The Surprising Congressman Jones
September 18, 2009 - by
Walter Jones Jr. always surprises me.
I first met him in 1977, when he was Governor Hunt’s “eastern North Carolina
That was no surprise.
Then he got elected to the North Carolina House. He became a champion of ethics and open government. A pleasant surprise.
Then he was one of the Democrats who ousted Liston Ramsey and elected Joe Mavretic Speaker.
A disappointing surprise.
Then he lost a Democratic primary for Congress, mainly because the district had become heavily black. No surprise.
Then he became a Republican. And endorsed Jim Gardner over Hunt in 1992.
Another disappointing surprise.
Then he unseated Congressman Martin Lancaster in the 1994 Republican tide.
Another disappointing surprise.
Then he became a critic of the Iraq
A pleasant surprise.
This week he was one of only seven Republicans who voted to rebuke Crazy Joe Wilson.
A very pleasant surprise.
Is it expediency or conscience? That depends on which way he surprises you, I suppose.
But I’ve talked to Walter several times in recent years. I believe there is a core of conscience that guides him.
Talking once about his switch to the GOP and his conversion to the Catholic Church, he made a great observation: “I switched my church and my party, and I’m a lot happier with my church.”
No surprise there.
Posted in General, North Carolina - Republicans
The Surprising Congressman Jones
September 18, 2009/
Walter Jones Jr. always surprises me.
I first met him in 1977, when he was Governor Hunt’s “eastern North Carolina
That was no surprise.
Then he got elected to the North Carolina House. He became a champion of ethics and open government. A pleasant surprise.
Then he was one of the Democrats who ousted Liston Ramsey and elected Joe Mavretic Speaker.
A disappointing surprise.
Then he lost a Democratic primary for Congress, mainly because the district had become heavily black. No surprise.
Then he became a Republican. And endorsed Jim Gardner over Hunt in 1992.
Another disappointing surprise.
Then he unseated Congressman Martin Lancaster in the 1994 Republican tide.
Another disappointing surprise.
Then he became a critic of the Iraq
A pleasant surprise.
This week he was one of only seven Republicans who voted to rebuke Crazy Joe Wilson.
A very pleasant surprise.
Is it expediency or conscience? That depends on which way he surprises you, I suppose.
But I’ve talked to Walter several times in recent years. I believe there is a core of conscience that guides him.
Talking once about his switch to the GOP and his conversion to the Catholic Church, he made a great observation: “I switched my church and my party, and I’m a lot happier with my church.”
No surprise there.
Posted in General, North Carolina - Republicans