Adams' response

The head of the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus Foundation said a recent controversy over its scholarship program may be due to "racial targeting in Raleigh."

In a letter to The News & Observer received this week, Rep. Alma Adams questioned why campaign finance reformer Joe Sinsheimer, "a white Democrat," is "viciously" attacking "black Democrat legislators" by filing complaints with the State Board of Elections against Reps. Mary McAllister of Fayetteville and Thomas Wright of Wilmington and criticizing the foundation.

"His scrutiny appears racially directed," the Greensboro Democrat wrote.

Sinsheimer ran a Web site dedicated to exposing wrongdoing by former House Speaker Jim Black, who is white. He noted that he has also been outspoken in his criticism about Democratic Reps. Jim Harrell and Nelson Cole and state Utilities Commissioner Bill Culpepper, all of whom are white.

"Good government needs to be colorblind," he told Dome. "If I find people that I believe have violated the law, I'm going to continue to file complaints whether they are white legislators or African-American legislators."