McCroryisms

Now, that’s positively Orwellian. And it’s the latest in a long string of eye-catching – and embarrassing – statements by Governor McCrory.
 
Two weeks ago, John Frank wrote in the N&O: “At least a dozen times in his first 10 months as governor, McCrory’s remarks have sparked controversies. McCrory is prone to misspeaking. He generalizes in a way that can insult key constituencies. And he mispronounces the names of even his closest aides.”
 
So now it’s a game to keep score on when the Governor, instead of “stepping on toes,” as he likes to say, is tripping over his own feet.
 
But wait, there’s more. McCrory also said, “If you survey most Democrats, they also agree with our laws and voter ID.”
 
That may have been true at one time. But no more. Democratic support is dropping as more and more Republicans tell the dirty little truth that McCrory won’t admit: There is no problem with voter fraud. This law is intended to keep Democrats from voting.
 
But we’re not done yet. McCrory also said controversy over the voter-suppression law is “much ado about nothing.”
 
“Nothing”?  Suppressing a citizen’s right to vote is “nothing”?
 
Three things here. One, the Governor’s staff needs to recognize that he’s prone to these stumbles when he’s doing national-media interviews. He gets careless, and he overreaches.
 
Two, these things can add up and do real damage to a politician’s image. You can develop a credibility gap like LBJ and Nixon. Or become a punch line like Sarah Palin.
 
Three, history’s judgment awaits. A thoughtful Governor might ask himself: Do I really want to be known as the Governor who tried to block African-Americans, young people, women and older people from voting?
 
Because he will be.
 
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Gary Pearce

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McCroryisms

Now, that’s positively Orwellian. And it’s the latest in a long string of eye-catching – and embarrassing – statements by Governor McCrory.
 
Two weeks ago, John Frank wrote in the N&O: “At least a dozen times in his first 10 months as governor, McCrory’s remarks have sparked controversies. McCrory is prone to misspeaking. He generalizes in a way that can insult key constituencies. And he mispronounces the names of even his closest aides.”
 
So now it’s a game to keep score on when the Governor, instead of “stepping on toes,” as he likes to say, is tripping over his own feet.
 
But wait, there’s more. McCrory also said, “If you survey most Democrats, they also agree with our laws and voter ID.”
 
That may have been true at one time. But no more. Democratic support is dropping as more and more Republicans tell the dirty little truth that McCrory won’t admit: There is no problem with voter fraud. This law is intended to keep Democrats from voting.
 
But we’re not done yet. McCrory also said controversy over the voter-suppression law is “much ado about nothing.”
 
“Nothing”?  Suppressing a citizen’s right to vote is “nothing”?
 
Three things here. One, the Governor’s staff needs to recognize that he’s prone to these stumbles when he’s doing national-media interviews. He gets careless, and he overreaches.
 
Two, these things can add up and do real damage to a politician’s image. You can develop a credibility gap like LBJ and Nixon. Or become a punch line like Sarah Palin.
 
Three, history’s judgment awaits. A thoughtful Governor might ask himself: Do I really want to be known as the Governor who tried to block African-Americans, young people, women and older people from voting?
 
Because he will be.
 
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Gary Pearce

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