I’ve been pondering a lot about the Christine O’Donnell victory this week. I used to think endorsements were a big thing. I still do, but, in a way I’m thinking differently. It took the TEA Parties in ’09 to rile people up. It gave those who were paying attention a way to find their voice. That’s fine, it was the first TEA Party in my area that got me involved in my local party. After the TEA parties I started paying closer attention. I started doing my homework. No one had to tell me who the better of the candidates were in this year’s primaries, I found that out for myself. There were no big endorsements for our primaries around here, yet, I was still comfortable with my choice for candidates. Did anyone else in Forsyth County have a hard time picking their candidates last primary season?

I’ll admit, being here in North Carolina, I do not pay that much attention to Delaware politics. It surprised me the other day, however, after a few days of chatter over Castle and his “RINO” tendencies, and putting his qualities beside O’Donnell’s qualities, the answer was pretty obvious to me. Why was O’Donnell running remotely behind? It was such an obvious choice! Then one day I happened to be listening to Hannity on the radio and he was talking to Sarah Palin about O’Donnell. She was going on and on about how good of a conservative Christine was, and Sean asked about some tweet she made concerning the candidate. Sarah flat out endorsed O’Donnell, right there on the radio. There was no mistaking that endorsement. Did you hear that conversation?

Then the next day it was like a whirlwind, and before you could blink O’Donnell went on to win the primary what- less than a week later? A week later? Does anyone else see what is potentially wrong with this picture? WHY did it take a national figure, a political “rock star” to get people engaged in the process? Was it not important BEFORE Palin endorsed O’Donnell, that fiscal conservatism make a return back to Delaware representation? Was it not important BEFORE Palin endorsed O’Donnell, to have a candidate that would block cap and trade, and repeal Obamacare? Truly, is it actually NECESSARY for this country’s conservatives that a “rock star” be brought into a campaign before they will go out and vote?

Why is it required a big name to fill county GOP meetings? If we TEA Party people are serious about taking our country back, we are going to HAVE to become engaged! We must take our PARTY back! Our state can potentially make history this year with the potential flip of the General Assembly- why is it that only when big names, or “popular” people are involved in an event, that the majority of conservatives show up? Why is it that state level candidates are HURTING for volunteer help? Why does it appear that North Carolina’s conservatives are failing their conservative candidates? All my growing up, all I ever heard was “Well, you have to be rich to be able to run for office”, and I thought that for a very long time. Then I thought, maybe the problem with politics is that … rich people are making decisions for poor people. No, that’s truly not the problem.

Do you know why it takes “rich people” to win elections? Because people are NOT ENGAGED!! It takes approximately $37,000 to reach registered REPUBLICANS in Forsyth County. What candidate, what MIDDLE CLASS candidate, has $37,000 to do ONE mailing, in the hopes that that piece of paper does not get tossed in the trash? What middle class, honest to goodness, PERFECT candidate (well, no one is “perfect”), a person you would WANT to represent you in Raleigh, (even Washington!), has that kind of money? If every registered republican in Forsyth County would give our, say 20 local candidates (school board, commissioner, etc..don’t think there’s twenty, but ..) ONE DOLLAR. ONE … DOLLAR. a hundred pennies. Each candidate would have $74,000 in their pocket. Instead, we have a state level candidate that has raised oh, $3000.

But you let Sarah Palin get in the game, and it changes everything. Why SHOULD it change everything, just because a political “rock star” gets involved in a race? O’Donnell has raised almost a million dollars in three days- because she was all of a sudden the candidate to support … because of a big endorsement. You know what? Sarah Palin has the same amount of votes available on election day that you have. One. This is our country. People should WANT to be involved. They should WANT to know who to support- not because someone tells them who to support, but because they were responsible enough with their own vote to do the research themselves, to know WHY they voted for someone. Not just because they had a popular endorsement. Not even because they see a name on a TEA Party website.

- Wendy

Disclaimer: I love Sarah Palin, but I cannot raise enough money to get her to North Carolina to endorse my state candidate of choice, and it upsets me to think that more North Carolinians would be involved in my candidate’s race IF she uttered his name.

I challenge every person who reads this: do you know who your state candidates are? If so, give them a shout out in the comment’s section.

Tuesday November 3rd, 2009 is voting day for Winston Salem.

Need to find out where to vote, click here.

Based on their beliefs and ideals we feel the following people to be what we need in office:

Nathan Jones – South Ward

There comes a time when good people have to stand up and take control of their government before their government takes control of them.

Our Winston-Salem City Council believes they know better how to spend YOUR money than you do. They have voted time and time again to spend taxpayer dollars on things we don’t want or need. This must stop.

I am a small business owner and angry taxpayer. I earned a BS in Business from Wake Forest University in 1995 and a MBA from Wake Forest University in 2006. I am a husband and father of three small boys.

Please WRITE IN your vote for Nathan Jones on Tuesday November 3rd 2009.

Click here to visit his website.

Claudia Shivers – Northeast Ward

My name is Claudia L. Shivers, and I want to represent YOU, the businesses and residents of the Northeast Ward on the Winston-Salem City Council.

MY STORY
I am a thirty-four year old mother of five, an accountant, a small business owner, and a proud resident of the Northeast Ward.

MY EXPERIENCE
I am active in the Winston-Salem community. I have served on several civic and not-for-profit boards and committees throughout the city, including the Everyone Can Help Out (ECHO) Council and the Winston-Salem Youth Arts Institute.

Please vote for Claudia Shivers on on Tuesday November 3rd 2009.

Click here to visit her website.

Ted Shipley – Southwest Ward

Ted Shipley was born and raised in Winston-Salem. He attended the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools and graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School in 1996.

After attending UNC-Chapel Hill, where he majored in Business Administration, he returned to Winston-Salem, and attended Wake Forest University School of Law where he met his future wife, Kim.

Since graduating from Wake Forest, Ted has practiced law in Winston-Salem. Ted assists clients with establishing and growing their businesses, including organization of for-profit, professional, and nonprofit corporations and limited liability companies.

Ted has been serving the Winston-Salem community since his days at Reynolds High School. He served for three years on the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Community Appearance Commission as a county appointee. He is also a member of the Executive Board for The Dash, a division of the Arts Council, whose aim is to promote downtown events and downtown businesses to the next generation of Winston-Salem citizens. Ted is a proud member of the Winston-Salem Rotary Club.

Please vote for Ted Shipley on on Tuesday November 3rd 2009.

Click here to visit his website.

Claudia Shivers sits down for an interview with the NC Tea Party about why she is running for Winston Salem City Council. This is a 15 part series with 3 new parts to be added daily.

1st Question – Why should you be elected?

2nd Question – How would you have acted differently than your opponent has in the past?

3rd Question – What role does city council play in the growth of business?