. During the same period in 2009, McIntyre raised $63,884.55.

delpietro7cd@gmail.com

McIntyre opponent drops out of Democratic campaign. Cites personal attacks.

Verne Strickland Blogmaster

Posted: Apr 05, 2011 8:25 PM EDT Updated: Apr 05, 2011 8:31 PM EDT 

 

By: Jon Evans - email 

Del Pietro

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) -  Del Pietro has announced that he is dropping out of the Democratic campaign to challenge incumbent Congressman Mike McIntyre in 2012.

Pietro was recently the subject of a personal attack by a member of McIntyre's staff. Pietro told WECT News Tuesday night that he expected more similar attacks from inside the Democratic Party as the campaign continued, and he did not want to put his family through that type of politics.

"It's saddening," Pietro said, "but I think this is the right decision for the long term."

Pietro has ruled out a run for political office, but says he looks forward to endorsing a qualified primary and general election candidate to represent the citizens of District 7.

He issued this statement:

I am officially announcing that I will be withdrawing my intentions to challenge for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 2012 election.  The direct attacks of this past week from Congressman McIntyre's staffer are an indication of what this campaign would be.

I have a wonderful and very loving family and they do not deserve to be put through such a terribly unethical campaign as put forth by Congressman McIntyre and his staffer.  
My heart goes out to the people of this district which is the poorest and sickest in North Carolina.  

May God be with you.

The official filing period for the Congressional seat does not open until February of 2012.

Copyright 2011 WECT. All rights reserved.

Press ignores McIntyre staffer's sick outburst at jobfest. We do the job they didn't.

By Verne Strickland
March 30, 2011

Seventh District Congressman Mike McIntyre hosted a “Jobs Creation Summit” this week at the northern campus of Cape Fear Community College near Castle Hayne.

But then you have probably heard about that. Not the actual meeting itself. That was a bust according to a report sent to me during the "summit":

"Half of the audience walked out during the middle and second half of the program. It was completely ineffective."

No, anything that happened with the program will surely not be remembered. It's what happened during the event that Congressman McIntyre and his people would like to forget.

A bizarre incident that went under the radar, at least as far as the audience was concerned, was captured and reported by an alert news team representing WWAY-TV3 of Wilmington. Here's an excerpt of from their story:

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)March 29, 2011 -- During Rep. Mike McIntyre's jobs summit today, one of the Congressman's staffers made some interesting comments to us.

After he saw Del Pietro, a Democrat who plans to challenge McIntyre in the primary, talking to our crew, McIntyre's economic development director Tony McEwen pulled them aside.

McEwen told us Pietro is "crazy," "shaky," "schizophrenic" and "not all there."

Pietro says McEwen is trying to destroy his reputation because he knows he is a serious contender to beat the Congressman.

"I think average folks like us should be able to run for public office without having to endure dirty politics," Pietro said.

"Quite frankly this is exactly what the folks in this Congressional district and across America are exhausted by. Our political system can be very dirty, and this is clearly an indication of that."

When asked about McEwen's comments, McIntyre's Chief of Staff said in an e-mail to WWAY, "(A)ny comments Tony McEwen made with regard to the subject manner you referenced were not authorized by, nor reflective of, this office."

When asked if he, the Congressman or McEwen would like a chance to talk on camera or by phone about what was said and Pietro's reaction, Mitchell e-mailed back, "We have no further comment. Thanks."

VS: But Pietro did have some further comments, which he offered in an exclusive interview for USA DOT COM:


Pietro: “The slanderous attack that Tony McEwen used against me with a WWAY reporter is just very unfortunate. I fully plan to pursue all legal avenues to put a stop to this. It’s just completely inappropriate.”

VS: How did this happen to erupt like this?

Pietro:“All I did was say hello to the WWAY reporter who was there. And after that the WWAY news director told me the reporter was pulled aside and told of all these slanderous remarks. WWAY called me immediately to get my comments on it, and it was such a serious situation that I was asked to go down to the station and get a face-to-face interview.”

VS: What are you considering in the wake of this incident?

Pietro: “I’m going to be pursuing all avenues in terms of civil litigation against Tony McEwen and the congressman. Tony is a representative of the congressman, and is doing the congressman’s dirty work, and basically the congressman is accountable for Tony’s remarks. They are baseless and it’s saddening that the congressman and his staff would stoop to this level.”

VS: You said that Mr. McEwan has run afoul of federal law?

Pietro: “Yes, he’s a federal employee covered by the Hatch Act, as I understand it, and he is not supposed to be campaigning while he is working in any way, shape or form. That’s the way I understand the law, and he clearly violated that law. When he made those remarks, he is technically campaigning against me. That’s an issue that’s to be reported to the Federal Government."

VS: What does the Democratic Party have to say about all this?

Pietro: “Tony is the State’s third vice chair of the party, and I was just told by a local Democrat that the party is going to put forth a resolution at our convention asking him to resign his office. This will be at either the county or the district level.

“This is just very dirty politics, and it’s uncalled for. They should be able to campaign on substance, but apparently if they don’t feel they can beat me on substance, they will just resort to these types of attacks.

“A call was made to the congressman’s office by the chair of the Democratic Party for the Seventh District, Melvin Williams, making him aware of what transpired, and explaining that I’m looking for a sincere apology from the congressman and Tony McEwan, and also asking for disciplinary action against Tony for slanderous comments.

“I am in consultation with an attorney right now to discuss what my legal options are in terms of filing a civil suit against both Tony and the congressman. This wasn’t typical political rhetoric, this was a direct slanderous attack, and I’m not going to tolerate it.”



VS: News media in the area treated the McIntyre job summit tempest like a hot potato. Although Pietro said he talked with StarNews reporter Patrick Gannon about the incident, the embarrassing political dust-up was ignored in Wednesday's print edition.

In an earlier time, this would probably be the end of awkward moments like this. In this hidebound Cape Fear region, which has been a Democrat stronghold for a century, no self-respecting news organization would have ventured the faintest suggestion of such a gaffe involving a powerful Democrat's staff.

But this is 2011, friends, and thank God for the Internet. No longer do Republicans and their supporters have to resort to sky writing or leaflet drops to report the news.

And no longer do we have to plead with pompous "news" writers to drop a favorable line or two about our agenda somewhere on the obituary page. Today, we don't have to run our information through a Democrat filter which sanitizes the copy into total obscurity.

Why? The American public has the Internet.

Free at last, free at last . . . as the late MLK famously intoned.

So I did my bit on my USA DOT COM blog, and some readers generously commented.



Blogger Darvin Dowdy said...

HEY DEL: I get your indignity "but" what you're experiencing is the norm from the main-stream DNC. We Tea Party conservatives have had to to endure slanderous attacks, such as this and worse, continuously by Democrats. We've just learned to try to ignore them. Sometimes its difficult.

Just know that the "folks" out in NC7 don't think you are crazy. They're cheering you on. Keep applying pressure and bring some civility back to the Democrat Party. (great interview, Verne!) DD
March 30, 2011 4:39 AM


Andy Yates commented on your link.
Andy wrote: "Tony McEwen is paid by our tax dollars and was on the clock when these statements were made. He shouldn't be commenting on political candidates or engaging political activities. What else is McEwen doing to attempt to advance McIntyre's political future while he is on the clock?"

VS: Then there was an assortment of comments posted on the WWAY message board:


Disgusting
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 8:27am.

This story is disgusting and for McEwen to espouse such dirty rhetoric is indicative of McIntyre and his office. Is this what happens when an entrenched incumbent has a legitimate challenger? I hope this is the straw that broke the camels back for McIntyre. McEwen should be fired.
»

Snakes, etc...
Submitted by Loyal Democrat (not verified) on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 11:56pm.

I know both of the gentlemen you have written about in your story. If either of them is "not all there" or "schizophrenic" it isn't Del Pietro. I think Tony McEwen's actions demonstrated that he is the type of ambitious politician who would sell his grandmother to meet his needs. It isn't the first time I have seen him behave in this manner.

On the other hand, Del Pietro is a True Democrat, loyal to the party and to the President who says what he believes and follows through on those beliefs. He would make a fine, honest Congressman representing our district.
»


Smear tactics???
Submitted by Scar1 (not verified) on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 9:25pm.

Del is kind enough not to slap Mike in the face for that one. How very low to smear someone's character. And Del has kids and family that will read such accusations. How would Mr. McIntyre like it if someone said this to his children. Del's children are young but can hear others repeat such "trash". How cruel can one be? Apologize!!!!!

Perhaps he is afraid Del will win. And with this type action he has my vote. How nasty!!!
»

Has a lot of Potential
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 8:49pm.

If you look at Pietro's calm and cool demeanor he certainly looks like someone that is going to be a serious contender. So far when I've seen him in news clips he has been very knowledgeable and articulate. He very well could be our next Congressman.
»

A true Democrat
Submitted by True Independent (not verified) on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 7:50pm.

Actual, from what I've read, Pietro sounds like a real Democrat.
McIntyre is a Democrat in name only. There must be something about Pietro that makes McIntyre worry because I don't think he would waste his time commenting on someone he considers truly "crazy".
It would be nice to have a real Democrat in the congressional race for a change.
»

McIntyre is Dirty
Submitted by Mike Miller (not verified) on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 7:05pm.

The real story here that we need to capitalize on is that McIntyre and his staff are dirty. This is a golden opportunity for us to expose McIntyre for what he is.
»

Remarks
Submitted by Tea Party (not verified) on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 6:29pm.

What the real story here is how dirty the Congressman and his staffer are. Who cares what this guy's political philosophy is. This is a golden opportunity for us to capitalize on the fact that McIntyre is a dirty politician. Desperate is probably a better term.
»

Remarks (FOOLISH remarks)
Submitted by hugh (not verified) on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 9:58pm.

Mike is honorable and is not remotely "dirty". This is irrelevant to you and your other desparate supporters who can only try to gain ground by lying and distorting the truth and record of a senior Congressman who has been a great asset to his district. "A golden opportunity to capitalize" is all you seek without regard for the truth--you are indeed desparate.Save your slander.

*****************

VS: Well, it takes all kinds. We could go on and on but you get the idea. Interesting how the lack of civility and respect which the Democrats preach but don't practice at the national level also infects party hacks down the line.

Del Pietro is as quiet now as the press which has failed to give a fair report of this -- or any report at all. Pietro has said his piece, and likely has now fallen silent because he has hired that attorney he mentioned to go after Mike McIntyre Incorporated.

See you in court, boys.

Mike McIntyre staff member calls Democrat candidate Del Pietro "crazy", "not all there".

Verne Strickland Blogmaster
March 29, 2011

WILMINGTON JOBS CREATION EVENT SCENE OF STRANGE ROW INVOLVING CONGRESSMAN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TONY McEWEN, WHO INSULTS McINTYRE'S CHALLENGER.

Seventh District Congressman Mike McIntyre hosted a “Jobs Creation Summit” today at the northern campus of Cape Fear Community College near Castle Hayne.

Reports from the event said it was not well-received, and a number of people left early.

Wilmington resident Del Pietro, Democratic candidate in the 2012 NC Seventh District primary, was in attendance. He said earlier that he was going to be looking for a job – McIntyre’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The most exciting activity took place backstage at the meeting, as reported by WWAY-TV3 News of Wilmington:

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- During Rep. Mike McIntyre's jobs summit today, one of the Congressman's staffers made some interesting comments to us.

After he saw Del Pietro, a Democrat who plans to challenge McIntyre in the primary, talking to our crew, McIntyre's economic development director Tony McEwen pulled them aside.

McEwen told us Pietro is "crazy," "shaky," "schizophrenic" and "not all there."

Pietro says McEwen is trying to destroy his reputation because he knows he is a serious contender to beat the Congressman.

"I think average folks like us should be able to run for public office without having to endure dirty politics," Pietro said.

"Quite frankly this is exactly what the folks in this Congressional district and across America are exhausted by. Our political system can be very dirty, and this is clearly an indication of that."

When asked about McEwen's comments, McIntyre's Chief of Staff said in an e-mail to WWAY, "(A)ny comments Tony McEwen made with regard to the subject manner you referenced were not authorized by, nor reflective of, this office."

When asked if he, the Congressman or McEwen would like a chance to talk on camera or by phone about what was said and Pietro's reaction, Mitchell e-mailed back, "We have no further comment. Thanks."

END OF WWAY-TV3 NEWS CONTINUITY

Verne Strickland, USA DOT COM:

After the incident, we contacted candidate Del Pietro for an exclusive interview. Here is part of what he said.

Pietro: “The slanderous attack that Tony McEwen used against me with a WWAY reporter is just very unfortunate. I fully plan to pursue all legal avenues to put a stop to this. It’s just completely inappropriate.”

VS: How did this happen to erupt like this?

Pietro:“All I did was say hello to the WWAY reporter who was there. And after that the WWAY news director told me the reporter was pulled aside and told of all these slanderous remarks. WWAY called me immediately to get my comments on it, and it was such a serious situation that I was asked to go down to the station and get a face-to-face interview.”

VS: What are you considering in the wake of this incident?

Pietro: “I’m going to be pursuing all avenues in terms of civil litigation against Tony McEwen and the congressman. Tony is a representative of the congressman, and is doing the congressman’s dirty work, and basically the congressman is accountable for Tony’s remarks. They are baseless and it’s saddening that the congressman and his staff would stoop to this level.”

VS: You said that Mr. McEwan has run afoul of federal law?

Pietro: “Yes, he’s a federal employee covered by the Hatch Act, as I understand it, and he is not supposed to be campaigning while he is working in any way, shape or form. That’s the way I understand the law, and he clearly violated that law. When he made those remarks, he is technically campaigning against me. That’s an issue that’s to be reported to the Federal Government."

VS: What does the Democratic Party have to say about all this?

Pietro: “Tony is the State’s third vice chair of the party, and I was just told by a local Democrat that the party is going to put forth a resolution at our convention asking him to resign his office. This will be at either the county or the district level.

“This is just very dirty politics, and it’s uncalled for. They should be able to campaign on substance, but apparently if they don’t feel they can beat me on substance, they will just resort to these types of attacks.

“A call was made to the congressman’s office by the chair of the Democratic Party for the Seventh District, Melvin Williams, making him aware of what transpired, and explaining that I’m looking for a sincere apology from the congressman and Tony McEwan, and also asking for disciplinary action against Tony for slanderous comments.

“I am in consultation with an attorney right now to discuss what my legal options are in terms of filing a civil suit against both Tony and the congressman. This wasn’t typical political rhetoric, this was a direct slanderous attack, and I’m not going to tolerate it.”

Del Pietro: NC Seventh District 'going nowhere' under Mike McIntyre -- after 14 years!

By Verne Strickland
March 28, 2011

"His tenure appears to have fallen flat as far as generating any real progress for the poor, disadvantaged and sick people in his own county," said Wilmington resident Del Pietro of current U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre.

Robeson County is where McIntyre keeps his residence, and Pietro says if he's not taking care of the home folks, he is not taking care of business.

"The first thing you should do in politics and business is benchmark," advises Pietro, 38, an announced candidate to challenge McIntyre in the 2012 Democratic primary.

Redistricting, though, which will be shaped within the coming few weeks, could change a lot of things. It's not clear what the Seventh District will look like after a GOP-dominated redistricting committee finishes its work. Candidate match-ups, district boundaries, and even party switching make the whole scenario fluid and dynamic.

Pietro has long talked of challenging McIntyre. He can do that even if McIntyre's home County of Robeson is carved out of the Seventh District and placed in an adjoining District, such as the Eighth -- which makes sense to many observers.

Robeson is where McIntyre votes, so he has the responsibility -- or blame -- for much of what happens there in terms of opportunity and quality of life. It's not a situation he brags about.

"If you take a look at what the economics and the health statistics were in Robeson County, his home county, when he took office, until now, these benchmarks haven’t improved one bit," Pietro asserts. "We just have to wait until the new census figures come out to prove what is my assumption -- that the situation has probably even worsened on Mr. McIntyre's watch."

According to Democrat challenger Pietro, a family man and resident of Wilmington, McIntyre gets low marks for leadership, low ratings for planning and execution -- both required in order to change the fate of people in his county and district.

"The most astounding thing is that Congressman McIntyre has no plan, and never has had a plan, for the future of his own District. I’ve never seen one and nobody knows of one. So he doesn't have an idea which way to go, and can be accurately described as totally reactionary,"

McIntyre describes himself as a conservative, but Pietro charges that he votes in the conservative column just enough to get re-elected in his District, where this stance plays well.

"We have here an opportunist who does just enough to get elected," Pietro commented. "He knows the liberals in the district are going to vote for him no matter what. So he appeases conservatives every now and then by throwing them a bone, such as his vote to repeal health care. And nobody calls him out. It's shameful."

Congressman McIntyre will host a "Job Creation Summit" on Tuesday, March 29, from 10:00 am to 12 noon at the Cape Fear Community College north campus, 4500 Blue Clay Road in Castle Hayne. The event is free and open to the public.

Candidate Pietro is not impressed.

"It's just another photo op, doesn't stand a chance of accomplishing anything for the unemployed, under-educated, sick and impoverished people in his district. This should have taken place ten years ago," said Pietro.

"Robeson County is right at the top of the heap when it comes to need, and right at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to any hope of eventually climbing out.
That's not going to change under a Congressman whose claim to fame is bringing in a new firetruck or a few loads of sand," Pietro concluded.

Del Pietro said he will attend McIntyre's job creation summit on Tuesday. "I'm looking for a job too -- representing the Seventh District in the U.S. Congress," Pietro said.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Del-Pietro-NC-7th-Congressional-District/131774246836913

http://www.facebook.com/mikemcintyre

NC district map-makers could be political king-makers -- but GOP vows to play fair.

REPUBLICANS IN CHARGE OF CRITICAL PROCESS, WHICH GETS UNDERWAY THIS WEEK

Verne Strickland Blogmaster

BY JIM MORRILL - CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
Saturday, March 26, 2011


It's the mantra of North Carolina's Republican leaders: This year's political redistricting will be "fair and legal."

They don't say it will be non-partisan.

The process that will change voting districts for millions of North Carolinians - and the state's political landscape for at least a decade - starts Wednesday when House and Senate lawmakers charged with redrawing districts meet for the first time. A series of public hearings will start in April.

Republicans drawing lines for the first time since Reconstruction will work from a 2010 census that left current congressional and legislative districts unbalanced a decade after they were last drawn.

Rebalancing the district's populations means that some, such as the 1st District of Democrat G.K. Butterfield in the northeast, must be redrawn to take in more people. Others, such as the Charlotte area's 9th District, represented by Republican Sue Myrick, will have to shrink.

Republicans expect the process not only will solidify their new hold on the General Assembly but help them gain as many as four congressional seats. One publication called North Carolina the GOP's "Golden Goose of redistricting."

"If [Republicans] just draw districts that, in their words are fair and legal, they should do pretty good," says Francis De Luca, president of the conservative Civitas Institute.

Drawing legal districts has never been easy in North Carolina.

Cases challenging N.C. plans have gone to the U.S. Supreme Court at least six times in three decades.

"It's definitely been the epicenter of some of the most landmark redistricting cases in the modern era," says Tim Storey, a senior fellow with the National Conference of State Legislatures. "Some of the seminal Supreme Court cases that guide legislators in every state in the country in the redistricting process originated in North Carolina."

Those cases as well as a series of state court rulings have created a legal thicket for map-makers. Virtually every case involved interpretations of the Voting Rights Act, the 1965 law designed to ensure the rights of minorities.

The court has said the state can consider race in redrawing lines. Just not too much.

Race will play a role

This year, race will be a factor again as lawmakers tweak the state's two "majority-minority" congressional districts - the only two represented by African-Americans - and perhaps try to add a third.

"We're looking at our options," says Sen. Bob Rucho, a Matthews Republican who chairs the Senate Redistricting Committee. "It's all going to be based on where we can find large pockets of population."

To rebalance North Carolina's 13 congressional districts, lawmakers must add nearly 100,000 people - almost the population of Wilmington - to Butterfield's 1st District. They'll have to subtract 3,000 from Charlotte Democrat Mel Watt's 12th District.

They'll have to do both without diluting the influence - what the Supreme Court called the "effective exercise" - of minority voters. Any plan has to win approval of the Democratic-controlled U.S. Justice Department.

African-Americans tend to be concentrated in the state's urban areas and in rural areas in the northeast and south.

One place lawmakers might attempt a third majority-minority district is along the southern tier, through much of what is now Democrat Larry Kissell's 8th District. Such a plan could effectively siphon traditionally Democratic voters from Kissell and Rep. Mike McIntyre of Robeson County who represents the 7th District.

(VS: McIntyre is already challenged by Democrat Del Pietro. Republican Ilario Pantano, who lost to McIntyre in 2010, is an announced candidate for 2012. )


"It's obvious why Republicans would want to create a third minority district," says Democratic Sen. Dan Blue of Raleigh. "Their whole goal and purpose is to bring all the black voters in the state together and sort of 'ghettoize' them and reduce their influence in other districts."

Robo-calls target Dems

This week the National Republican Congressional Committee began robo-calls against Kissell and Democratic Reps. Brad Miller and Heath Shuler, blaming them for rising gas prices. Similar calls have targeted McIntyre. All four are among the GOP's top 10 Democratic targets. Redistricting could help unseat them.

Shuler's 11th District must add about 30,000 people. They would likely come from Republican Patrick McHenry's 10th District, making an already conservative district more so.

Rucho has suggested that Kissell's 100,000 Mecklenburg County constituents - most of them Democrats - might be moved to a more compact 12th District.

Miller, a former state senator who in 2001 drew the district he now represents, could lose Democratic voters in Guilford and Wake counties.

Republicans could draw Robeson and Cumberland counties out of McIntyre's 7th District and replace them with Republican-leaning voters along the coast. Republicans could put Kissell and McIntyre, or Miller and Democratic Rep. David Price of Chapel Hill, into the same district.

Working within limits

But map-makers will be constrained by growth patterns, which have seen the state's population shift from rural to urban areas. And every change creates a domino effect on neighboring districts.

"There are just some limits to what they can do, simply because you have to make them fit," says Ferrel Guillory, a UNC-Chapel Hill political analyst.

While federal law will guide congressional maps, a 2002 N.C. Supreme Court ruling sets parameters for state legislative districts.

Chafed by what they consider years of Democratic gerrymanders, Republicans say they can be fair, legal and successful. By changing maps gerrymandered by Democrats, says House Speaker Thom Tillis of Cornelius, "logic would dictate that that favors Republicans."

GOP Senate leader Phil Berger of Rockingham County agrees.

"If we draw the plans fairly, consistent with the law, our folks will win on their merits," he says. "We want to draw maps that allow voters to choose their representatives, as opposed to maps where legislators pick their voters."

jmorrill@charlotteobserver.com or 704-358-5059
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/03/26/2173064/gop-ready-to-redraw-ncs-political.html


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Del Pietro describes Congressman Mike McIntyre: "He proves himself to be a poor leader."

Verne Strickland Blogmaster

"With all the pressing issues before us as a nation, none is more important than
getting Americans back to work," declares Congressman Mike McIntyre in a news
release. "I will be hosting a jobs summit in Southeastern North Carolina geared
towards business owners and management."

Del Pietro, a declared candidate for Congress in the Seventh District, vows he'll be there. He's looking for a job too -- McIntyre's seat in the U.S. House of
Representatives, which the incumbent has held for fourteen years.

A Democrat, 38-year-old Wilmington resident Pietro plans to keep McIntyre on the
defensive during the run-up to the 2012 primary contests. He's getting a good, early start and pledges an honest, aggressive campaign to deny McIntyre participation in the Fall general election.

Pietro is impatient with the fact that McIntyre is promoting a jobs event with such
fanfare at this late date in his career, as his home county of Robeson suffers more
than most from joblessness, poverty and lack of opportunity.

"I want to know why this wasn't done ten years ago," said Pietro in an exclusive interview earlier this week. "I don't know why there wasn't enough forward thinking to see this coming. And I want to know why our Congressman is reactionary instead of being proactive. This is too late to be holding this type of forum, to finally be getting aggressive on jobs.

"Because Mr. McIntyre didn't have that foresight, he proves himself to be a very poor leader. He does only what it takes to keep himself in public office. That's not acceptable. It wouldn't be acceptable on either side of the aisle."

The Wilmington area Job Creation Summit is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, March
29, from 10:00 am to 12 noon at the Cape Fear Community College north campus, 4500 Blue Clay Road in Castle Hayne. The event is free and open to the public.

Congressman McIntyre's statement concluded, "We must plan for the future with an aggressive economic development strategy, investment in workforce training, a strong educational system, and an entrepreneurial community that is actively creating its own innovations and businesses. All of these areas will be discussed with an eye to the future of our nation and southeastern North Carolina."

But candidate Del Pietro dismisses this as mere political rhetoric. "Even now there is no cohesive plan for the Seventh District, and this is Mr. McIntyre's personal failure."

Pietro continued: "I believe in accountability. In this congressman's own backyard, he has lived in the poorest and sickest county in this State, while being in office for the past fourteen years, and this disgrace has not improved one bit. I'm waiting for the census figures to come out. My guess is Robeson County has moved backward. That is staggering for a sitting congressman's home county."