Open Forum

"Flat-out, completely, horizontally opposed to CAFTA..."

That was our current Representative's promise to North Carolina's 8th District last summer in the weeks, days and hours leading up to his 'Yea' vote to send our working families’ livelihoods south of the border as he crumbled to Presidential arm-twisting.

Now when our struggling seniors are facing a Monday deadline to avoid the Privatization Tax this President and Republican-led Congress sought to impose on our most vulnerable with its Medicare Prescription boondoggle, its past time for Robin Hayes to call in those promised favors for his trade flip-flop.

I love the above subtitle in this morning's Charlotte Observer, Democrats Choose Kissell to Face Hayes. Because that's exactly what happened thanks to the working families of North Carolina's 8th District and the support of good folks from all over such as yourselves. And this scrappy underdog won't be changing a thing all the way to November, when we teach not only Robin Hayes a lesson in real representation, but the entire nation what grassroots politics is all about.

An earlier version of the article posted last night kind of made me chuckle. It said Kissell Wins Easily, Will Face Hayes. Let me tell you, working all day, then dialing for dollars and campaigning all night in one of the largest Districts in the state is hardly easy, but I'm honored that the good support we have sure made it look that way. You, the people, made it happen. And I thank you, and ask you to stick with me on the road to November Victory.

I'm Larry Kissell, and I'm running for Congress.

It may be corny, but I really do believe that one person can make a difference -- and that is why I'm running. I couldn't sit back anymore and just complain about the state of my country. Whether you are religious or not, I hope you can understand the feeling of being called to something and realizing that whatever the obstacles, you have to see it through. It hasn't been easy, especially as a regular working American, and far from a wealthy one after 27 years in textiles. I've had to spend a great deal of time away from my family. I have used credit cards to loan my campaign more than $35,000. And I have pledged to take a leave of absence from teaching this fall.