Candidates Running Against Senator Richard Burr for the U.S. Senate

Democrat Elaine Marshall
Born in Lineboro, Maryland
Employment: Current N.C. Secretary of State
Education: B.S. Textiles and Clothing, University of Maryland
J.D. Degree, Campbell University

USA Today said Elaine Marshall campaigned as a liberal insurgent against Cal Cunningham (D), the choice of the Washington Democrat establishment, in the Democrat primary for the U.S. Senate. She has been lauded by Progressives and is supported by MoveOn.org. "I'd love to have Obama in here," she told The Daily Beast, an opinion web site. "Anytime he comes into the state and can see what's going on, North Carolina is better for it." According to The Daily Beast, Marshall is "offering an unabashed embrace of much of President Obama's agenda--calling for more federal stimulus spending--at a time when many Democrats are running away from the White House as fast as they can."

Like Obama, Marshall believes in a redistribution of income. Marshall is excited about nationalized ObamaCare and her web site states, "The passed health insurance reform puts our budget and economy on a more stable path by reducing the deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years--and about $1 trillion over the second decade--by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse." (Her beliefs sound eerily similar to those of Senator Kay Hagan, and the direct opposite to those of Senator Richard Burr.)

The Investors Business Daily (IBD) has opined that ObamaCare must be repealed if we are to restore our once vibrant economy. ObamaCare "is a wealth-sharing policy that increases costs and taxes on the private sector." Others are reporting that Americans are beginning to see their insurance rates significantly increase this fall, with no benefits. IBD concludes:

"The only way out of this slow-growth, wealth-redistribution economy is to repeal ObamaCare. ObamaCare was the game-changer that reduced trend economic growth to the 1.5% to 2% range. Countries with a national health scheme have a value-added tax, the other shoe that falls on U.S. households."

On her web site, Marshall states, "We need to invest in infrastructure that makes the country more competitive and leads the way in developing a new green power grid." She believes in a strong investment in a "Green Economy." Marshall's comments about energy:

"Ending our dependence on fossil fuels, including foreign oil makes sense for our environment, our security and our economic stability. North Carolina, in particular, is poised to benefit from the green revolution. Our coastal areas are ideal for wind power and we already have solar farms sprouting up. The wide-open spaces of the Piedmont and eastern North Carolina are prepared to grow electricity."

(Note: The fact is that we need gas to power our cars because the technology for alternate sources of energy is not yet available. Wind power will not get the job done. What about drilling our own oil and natural gas until or if we have a replacement for fossil fuels?)

Libertarian Mike Beitler
Resident of Oak Ridge, NC (near Greensboro)
Employment: UNC-G Lecturer, author and public speaker
Education: B.S. in Finance, University of Central Florida
M.A. in Psychology, Norwich University
Ph.D in Leadership Development, The Union Institute

Mike Beitler has the standard Libertarian platform of a fiscal conservative and social liberal. He believes in less government and lower taxes, but agrees with "legalizing gay marriage, decriminalizing marijuana and 'amnesty and a path to citizenship' for illegal immigrants," according to the Greensboro News & Record. Beitler said, "I've actually been through two divorces and two bankruptcies." When asked what he wants voters to know, he said he is against "laws that take away personal freedom."

Senator Burr and a New Senate Position
Senator Murkowski (R-Alaska)has been defeated by Joe Miller in the Alaska primary. According to the Raleigh News and Observer, Murkowski's loss places Senator Burr in a position to become the ranking Republican and Committee Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, if he is successful in winning another term as a Senator, and if Republicans take control of the Senate after the elections in November.

Compiled by: North Carolina Federation of Republican Women- Legislative Report

Sources: USA Today, "Liberal insurgent Elaine Marshall wins Democratic Senate nomination in N.C." by Kathy Kiely, Jun 22, 2010; Wikipedia, "Elaine Marshall;" elainemarshall.com; Politico, "MoveOn backs Marshall in N.C." by David Catanese, Jun 15, 2010; The Daily Beast, "The Pro-Stimulus, Pro-Obama Candidate," by Benjamin Sarlin, Aug 11, 2010; Investors.com, "Restoring Once-Vibrant Economy Hinges on Repeal Of ObamaCare," By Mike Cosgrove, Aug 30, 2010; beitlerforussenate.org, "Dr Mike Beitler Supports Amnesty and a Pathway to Citizenship, Aug 17, 2010; newsandobserver.com, "Burr may get key post if Murkowski is defeated," by Rob Christensen and Jane Stancill, Aug 29, 2010; Greensboro News & Record, "Local Libertarian runs for U.S. Senate," by Mark Binker, Aug 29, 2010.

Note: Emphasis (underlining) added by author of this blog.