Onward!
By: BJ Lawson
It’s late, we’re just getting in, and neither JoLynn nor I have slept much in the past 48 hours. So this will be short.
Thank you to all of the donors, volunteers, and supporters who have built our campaign over the past four months. Our resounding victory tonight is not about me — it’s about a message that will transform American government, and the future for our nation. Our victory is also a powerful statement that we Americans are ready for change. We’re tired of negative soundbite politics that divides us against each other, and we’re tired of agendas being forced upon us by party elites who are increasingly disconnected from reality, and the challenges we face.
We are ready to embrace a federal government that focuses on its Constitutional responsibilities, and stops being a suffocating burden that will haunt our children and grandchildren.
During our victory celebration this evening, I had a number of people ask me the same question, “So how are you going to take the message to beat David Price?” While we have much planning and work ahead, one part of the answer is easy: “Order more Constitutions!”
We distributed ten thousand copies for this primary. Here’s to distributing 100,000 for the general election!
Unfortunately, we didn’t get any video at the event tonight. But I found this video amazingly impressive:
May 7th, 2008 at 1:28 am
BJ,
You’re my hero. Congratulations for all of your hard work and for getting this far! The message of liberty and individual freedom will resound with the voters of the 4th District. They say they want change. We’ll show them that reelecting a 20 year incumbent is not changing anything. We’ll make sure that they know that the Democrats do not have a monopoly on the word “change.” We’ll preach the message of a Constitutional transparent government, and we’ll win. As you said in the title of this post, onward!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Congratulations! Good luck in November!
May 7th, 2008 at 3:46 am
“Congressman Lawson”. Yes you will definitely be the next Congressman from the 4th district of NC. Congratulations. We are all so happy
May 7th, 2008 at 4:24 am
BJ,
Congratulations!! You have made my day. Happiness abounds. My best wishes for you and the republican party. I have been watching your campaign from a distance and just knew it would be a tough race, but 70% of the vote — GO BJ GO!!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 4:47 am
Way to go!! On to the general
(Its worth noting that several folks that I talked to yesterday couldn’t vote for BJ b/c they were democrats, but said that they would def. vote for him in November because they’re tired of David Price. I think we can build a wide coalition and finally take the 4th district and give Dr. Paul a friend in Congress!)
May 7th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Praise God for His Grace and Mercy over this nation, and praise Him for even the bit of hope we have that men like BJ will go into Washington with a resounding voice. Congratulations. May His strength see you through November, and those who support you put their money and time where their mouths are.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:57 am
In trying to do a little research on your opponent, I ran into a forum of die-hard liberals who were discussing your challenge to your opponent’s congressional seat, and their words were not exactly kind.
The next thing I saw just floored me. There you were. You signed up for a forum account, tried engaging them repeatedly on the issues. Offered to meet with them one on one over cup of coffee (numerous times). Over and over, through this long discussion thread, you rose above the petty negative name-calling and kept bringing the discussion back above that. You went into the lion’s den, into die-hard Price turf, and started taking the message of liberty to people who didn’t even want to hear it at first.
I think your primary opponent would have had his lawyer send the forum a cease & desist letter instead of trying to engage them on the issues.
This is one of your strength’s, BJ. In the march to November, I can see you walking into democrat strongholds and walking out with a few new friends and supporters after they better understand the issues and get a sense for your depth of character. Tens of thousands of votes are going to come from Republican voters just checking off every Republican candidate on the ballot. You’re going to have to win over A LOT of independents and “blue votes” to do this, and it won’t be easy. But I think you’re the right man with the right message to accomplish this.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Whoooooooo hoooooooooooo!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Congratulations Mr. Lawson! On to November.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:28 am
BJ,
Congratulations on your victory. It was well deserved and very much needed. I met you at the YR Convention in Greensboro and you bought my book, You’re Not a Democrat You Just Think You Are. Keep on with the good fight. It is time for innovative conservatism that is grounded in the Constitution to govern this country. If there is anything I could ever do to support you let me know.
God Bless!
John
May 7th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Congratulations!!!! Your Hard Work and Honest Reserve Brought You Through!! Next Stop - Washington!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Way to go BJ, I knew when I first met you at the armory in Durham that you have what it takes. So hang in there. I’m not in your district but I’ll help with what I can.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Congratulations! This is a true Victory for Freedom and Liberty. May God bless you and your campaign for Congress.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I knew you could do it, BJ. Now for the real challenge. I truly believe most people want the liberty you’re offering–they just don’t realize it yet. Let’s help them realize what they really believe in.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:49 am
What an impressive victory!! Not very often does the non-establishment candidate come from the bottom and win.. and win big. This is a big win for all of us.
BJ, I know you keep saying it’s not about you, it’s the message, but man, you are the best candidate we could possibly have to get the message out. It’s an amazing message and you are an amazing guy. Thank you for doing what you are doing! You will continue to have the support from myself and my family.
Dana
May 7th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Congratulations on the overwhelming victory last night BJ. Now go take the fight to David Price! Outflank him with his base where you know he’s vulnerable.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:44 am
See…..hard work does pay off.
This victory is a testimony to the revolution. A man is motivated by the ideals of freedom and liberty, looks around, and decides to do something about it.
Thank you BJ, thank you for deciding to take the time for all of us.
Now it is time for the rest of us to do something to help you. We are ready for the next step. Lets GO!
Bill
May 7th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I am looking forward to helping you win in the general election. You truly have an army of supporters that will fight nail and tooth to get you in the congress, where we so desperately need you. Let’s prove to the NCGOP that we are the true republicans and will win in November based on the ideals embodied in our constitution. Our message of freedom, liberty, personal reward & responsibility will resonate throughout the 4th district, state of North Carolina, and throughout our great nation.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Congratulations from your former neighbors in Florida who knew you way-back-when….
B.J. has been on straight and narrow since he was a boy jumping over the fence between our houses. You just knew he was destined for big things in his life.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Congratulations BJ!
In a hectic primary battle I never doubted you would come out on top with your message of Freedom, Liberty, and a Constitutionally Restrained Government. In an election season in which house GOP leaders are nervous and republican incumbents are bracing for sweeping defeats it will take more intellectually honest, innovative, conservative candidates like yourself to show them how we can take control of congress again. Thank you for all your hard work, and I can’t wait to start canvassing for you in my neighborhood!
-Paul
May 7th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
If there’s anyone that can beat David Price in November, I think it’s you. I never thought there would be a real conservative running for office in this district, but it’s happening.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Congrats BJ! We’re all so happy for you. We still around to help and we’re pumped about November. Get some rest.
Cindy
May 7th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Great news! Congrats Mr Lawson…take it to them. Keep engaging the democratic strongholds, a debate about invading 130 countries or 129 countries is not a true debate. We truly care about education, we truly care about the environment, we care about a peace….if you can explain these messages to democrats they will convert. Gte the chapell hill editors, the durham editors…talk to the black voters about the racist drug war, the environmentalist about the great dangers of mercury, sulfur dioxide and nitrus oxide in our air and water. The horribly regressive and racist nature of the payroll taxes used to take about 15% of the income of minimum wage workers who can expect to die at the age of 65!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Congratulations. Best of luck in the general! Keep spreading the freedom message!
May 7th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Awesome. Congrats! Liberty will be Price-less come November.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Congrats once again!
May 7th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I met you and your wife at UNC last Friday. I was inspired by both of you. Keep up the good work. We need more people like you in office. Maybe I’ll run in a few years!
May 7th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Way to go BJ. Can;t tell you how excited my family and I are. I am looking forward to the general election. Lets go all the way to DC!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Congratulations and I know you can beat Price in November. It won’t be easy but it can be done. The constituents in your district can be convinced there is a better option than a tax and spend liberal like Price. Price is a prince of pork so he will have a solid base especially in academia but at last check there are a hell of a lot more voters outside of Price’s world than in it.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
How do we get information on Price’s congressional record to pass out to potential voters? Most of my family, friends, and co-workers are dems, and vote down party lines. With truthful information on Price’s wasted years in office, we can get rational thinking dems to vote for BJ. Congrats!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I hear Price voted for the Iraq war. If this is true it won’t be popular for dems.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Hello everyone. I’d like to inform all of you that there will be a “Money Bomb” for BJ’s campaign. Check out the website and pledge!
http://www.LawsonLibertyFund.com
Thanks!
May 11th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Jeremy,
It’s actually somewhat worse than Price just voting for the war. Price voted to delegate the power to declare war to the president, which is unconstitutional. The war power is given to the congress in the constitution, because it’s not *supposed* to be easy to do. Ceding that power to the executive branch is a craven dereliction of duty on the part of every congressman or senator who voted for it.
-jcr