Politics

Senate candidate Harris hints at impeachment

Mark Harris speaks to the Republican Men's Club on Feb. 26.

By Bill Moss, Published: March 4, 2014

Red meat was on the menu when Mark Harris spoke to the Republican Men's club last week.

A native of Winston-Salem, Harris got hooked on politics as a youngster, he told the club.
"I was mesmerized by the Watergate hearings," he said. "I also remember at age 14 Mom and Dad dropping me off three days a week at the Americans for Reagan office, and still have behind my desk a beautiful poster that says 'Americans for Reagan.'"
He boarded a bus with family friends to attend Reagan's inauguration and later got appointed to Boys State and Boys Nation, where he learned about government and politics. After majoring in politics at Appalachian State University, he was set to attend law school at Campbell University.
"As the Lord would have it, two weeks before my wedding and two months before I was to start law school, the Lord called me to preach," said Harris, who is senior pastor of Charlotte First Baptist Church.
He's got a Hendersonville connection. The wedding date was with Beth Bates, a Hendersonville native, Hendersonville High School graduate and 1986 Apple Festival queen. She's the daughter of school teacher Betty Bates and Billy G. Bates, who served as Hendersonville city schools superintendent from 1978 to 1981.
Harris said some political strategists advise him not to focus on traditional values and social issues that can be risk. Don't worry, he told his conservative audience, he'll ignore the advice. A strong domestic policy, strong foreign policy and family values is the "three-legged stool" that supports his campaign.
"Someone has said this race is for the heart and soul of the GOP in North Carolina," he said. "Someone said this Senate race in North Carolina is about the heart and soul of the GOP in this nation. Ladies and gentlemen, Ronald Reagan taught us if you try to break off any one of those three legs, that stool will not stand."
Harris lambasted Obama's actions that he said defy the U.S. Constitution. Like seven other candidates in the Republican primary, Harris opposes the Affordable Care Act.
"I do not believe Obamacare can be fixed, I do not believe it can be repaired, I believe the only solution is it must be repealed and replaced."
In fact, he said, Congress may have to throw its creator out of office.
Although he stopped short of using the "i word," Harris criticized Congress for failing to act against Obama.
"I know from a practical standpoint the reason that they haven't because Harry Reid and the United States Senate would not even pick it up and move it forward," he said. "But I would tell you if we manage to take back the U.S. Senate this fall, then I truly believe you will see this president either change his tone, change his actions or face the full double action of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. We can't live inside this lawlessness."