Michelle Malkin » N.C.-07 and N.C.-02 GOP: Ilario Pantano and Renee Elmers for Congress

N.C.-07 and N.C.-02 GOP: Ilario Pantano and Renee Elmers for Congress

By Michelle Malkin • August 31, 2010 11:41 AM

Longtime readers of this blog and Hot Air know the extraordinary story of Ilario Pantano’s heroism. He’s the Marine sniper-turned-Wall Street trader who rejoined the military after 9/11, faced the death penalty for killing two Iraqi insurgents in the heat of battle in a terrorist-infested town near Baghdad, fought fiercely and successfully to clear his name, wrote the book Warlord chronicling his experiences, and defended other defenders who volunteer to put themselves in harm’s way for their countrymen.

Pantano is continuing his journey of public service in the political square. He’s running against Democrat incumbent Rep. Mike McIntyre in North Carolina’s 7th district. UNC Wilmington prof and Townhall columnist Mike Adams has a nice profile of Pantano here.

Pantano’s website is here: He’s on a mission to protect the homeland, preserve conservative values, and increase fiscal accountability. Please lend your support to a warrior who put his life on the line for America.

***

In N.C.-02, there’s another conservative candidate who deserves your attention and support. She’s Renee Ellmers — the GOP challenger to incumbent Democrat Rep. Bob Etheridge.

Etheridge, you will recall, is the seven-term entrenched incumbent caught on tape throttling a college student who had the audacity to ask him about his support for President Obama.

Elmers is a wife, mom, surgical intensive care nurse, and activist who was galvanized to run for office during the grass-roots town hall revolts against Obamacare. She’s holding an “End the Stranglehold on Congress” moneybomb event today:

Since he went to Washington, Bob Etheridge has been a symbol of what’s wrong with Congress – and that’s not only when he’s putting a stranglehold on college students, but also when he’s voting for big spending, big government policies that put a stranglehold on business and cost us much needed jobs.

Fortunately, this year District 2 voters have the best opportunity they have had in years to send a common sense conservative to Washington. But it will take all of us working together to bring Bob Etheridge home in November.

Bob Etheridge has a million dollar campaign war chest that he will soon be tapping to flood the airwaves with ads designed to convince District 2 voters that he has represented their interests in Congress. Renee needs your help to tell voters the truth: Bob Etheridge has voted for the liberal, big government policies of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama 97 percent of the time and the result has been a stranglehold on our economy.

Today the campaign is launching an “End the Stranglehold on Congress” moneybomb. We are asking all of Renee’s supporters, along with other concerned conservatives across the country, to contribute to Renee Ellmers for Congress to send Bob Etheridge home.

A vote for Renee Ellmers is a vote to restore decency and accountability in Washington. Spread the word!

~ For the latest breaking news, be sure to join Michelle's e-mail list ~

Posted in: Politics,War

Printer Friendly

comments (17)

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments

#1

On August 31st, 2010 at 11:50 am, letget said:

Thanks for this information Michelle. It sure appears we have a great number of conservatives that need to get elected in Nov..
L
#2

On August 31st, 2010 at 12:08 pm, dat60a3 said:

Pantano has demonstarted his courage and integrity. This alone puts him head and shoulders above his competition. It is great that he was able to clear his name and then went on to defend the honor of others.
#3

On August 31st, 2010 at 12:20 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

And in NC-13, there’s another conservative candidate who deserves your attention and support… Bill Randall.

He committed to running this race early in 2009… back when Democrats had just won the Presidency and larger majorities in both houses of Congress. He is doing this for all of the right reasons, and has been a speaker at several Tea Parties.

He fought a tough battle in the initial Republican primary, and again in a run-off primary. He is now the Republican nominee, going up against uber-Pelosi-Democrat Brad Miller.

Bill Randall is worthy of our support and encouragement.
#4

On August 31st, 2010 at 12:28 pm, Flyoverman said:

They are both excellent candidates.
#5

On August 31st, 2010 at 12:46 pm, happyscrapper said:

I think I will set aside a certain amount of my limited money to support those candidates who are brave enough to run and are proven conservatives. I can’t give much, but I do want to support them when I can. I think it will be especially important to bump some of the “big” names like Reid, Boxer, Frank, etc. because that will be more visible and will send a strong message how fed up we are.

I keep getting calls from the Republican party and I tell them that I don’t give to the party any more, I give to individuals who I feel represent my views and beliefs. That seems to shut them up pretty quickly.

By the way, I think it is time to screen my calls and let the machine pick up!! The political calls are really ramping up and they are so annoying!
#6

On August 31st, 2010 at 12:52 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

Yes! Move Vets in Congress!
Hey, what’s happening in the late Murtha’s district? Is that LtCol (ret) running again?
#7

On August 31st, 2010 at 12:52 pm, zorro said:

Michelle has introduced us to several great candidates in two days!

I, again, will donate $10 to each. These good people need our moral and financial support. Helping to elect good representation is money well spent (and as I no longer support the republican party election committees, I still have a “surplus” of campaign cash to share)!
#8

On August 31st, 2010 at 12:59 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

Here is what the Guilford Libertarian Examiner (Megan Russell) had to say:

“In January 2009, Slate Magazine found that North Carolina has the most gerrymandered districts in the entire United States. Gerrymandering is when state legislatures divide districts so that one party is preferred over another. In other words, politicians are choosing you, you are not choosing them.”

We have former NC State Senator Brad Miller to thank for how this Congressional District is drawn. He chaired the committee that drew the new (NC-13th) Congressional district after the 2000 Census.

As a result of the 2000 census, NC gained a Congressional district.

Brad Miller created that new district spefically for himself.

It’s time to give Brad Miller the boot.
#9

On August 31st, 2010 at 1:02 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

spefically

make that specifically.
#10

On August 31st, 2010 at 1:04 pm, ThackerAgency said:

yeah, every republican race should be a vote against Pelosi, Reid, and Obama.

I was at a lunch for my Uncle’s birthday earlier this month and the representative (Mel Watt) came in to eat at the same time.

well, my uncle is the mayor and knows all the political people there. One of Watts’ advisors (who came to say happy birthday to my Uncle) asked for support for the D. I told her ‘I wish he had more influence in DC’

What I meant was I like him personally, he’s a good and reasonable man, but he supports the policies that are destroying this country. It’s not him that’s the problem, it’s Pelosi and Reid that are the problem (it’s not even really Obama because he’s not as relevant as he and the left think he is).
#11

On August 31st, 2010 at 1:04 pm, Mister P said:

As having been on a jury in Raleigh for an assault case, I know the Etheridge should be on trial for assault. The guy is a scumbag.
#12

On August 31st, 2010 at 1:28 pm, cheapseat said:

It’s time to recognize the “Eddie Haskell” politicians. If you are too young to understand who and what Eddie Haskell was, ask your parents. We had tons of advance warning the One was a black Eddie, and yet a majority ignored it and made this clown our president. Don’t be fooled again, look at the candidates before you pull the lever.
#13

On August 31st, 2010 at 1:28 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

Do you want to help defeat a Democrat whose votes supported the Pelosi agenda?

Do you want to replace him with someone who supports:

Creating economic growth

Cutting government spending

Restoring a free market economy

Strengthening and increasing jobs in the PRIVATE sector

Eliminating unnecessary government intrusion in our lives

Lowering the tax burden (on individuals and businesses)

Improving national security (including securing our borders)

Keeping the right priorities of national defense (home and abroad)

Standing as a staunch, unwavering supporter of the nation of Israel

Advocating and emphasizing a return to PERSONAL responsibility

Repealing bad health care legislation; bringing more practical alternatives

Clearly defining and supporting the mission of our deployed military forces

Then support Bill Randall in his quest to defeat incumbant Pelosicrat Brad Miller.
#14

On August 31st, 2010 at 3:33 pm, wren said:

On August 31st, 2010 at 12:59 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

Gerrymandering is when state legislatures divide districts so that one party is preferred over another.

This is why we must also elect strong and honest Conservatives in every race for our State Legislatures.

Now that the 2010 Census has been completed, the 2011 State Legislatures will be determining the new boundaries for Congressional Districts which will be used until the next Census is done in 2020.

The fate of our country really does depend on the results of the 2010 elections!
#15

On August 31st, 2010 at 3:41 pm, The Ugly American said:

Nice shot of Pantano there on Wilmington’s Cape Fear waterfront with the USS North Carolina in the background.

I hope he can overcome the stranglehold liberal Yanks have placed on that town.
#16

On August 31st, 2010 at 4:39 pm, T-Bone said:

Harry Reid is still leading in his home state. That is a travesty. Dick Morris made a point about incumbents not having big leads is a bad sign for them as independents will bail on them but still…

Reid is a big enabler of all the bad stuff Obama has pushed through. He and Nancy are the poster children. They are the leaders of this debacle. Reid must go down or people will see his win as a sign that he did good.

You probably can’t defeat Nancy in her little district. We have to win the house to rid ourselves of her toxic leadership but Harry is a statewide vote.

C’mon Nevada, help us cut the head off the snake. Defeat Harry now and send a strong message that we do not approve of his deceitful antics!

Anybody but Harry.
#17

On August 31st, 2010 at 4:46 pm, T-Bone said:

And wasn’t Pantano the guy who killed two insurgents who left a safe house we were raiding? The safe house was full of weapons and the car they were leaving in had some weapons in it. The supposed witness was another bad guy in the car who survived. Yeah, those guys were bad guys period. They forgot their bad guy outfits that day but Pantano wasn’t fooled.

Thank you for your service and putting yourself in harms way for all of us. You deserve our honor and respect.