Talking About Politics

A Thing You Rarely See

Carter Wrenn — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:22:00 GMT

There’re a lot of clever politicians and smart politicians but there’re not many politicians with the courage to take a stand they know is unpopular.

The other day, baffled by the raft of tax reform plans floating around the State Legislature, I asked an economist to explain the virtues of ‘consumption taxes’ to me – and he did in a simple way even an economic illiterate like me can understand: He said, Income is good, investment is good, saving is good – so tax them less; spending (consumption) is not so good – so tax it more.

Senate Leader Phil Berger sees eye to eye with that economist and he means to reform North Carolina’s tax code to base it on ‘consumption taxes.’

Now, if you’re an average guy studying the tax code, it looks like an irrational muddle. But if you’re a politician studying that same tax code it doesn’t look so irrational at all – instead it looks like the labyrinthine result of legions of smart politicians, over years, carefully calculating which taxes they could raise without getting voted out of office.

For example, those politicians decided not to tax food because everybody eats. They decided not to tax prescription drugs because a lot of older people vote. The income tax code is ‘progressive’ because there’re fewer rich people than poor or middle class people. Farmers get the loopholes when they buy a tractor because rural politicians want to be friends with farmers.

The whole tax code, politically, is highly practical.

And that’s a problem Senator Berger ran into head-on. Because to cut taxes on income and savings, but to do it he had to raise taxes consumption. And to do that he had to close what my economist friend calls tax ‘loopholes.’

That’s logical. But it left Senator Berger facing a helluva fight. Because a senior citizen not paying sales taxes on his blood pressure medicine doesn’t see that as a ‘loophole.’ And neither do a whole welter of other groups who enjoy tax exemptions.

For instance, the Association of Realtors doesn’t see the home mortgage deduction as a loophole. And it doesn’t see switching to consumption taxes as a cure to the housing industry’s doldrums. So it’s running one ad saying folks will pay 25% in sales taxes (consumption taxes) when they buy a home and another ad with a young man saying, It’s wrong to take away my money for tax reform.

The Hospital Association doesn’t see exempting hospitals from paying sales taxes as a loophole either – so it’s weighed in, too, with an ad and website saying hospitals are fighting for their survival and closing their ‘loopholes’ is the worst kind of news for their patients.

And, of course, the Democrats don’t like Senator Berger’s plan – they let fly roaring his idea of tax reform is ‘regressive’ and will tax the rich less and the poor more.

So Senator Berger’s got a tiger by the tail. Before he’s done ‘closing loopholes’ there’s a fair chance he may be the most vilified elected official in North Carolina. But, anyway you look at it, you have to give Phil Berger credit: He’s no finger to the wind politician. People may be arguing for years whether he’s right or wrong – but, either way, you have to admit he’s got the rarest trait in politics: Courage.

BS on BCBS

Gary Pearce — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:32:00 GMT

A veteran business lobbyist takes aim at both The N&O and the legislature – and makes a noteworthy point about how government in Raleigh today works – or doesn’t:

“The N&O's story last week about Blue Cross Blue Shield's diminished influence at the General Assembly was badly reported, unfair to BCBS and confirmed that the newspaper's understanding of current politics is minimal.

“The reality is that the influence of nearly all the usual political heavyweights -- not just BCBS -- has waned. Two factors contribute to this phenomenon. First, there's the arrogant, know-it-all attitude of most of the new crop of legislators who believe they're on a mission and don't have to listen to anybody. They make policy choices based on instinct and their personal experiences. They also believe that getting facts from a lobbyist somehow compromises their independence. This is a dangerous mindset when dealing with complex issues that are beyond the comprehension of most legislators.

“Second, ethics laws have created a unfortunate structural separation between those with knowledge and those who desperately need to know. It's harder than ever for lobbyists to share information, and the result is a poorly informed legislature that's making bad choices that are not limited to the insurance industry.”

Whose Victory?

Gary Pearce — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:51:00 GMT

One word can say a lot. So it was with last week’s heated meeting between the Wake County commissioners and school board.

Joe Bryan, chairman of the commissioners, told the N&O: “You’ve got some lingering tension over the victory we had in the Senate yesterday.”

That “victory” was Senate passage of a bill taking control of building schools away from the Democratic-majority school board and giving it to the Republican-led commissioners.

First, Bryan was giving himself a lot of credit: “the victory we had.” Given the partisan lineup of the Senate, it wasn’t much of a contest.

Second, the comment betrays an underlying theme in this legislature. It’s not about good public policy. It’s not about good ideas. It’s not even about ideological consistency.

It’s about payback. Political revenge. It’s about: “We’re going to undo everything Democrats did, just because we can.”

Wake County voters will have a chance to ponder whether Republicans are putting their party’s interest above the public interest. What does Bryan’s quote tell them?

On Jones Street

Gary Pearce — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:17:00 GMT

A TAPster and long-time legislative lobbyist notes that, in politics, you must sometimes rise above principle:

“A pair of current debates in the General Assembly – when studied together – demonstrate that lofty political principles and high-minded ideals are quickly abandoned when they conflict with the reality of local politics.

“Tesla, the maker of electric autos, is tangled in a scrum to determine if it can sell its high-end vehicles directly to NC consumers rather than through dealerships. This fundamental free-market issue, which ought to resonate with free-market, less-government Republicans, is opposed by auto dealers, of course. Tesla’s plan to sell cars directly to consumers will make dealers irrelevant and obsolete.

“Who will win the fight? Local auto dealers, of course. They’ve played the political game at the local level for decades, collectively and individually contributing plenty of money (and perhaps a car or two) to legislators, who will happily allow government to continue to pick winners and losers in this business. Tesla probably has contributed nothing. End of game.

“Meanwhile, some legislators want to end the state’s renewable energy program because, in their view, the program injects government into the free market system and determines winners and losers in this industry. The free-market theory of this argument – and what looked like a legislative slam-dunk – is being confronted by a solar industry with enough employees and projects around the state that local legislators are spooked about pulling the plug. The renewable industry isn’t capable of making political contributions and its voice is largely unheard now that its Democrat champions are out of power, but local payrolls and investments trump free market theory every day.

“These choices make legislators look confused and disingenuous when they’re simply reacting to the oldest axiom in the business: all politics is local.”

Real Trouble

Gary Pearce — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:55:00 GMT

You can easily flick aside a Republican witch hunt on Benghazi. After all, they’ve been at it since Mitt Romney popped off the first day.

You can manage a controversy about the IRS targeting Tea Party groups – so long as, unlike Nixon, the White House wasn’t involved.

But your Justice Department subpoenaed AP reporters’ phone records? Now you’ve got a real problem.

Now you’ve made reporters and editors mad. Now they’ll plunge into an orgy of Nixon comparisons and “second-term jinx” stories. Now they’ll cover all the congressional investigations and hearings into all of the above.

This too, you can manage. But you may have to chop off some heads. And you must keep calm and carry on.

Monday, Monday

Gary Pearce — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:58:00 GMT

Americans have a fine tradition of demonstrating, protesting, sitting-in and getting arrested when their government does something they don’t like. And we always have a great debate about whether the tactics help or hurt.

Do they? Look at what we’ve seen over the years: suffragettes, civil rights, anti-Vietnam, gay rights. And the Tea Party, whose protests took a different form but were the same loud and visible outpouring of discontent.

In the end, their causes all won – or at least their protests presaged later success at the ballot box or in public policy.

So don’t dismiss the Moral Mondays that seem to be gathering steam in Raleigh.

No, they won’t affect the Republican majority. The protests may, instead, just spur the legislature on to even more draconian actions.

And, no, demonstrating and getting arrested may not suit everyone’s personal preferences. (“I just don’t look good in an orange jumpsuit,” said one sympathizer. Not every young person needs or wants an arrest on their record, no matter how well-intended.)

But the tactics get attention. Like front-page, evening news attention. They get people wondering what the fuss is about. They bring a tighter focus on what the legislature is doing.

Most of all, they tell us where the passion is in today’s politics. And passion often is a prelude to progress.

No Parking

Gary Pearce — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:28:00 GMT

When the Raleigh City Council abruptly and mysteriously fired City Manager Russell Allen, you knew there had to be some major urban policy matter involved. Yep: parking places.

Now, politicians will put up with a lot. You can attack them, smear them, call them names, criticize their ideas and vote against them. That’s all part of the game. But you’ve got a war on your hands if you mess with two things: their offices and their parking places.

According to the N&O story by Colin Campbell, frustrations had built up for months among some “councilors,” as they call themselves. (When I was a cub reporter back in the dark ages, we called them “councilmen” and “councilwomen.” I guess “councilors” sounds somewhat British, lofty even.)

The “councilors,” like all politicians, thought they could do the professionals’ jobs best – and the manager’s job best of all.

The final straw apparently came when Allen didn’t respond quickly and forcefully enough to Councilor Randall Stagner’s complaint about people parking in the Councilors’ Reserved Parking Spaces.

Clearly, this was an outrage. Allen should have dropped everything. He should have personally addressed the matter. Failing to do so, he was invited to find a parking place in another city.

We trust that the new manager will get the message. How can Raleigh hope to be a truly world-class city if citizens feel free to park in City Councilors’ parking spaces?

Tax Winner

Gary Pearce — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:33:00 GMT

The N&O headline said “Tax plan creates more losers than winners,” but the only real winners and losers from the Senate tax proposal will be Phil Berger and Thom Tillis.

As a wise Raleigh vet observed over breakfast, the plan won’t pass. Too many special interests gored, too many lobbyists working and too much campaign money in play.

So don’t worry about how you’ll do under the plan. (Generally, if you don’t need a tax cut, you’d get one. If you and your family could desperately use some relief, you’d pay more taxes.)

Mainly, the proposal gives Berger a chance to tell Republican primary voters, “I proposed the biggest tax cut in North Carolina history.” And maybe: “Thom Tillis stopped it.”

Don't Stop 'em!

Gary Pearce — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:48:00 GMT

A group of Democrats was decrying the blizzard of bad bills they see from the legislature: cutting education, attacking renewable energy, making it harder for teens to get health care, loosening gun restraints, on and on. They were talking about what could be done to slow down the storm or persuade Governor McCrory to exercise some judgment.

Then one gray-haired veteran threw up his hands in mock horror: “Don’t stop ‘em.” They looked at him like he was crazy. He said, “Seriously. Let them go wild. Don’t do anything to slow them down. In fact, do everything you can to make them go even farther.”

By now they were sure he was crazy. But he was thinking ahead, to next year’s elections:

“The worse it gets, the more good people will be inspired to run. The more good people will work for them and contribute to them. The more the voters will look a new direction. And the better we’ll do next year.”

He’s crazy like a fox.

Big Three Collision

Gary Pearce — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:51:00 GMT

This week’s headlines tell a tale of the priorities and problems of North Carolina’s top three Republicans.

Governor McCrory, like all new governors, is focused on getting his cronies into state jobs and frustrated that he can’t fire current state employees fast enough. (A TAPster noted that McCrory’s off-with-their-heads story came out on State Employee Appreciation Day. Nice timing, Guv!) Unfortunately for him, state employees are skilled at exacting their revenge on Governors.

McCrory’s big story this week – his drill-baby-drill visit to Texas – was overshadowed by Senator Berger’s tax reform package. That’s not the first time Berger has upstaged the Governor; the last time was on education reform. Coincidence? (No, there are no coincidences in politics.)

Predictably, the House and the Governor will be happy to let Berger walk out onto the tax limb, and eager to saw it off. Already, Berger had to back off his ambitious plan to abolish income taxes.

Tillis, for his part, was warning his Republican flock about overreaching just as they were overreaching on guns. One young TAPster noted: “Great. More guns at bars, college campuses and sporting events – the places where I spend 90 percent of my time.”

It took the Big Three less than four months to start stepping on each other’s toes. They obviously learned from the Democrats.

On Mark Sanford's Trail

Gary Pearce — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:37:00 GMT

The trouble with South Carolina, Robert E. Lee supposedly said, is that it’s too small to be an independent nation and too large to be an insane asylum. Which helps explain why Mark Sanford may win his congressional race tonight.

The other explanation is our politics today. We are so deeply and bitterly divided into our respective tribes that no amount of bizarre behavior will keep us from voting for our tribe’s candidate.

And we Democrats shouldn’t throw stones. We stuck by President Clinton after his less-than-exemplary behavior in the White House. (Good thing we did.)

Of course, Clinton didn’t approach Sanford’s level of sheer nuttiness (See: “Hiking the Appalachian Trail” and “Argentine Soul Mate”.) But, hey, we’re talking South Carolina here.

Duck, Ref

Gary Pearce — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:48:00 GMT

A TAPster notes that the House’s gun bill allows concealed weapons at sporting events, adding: “I wouldn’t want to be a ref.”

Anyone who has been at a game and witnessed the raw anger that can erupt gets the point.

How would you like to be the ref who makes an unpopular call against the home team, wondering whether one of the 50,000 crazed fans screaming at you is packing?

Good call, House.

This is another issue where it would be nice to know where Governor McCrory stands. He does have the veto power, remember.

Where Does Pat Stand?

Gary Pearce — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:21:00 GMT

Governor McCrory went to Texas to push for off-shore drilling, but where does he stand on deep-sixing renewable energy?

His old boss at Duke Energy opposes the bill. So do some legislative Republicans. But McCrory, the jobs and energy governor, is silent.

Does he agree with the argument made by Republican Rep. Mike Hager, who is pushing the bill to end the state’s renewables mandate. Hager told the N&O: “The idea is, what jobs expand the economy versus what jobs contract the economy.”

In other words, this free-enterprise Republican wants to decide which jobs he likes and which he doesn’t. At a time when many North Carolinians want any job.

What jobs does McCrory want?

A Surprise

Carter Wrenn — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:14:00 GMT

Who’d have thought it was possible – the Internet sweepstakes poker parlor folks have offered ‘to put $500 million’ in the state treasury – if the legislators will just see the light and let them stay in business.

Whoever heard of anybody volunteering to pay half a billion dollars in taxes? You have to wonder how much people in North Carolina are spending while sitting in Internet sweepstakes parlors? A billion? $2 billion? $5 billion?

The story started last year when legislators voted to close down the sweepstakes parlors and put ‘em out of business;---of course the sweepstakes parlor operators didn’t much like that so they sued and took their lawsuit all the way to the State Supreme Court. At the same time, in case their lawsuit didn’t work out, the parlor operators got a couple of friendly legislators to sponsor a new bill to let them stay open – and that’s when they dangled that $500 million carrot in front of legislators.

And that’s not the only carrot: The newspaper reported sweepstakes operators also contributed $520,000 to politicians. And, a sweepstakes parlor operator told the News and Observer how, since last year, they’ve been spending $40,000 a week to pay lawyers and lobbyists.

That’s eye opening too. The politicians received $520,000 in contributions – while the lawyers and lobbyists were paid $2 million. Four times as much. What does that say about the ‘market value’ of politicians as compared to lobbyists?

The whole thing’s such a tangle it’s bound to land some of our well-meaning, church going Baptist legislators in a quandary: Righteousness must be whispering it’s wisest to shut the sweepstakes parlors down but temptation must be whispering $500 million is a lot of money to say No to.

Voller's Folly

Gary Pearce — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:33:00 GMT

Chairman Randy Voller continues to embarrass himself and the North Carolina Democratic Party. Now it’s for saying Republicans are “raping” North Carolina.

After numerous Republicans committed political self-immolation last year by talking loosely about rape, you would think any man in politics would have the good sense to avoid the word. Not Voller.

Then he compounded the problem by seeming to deny he said it. Then he defended it, saying he used the word “contextually,” whatever the hell that means.

I already called on him to resign for not paying taxes, so I won’t repeat myself. Suffice it to say this isn’t helping the party when it needs a lot of help.

GOP Splits

Gary Pearce — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:25:00 GMT

Raleigh Republicans’ once-united front is fraying. There was Rep. Larry Pittman’s non-apology apology to Speaker Tillis (“I’m not sorry I said it; I’m sorry I got caught.”) One wit noted that it read like a hostage letter. Was he waterboarded?

Then there’s renewable energy. Some Republicans chafed at the pressure behind the bill to abolish the renewable-energy portfolio, especially those whose districts have jobs and investments at stake. There are also those who worry about the signals the legislature is sending to companies looking at North Carolina (“We’re in a race to the bottom with Mississippi” and “No contract is safe with us in town.”)

The party that once chided Democrats for heavy-handed rule now routinely gavel through bills regardless of how members voted, including their own.

The sinister force behind the renewables bill appears to be Americans For Prosperity, who are for jobs and growth except when they’re aren’t. When these guys hear “renewable energy,” they apparently see the face of President Obama (also known as “Satan”). Jobs, schmobs! Off with their heads!

This suggests AFP would support Senator Berger in a Senate primary against that increasingly squishy moderate Tillis.

Intra-party splits like this are part of the natural order of things. As you would expect, the House and Senate clearly hate each other. Just as clearly, Governor McCrory is eager to spend as much time as he can out of town doing what he does best: grinnin’ and shakin’ folks hands.

Twitter Oops

Gary Pearce — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Sharp-eyed readers no doubt note I goofed in “Foxx at the Wheel” (below): Mel Watt was named to head the Housing Finance Agency, which is not a Cabinet appointment.

Blame Twitter. I had seen a tweet about “Watt to Housing.” I misunderstood. It’s like what The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart said recently when a guest asked if he had read a certain book: “Well, no, but I did read a tweet about it.”

Speaking of Charlotte, one TAPster noted that Anthony Foxx’s selection is another sign of “the ascendency of Charlotte onto the national and statewide stage. Remember it wasn’t long ago when a Charlotte guy could not be elected statewide.”

Now Charlotte guys are Governor, House Speaker, DOT Secretary-designates and potential Mortgage Czar.

We can officially retire the mythical “Charlotte curse.”

Foxx at the Wheel

Gary Pearce — Thu, 02 May 2013 18:31:00 GMT

Liddy Dole rode DOT to a Senate seat from North Carolina and a presidential race. Where will it take Anthony Foxx?

Such is the power of a President: Obama elevated Foxx to the head of the political line in North Carolina. He is now a clear contender for Governor or Senate. He is the anti-Pat McCrory, a progressive Charlotte mayor in high office and in prime position to help his city and his state.

With Mel Watt, North Carolina will have two Cabinet seats. Pretty good for a state the President didn’t even carry. Obama obviously has his eye on North Carolina and the role it can play in national politics for years to come. Maybe he sees Foxx as a potential successor in the White House.

This is not meant to slight Watt, but his age and voting record may preclude him from statewide office. He’s also is in a good place to help North Carolina and those cities that Republicans love to hate.

Talk About Customer Service!

Gary Pearce — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:24:00 GMT

Is this what Governor McCrory means by government serving its customers? It’s certainly as blatant a statement of pay-to-play as has ever been made.

Sweepstakes operator William George of Rock Hill, S.C., who gave $4,000 to McCrory’s campaign, told AP: “We didn’t give them money because we liked them. We just knew they were powerful people up in Raleigh and they could get done what we wanted to get done. You give them your money and they’re supposed to do what they say they’re going to do.”

Now, here are some questions for the new Board of Elections to ask: Who are “they”? Lobbyists? Campaign officials? Elected officials? What did they say? To whom? On behalf of whom?

And, of course, what did the Governor know and when did he know it?

Law enforcement officials in North Carolina call video sweepstakes as one of the scummiest operations they have ever seen. The campaign contributions, according to George’s statement, were intended to “get done what we wanted to get done.”

First, the Governor and legislature should start by kicking these people firmly out of North Carolina. Then the board – and the SBI and the DA – should find out who promised what for the money.

This needs to be pursued just as hard and far as questions about Governor Perdue’s campaign flights.

One-Party Rule

Gary Pearce — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:33:00 GMT

Raleigh has never seen this kind of one-party control.

Hold on, you say – especially my Republican friends: Democrats had one-party control for over 100 years.

No, not like this.

For most of those years, the Democratic Party was two parties. Think Terry Sanford and I. Beverly Lake. Or Jim Hunt and Jimmy Green.

After 1972, when conservatives began moving to the Republican Party, Democrats were constrained by their own moderate sensibilities and by practical politics. Marc Basnight and Tony Rand squelched some liberal initiatives from their own caucus because they feared the ballot-box consequences. They caught hell for it sometimes. So did Governor Hunt.

That’s not the case today. Only in the most extreme cases – say, establishing a state religion – have Republican leaders squelched their extremes. (If that bill had gone to a vote, most Republicans probably would have voted for it.)

So, as Carter has noted (see “Worrying About Primaries” below), Republicans in the legislature aren’t worried about ballot-box retribution from moderates across the board, they are worried about retribution from the most far-right elements of their party.

That’s a bad way to run government. I wouldn’t trust things to the most extreme elements of my party. And, in fact, Democrats didn’t.

If Republicans don’t rein it in, their reign will be short-lived.

In All of America…

Carter Wrenn — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:10:00 GMT

Up in Washington, Senate Leader Harry Reid and House Leader John Boehner and a handful of politicians have been sequestered in secret meetings, trying to agree on a solution to one of Washington’s most burning problems: How to exempt Congressmen and their staffs from ObamaCare.

Then, to their surprise, word of the meetings leaked – landing on the front page of Politico – and in the next breath, facing an awkward question and needing a quick explanation, the politicians stumbled, sheepishly telling the press they were worried about putting their staffers under ObamaCare because it would lead to a ‘brain drain’ on Capitol Hill – and, of course, one wit immediately wrote the newspaper, How could that be? There hasn’t been a glimmer of a brain on Capitol Hill for years.

Next Politico treed Democratic House Leader, Steny Hoyer, asking where he stood on exempting Congress from ObamaCare – like a man weaving through a minefield Hoyer put out a carefully scripted statement saying he was studying “all the policies in the Affordable Care Act, to ensure they’re being implemented in a way that’s workable for everyone, including members and staff.”

After cornering the Democrat next Politico descended on John Boehner and Boehner’s spokesman, with equal care, announced, “If the Speaker has the opportunity to save anyone from ObamaCare, he will.”

What those two bits of carefully parsed political-ese meant – when translated into plain English – was simple enough: Both Hoyer and Boehner had said Yes.

So in all the great breadth and sweep of America, from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters, one sacred patch of ground may be untouched by ObamaCare – Capitol Hill.

Pay to Play, the Sequel

Gary Pearce — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:36:00 GMT

Within just a few days last week, the Perdue campaign-fund serial wrapped up, Sweepstakesgate ramped up and Governor McCrory cleaned house at the Board of Elections.

Grab a big bag of popcorn and settle in. This will take a while.

Especially since a majority of the previous board called for an investigation. And especially since AP reported that most of the $235,000 in contributions from Chase Burns “were delivered to candidates by Moore & Van Allen, a Charlotte law and lobbying firm where Gov. Pat McCrory worked until just days before he was sworn into office in January.”

Democrats will pursue this like bloodhounds. They’ll pressure the board, its staff, the media, the DA and watchdog groups to chase it just as hard as they did the Perdue matter.

Republicans will doubtless squawk that it’s overkill. But there is karma (and payback) in politics. And the new elections board can’t look like it’s applying a double standard.

Republicans will be in the campaign-finance crosshairs. Like Senator Berger on Page 1A of the N&O Sunday.

He said indignantly that he “would have walked out of the room” if anyone had tied a campaign contribution to a big corporate tax break. No need to walk, Senator. Nobody in the room needed to say anything. They all understood.

As someone said recently, the problem is that what looks slimy to the public passes as savvy in Raleigh.

What Would Jamie Do?

Gary Pearce — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:00:00 GMT

If you need comfort or inspiration, take an hour to watch the moving memorial service for Jamie Kirk Hahn. If you’re pressed for time, watch Nation Hahn’s remarkable eulogy (at 34:00) and Anthony Quillar’s powerful rendition of the Lord’s Prayer (1:04).

Looking at the oversized portrait in the sanctuary, you’re overwhelmed by the impact that beautiful, lively, smiling girl had on people. (Yes, I said “girl.” When you’re a parent, you can’t help but see a little girl.)

I commend the video to you regardless of your politics. Republicans, you may grit your teeth once or twice; just substitute your own beliefs. For all of us who care about politics and public service, it’s a testament to the difference one person can make – and why we’re in it.

Democrats, take heart from it. That church was filled with many, many young people just as dedicated and just as idealistic as Jamie. There are thousands more across the state. They are an army waiting to be mobilized, and they have an arsenal of mobile weapons with which to mobilize.

They instantly organized an online fundraising drive to pay medical expenses. They’re selling“JamieNation” and “RaleighNation” t-shirts. There is no limit to what they can do.

Nation gave us this advice from Jamie:

1. Be kind to others. Lift other people up.

2. Be a helper. That is true power.

3. Work at it. Because it’s hard work. Stick to it.

Jamie brought a lot of people together. She’s still doing it. And she’ll be doing it for a long time.

Worrying About Primaries

Carter Wrenn — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:29:00 GMT

A legislator looked at a bill, winched, looked at another legislator and said, ‘Well, if I don’t vote for it I guess I’ll land in a primary.’

‘You think,’ the second legislator said, ‘that Republicans in your district are for people carrying guns in bars?’ The bill allowed people carry guns in bars, restaurants and on college campuses (as long as the gun is in a locked box).

‘Looking at the emails I’m getting,’ the first legislator said, ‘I’d say they do.’

‘How many emails are you talking about?’

‘Over a hundred.’

‘And how many Republican voters are in your district?’

‘About 20,000.’

‘So, because you got a hundred emails, you think you’re hearing the voice of 20,000 Republicans saying they support people carrying pistols in bars?’

The first legislator bristled. ‘You think that’s wrong?’

‘I think if you want to know what voters think you should take a poll.’

The first legislator, his mind made up, scratched his head. ‘You ever try that?’

‘Yep.’

‘What did it show?’

‘It said Republican voters have more common sense than legislators give them credit for.’

Jamie Kirk Hahn

Gary Pearce — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:51:00 GMT

Absolute good met absolute evil in a quiet Raleigh home Monday evening. Early Wednesday morning, Jamie Hahn lost her fight to live.

Her husband Nation and her family are devastated. But, as always happens at times like this, the best in people comes out. All day Tuesday, friends streamed into WakeMed to do what they could, say what they could and simply be with her family and with each other.

Mid-afternoon, their friends decided there should be a prayer vigil. Less than four hours later, hundreds of people jammed into Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. We lit candles for her. Nation spoke. We hugged, and we wept.

Together, Jamie and Nation had a unique quality that people responded to. They liked people. Their home was a familiar gathering place. People had fun.

Jamie liked politics, and she was good at it. She exemplified all that is good in politics. Nation is familiar to readers of this blog. He has been a guest blogger and will again, I trust.

Yesterday, the Wake County Republican Party posted a tribute to them both. That was a class act.

This is one of those times when what unites us as people is so much bigger than what divides us in politics.