AIKEN NEWS NETWORK OCT 24-26, 2014

[Marilyn]

Clay Aiken ?@ClayForNC · 3m3 minutes ago
"It’s time for Clay Aiken." Read the @newsobserver endorsement of Clay in #NC02: http://goo.gl/cY8bgh #ncpol

[Marilyn]

The News & Observer is one of the most widely read newspapers in North Carolina. And today, Clay snagged their endorsement.

"There is a need for members of Congress who will sing a different tune and sometimes a duet with the opposition,” the N&O wrote. “It’s time for Clay Aiken.”

The N&O endorsement of Clay is glowing. And just as much as the N&O sees Clay as a driver for change in an ineffective Congress, they see our opponent as one of the biggest roadblocks to any progress.

"Ellmers is a part of the problem by being dogmatic and uncompromising," the N&O wrote. "Even more troubling, she does not concede there is a problem.”

This endorsement is big for our campaign. We’re just 11 days away from the election, and polls are already open for early voting.

Today’s endorsement is part of a huge wave of momentum behind this campaign. In just the past week, Clay also picked up the endorsements of the Southern Pines Pilot and the INDY Week.

Yesterday, the Associated Press and Reuters ran stories about our campaign and captured the enthusiasm surrounding Clay’s candidacy and the dissatisfaction with the performance of our opponent.

With only 11 days left, it’s clear the momentum is on our side, and it’s clear this is a campaign we can win. To help us win, we need to ask you to give it all you can.

Please give $100, $50, $25 or whatever you can afford to help us in these final 11 days.

Thanks for your support -- we're almost there!

Yours,
Tucker

Tucker Middleton
Communications Director
Clay Aiken for North Carolina

[Marilyn]

Sharon Wilson Bruno
48 mins ·

Clay Aiken bus traveling through Hope Mills..I was trying to get a picture but it was moving quickly!!

[Marilyn]

Clay Aiken Representing North Carolina

24 Oct, 2014

By: Santiago

Clay Aiken, Politics, North Carolina, Democratic PartyWhen you hear the name Clay Aiken the last thing, you think of is politics, but the American Idol runner up is determine to change that. Aiken has been touring all over North Carolina, not singing but campaigning as a Democratic challenger in a state that is mostly a Republican district.

With two weeks remaining in the campaign, Aiken is spending his money on his campaign bus and stopping in each town spreading his slogan “Clay for North America”. He is confident that he can effectively advocate for those who want to express their feelings to congress.

Last week in a campaign event held in Asheboro he said, "I can get people to pay attention, it’s a benefit of where I came from and how I got here." In the very same event, all 30 people that attended were energized to hear the American Idol runner up talking about how the Republicans forget about North Carolina issues.

For those who think this is just a publicity stunt Aiken assures you it isn’t, he has been interested in politics all his life. In 2008, the singer announced that he was gay and since then he has worked vigorously in helping promote pro-gay rights.

He admits that being categorized as a celebrity has helped him with getting the media coverage thus far, but he wants to create a new image. He wants to be known as a politician, not the singer; he hasn’t done any singing during the campaign tour.

With two weeks left Aiken is trailing Renee Ellmers and seems like he will once again be runner up.

FINANCIAL BUZZ

[Marilyn]

Diane De La Rosa
5 mins ·

Selfie with Clay Aiken ...... Just for Michele D Petty

[Marilyn]

Clay Aiken ?@ClayForNC 24s24 seconds ago Archdale, NC

Catching up with @myfox8 after a delicious lunch at Pioneer Family Restaurant in @archdalenc #nc02 #ncpol

[Marilyn]

Levis ?@Dominicandandy1 · 3m3 minutes ago
Clay Aiken speaking at the N.C. State Association of Letter Carriers Union in Clemmons, NC

[Marilyn]

Clay Aiken ?@ClayForNC 29s29 seconds ago Fayetteville, NC

Back in Hoke County! #nc02 #ncpol (@ Johnson Mill Restaurant & Tavern in Raeford, NC) https://www.swarmapp.com/c/a6dG36Z6Wzd

[Marilyn]

Dixie Lowe
5 hrs ·

Im in archdale and this is who I ran into. Clay Aiken . With Brandon English plus my hubby.

Deborah Turbeville Thats cool!
 5 hrs · Like · 1

Dixie Lowe Yea he was very nice to me. I say vote for him. Hes running in randolph County
 5 hrs · Like

Clay Aiken Great meeting you, Dixie!
 4 hrs · Like · 4

Dixie Lowe Awe thanks so much clay you are a very sweet person.so glad I got to meet you.
 4 hrs · Like

[Marilyn]

K_A_D_A_C_I_A ?@Kadacia 24m24 minutes ago
Took picture with Clay Aiken #ClayAiken http://t.co/f4Uy4mAX6o

Just saw Clay Aiken at the game?

[Marilyn]

Posted: Friday, October 24, 2014 2:13 pm | Updated: 2:23 pm, Fri Oct 24, 2014.

Clay Aiken

Race: U.S. District 2

Party: Democrat

Home: Cary

Age: 35

Occupation: Entertainer

Elected office: None

Family: One child

Contacts: 919-297-8466; info@clayaiken.com; www.clayaiken.com; www.facebook.com/clayfornc;www.twitter.com/clayfornc

Describe your occupation/career experience and any military service: Co-founder, The National Inclusion Project, founded 2003; ambassador for education programs, UNICEF

Who do you most admire? From a political perspective, I most admire the work and legacy of Terry Sanford. But from a personal perspective, my mother has always been the example of grace, strength and character that I aspire to emulate.

Favorite book: “I Am One of You Forever’’ by Fred Chappell

Favorite movie: “Whale Rider’’

How long have you lived in the community you would represent? 33 years

The one quality I most ADMIRE in a leader is: Flexibility.

My biggest character STRENGTH is my: Resilience and determination.

My biggest FLAW is: I’m unscripted and speak my mind.

If elected, I promise voters that I will NOT: Take orders from anybody but the people of the 2nd District.

How do you define yourself politically, beyond party affiliation? I don’t define myself by party affiliation. Like most North Carolinians, I want what’s best for the folks of our state and our district. I’m not going to Washington to work for a party leader — I’m going to work for the people of the 2nd District. All politics is local.

---What are your top three legislative priorities, with one being the most important:

In Congress, I’ll fight to be a voice for the thousands of active-duty military based at Fort Bragg and veterans who call the 2nd District home. Recently, we’ve seen Fort Bragg put on the chopping block in the defense budget and our veteran community ignored by the federal government. I’ll make serving the military and veterans a top priority by seeking a seat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, a committee currently without any representation from North Carolina.

We need to create good jobs and bolster our local economies. We should make it easier for employers to hire workers by reducing the tax burden on small businesses and incentivize businesses to hire veterans. And we should expand the earned income tax credit to reward work while helping more North Carolinians reach the middle class.

But, the reality is, in order to be effective in getting any of these important issues resolved, we’ve got to send a message to Washington that they’ve got to work together to get things done. That’s how it works in the real world — in our communities, our schools, our churches and our neighborhoods. And that’s the only way we’re going to create jobs and serve our veterans.

---Officials have said veteran growth in the Fayetteville region has far outpaced the rest of the nation. In addition to temporary clinics, what can the federal government do to get veterans in for care faster?

Additional clinics is a good first step. In Fayetteville, the VA is experiencing an influx in the veteran population, and the area doesn’t have the facilities to meet the demand.

In addition to facilities, we should increase the number of claims processors. Our current congressperson voted against a bill that would have increased the number of processors in our area.

And there needs to be a larger restructuring of the transition from care under Department of Defense to Veterans Affairs. There should be some overlap between the oversight of DoD and VA when our servicemen and women are transitioning back into civilian life. For many of our veterans, it’s like jumping from one riverbank to another, and too many of our veterans are falling into the water because of the gap in transition between the two departments.

---North Carolina lawmakers refused money that would expand the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act. Research by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation estimates the state will miss out on $40 billion in federal funding, and hospitals will lose more than $11 billion in reimbursements. Some smaller hospitals may close. Would you push for the state to take the Medicaid expansion money or stick with its current position?

I think it’s essential that our state legislature vote to expand Medicaid. Currently, North Carolinians who are between 100 percent and 138 percent of the poverty level do not qualify for Medicaid, even though the Affordable Care Act extends coverage to these individuals on a federal level.

This is not only hurting the individuals who fall into this low-income range, but it also hurts our hospitals. Cape Fear Valley Medical Center caters to a large uninsured population, and the hospital is losing millions of dollars a year because of revenue that is lost when patients are uninsured and without Medicaid.

North Carolina taxpayers are among the biggest contributors to the federal funding that went toward Medicaid expansion under ACA, but we are reaping none of the benefits. It’s time the N.C. General Assembly spend taxpayer money wisely and thoughtfully and expand Medicaid in our state.

---Some experts have said for the U.S. military to defeat ISIS, ground troops will eventually be needed. Do you envision any scenario whereby you would support putting boots on the ground to deal with this threat?

We’ve ignored the threat of the Islamic State for too long, and I agree with the decision for air strikes to support the Iraqi and Syrian ground forces as they push back against ISIS in the region.

We’ve also got to compel the surrounding nations to commit their own ground forces to protect the areas currently being threatened by ISIS fighters, and the U.S. strategy should continue to be to provide air support for those forces combating ISIS.

As long as ISIS doesn’t present an imminent threat to U.S. soil we should not be putting additional boots on the ground.

America should, as Teddy Roosevelt put it, speak softly and carry a big stick. Any threat to U.S. soil should be met with the full force of the nation’s military might. But it should not be the role of the U.S. to be the police force for the world.

FAY OBSERVER

[Marilyn]

#clayAiken #Americanidol #game #highschool #bored #friends #famous
http://instagram.com/p/uj3ATBln3v/

[Marilyn]

From FB:

Moore County Democratic Party shared a link.

Clay Aiken just snagged a big endorsement from the News & Observer. "There is a need for members of Congress who will sing a different tune and sometimes a duet with the opposition. It's time for Clay Aiken."

The N & O lambasts incumbent Rep. Renee Ellmers by stating that she "has been prone to political tone-deafness. After supporting a Republican-driven shutdown of the U.S. government, she initially declined to follow others in Congress who deferred their pay in sympathy with federal workers who lost theirs. “I need my paycheck. That’s the bottom line,” she said. Recently she raised eyebrows by saying lawmakers need to bring policy debates “down to a woman’s level.”

The editorial wraps up by stating that a victory would "send a message from the voters fed up with divided, do-nothing Congress". Here is a link to the entire editorial. Congrats, Clay!

https://www.facebook.com/mooredemocrats

[Marilyn]

Crystal Pinky Turner
4 hrs ·

Clay Aiken came to the Hoke County Bucks game tonight.

  (LAST NIGHT)

[Marilyn]

JuWan Tharp
7 hrs near Raeford, NC ·
 Look who we found at the game tonight! Clay Aiken! Selfie with Jayy!

Clay Aiken Great to meet you guys!
 5 hrs

JuWan Tharp Great meeting you too Clay!
 4 hrs

Laura Stevenson McDonald Cool!!! Hi Clay! Hi Jayy