Brunswick Beacon, 07.28.22
If you’re that guy who wants the rest of the bar to know that America needs more White supremacists and Neo-Nazis, Ted Budd and David Rouzer hear you loud and clear. On July 13, they were among 208 Republicans who voted against Amendment 262 to HR7900, directing the FBI, DHS, and Department of Defense to “combat White supremacist and neo-Nazi activity in the uniformed services and Federal law enforcement agencies.”
If you think what’s really keeping America from being great again is the fact that Mayor Pete’s kids have two dads, Budd and Rouzer share your insecurity. On July 19, they were among the 157 Republicans who voted against HR8404, the Respect for Marriage Act, protecting the Constitutional right to marry the person you love.
If you think the Puritans had it right all along, and the only legally permissible reason for having sex is making babies, Budd and Rouzer say “Amen.” On July 21, they were among the 195 House Republicans who voted against HR8373, the Right to Contraception Act.
Budd, Rouzer, and the rest of Republicans know these positions are unpopular. Marriage equality is supported by 71% of Americans, according to a June 2022 Gallup poll. White supremacy and Neo-Nazism are growing, but still considered unacceptable by 83% of Americans. 91% of Americans not only believe that contraception should be legal, they think it should be free and widely available!
So, what’s going on? Republicans like Budd and Rouzer don’t care what the general public thinks. They don’t need them to get elected. North Carolina’s Republican legislature has a long, sordid history of gerrymandering, so they only care about keeping rich donors happy and turning out their increasingly fanatical right-wing base, who make up the majority of primary voters.
Elect people who care what you think. Vote for Cheri Beasley and Charles Graham on November 8.
Joanne Levitan
Leland