Mad Men
Published August 7, 2013
by Gary Pearce, Talking About Politics, August 1, 2013.
“You have a Republican majority that is doing exactly what they were elected to do.” -
Claude Pope, state GOP chairman
“They really messed up when they screwed with the mothers, the teachers and the women.” - Shannon Shanks, Wilmington teacher
Well, in 2014 and 2016 we’ll find out who’s right.
Republicans may find that their biggest problem isn't just what they did, but how they did it. It was mean, angry and vengeful.
They fit right in with the face of the Republican Party nationally. In Washington, they are mean, angry obstructionists. In Raleigh, a mean, angry wrecking crew. Angry old white men lashing out at mothers, teachers and women, not to mention minorities, young people, older people, rural people, city people, gay people, sick people, not-rich people, you name it.
Republicans drew districts and passed a voter-suppression law to keep those people in their place. But Americans have this way of rising up when they’re told to sit down and shut up.
Even Republicans here worry about the overreach. They stay silent because they want to taste the fruits of victory.
But the way they’re going, the may be out of power for another 100 years.
August 7, 2013 at 8:46 am
Richard Bunce says:
A century of Democratic majorities in the legislature and a government education system where more than half of it's students cannot read at grade level is acceptable however as the government education industrial complex was getting paid.
August 7, 2013 at 9:21 am
Edward Abby Hoffman says:
Hear, hear.
August 7, 2013 at 10:19 am
Vicky Hutter says:
Gary who? From reading this I would think he is a Black activist or community or labor organizer---certainly a Democrat, not an unbiased observer of politics.
August 7, 2013 at 10:54 am
Richard Bunce says:
I think the phrase you are looking for is political hack. Angling for State funding for himself if he helps get the Democratic party back in the majority.
August 7, 2013 at 10:42 am
Tom Hauck says:
Thank you for your column but you are continuing a myth about the Republican redistricting.
Just to be fair, here are some facts about the 13 US Congressional Districts:
In 2010, under Democrat redistricting, there were six Republicans and seven Democrats elected. There were nine Districts with more Democrats than Republicans registered and seven of the Districts with registered Democrats having more than a 20 points advantage over registered Republicans. Republicans only had the majority of registered voters in four Districts.
In 2012, under Republican redistricting, there were nine Republicans and four Democrats elected. Democrats still had more registered voters than Republicans in ten of the Districts but there were only three Districts (instead of seven) with Democrats having a 20 points advantage over Republicans in registered voters.
In 2012 the Republican and the Unaffiliated voters clearly wanted a change in their elected Representatives.
August 7, 2013 at 7:10 pm
dj anderson says:
"Angry old white men lashing out..." -- blog
Gary, look in the morrow before lashing out.
