Hey, North Carolina! Where Do You Find These Guys?

North Carolina went for Barack Obama in 2008, but ever since the Tar Heel state -- with the possible exception of Charlotte -- has gone right-tarded.  The GOP-dominated state legislature recently passed a host of voter-suppression laws and Gov. McRory (R) promptly and giddily signed them into law.  The unfairness and game-rigging has become so blatant that North Carolina progressives and religious leaders have joined together in "Moral Mondays" marches and protest actions.

In their fervor to turn deep red, nothing animates the conservative crowd down there more than their desire to unseat their Democratic U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, who is a perfectly reasonable, intelligent and moderate individual who deserves to be reelected.  Therefore, in tomorrow's primary, North Carolina's Republicans may choose from three degrees of unreasonable, stupid and immoderate candidates:

State Rep. Thom Tillis is the heavy favorite to win.  He's a dull, standard Republican with all the expected dull, standard Republican positions -- hates Obamacare, opposes social programs, loves tax cuts for rich people and big business, yada-yada-yada.  He's endorsed by Romney, Rove and all the real GOP power players.

Then there's Rev. Mark Harris.  He's sort of a one-trick-pony-for-Jesus, who wants to be the official state Baptist preacher as much as he wants to be a U.S. Senator.  Harris is a proponent of banning gay marriage.  That's his one big position.  He's endorsed by fellow preacher Mike Huckabee, and no one else.

Brannon

My favorite is the Tea Bagger Greg Brannon, an anti-abortion OB/GYN who's never held any elective office.  He's certifiably insane, but was neck-and-neck with Tillis not that long ago.  A brief Brannon sampler:

The 9/11 attacks were an inside job.
Public schools are Marxist and should be eliminated.
Fluoride in the water supply should be prohibited.
Food stamps and Obamacare are forms of slavery.
Brannon sponsored a rally for the League of the South, a secessionist group.
He believes in "nullification", the idea can states can ignore any federal laws which they dislike.
He called unapologetic racist Jesse Helms a "modern hero."
Has claimed that abortions cause breast cancer.
Wants to eliminate all federal armed forces and replace them with state militias "per the constitution."  (Can't wait to be protected by the Nebraska Navy!)
Has compared today's United States to Nazi Germany.
Calls himself a libertarian and says anything "public" is actually "collectivist" or "socialist" or "Marxist."

Brannon is endorsed by the NRA, which is not a surprise.  You can always count on the NRA to go for the batshit loon.  He's also endorsed by Sen. Rand Paul, which is surprising only in the possibility that such ill-advised support will come back to tear the ass out of Rand's presidential ambitions.

Much as I'd like to see Brannon get the nod in NC -- imagine the fun! -- it ain't gonna happen.  But I guess I just don't understand the Southern conservative mentality.  Where (and more importantly, why) do you find people like him?