The Surprising Congressman Jones

2009-09-18 - byGary Pearce
Walter Jones Jr. always surprises me.
 
I first met him in 1977, when he was Governor Hunt’s “eastern North Carolina representative.” It was understood that he was hired as a favor to his father, Congressman Walter Jones, and that young Walter was preparing to take his father’s seat eventually.
 
That was no surprise.
 
Then he got elected to the North Carolina House. He became a champion of ethics and open government. A pleasant surprise.
 
Then he was one of the Democrats who ousted Liston Ramsey and elected Joe Mavretic Speaker.
 
A disappointing surprise.
 
Then he lost a Democratic primary for Congress, mainly because the district had become heavily black. No surprise.
 
Then he became a Republican. And endorsed Jim Gardner over Hunt in 1992.
 
Another disappointing surprise.
 
Then he unseated Congressman Martin Lancaster in the 1994 Republican tide.
 
Another disappointing surprise.
 
Then he became a critic of the Iraq war – and some other Bush policies.
 
A pleasant surprise.
 
This week he was one of only seven Republicans who voted to rebuke Crazy Joe Wilson.
 
A very pleasant surprise.
 
Is it expediency or conscience? That depends on which way he surprises you, I suppose.
 
But I’ve talked to Walter several times in recent years. I believe there is a core of conscience that guides him.
 
Talking once about his switch to the GOP and his conversion to the Catholic Church, he made a great observation:  “I switched my church and my party, and I’m a lot happier with my church.” 
 
No surprise there.
Posted in ,
Avatar photo

Gary Pearce

Search

Categories

Archives

Recent Posts

The Surprising Congressman Jones

2009-09-18/Gary Pearce
Walter Jones Jr. always surprises me.
 
I first met him in 1977, when he was Governor Hunt’s “eastern North Carolina representative.” It was understood that he was hired as a favor to his father, Congressman Walter Jones, and that young Walter was preparing to take his father’s seat eventually.
 
That was no surprise.
 
Then he got elected to the North Carolina House. He became a champion of ethics and open government. A pleasant surprise.
 
Then he was one of the Democrats who ousted Liston Ramsey and elected Joe Mavretic Speaker.
 
A disappointing surprise.
 
Then he lost a Democratic primary for Congress, mainly because the district had become heavily black. No surprise.
 
Then he became a Republican. And endorsed Jim Gardner over Hunt in 1992.
 
Another disappointing surprise.
 
Then he unseated Congressman Martin Lancaster in the 1994 Republican tide.
 
Another disappointing surprise.
 
Then he became a critic of the Iraq war – and some other Bush policies.
 
A pleasant surprise.
 
This week he was one of only seven Republicans who voted to rebuke Crazy Joe Wilson.
 
A very pleasant surprise.
 
Is it expediency or conscience? That depends on which way he surprises you, I suppose.
 
But I’ve talked to Walter several times in recent years. I believe there is a core of conscience that guides him.
 
Talking once about his switch to the GOP and his conversion to the Catholic Church, he made a great observation:  “I switched my church and my party, and I’m a lot happier with my church.” 
 
No surprise there.
Posted in ,
Avatar photo

Gary Pearce

Search

Categories

Archives