1 in 500 Americans have died of Covid-19. That’s an absurd statistic. Think about your church or school or high school football stadium and how many faces would be gone from those places. Faces like my father-in-law’s, who didn’t have to die from this deadly virus if Republicans hadn’t politicized it. We live in precarious times, folks. In Florida there are more deaths per day than any other time during the pandemic. And we have a vaccine! Right here in District 13, Rowan County has the highest infection rate in all of North Carolina. Why? Because Republicans have made this into a culture war. Democrats are working hard to protect our children, get much needed shots in arms, and ensure that we can move out of this pandemic ASAP. President Biden has employed strong mandates to spread these safety measures across tens of thousands of people. Why would they want to put children in danger? I am committed to working with my fellow Democrats to safely spread science and not a virus. I’m a Navy veteran who swore an oath to protect us from all enemies, foreign and domestic. And it feels like we are definitely being attacked from within. Help me get to Congress to do more to protect America. I promise to serve and protect you, the people. The reason I’m running for office is to protect my daughter from elected Republicans. Seriously. Elected Republicans have declared war on women and opposed their right to control their own bodies, packing the courts with “activist” judges to tear down equality.
My daughter, Wyleigh Caroline Huffman, was only 8 years old at the time I started to stand up and speak out against elected Republicans because I knew that I couldn’t look her in the eyes knowing I hadn’t done everything as a dad to protect her rights and her healthcare freedom when she turned 18 years old. Republicans in Texas have made it clear that they will enact oppressive anti-abortion laws so the conservative Supreme Court will strike down Roe v. Wade. Right now, Republicans think that a virus has more reproductive rights than a woman. Right now, Republicans are all about “my body, my choice” and refuse mask mandates. That autonomy stops with women, however. This aggressive erasure of equal rights is no accident. It’s a war on women, by design. And it is being protected by the ultimate death panel: the packed Supreme Court. Every American deserves equal access to healthcare and equal protection under the law. This means we ALL must act to ensure these protections are preserved. We can no longer wait for someone else to do something. We all have to find a way to stop this tide of fascism creeping across the land. The time is now to get involved. The time is now to donate to my campaign for Congress so that we can work together to ensure that your life, your liberty, and your pursuit of happiness is preserved against this tyranny of the minority. The stakes couldn’t be any higher. This is the America that Republicans want. Your donation can stop them in their tracks. While a deadly pandemic rages across the nation, Republicans urge Americans to expose themselves to the virus and refuse the one known preventive measure at defeating the virus. Why? So they can blame Democrats for the deaths of their constituents. Maybe Democrats should promote the same anti-mask/anti-vax/anti-science platforms being pushed by elected Republicans. Surely, the GOP will be forced to stake out the opposite position to fulfill their agenda, right? Regardless of the issue or the solvency of the position, the GOP will stake itself in exact opposition to whatever the Democrats say. If Democrats say 2+2=4, elected Republicans will accuse them of using socialist math to control their children’s thoughts.
When President Biden follows Republicans' calls to end the wars and bring troops home, they get angry at how it happened and that it happened at all. When storms ravage western North Carolina, destroying entire neighborhoods and roads left untended for decades, Republicans refuse to support infrastructure bills meant to improve life for everyone.The GOP is an unserious party that has refused to govern while enriching its politicians and donors with our tax dollars. They've taken credit for Covid legislation that they voted against. They have no shame and no integrity. That's no way to govern and will contribute to our collective downfall. It used to not be this way. We need a serious Republican Party willing to operate as a complement to the progressive Democrats. We should all govern from the center. How can we do that if one of the two major political parties refuses to govern at all? If Republicans don’t care about the safety of their children, what do they care about? Certainly not my children or the children in Afghanistan. Their only goal is to score political points and stoke a culture war. Seems that it’s working like a charm. When Republicans held all three branches of government, they refused to govern. The only legislation they passed was a tax bill that benefited the rich. They’ve long been the party of “no.” Paul Ryan admitted as much when trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In a 2017 Forbes article, he said, “We were a 10-year opposition party, where being against things was easy to do.” They say no to Democrats while refusing to propose any meaningful legislative counter offers. They just slash and burn and refuse to use the people’s tax dollars for the people.They are an unserious party and should be treated as such. We are a nation with serious issues and should be treated as such. Our tax dollars need to address these issues in a serious manner. That’s what we pay lawmakers to do.
He enlisted and then became one of the first commissioned African-American officers in the US Navy. He was denied housing and even jailed for impersonating an officer. He withstood a cavalcade of abuse and racism and still managed to rise through the ranks of the Navy. Throughout his career, Gravely received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious service Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. Then on July 1st, 1971, he was appointed a rear-admiral, the first African American to achieve flag rank in the Navy. Rear-Admiral (Two Stars). Sept 10th, 1976 - Three star Vice-Admiral Gravely, Jr assumed command of the Third Fleet. He served in a dual role Director of Naval Communications for the Chief of Naval Operations and his final duty station prior to retirement was Director of Defense Communications in D.C. He retired in August 1980. Retirement Ceremony. USS Gravely is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named after Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Gravely is the 57th destroyer in her class. I know it's a catchy title, but it is true. During Trump's four years in office, he was at war with America and his favorite weapon of mass destruction was tariffs. He claimed tariffs would level the playing field and make China pay. No, Americans paid those tariffs, not China, and Mexico did not pay for the wall. On Feb 7th, 2018, a 30% solar module import tariff took effect. This had a devastating effect on North Carolina. We were No.2 in the nation following, dare I say California’s renewal solar energy program. Now were 10th trailing behind Florida. These tariffs slowed clean energy job creation in North Carolina. The U.S. solar module prices increased, while the rest of the world saw their prices drop. I guess that was due to demand for clean energy. During the 4 years of solar #tariffs, and according to a Government report by USITC, Trump’s solar tariffs accomplished little. It hurt the U.S. solar module industry, increased prices, wages dropped, and taxpayers paid greater than $741 million through these tariffs by the end of 2019. Before Covid19, North Carolina was on track for clean energy job growth. According to e2.org – nearly 113,000 North Carolinians work in solar, wind, grid modernization, energy storage, clean vehicles at the end of 2019. However, Covid19 squashed that industry and right now we have lost 19% of clean energy jobs. 22,000 North Carolinians remain unemployed and nationally that is 511,000 Americans. Yesterday, Republican Ted Budd (R-NC13) touted he was ready to work with President Biden and in the same breath just 6 hours later he is attacking the President for canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline. Budd claimed this would kill 10,000 jobs, help Russia, China and referenced a fossil fuel propaganda website to back up the claim. Funny thing, the State Dept reviewed the project and their report found that it would only create about 3,900 temporary jobs and 15 permanent jobs. It is clear to me that Budd is using his position to be a mouthpiece for his Big Oil donors. We must finally move away from fossil fuels. It is literally killing us, poisoning our lands, water, air and continues to pump green-house gases on the planet. Moving forward, this is why a Green New Deal is important. We have the technology right now to get to zero emissions by 2050. But we need the will of Congress to launch a 10-year plan. That is why we need to move our country from fossil fuel energy production to clean renewable production. Upgrade the power grid, upgrade buildings to be more energy efficient. Invest in electric vehicles and improve our transportation system. Now I am sure Rep. Ted Budd will use those silly fossil fuel propaganda websites he pushes for his Big Oil donor’s. But the Green New Deal will provide a new economic boom across all sectors of our nation. Housing, Transportation, Education, Tech Jobs, and new Energy Jobs. The first step is rejoining the Paris Climate agreement and on his first day in office President Biden did just that. Now cancel the tariffs. So, let us roll up our sleeves and work to Build Back Better our nation, our economy and ensure we have a clean and bright future for our children and mother earth. Republicans are out of time to repudiate the Trump lies. Only 15 miles of the wall were built and Mexico didn't pay for it. We saw white men attack the nation because the white man is losing political power to an ever-changing diverse America. Instead of accepting the truth.
They chose to rise up and respond like a mob due to Trump's lies and Republicans stood by and did nothing. They attacked our democracy to continue their version of governance that ignores equality, justice for all, and tolerance. White privilege on display. Tomorrow, we close this chapter on American history and begin a new. This chapter of lies, broken promises and complicity of enablers must not be forgotten. We came so close to this being our last chapter of our American democracy. On January 11th, I tweeted a long thread of Ted Budd's support of Trump's lies on voter fraud. Here is that thread with receipts. This is a chronicle of Rep Ted Budd's twitter feed since the election. He tweeted more than 25 times about the lack of election integrity and continued to push a LIE of voter fraud in support of Trump's narrative the election was stolen. It's a long thread. However, Budd never once said anything about the exhaustive court cases that never found any fraud. Budd sent a letter to AG Barr to investigate. Barr saw no need to do so and saw no evidence of widespread fraud. Yet, Budd refused to even mention this fact. Why would you ask someone to look into something but refuse to acknowledge that they told you there's nothing to see? Because your agenda is to sow doubt in a free and fair election. The effects exploded on Jan 6th when the insurrectionists tried to stop the Electoral count. We must hold these men and women accountable. They are dangerous and now people are dead because of them. On Nov 9th Budd tweeted 2 comments building his propaganda that if we can spend two years on Russia collusion and then tweets that AG Barr is looking into the "Allegations" On Nov 13th, he retweets Rep. Bill Posey's letter to AG Barr to investigate election software and hardware. On Nov 13th, he does a video attacking Democrats saying they don't want to admit that Trump has the right to investigate Voter Fraud (this tweet is designed to make you think there is fraud.) On Nov 18th, he brags about introducing a bill to combat voter fraud once and for all. (psst that bill died in the 116th Congress) On Nov 19th, he retweets the Koch Brother's Heritage foundation - who I might add is famous for their own false propaganda. The articled uses trigger words like "every vote must count" and "patriots." Well every vote was counted. Joe Biden won. Budd must have decided to take off for Thanksgiving. He didn't tweet until Dec 2nd - he retweets Rep. Warren Davidson bemoaning AG Barr must ID, prosecute, and correct the fraud of 2020. (Again no Fraud) On Dec 3rd, he retweeted the right wing pod-cast Blunt Force Truth thanking him for being on their pod-cast and hoping he has a speedy recovery from #Covid19. I wished him a speedy recovery, he didn't retweet it. I wonder why? On Dec 4th, while he's suppose to be recovering from #Covid19 - he's pushing Rep. LaMalfa's bill to "count all legal votes." More false flag comments that the election was fraudulent. On Dec 9th, Budd is saying the DOJ needs to listen to #WethePeople claiming they have concerns, and how he is glad another house member is joining his #SeditionCaucus. More false narratives supporting Trump's claim of election fraud. On Dec 11th, now Budd is claiming there are millions of Americans do not have faith in the election. #ComeOnTed for the last month you've pushed propaganda that there is fraud. You're stoking the Trump Lies. Again on Dec 11th, you tweet saying #SCOTUS should hear the Texas Case. Psst they refused to hear the case. What happened to your big "States Rights" position? Why are you interfering in other states? On Dec 18th, Budd is bragging how proud he is to support Rep. Mo Brooks that Congress hold hearings before Jan 6th. He signed the letter. On Dec 22nd, He urges his fellow Republican NC Rep's to join his seditious fight for the Constitution and election integrity. Why didn't he ask Democrat's to join? Foxx, Bishop, Murphy, Rouzer, Hudson and Cawthorn joined the #NC #SeditiousSeven and #SeditiousCaucus On Dec 22nd, Budd proudly brags "Yes, I plan to object on January 6th." He said millions saw what I saw. #ComeonTed - What did you see Budd? It was a fair election. No Fraud. Still supporting Trump's lies. On Dec 30th, he is sending thanks to Sen. Hawley for joining the fight. Pushing the Trump Lies. Pouring more gas on the #WeThePeople claims of voter fraud. On Dec 31st, he's tweeting about how their cause has went from the few liars to many more liars. Great to see it #wethepeople. On Jan 2nd, bragging about adding more major muscle. He's just adding more Trumpet's who are pushing the lie of election fraud. There was no election fraud. 60 Court cases were denied due to lack of evidence. On Jan 4th, Budd is attacking Democrats for not supporting election integrity. Claiming hypocrisy. Even wrote a letter. Where is his letter to Sen. Mitch McConnell for refusing to bring to a vote the House bills to protect our election integrity. Such hypocrisy. On Jan 4th, retweets Rep. Marjorie Greene (Qanon Believer) attacking Speaker Pelosi for not supporting his earlier tweet that Democrats don't support election integrity. Don't forget the House passed bills to strengthen our elections and Senate Republicans blocked it. On Jan 5th, tweets "it is our duty....to protect the integrity of our electoral process." Then attacks Democrats and while he brag's that he will stand up alongside #wethepeople on Jan6th. On Jan 6th, Budd claims he is representing all North Carolinians who want election integrity and tweets the video of him signing his name to object to the electoral votes in six states. All the states have certified their elections. What about state rights? On Jan 6th - Budd tweets he's been evacuated from the House floor as now we are finally seeing the full effects unfold from his seditious, treasonous behavior. Trump supports who he inflamed are storming the U.S. Capitol building. On Jan 6th, Budd continues his seditious behavior. Addresses Congress. Objects to the votes cast in another state. Claiming a violent mob will not stop him from giving voice to North Carolinians who believe his lies of Election Fraud. #ComeOnTed What reality do you live in? He invited the violent mob. On Jan 9th - He attacks tech companies for shutting down Trump's twitter account and you can now find him on Parler. Tech companies have shut down Parler for giving hate a safe place to exposure their right wing conspiracy theories. On Jan 11th - after 4 years of supporting a President who has divided our nation, Budd is complaining that if Democrats what unity - impeachment of Trump for insurrection on the United States is not the way to show it. Please support this petition - #NCPOL Expel Seven NC Republicans who supported Sedition. They lied and 6 Americans died during the insurrection on January 6th. #ExpelTheSeditionists #ExpelTheNCSeven Sign the Petition! http://chng.it/gxQP6mVD via Change
Congressman Ted Budd spent the months following the election spreading lies and misinformation about alleged election fraud. He ginned up this propaganda and never once acknowledged any of the 60 plus court cases where absolutely no fraud was even alleged, much less shown, by the Trump legal team. Zero. Yet, on and on Ted Budd went, even going so far as to encourage Republicans to change their voting address to Georgia for the special election to “level the playing field.” Budd was one of the first in a group of the President’s cadre of elected officials who amplified and promoted unproven allegations of election fraud. They then turned around and demanded that the voices of millions of Americans concerned with election fraud be heard. Well, Congressman Budd, you don’t get to light the fire in the house and then complain that no one is putting it out.
Elected officials have a microphone. Their platform is elevated because the people expect them to represent their best interests. When an elected official peddles baseless conspiracy theories, it then becomes rooted in the information ecosystem much faster than if you or I simply said “fraud!” It’s akin to screaming FIRE in a crowded movie theater. People will rush to the exits. On Wednesday January 6, having been convinced of a “fire” in our body politic, people rushed to the US Capitol to disrupt our most sacred electoral processes because they had been convinced by men like Ted Budd that their votes had been stolen. They hadn’t. Yet, after all of the litigation by Republican judges and even Republican Secretaries of State had shown no evidence of fraud, Budd continued. He never once acknowledged the outcome of any of these cases, lying by omission. He peddled the conspiracies about fraud to curry favor with his party and his President. Ted Budd is a smart man. He knew Trump lost. He knew the election was free of fraud. He knew he was lying to the voters. That makes his actions even more devious and dangerous. It’s one thing to be ignorant and intellectually incapable of knowing the difference between right and wrong. Budd knew and did so anyway. His sworn duty was to represent the interests of his constituents and to uphold the Constitution. Instead, Budd fomented anger and refused to properly inform his constituents that there was no fraud and that Joe Biden won the Presidential election in a free and fair manner. Never once has Ted Budd encouraged a smooth and peaceful transfer of power from Trump to Biden. He has only peddled the Big Lie. He violated his oath to uphold the Constitution because he refused to acknowledge that President Trump lost in a free and fair manner that had been litigated over and over and over, to no avail. If I thought my voting rights had been illegally usurped, I would be upset as well. I would be angry. I would understand if a violent uprising was the only recourse imaginable in the absence of a free and fair election. But that’s not what happened here. Intelligent men like Ted Budd knew the outcome and saw an opportunity for their political future so they refused to properly inform Americans of what happened. They chose themselves instead (just like Budd chose his family Business to receive $10 million in covid relief funds while voting against additional aid for Americans). This craven and dangerous failure to spread truth instead of misinformation has resulted in a violation of our most sacred governmental institutions and the first domestic terror attack in centuries. Friends, I have been a Democrat for as long as I have been able to vote. I have done my best to support Democratic candidates throughout North Carolina and the nation. I was proud to run twice as a Democratic congressional candidate in North Carolina. Georgia voted – Reverend Warnock will be Georgia’s next Senator and currently Jon Ossoff holds the lead, and his race should be called later today as the final votes are counted. Today is a good day. I must admit there is a certain amount of vindication - vindication that Donald Trump’s divisive tactics did not outweigh democracy, the rule of law, and common decency. But this is no time to gloat. In fact, perhaps this time to be somber. On Friday, our family will hold funeral services for my father-in-law W.C. Flake, Jr., who died from Covid19. He was a father to me, a father in every sense of the word. And I loved him. His death did not have to happen. We get carried away sometimes and lose sight of what really matters. I hope and pray that we can put this election cycle behind us. I hope and pray that we can put the last four years behind us. And although it happened, and America has become more divisive now than ever, I believe we can heal. During my congressional campaign and all throughout North Carolina I met people who were struggling who had unimaginable heartbreaking stories. My heart hurt for those children who were going hungry due to no fault of their own. I acted. I started my Instant Impact program and to date, that program has provided almost 100,000 meals. We all have a commonality. We want to live in peace. We want to be able to raise our children so that they will have a better life than we had growing up. We want what is best for our friends and neighbors. When they are hurting, we hurt also. When there is tragedy in our local communities we come together because deep down, we know we are all in this together. Friends never lose sight of what is important. We need to end the divisiveness in politics. We have too much at stake to give up on our common humanity. No, now is not the time to gloat over the Georgia election or even the presidency for that matter. Now it is time for us to take stock of the loved ones we have and to figure out a path to move forward through this economic crisis and this pandemic. Lincoln’s quote of “a house divided cannot stand” might be cliché, but it’s absolutely true, now more than ever. Let’s be sure that we work to heal the division and focus on what we have in common and not our toxic differences. I have faith that we can and will do so. |
AuthorScott Huffman Archives
November 2021
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