Raleigh, N.C. — Liberal Democrats are attacking Rep. Jim Crawford, D-Granville, who was a member of the "gang of five" conservative democrats who helped pass last year's budget over Gov. Bev Perdue's objections.

Crawford is in a primary against fellow Democratic incumbent Rep. Winkie Wilkins of Person County. The two were drawn into the same district when legislative lines were redrawn. 

In addition to his work on the budget, liberal dems are hitting Crawford for his support of the constitutional amendment on the May 8 ballot that would add a definition of marriage to the state constitution. To that end, Progress NC has been shopping the following video from a candidates forum this month. 

In the video, a lesbian woman takes Crawford to task over his support for the amendment.

"(T)hat hateful piece of discriminatory legislation that would be put in our constitution of this state was introduced by Jim Crawford and I'll never forgive you for that, because you slapped me and every gay person in this state when you did that," she said.

Crawford responded by acknowledging he had submitted amendment drafts but he did not favor the version that's on the ballot. 

"I will definitely vote against it because I think it goes to far," Crawford said.

A couple things worth pointing out here:

• Crawford was one of 10 Democrats to vote on the House floor in favor of the measure that put the amendment on the May 8 ballot.  
   
• Crawford was last a primary sponsor of an amendment bill in 2009. The language in that bill was much the same as the measure on the May 8 ballot. It read, "Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state." Crawford was a co-sponsor of a  2010 measure.
   
• Wilkins voted against putting the amendment on the May 8 ballot.