Meeting with NAACP chief invites hope
Published February 16, 2015
[caption id="attachment_6346" align="alignleft" width="117"]
Rev. William Barber[/caption]
Editorial by Fayetteville Observer, February 15, 2015.
State Speaker of the House Tim Moore, a Kings Mountain Republican, met Wednesday with the Rev. William Barber. Rep. David Lewis, a Dunn Republican, also attended.
There's little remarkable about legislators sitting down with the pastor of a Goldsboro Disciples of Christ congregation.
Barber isn't just any clergyman. He's been called the most important progressive leader in North Carolina in more than a century. Barber, head of the state's NAACP chapter since 2006, launched the Moral Mondays protests to combat perceived injustices in 2013.
Even as the newly ascendant GOP sought to reshape state government to its liking, Barber's movement offered a counterweight, pointing an accusatory finger at Republican policies.
Until now, GOP leaders were unwilling to meet with Barber. He says the change comes because his movement became too large to ignore. That could be, but the new atmosphere of dialogue offers hope.
Both sides said the meeting was positive. Lewis suggests they can seek compromises to bring them closer together. That would also be a big step forward.
Regardless, the people are better served when our leaders engage their critics in constructive conversation.
February 16, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Norm Kelly says:
To quote the unqualified community organizer occupier 'elections have consequences'. This time libs lost. Not just in NC, but across the country, libs lost.
'the new atmosphere of dialogue offers hope'. Hope of what? Republicans won. Republicans get to make the rules now. Why would Republicans compromise with an extreme liberal? What part of 'compromise' is the Rev willing to do? So far, his attitude has been that it MUST be his way. This is not what's called compromise. At least not outside lib circles. Cuz inside lib circles, and in media outlets such as the N&D, compromise ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS consists of Republicans agreeing with libs. Libs only compromise consists of how long it takes for their schemes to be implemented, but they always push their schemes forward. Timing is not the issue. It's the schemes that are the issue. And as for Barber's concerns about racism, they can all be proven lies/false/ridiculous quite easily. When he whines about voter ID, ask him where he was when the Demon party insisted that those who went to their convention were required to have picture ID to get in. Would he consider that racist? If not, then ask why not. Also, when the demon party insisted that everyone needs to show a picture ID to pick up a prescription at the drug store, ask the Rev if he considers that racist. If not, what's the diff in his mixed up, lib mind?
'the most important progressive leader'. And therein lies the problem with the Rev. He's a progressive. He's not a compromiser. He's a progressive. Everything that spews forth from his lib mouth supports, endorses, reinforces, promotes the progressive, liberal, socialist agenda. And also happens to promote the racist agenda.
Besides getting some 'credit' from media types, what else is in the interest of the Republican party for this meeting? What is in it for the majority of voters who decided the socialist agenda was the wrong direction for the state? What's in it for the masses, who could benefit quite nicely from fiscal restraint? What's in it for businesses that are always hurt by socialist policies? Outside of liberal extremists, the Rev himself, racists, and various other lib support groups/dependency groups, who else is this good for? How has progressivism, which is just socialism with a 'nicer' name, helped the average citizen? How does progressivism help the masses? How does socialism help business?
Trying to court black voters may have merit. Trying to 'compromise' with someone who is unwilling to compromise is a waste of time.
