May 23, 2006

Source: The North Carolina Conservative

1. Tell us about your personal and political background.

My father was a Baptist preacher at Durham's White Rock Baptist Church where I grew up. He was also a Professor of Theology at Shaw University's Divinity School having earned a PhD from the University of Chicago and paid his way through school in part by translating Hebrew. My mother was his equal as a Latin Scholar and teacher at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA where they met. Both were first in their class at Morehouse and Virginia Union respectively and were devoted to his social ministry based on "The Old Time Religion, " empowerment of the community through action, and self-reliance with sound educational underpinnings as a key to success.

I am the youngest of six children all of whom have at least two degrees. We can support ourselves for it was never a question in my house of whether we were going to college, rather which college would we attend. Despite all of our education we were poor and didn't know it for status in the black community wasn't based solely on income but reflected education, skin color, hair texture and a lot of irrelevant things during my early years.My father, the son of a slave and Seminole Indian mother, was a Republican, a mason and a contemporary of James E. Shepard who founded NCCU (and eulogized him). Many of the members of "Durham's Black Wall Street" were members of his church, and Republicans.

I am a physician, licensed teacher, author, poet and so much more. I am a single-mother of two grown sons (not at home) whom I adopted when they were almost six, one in Tennessee and one in Illinois. They are the loves of my life. I have been a Republican for over 30 years. I have caught hell for it not just in the black community but also among contemporaries. It was with a sense of horror that folks looked at me as if I were a leper when I supported Senator Helms in the 70's. I didn't have to agree with everything he said, but I believed then as now that he and Sam Irvin were the best articulators of North Carolina's promise. Were it not for Senator Helm's help to tobacco farmers, our economy would have suffered more earlier, for that crop at one time accounted for 35% of our economy.

2. Why are you running?

5 years ago when I became interested in national office, I said in my press release on Labor Day which I think was September 4, 2001 this nation is not prepared for an attack on its person. We need jobs which can't be shipped overseas or sent south of the border, illegal immigration is a threat to our national security, health care should be affordable as well as accessible, and we need a flat tax. On September 11, 2001 we had the attack on the World Trade Center and last year we had the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. I say to you again we are still not prepared and we need people like me in office who have the hands on experience and expertise to deal with issues like this.

Initially, I also decided to run because one of my brothers came down with cancer in 1978. In 2000 he had his second bout of cancer secondary to his prior chemotherapy treatments. As I sat with him day in and day out, we both talked about what happens to people who don't have a doctor in their family. We both appreciated that when you "Get A Doctor in the House" it makes a difference. That's where the slogan originated for my campaign. During my last race I had to miss many things as I sat with a friend, resulting from a medical mistake, and his family as he died. As one who has personally supervised care for over 100,000 patients, I believed then as now that health care must change toward a public health system of prevention, if we are to make it affordable and accessible while dealing with bio-terrorism as well as Avian flu. This will require that we put people in Congress who understand.

3. What are the issues important to your District?

-Jobs, jobs, and more jobs are the main issue for our citizens.

-Health care is the largest employer for this area and state. Anyone who is maliciously injured through the health care system should be fairly compensated. But we must all understand that without insured health care providers, practitioners can't engage in high risk professions such as obstetrics, neuro-surgery, etc. We must have reasonable health care tort reform. The incumbent has consistently opposed this.

-Illegal immigration is overrunning our prisons, our schools and lowering wages for those with labor intensive jobs; however, the incumbent has opposed deporting undocumented workers who break the law as well as many other efforts to control illegal entry for non-citizens.

-Education is important; however under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution that is the province of the states not the federal government. Though the state says drop-outs are less than 6% in our area, a look at the cohort group of this years class reveals that in Mecklenburg County
approximately 40+% and in Rowan County 34% of those entering high school in the last 4 years have been lost to the system. This brain drain is a matter of national interest.

4. Tell us about Rep. Mel Watt.

I have known Congressman Watt for approximately 5 years. I was asked to substitute for him when he excused himself early from a speaking engagement at Salisbury High. He and I are friendly but politically we are quite different. Watt's views are creeping more towards government socialism with the government being centrally involved in programs for people from creating jobs to education to socialized medical care. I believe in a democratic republic where government rest on "We the people. . ." and should insure an atmosphere of fairness. The federal government's rightful mantel is for the National Defense, a judiciary, order and commerce. The federal government in assuming other roles should support the states. Washington cannot and should not micromanage things at the state and local levels nor continue passing non-funded federal mandates for states to implement.

5. Recently, Rep. Watt has made efforts to frame gay rights as a civil rights issue; how do you respond to that?

I am tired of people saying everything is a civil rights issue whether gay rights or immigrant rights. Our skin color has unfortunately too often dictated our treatment and we can't change our color though people can change other parts of their lives and lifestyles. One should appreciate that the majority of blacks who entered this country early on were forced to be here, not illegally coming here. It was the Republican Party, which opposed slavery, passed the first civil rights bill, and through the Progressive Bull Moose party of Theodore Roosevelt and more recent efforts of Richard Nixon, made equal opportunities the hallmark of where we stand on civilian rights for our citizens. I stand with my party and expect them to stand with me.

6.How are his positions on gay marriage and abortion viewed in the (mostly black) Christian community of the district?

Most black Americans that I know aren't as obsessed with the issue of gay marriage and abortion as are others of society and this is probably true as well for many non-blacks in the 12th District. This is a very cosmopolitan and eclectic district. As a rule, black Americans, particularly the black middle and upper class, are far more conservative than others. Though fundamentally people believe as I do that marriage should be between one man and one woman and believe that all life is precious, if it doesn't affect them personally, many are just willing to live and let live.

Very few people in the 12th District black or white know that Mel Watt was one of three Congressmen to oppose Megan's Law (requiring sentencing of child molesters), didn't support the Defense of Marriage Act, voted Present when asked to vote on keeping "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance or has not supported many efforts to curtail illegal immigration. If they knew this he could not be reelected. One of the facts that people are failing to appreciate is that the evangelical movement and Islam are the fastest growing religious segments of the African American community. This dichotomy is intriguing and could be insightful in our efforts to understand the Moslem mind if we would engage them.

7. What are your views on illegal immigration, and how do they contrast with Watt's position?

I believe that it is too easy to be illegal in this country. Illegal immigration is the largest threat to our domestic national security from its potential health hazards, related crime and violence of gangs, economic instability from depressed wages for other jobs, and social burdens from educational and social services expenditures. I do not support amnesty or a guest worker program when we have locked up non-violent criminals who could have alternative sentencing for this work. Illegal workers aren't taking jobs that Americans won't do. If paid a minimum wage, these jobs should be filled or why pay unemployment compensation?

Mr. Watt has opposed deporting illegal aliens who have committed crimes as well as funding for border patrols. My opposition to illegal immigration has been a matter of public record for over 5 years. I firmly believe that those who crossed the land bridge illegally from Mexico should not be allowed to stay in this country as long as we continue to return the Haitians home who are escaping political oppression. That is racism and I won't stand for it.

8. How would you address problems within the black community such as the high rates of illegitimacy and crime?

I believe all children are legitimate. We need to restore hope in our communities and act with compassion toward children. All of our children are legitimate. They must be held accountable for the lives they lead.

We need more economic empowerment zones in areas highly dense with crime. Options for learning which lead to economic stability must be available. A constitutional amendment making 18 the age of adulthood uniformly would put kids on notice of their obligations to act and be so treated as adults, stop the sentencing of children as adults, discourage sexual expressions between non-adults, and allow service to the nation with all the rights and privileges of adulthood. Tax credits for second chance programs should be made available. National service programs with earned educational credit could be had.

Black Americans must put marriage and the positive involvement of black males in families on the front burner. Though controversial, I firmly believe that mothers must name the fathers of children before receiving government support. Proving paternity would stop a lot of problems as well as give children a better sense of family. As a group, we who are black are committing self-genocide in not getting an education, promiscuous sexual involvements, which are passing on AIDS which will wipe us out, and our dependence on the government rather than rediscovering community entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

9. How can public education better serve black students?

Education must be seen as a road to somewhere rather than a track to nowhere for all students not just black students. 40% of students in North Carolina's charter schools are black. I am a supporter of public education and know we don't have enough alternatives for all the students who wish to go to charter schools. With drop-out rates in this district over 30% in several counties, I firmly believe that when students fail or have to repeat courses or are not performing on grade level, parents should have the right to remove their child from a public school and take the state's allocation for that child to any school they feel may better serve the child. This one act would make schools find ways to teach these kids or risk their closing and losing money.

In our county, the Rowan Academy worked with many students who didn't do well in the public schools. That school out performed the public schools. They closed due to a lack of money. If the school system had been smart, it would have made that charter school part of its offerings. The Coast Guard offers a military option in Chicago that has turned around the life of minority student drop-outs. This should be a national effort as part of public education. We must require options for learning and get away from an educational cookie cutter mentality. Every child learns differently and we must fit the program to the child with the concept of the most efficient and effective learning environment not "the least restrictive" as required by law.

10. How are you received in your district as a black Republican?

Most people in my community know that I am their go to person if you want to get something done or find an answer. This is not done just for black Americans or Republicans, but for all citizens. Just this week I wrote 5 letters for kids to go to college and two were awarded scholarships with my help. Though office holders have the benefit of staff, I have been able to help veterans get their benefits without this help because working in the VA system, as well as knowing applicable statues, I am better than most in helping people figure out what needs to be done to be considered for benefits. Most people in my community didn't even know I was a Republican until I ran for a national office since my school board seat was non-partisan.

11. Are you receiving much party support?

The 12th District Republican County parties have been very supportive of me in my campaign for the 12th US Congressional district seat. We won Davidson and Cabarrus the last time and we should carry them plus 2 or 3 others to victory this time. I have appealed to the National Party and White House for support since they say they want African Americans in the party. Now is the time to demonstrate to us they truly believe what they are saying and will act accordingly. Michael Steele of Baltimore, Lynn Swann of Pennsylvania and the gentleman running from Ohio are running with national support. The 12th District deserves the same. All Republicans should hold them accountable for supporting this district. My candidacy presents the state of North Carolina and the Republican Party with an opportunity to make history for there has never been a black Republican female elected to the US Congress. Now is the time to make it so.

12. Why is the 12th District so important?

The 12th District contains the financial capital of North Carolina as well as the southeastern US. Wachovia and Bank of America are headquartered in this district, as are so many other businesses and facilities. There is one medical school, over a dozen community colleges, 4 year colleges and universities with 4 Historically Black Colleges and Universities within our boundaries. The Homeland Security operations have ties to optics and screening scanners developed here. And the beauty opportunities are second to none.

13. How do you feel about a gerrymandered seat?

North Carolina has 100 counties with 13 Congressional seats. Simple arithmetic says each Congressional seat here should represent slightly over 7 counties if done fairly. Since that is not the case, the 12th is reflective of more counties than most. The configuration of these counties in the 12th makes it hard to get a good map of who is where. As a constitutionalist, I believe in the founder's original concept of a representative democracy. There should be an independent body to map seats so that they aren't drawn just to protect someone, but can reflect the needs for a representative voice for that state. Edward Brooke, the first black Republican senator since reconstruction is one of my heroes for he was able to get elected in Massachusetts a state not known for its Republican presence or black population. Being able to represent anyone who is a citizen of your state, not just your party, is what it ought to be about.

The North Carolina Conservative can be found at http://www.northcarolinaconservative.com.