Cooper joins the dark side
Published November 20, 2015
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Roy Cooper[/caption]
by John Wynne, Politics NC, November 19, 2015.
Roy Cooper is getting a lot of flack from progressives for largely taking the same stance as Governor McCrory on the refugee matter. Actually, flack is not a good word. More like anger, disappointment, fury. Cooper’s support for a “pause” on importing refugees is in complete opposition to what appears to be progressives’ view on the situation, which is that in the wake of the Paris attacks we shouldn’t hit “pause” but should instead hit the accelerator and bring in as many Syrian refugees as possible, as soon as possible.
Regardless of the morality or the soundness behind such a position, progressives should realize they’re in the minority on this issue. Before the Paris attacks, there was already some skepticism on accepting refugees. Now, the Overton window on this issue has shifted to the right. On the far-left are those who think we should continue the refugee program as if nothing happened (Obama). On the far-right are those who think it’s time we scrap the refugee program entirely and “take a look at” mosques (Trump).
You can disagree with their stances but right now McCrory and Cooper’s positions are probably in line with the median voter in North Carolina, and nationally. I don’t know where Cooper “really” stands – it could be that he’s a true progressive but has to take the position he’s taking for political reasons. Regardless, a pro-refugee position would put him to the left of Gov. Maggie Hassan, the Democratic governor who’s running for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire, and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York. For someone running statewide in North Carolina, not wanting a “pause” is not a tenable position.
He’s in a tough spot – the decision as to what position is best politically isn’t so tough, but it’s still a no-win situation for him. If he takes the “anti-refugee” position he arouses the wrath of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. But if he takes the liberal position, he risks alienating a huge segment of North Carolina voters before the campaign even begins while sending the McCrory campaign a gift. In the end, the Cooper people decided to go with Door #1 – better to anger the activist left than to have McCrory and co. depict him as the Social Justice Warrior from Nash, an Attorney General recklessly unconcerned for the safety of the state’s citizens.
With anger from activist liberals brewing, the Cooper campaign might be tempted to “clarify” their position in order to mollify the base. That would be precisely the wrong thing to do, playing right into the hands of Team McCrory and getting him stuck with labels of “flip-flopper.”
Cooper’s staked out his position. Now he has to stick to it and hope it fades as an issue. And while progressives might be angry, Cooper’s stance is in line with the views of the vast majority of North Carolinians. If progressives continue to be angry, they might guarantee McCrory’s reelection with their demands of ideological perfection from their candidate.
