Senate candidate blasts incumbent

By Roger Bell
The Daily Herald Staff Writer
Published/Last Modified on Monday, November 9, 2009 9:10 AM EST

WELDON — A group of Valley citizens gathered in Weldon to meet Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Kenneth Lewis.

Roger Bell | The Daily Herald Democratic Senate hopeful Ken Lewis addresses a gathering of supporters at Ralph’s Barbeque in Weldon Friday afternoon.


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The lawyer from Chapel Hill spoke to the community on his views and reasons why he’s challenging incumbent Senator Richard Burr.

Speaking of the nation’s future, Lewis said, “If we’re going to compete for future progress. We’re going to need our whole team on the field.”

Creating opportunities for everyone, he insists, “requires a new way of looking at government.” “I know there are people out there who say the government has no role in improving people’s lives,” Lewis told the crowd. “But a smart government can create incentives and opportunities for people to improve their own lives.”

Lewis asserts Burr has not participated in smart government. “He has supported all the disastrous policies that have led to this meltdown,” Lewis stated. The hopeful told the group the economic stimulus bill was designed to provide three things — a tax cut for people who needed some relief, extend benefits to those who had lost their jobs, and create jobs, all programs he supports.

“Senator Burr, along with every other Republican senator, voted against that bill,” Lewis said. “He put the needs of towing the Republican line ahead of the needs of the people of North Carolina. Our senator became a poster child for all that’s wrong with government in Washington.”

Lewis also finds Burr wanting on health care. “You could lose your insurance at any time,” Lewis asserted. “Senator Burr had the opportunity to do something about that, but instead of showing leadership of behalf of the people of North Carolina he introduced a bill protecting insurance companies.” “In the health care debate he’s led in one area,” Lewis said of Burr — “Money received from the health insurance lobby.” Lewis said the insurance lobby has given $1.7 million to Burr.

Lewis believes Burr only fights for party interest, not for the citizens he represents. “He’s more willing to stand up for the far right than to stand up for what’s right.” For a more in-depth look at Kenneth Lewis, his views on health care and veterans’ affairs and his history, look in Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Herald.

Copyright © 2010 Roanoke Daily Herald

Comments

    Kimberly wrote on Nov 16, 2009 12:24 PM:

    " how is any of the health insurance reform a smart move? we can't pay for it - period - there is no money for this, especially since apparently 787 billion dollars was completely wasted in the stimulus program.. not too mention the cap and trade debacle making it's way through the senate.. WE ARE BROKE - the spending has got to stop - BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY! "

    David wrote on Nov 9, 2009 5:00 PM:

    " How was the stimulus "smart government"? We spent $787 billion we had to borrow from future budgets and the unemployment rate has gone up 2.5% since passage. This man is nuts if he wants to run on the Obama stimulus. What a failure of an economic stimulus. He should find a new issue to run on, and fast. "

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