Tag: Clay Aiken

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North Carolina: Clay Aiken’s Democratic primary opponent dies at 71

Former North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco died at the age of 71 today following a fall at his home.

Crisco was Clay Aiken’s opponent in last week’s Democratic primary for the U.S House.

From the Huffington Post:

The Asheboro Courier-Tribune reported that Crisco, 71, apparently suffered injuries from a fall Monday afternoon at his home in Asheboro, N.C. He was dead when emergency services arrived, according to the paper.

The race between Aiken and Crisco was considered too close to call, with Aiken leading Crisco by just 369 votes. Both candidates were awaiting confirmation from election authorities before deciding how to proceed in the race to unseat Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) in November.

Clay Aiken issued this statement:

“We are incredibly shocked and saddened to hear about Keith Crisco’s sudden passing. Keith was an accomplished businessman and public servant with a sterling reputation and a tremendous amount of respect from North Carolinians across the partisan spectrum. Keith, like my father, served the state as Commerce Secretary with dignity and humility, and also like my father, passed away well before his time. Keith’s family is in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. I am suspending all campaign activities as we pray for his family and friends.”

The election results are still in flux with Aiken ahead by 369 votes. The state law says to not face a runoff, the candidate who leads with at least 40% +1 vote wins the primary. If Crisco should pull ahead as the votes are still being counted, the state Democratic party would choose the candidate.

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North Carolina: Clay Aiken looks to have won Dem primary for Congress

American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken looks to have won his primary tonight in North Carolina.

Although the race is tight, North Carolina state law requires a 40% + one vote finish in order to avoid a runoff.

No media outlet has declared a winner at this point, but if the count holds, Aiken appears to have cleared the bar for this race.

Keith Crisco outspent Aiken through his own wealth by a ratio of 3 to 1.

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Clay Aiken: Marriage equality isn’t something that affects people’s daily lives

Openly gay American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken is running for North Carolina’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. On a recent appearance with HuffPost Live, he was asked about marriage equality, which he supports. But…

“It’s not why I’m in this race,” Aiken noted. “It’s not an issue that’s really on the radar for most people in the second district of North Carolina. It’s not something that effects people’s daily lives.”

I would beg to differ. I’m certain there are gay and lesbian couples in the NC 2nd District. And I’m sure they would like to benefit from over 1,100 privileges, protections and benefits of marriage.

Aiken later qualified his statement to say marriage equality affects “a very small percentage” of America’s daily life.

I won’t demonize Aiken, but I think to say “it’s not something that affects people’s daily lives” is to be out of touch with his own community.

Check his statements at the 10:00 mark.

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Congressional hopeful Clay Aiken stops by The Colbert Report

American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken is currently running for Congress in North Carolina’s 2nd District.

He stopped by to “chat” with Stephen Colbert last night, although Colbert says he was “unwarmed” by Aiken’s thoughts and platform regarding the campaign.

Unable to get Clay to sing the national anthem, Colbert announces the headline “Clay Aiken refuses to sing national anthem” all in good fun. Colbert closed the segment telling the audience to “vote for Clay, if you must!”

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American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken announces run for Congress

American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken has announced he is going to run for Congress in North Carolina. The seat Aiken would run for is currently held by Rep. Renee Ellmers.

From The News Observer:

Aiken’s decision to enter the race has already reshaped the field. Houston Barnes, a young attorney who lives in Durham, plans to announce Wednesday he is withdrawing from the race and supporting Aiken. That leaves former state commerce secretary Keith Crisco of Asheboro and licensed professional counselor Toni Morris of Fayetteville as Aiken’s primary opponents.

You can watch his official announcement below:

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Clay Aiken and Tony Perkins on FACE THE NATION

The very loathsome Tony Perkins appeared on FACE THE NATION yesterday with Clay Aiken to discuss President Obama’s recently announced support of gay marriage.

Note how Tony Perkins says more than once that our civil rights are derived from “natural law.” As I’ve mentioned before, one of the techniques political activists use to “make their case” is to simply repeat their own made up talking points until people start to buy into them. I’ve seen several appearances by Tony Perkins, who works with the designated hate group Family Research Council, and he often makes statements that have no basis in fact but he wants his folks to believe.

He often states, for example, that children do better with a mother and a father and that’s why gays shouldn’t marry. Now, first of all, marriage can’t be predicated on the supposition of child bearing. Many married couples don’t have children. Plus, there are studies that have proven children raised by two dads or two moms do just as well in life as children raised by heterosexual couples. This is just a made up “fact” to spoken with no fanfare to make it seem as though what he’s saying is true.

I have to say that Clay Aiken handles himself well here. He looks and sounds very polished here.