CNBC

Richard Moore goes down swinging

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:23:44 -0500

Richard Moore is not going gentle into that good political night.

Despite losing the Democratic gubernatorial primary and facing the end of two terms as state treasurer, Moore has taken a number of bold steps lately:

LENDING PAY DAY: During an appearance on CNBC in September, Moore offered to lend money to the Federal Reserve from the state's pension fund to help banks.

WATCH OVER WACHOVIA: In November, Moore backed a shareholder lawsuit protesting Wachovia's agreement to be bought by Wells Fargo and said he'd vote against it.

FREDDIE MAC LAWSUIT: Moore butted heads with Attorney General Roy Cooper over which agency should lead a lawsuit against mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

The Associated Press' Mike Baker writes today that the Moore-Cooper quarrel could "foreshadow a coming Democratic primary" to challenge Republican Sen. Richard Burr.

After a painful defeat to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue in May, some speculated that Moore might leave politics behind, but it was not his first setback.

Moore came back from an unsuccessful Congressional race in 1994 to run again.

Fed can borrow from us, Moore says

DavidIngram — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:45:20 -0400

Richard Moore says the Federal Reserve is welcome to borrow from North Carolina.

In an appearance on CNBC, the Democratic state treasurer said Wednesday that the state's public pension fund would be willing to lend money — at the right price — to try to boost liquidity in the banking industry.

"I'd like to think that Hank Paulson has been as creative as possible. I've got a solution for you this morning, Becky," Moore told the channel's Becky Quick.

If the Congress is not willing to loan this money, if the Fed will give me a guaranteed rate of return — 7, 8 percent — I'll loan them the money, and I think there are a lot of pension plans across the country that would loan money to the federal government at that kind of rate. And I'll give him the fire power he needs to settle this out.

Moore described the heart of the problem as banks being unwilling to loan to each other.

"We really do have a real problem if banks can't trust each other, particularly with short-term trading, so we do need a solution to this and we need it quickly," he said. "But boy, that's easier said than done in our society, isn't it?"

Moore spokeswoman Sara Lang told Dome Thursday that the idea of lending to the Federal Reserve is still only a hypothetical.

Buffett says donors should sue Edwards

bniolet — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0400

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says campaign donors could sue John Edwards.

Buffett, an Barack Obama supporter, speaking to CNBC anchor Becky Quick on Friday said that Edwards was misleading donors by assuring them there was no truth to a tabloid report that he had an affair. Edwards has acknowledged having an affair with campaign videographer Rielle Hunter.

He has a responsibility to the donors who sent in small amounts, Buffett said.

They sent it in while they were being misled by the person who was soliciting the money from them. You know, I think if I were Edwards, I might give up a haircut or two and refund at least, you know the people that gave the $50 or $100, $200 dollar items because if they had known the facts, they wouldn't have sent him the money and he was the guy that didn't give them the facts. I mean he knew that in effect he would not be elected president.

Buffett goes on to say that a class action lawsuit by donors might have a chance of success, although he's heard no rumblings of such a lawsuit.

"I've seen a lot of class action suits with less to it than this particular case," Buffett said. "The facts are clear. He solicited money and he wasn't telling the truth to people he was soliciting it from."

Hat Tip: American Thinker

Buffett talks about Edwards donations

bniolet — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:59:59 -0400

Moore: See and be seen?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:31:05 -0400

Richard Moore should count CNBC as an in-kind contributor.

The state treasurer and Democratic gubernatorial candidate has been a frequent guest on the financial news network in the last few years.

The most recent spot was on a "Power Lunch" tour of Charlotte Friday, where he was identified as a "shareholders' crusader."

"You've seen him on CNBC before, of course," said co-host Sue Herera.

That's an understatement.

Moore served as guest host of the network's "Squawk Box" show on Nov. 24, 2003; June 17, 2005; and March 20, 2006.

And CNBC once sent a satellite truck to Roanoke Rapids, where Moore was attending a Democratic oyster roast, so that he could be interviewed about a dispute with Walt Disney Co.'s board.

Monday quick hits

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:01:47 -0400

* N.C. Association of Educators president and superintendent candidate Eddie Davis suggests adding Sen. Jeanne Lucas' name to the Vance-Aycock Dinner. (AC-T)

* State Treasurer Richard Moore, already a frequent guest on CNBC, is among those for the "Power Lunch" show's tour of Charlotte. (Char-O)

* Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr cross paths while touting their gubernatorial campaigns in Burke County. (Morganton News-Herald)

* U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry defends Blackwater security contractors during Congressional hearings, noting that no visiting lawmakers have been hurt. (Char-O)

Moore on Countrywide

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:53:39 -0400

Richard Moore criticized Countrywide Financial on CNBC today.

The state treasurer, who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor, appeared on "Squawk Box" with Becky Quick this morning.

He argued that Countrywide, a mortgage lender, loaned too much of its money, especially in hot real estate markets. The company has been in serious financial trouble lately because of defaulted mortgages in the subprime market.

"There's a reason that you don't loan 100 percent," he said. "Because history has told us it will go through a cycle where they can't repay."

He said North Carolina's retirement system owns about $12 million worth of shares in Countrywide — a relatively small amount of its overall $75 billion holdings. But he said he would use the state's authority as a shareholder to push for management changes.

He also criticized ratings agencies for not having more of an "arm's length" relationship with lenders.

"They're supposed to act as a safeguard, an independent referee if you will in the marketplace," he said.