newsobserver.com projects - Easley administration fires spokeswoman - Comments

Re: Easley administration fires spokeswoman

racpsyd — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:03:10 -0500

It is an out right lie that Hooker Odom opposed the mental health reform. She visited the state facility where I work and said how wonderful the "Blue Print for Change" was and shared her "visions" plans and that Moseley was the man to help achieve this benchmark. There are many other failures in the DHHS system that Hooker Odom and Moseley are directly related to.

It is shameful of the governor to fire a staff for telling the truth but there is the cover ups that are quite common in top administrative positions. Governor Easley should man up, accept what has happened and make it is priority to get our mental health system back on track.

Re: Easley administration fires spokeswoman

mickiep — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:18:11 -0500

Too bad Mr. Easley can't be dismissed as easily. The buck does not stop at Easley's desk....obviously he was asleep at the wheel while 4 million of taxpayer dollars were blowing in the wind. Bad leadership and bad government.

Re: Easley administration fires spokeswoman

FFC1304 — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:23:14 -0500

maybe she knows too much! yep, Id say thats pretty much it...

Will Sleazoid be the next democrackkk to fall into flames of corruption?

Re: Easley administration fires spokeswoman

Isaac136 — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:06:44 -0500

It does seem typical of this administration's essential lack of integrity.
Debbie Crane is well known and has been well respected in state government for many years through many administrations. Her service has been to the state rather than to personalities. This treatment is despicable.

Re: Easley administration fires spokeswoman

j1c2kp — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:50:39 -0500

Guess someone has to be the scapegoat for all the woes in the administration.

Easley administration fires spokeswoman

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:09:44 -0500

The Easley administration today fired Debbie Crane, the state official who handled News & Observer reporters' requests for information as they worked on a series about mental health.

Crane, 48, who was public affairs director at the state Department of Health and Human Services, said department secretary Dempsey Benton told her yesterday that Gov. Mike Easley "wanted me out. He had lost confidence in me."

She was officially fired this morning by another department official, she said, after Benton went to Easley's press conference about mental health issues.

Crane said her dismissal revolved around the Easley administration's attempts to get former DHHS secretary Carmen Hooker Odom to talk to The N&O about her supposed opposition to the 2001 mental health reforms. There is no evidence that Hooker Odom opposed the bill, although Easley told reporters late last year — and again today — that she had vigorously opposed the legislation.

Crane said Hooker Odom contacted her in early January about talking to The N&O. Crane said she e-mailed her that, "'These stories are going to be terrible. It's up to you. I wouldn't call them back.'"

"She's in a different role now," Crane said. "She's out of it."

More after the jump.