Asheville Tea Party organizer disses McCain, backs Hayworth

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Erika Franzi, a key organizer of the Asheville Tea Party, is coming out strong in support of J.D. Hayworth, a conservative radio talk show host, former lawmaker and challenger to U.S. Sen. John McCain out in Arizona. (The television magazine show 60 Minutes recently did a segment about Hayworth taking on the former presidential candidate.)

First there’s this:

Erika Franzi, organizer for the Asheville Tea Party sent us the following statement.

“John McCain, the man who was once the ‘maverick,’ is now the personification of the mushy-middle, establishment Republican. His memorable bipartisan efforts, including Campaign Finance Reform, Climate Stewardship, Amnesty, and TARP, demonstrate his lack of regard for the constitutional limitations of the federal government. Senator John McCain is not a liberty candidate. Asheville Tea Party supports J.D. Hayworth’s bid to replace Senator John McCain as the GOP candidate for Arizona Senate.”

Erika hit the nail on the head with her statement, and our committee fully agreed that it’s time to oppose John McCain in a public manner.

Then there’s this press release:

Erika Franzi, an Asheville organizer with the Asheville Tea Party, says “John McCain’s memorable bipartisan efforts, including Campaign Finance Reform, Climate Stewardship, Amnesty, and TARP, demonstrate his lack of regard for the constitutional limitations of the federal government.” Franzi went on to say that “Senator John McCain is not a liberty candidate,” and says the Asheville Tea Party supports J.D. Hayworth’s bid for Arizona Senate.