The national and international press is taking note of the Republican sea change in North Carolina and its new governor, John Frank reports.
The latest clip comes from the Economist in a Feb. 16 piece titled "Farewell to Purple." The article details the North Carolina's credentials as a swing state, such as Mitt Romney's 92,004-vote victory in 2012 and President Barack Obama's 14,177-vote win four years earlier, and juxtaposes it against the current reality of completely Republican control of the lawmaking process.
The key, the article notes, is Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, a former non-ideologue mayor who has "recently been dipping his toes in more partisan waters." In conclusion, it highlights McCrory's recent controversial comments about higher education to make its point: "It seems that Mr McCrory, like his state, is turning right."
McCrory's remarks about teaching liberal arts education are also featured in New York magazine's Feb. 11 edition on the "Approval Matrix," a graphic that serves as the magazine's "oversimplified guide to who falls where on our taste hierarchies."
In the grid, McCrory ranks second most "despicable" for his higher education remarks about how the state shouldn't help pay for courses like gender studies. "The egghead-hating governor of North Carolina wants to stop "subsidizing" the liberal arts. Will UNC because a trade school?" it asks, next to McCrory's photo.
The only more despicable item in the graphic is Alex Rodriquez of the New York Yankees for his potential use of steroids.
Comments
still purple, i think
February 18, 2013 - 8:20am — awbealShouldn't we wait a bit to determine if NC has truly changed from purple to red? The Republicans have had 2 consecutive successful elections in this state, true. But 2006 and 2008 were 2 quite successful elections for the Democrats, and look how long that lasted. And it is not impossible (you could argue improbable) for the state to vote for Democrats for President in the future, and for Kay Hagan for re-election in 2014, while still favoring Republicans at the legislative level due to redistricting. Indeed, that's almost precisely what happened (with the parties reversed) up until 2008.
The national press also took note of Gov Easley and Gov Perdue
February 16, 2013 - 3:13pm — cooldelaEasley got some pretty good coverage when he pleaded guilty to a felony and Bev made the Drudge Report for suggesting the postponement of national elections.
McPuppet
February 16, 2013 - 11:30am — GunshyMcCrory is a puppet attached to a weathervane.
"It seems that Mr McCrory, like his state, is turning right."
February 16, 2013 - 8:52am — inandohDoesn't that seem logical? If the state goes right wouldn't a Governor want to be with the majority?