Pantano responds to McIntyre’s latest ad

Wilmington, NC (NEWS RELEASE) – Ilario Pantano, Republican nominee for North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District issued the following statement today in response to Congressman McIntyre’s new attack ad:

After 14 years in Congress, Congressman McIntyre cannot defend his voting record of support for Nancy Pelosi and must resort to attacking me. But his attack on me is an example of why he is in trouble.

In his latest television attack ad, McIntyre attacks me for signing a pledge to the taxpayers of the 7th District to fight tax increases for individuals and business. In the typical old politics fashion he so consistently favors, he has distorted what I did, and thus attempted to deceive the voters.

Here is the complete text I signed:

“I, Ilario Pantano, pledge to the taxpayers of the 7th District of the state of North Carolina and to the American people that I will:

One, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or business; and

Two, oppose any and net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing taxes.”

I stand by that pledge. For him to oppose this simple and clear statement can have only one meaning: Congressman McIntyre believes the government can spend us out of the recession and is willing to raise taxes to let the government spend more.

The Pelosi-McIntyre plan to raise taxes during a recession is beyond foolish. Raising taxes on business will lead to more unemployment. Re-instating the death tax as McIntyre has supported will hurt the economy further, and bring particular hardship to farmers and farm families.

In this ad, Congressman McIntyre has highlighted the difference between his vision and mine. The Congressman thinks that he and Nancy Pelosi know better how to spend your money than you do. He thinks a pledge to fight tax increases is a bad thing. I know it is essential to job creation and a strong recovery from the recession.

INFORMATION FROM A NEWS RELEASE SENT TO THE WWAY NEWSCHANNEL 3 NEWSROOM…