Flier Heats up Congressional Race

(05/11/06 -- RALEIGH) (WTVD) -- A North Carolina politician known for stirring up controversy is accused of stepping over the line.

Vernon Robinson, the Republican running against Democrat incumbent Brad Miller in the 13th Congressional District, has sent out a mass-mailing that's raising eyebrows. In the flier, Robinson, who opposes gay marriage, seems to imply that Miller might be gay.

Robinson's flier says, "Brad Miller&is childless [and] middle-aged." Miller's wife, Esther Hall, believes it is an insinuation that her husband is gay.

"Which is a great surprise, since we're about to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary," she said. "I think it absolutely crosses the line."

About the couple being childless, Hall says they are physically unable to have children.

"It wasn't God's will," Hall said. "I had a disease known as endometriosis. I had a hysterectomy when I was single, at 27. I met Brad after that."

The mailer also makes reference to a liberal blogger, calling him Miller's internet partner and saying that Miller "has gotten into bed with" the man.

"It gives the impression that Brad Miller's gay and has actually literally been in bed with him," said John Ross Hendrix, who lost the Republican primary to Robinson and is now supporting Miller. He says Robinson's two big issues are homosexual marriage and illegal immigration.

Robinson was not able to keep a scheduled phone interview with Eyewitness News, but he did send this written statement about the use of the term "childless":

"This is not about somebody's medical records. It's about Brad Miller's voting record. This man voted to allow convicted child molesters and pedophiles to immigrate to North Carolina, where my three children live."

Miller sent this statement to Eyewitness News: "I'm married, straight, and just as p---ed off as you would expect me to be. Vernon Robinson abides by no moral limits. It's because of tactics like this that the former chairman of the Republican Party in North Carolina said that quote 'there has NEVER been a candidate in North Carolina history that is as hateful as Vernon Robinson.' And that was from one of Robinson's fellow Republicans."

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