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~From the desk of the Candidate~
Press Release
Monday, April 7, 2008
At
the urging of one or more of the Republican candidates for the 11th District
seat, the Blue Ridge Republican Women's Club and the Village of Flat Rock
notified the candidates that active campaigning would not be permitted at their
respective events. In both cases, I declined participation citing the
following reasons-
1) These
limitations represented last minute unilateral rule changes.
2)
The procedural modifications were a direct result of orchestration efforts by
other candidates.
3)
Muting campaign initiative and free speech seems a misguided investment of
energies by those seeking to support political process.
4) If
we are to not campaign actively at a campaign forum, then where is such
activity appropriate?
5) I
do not play in rigged games, however innocent or unintended the rigging may be.
In
the case of the Village of Flat Rock forum the rules change is in contradiction
to the guidelines that were originally sent to each of us in January defining
the parameters of the event. There was no mention of a restriction on
active campaigning - had there been, I would have flagged the issue at that
time.
Going
forward I want all organized bodies to understand that, should they chose to
artificially limit active campaigning, I will decline those invitations as
well. Orchestration efforts by candidates are typical and to be expected
- participation in such by organizations with a commitment to open,
enthusiastic, and principled political process should not be.
Thank
you,
Carl
Mumpower
11th District Republican Congressional Candidate
#78
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