Lake Junaluska -- At a Haywood County Republican Party event, on Saturday, Victor Burgess of Woodfin, announced that he would challenge Dole in the GOP primary, "because no one else would stand up".
In a long, rambling speech, Burgess stressed that he didn't know where U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole lives, that she is out-of-touch, and that she wasn't worried about the greatest threats to the United States, terrorism and communism. He cited the movie director Michael Moore ("Sicko") as what is wrong with America.
Burgess never once mentioned that Mrs. Dole has been working for GOP causes since the late 1960s, that she involved in student government at Duke University, and that she has worked at high levels of government, including holding cabinet positions, in several presidential administrations. Dole got her start during the Johnson era and is still fighting in Washington today.
Burgess told the visibly shaken audience that Mrs. Dole "tap dances" around important issues and that he waited many months to challenge her, until it became apparent that "no one else would".
Many attendees commented that Burgess ruined an otherwise "feel good evening" that the people of the Haywood County GOP worked diligently to prepare. One commented that Mr. Burgess owed organizer, Richard LaFrenz, an apology for talking for nearly twenty minutes, well beyond the alloted time of six minutes.
At the end of Burgess' diatribe, moderator and NC GOP vice chairman, David Sawyer, was forced to take the microphone from Burgess' hands.
Burgess told the crowd that he would officially announce his candidacy in Asheville on Thursday.
Editor's Note: Your blogger was in Haywood County on a campaign trip for another candidate and was video taping every speaker. All other speakers, including two for the same Congressional seat, were cordial and respectful and managed to follow the rules.
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