CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Mayor Anthony Foxx was featured on C-SPAN Sunday morning as part of their bus tour around North Carolina leading up to the May 8th primary.
The network stopped in Charlotte and spoke with Foxx on a range of issues from the DNC to the North Carolina Marriage Amendment.
Re-electing President Obama
When asked about President Obama’s efforts to win over voters in the battle ground state, Foxx replied “the more he touches the state the better his chances are”.
In 2008, Obama won by 14,000 votes in North Carolina. The Mayor pointed out there are currently 13 field offices for the President around the state to assist in his re-election.
“I think the most important thing for the President is to have those folks starting early on the ground game and continuing to work towards November,” said Foxx.
Financing the DNC
When asked about the DNC and accusations that the host committee is having trouble raising funds because of self imposed regulations, Foxx responded “we are on the right track..we’re continuing to reach out to people around the country for donations.”
Foxx went on to state that people are excited about the convention and the different platform changes, and that he has no doubt that it will be a success in the fall.
On the irony of the President accepting his nomination at Bank of America Stadium when he's fought against Wall Street, Foxx replied “The reality is, and the President’s team has said this, it’s a venue. I think people basically understand that it’s a venue. We in Charlotte have several venues that we’re looking forward to using for this convention.
Marriage Amendment
Foxx also commented on the growing controversy surrounding the Marriage Amendment that has become a hot topic on the May 8th voting ballot. Foxx said the amendment is redundant because marriage between same sex couples is already banned in the state of North Carolina.
“The concern that many of us has had is that it may be over broad in the sense that it might also prohibit civil unions if the state ever decided to take that route to solve some of the challenges that are associated with committed couples who are same sex.”
Foxx said that the amendment could be a piece of legislation that eliminates jobs in the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender communities.
Foxx told the network that the amendment forces North Carolina into the middle of a cultural war. Foxx said he hopes the amendment is defeated.
During the interview Foxx was on a hot seat of sorts, as callers from around the country were able to call into the show and voice their opinions on President and Foxx's support for Obama.
