N.C. Republican Party

Don't fence them out

markjohnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:03:05 -0500

The N.C. Republican Party's top legislative leaders asked party officials not to block independents from voting in the Republican primary.

Republican candidates have to form a coalition with independents to win races in the state, wrote Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger, of Eden, House Republican Leader Paul Stam, of Apex, and the party's Joint Caucus Leader, Sen. Eddie Goodall, of Charlotte. The trio dispatched a memo Thursday to their party's executive committee explaining that independent votes are critical to winning a majority in the legislature next year. The executive committee is expected to vote on a closed primary tomorrow.

The legislative leaders highlighted a recent Civitas Institute poll that showed unaffiliated voters favor Republicans in legislative races.

"All of us know at least one Conservative Republican – and probably many more – that have switched to Unaffiliated out of frustration with the national or state Republican Party," the three lawmakers wrote. "Are we sending these Conservatives the right message and encouraging them to return to the Republican Party by telling them they cannot participate in a Republican Primary and can only participate in the Democratic Primary?"

GOP less inclusive?

bniolet — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:48:13 -0500

The N.C. Republican Party's executive committee will consider banning unaffiliated voters from voting in Republican primaries.

The party has until Dec. 1 to decide whether to allow both Republicans and unaffiliated voters to participate in primaries and will consider a ban this weekend.

According to the proposed resolution, the participation of unaffiliated voters results in more moderate nominees.

"Primary turnout is generally low. Registered unaffiliated voters are affecting the outcome of the Republican Nominee for the November general election resulting in a more moderate candidate being elected in some areas of the state," according to the resolution.

The idea likely has little support among prominent state Republicans. Next year could be a big Republican year, in part because unaffiliated voters may be swinging away from the Democrats. Telling those voters they're not wanted isn't a great way to get things started.

Document(s):
GOP resolution.pdf

NCGOP brings in Hoffman, NY candidate

bniolet — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:39:59 -0500

The N.C. Republican Party is bringing in Doug Hoffman, the defeated conservative New York congressional candidate who helped spark a national debate about the party's future, to speak at a political fund raiser in Raleigh later this month.

State GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer said that Hoffman would be a good fit for Tar Heel Republicans, Rob Christensen reports.

"His candidacy in New York inspired conservatives across the country, and he will reach out to North Carolina conservatives to help us reclaim our government," Fetzer said in a statement.

Hoffman has been part of a national debate about what should be the party's stance toward moderates. The GOP leadership had nominated Dede Scozzafava for a U.S. House vacancy after President Barack Obama named Republican Congressman John McHugh as Army Secretary.

But her conservative credentials were criticized her because she favored abortion rights and same sex marriage. Hoffman, a local businessman, ran as a conservative party candidate, picking up the endorsement of such conservative luminaries as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and TV personality Glenn Beck.

Scozzafava ended up withdrawing from the race and throwing her support to Democrat Bill Owens who won a congressional seat that had been in Republican hands for 100 years.

The N.C. Republican Party has long been a conservative party associated with the late Jesse Helms, and Fetzer said he had personally supported the Hoffman candidacy.

Hoffman will speak at the party's Hall of Fame Dinner on November 21 at the North Raleigh Hilton.

Fetzer: corruption began in '77

bniolet — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:05:23 -0500

N.C. Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer says he believes the genesis for the current run of corruption in state government began in 1977, when the state changed the Constitution to allow governors to serve two consecutive terms.

That prompted the legislature to end its practice of limiting leaders leaders of both chambers to serving only one term, Rob Christensen reports. Powerful lawmakers could then hold onto power.

"I trace the end of good government back to 1976 when Jim Hunt changed the Constitution to succeed himself," Fetzer told News and Observer editors and reporters Wednesday. (Hunt was elected in 1976 but the Constitution was changed in 1977.) "I would personally advocate that we pass a constitutional amendment to get the governor back to one term."

Fetzer said he was saddened to see the campaign finance investigations surrounding former Democratic Gov. Mike Easley, noting that he often chatted with Easley while hitting balls on a public driving range off Yonkers Road on Sunday afternoons.

"On a personal level," Fetzer said, "I like Mike Easley. I think he has made some horrible mistakes. I think he and State of North Carolina are going to pay a price for those mistakes. I think that is sad."

An 'ic' tic

bniolet — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:00:20 -0400

There's was a noticeable verbal play at work when State Board of Elections member Bill Peaslee began his questioning of former N.C. Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Falmlen.

Peaslee, at right, is a former high ranking official within the N.C. Republican Party. And Peaslee repeatedly referred to Falmlen's party as the "Democrat Party," as in:

"Did the Democrat Party at any point arrange for travel for Gov. [Mike] Easley?" Peaslee asked.

"Not that I'm aware of. No sir," Falmlen answered.

Dropping the "ic" from "Democrat," of course is often meant as a little tweak. It serves as a reminder that the Board of Elections is a partisan body with three Democrats and two Republicans.

And to be fair, Bob Cordle, a Democrat pictured at right, has earned some attention this week for the tone of his questions. Columnist and Dome's distinguished colleague Rob Christensen noted that Cordle's questions have coddled witnesses all week.

Board Chairman Larry Leake, whom some Republicans had criticized for holding a fundraiser in 2000 for Easley, continued his persistent and professional questioning. The same could not be said for Bob Cordle, whose unfettered flattery of all Democratic witnesses, including Easley, is cringe-inducing.

Dome Memo: Karma and love

bniolet — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:36:03 -0400

BOOMERANG: As stunts go, the Republican Party's "Conservative Voter Survey" ranks right up there with some of Evel Knievel's work. A wheelbarrow full of surveys was meant to show how many people don't like Gov. Beverly Perdue, a Democrat. Over at Perdue's office, staff members sifted through the surveys and found plenty of irate voters upset with Republicans as well as a campaign contribution that was intended for the Republican Party.

I LOVE YOU, MAN: Republican Sen. Richard Burr's economic development summit in Durham will be remembered as a great moment in political reconciliation. Burr and the man he beat almost six years ago, UNC system President and Democrat Erskine Bowles, traded fawning, appreciative comments about each other. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination next year to challenge Burr will surely be seeing lots of Bowles' comments in TV ads.

PRO, CON: In Washington, Burr decried the stimulus package. In North Carolina, at a fire station that was getting a grant from stimulus funds, Burr celebrated it.

IN OTHER NEWS: Sen. Kay Hagan and U.S. Rep. Brad Miller are pushing for a coin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro civil rights sit-ins. Perdue says a 20-year old affair by the head of the highway patrol is irrelevant to his job qualifications. The Gallup Poll has found that John Edwards’ standing in the minds of Americans has dropped further than Sammy Sosa's image after the slugger was discovered corking his bat.

Dems best hope: NCGOP

bniolet — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:42:45 -0400

A political tip: If you're going to send something to the governor's office, you better know what's in it.

Like, say, a check.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger showed off a wheelbarrow full of "Conservative Voter Surveys" Tuesday that he said reflected lots of anger and frustration with Democrats.

As Dome previously noted, the survey questions were written to stir up anger and possible Republican campaign contributions. We're guessing Berger never imagined the governor's staff would bother to read them. He was wrong.

Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson, responding to a request from Dome, said she had skimmed about a third of the 3,000 or so surveys. She noted comments written to the Republican party included:

"I am embarrassed to be associated with this organization. Your tactics are disgusting and you're going to lose a generation of voters."

And then there was the check. A staff member found a $50 campaign contribution made out to Berger tucked in the surveys, which were, after all, a fundraising ploy.

That brings us to political tip number two: If you get a check, cash it.

Berger rolls a barrow full of opinions

bniolet — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:03:42 -0400

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger delivered a big ol mess of opinion surveys to the governor's office Tuesday.

The answers included on the "Conservative Voter Survey," sent to prospective Republican voters are likely the least surprising thing in state politics. Berger showed off the surveys in a wheelbarrow. Here's a sample of the questions.

Do you think death panels made up of government bureaucrats should decide if your loved ones live or die?

On Dome's sample, the respondent said "yes," so we're glad we're not kin.

Do you oppose Bev Perdue and the Democrats' plan to pass a job-killing $1.6 billion dollar [sic] tax increase in the middle of a recession?

Well, when you put it like that. Also, the tax increase was $1 billion for the coming fiscal year.

Update: Post adds context on the size of the tax increase.

Wright and wrong, continued

markjohnson — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:25:02 -0400

Curtis Wright is sending email about Tom Fetzer again.

Wright, a Wilmington talk radio host, fired off a heated email to Dome several days ago complaining about a story on the settlement of a lawsuit Fetzer, chairman of the N.C. Republican Party, filed against Wright and his employer, Sea Comm Inc.

The suit was over an email Wright sent to more than 90 Republican Party leaders last May, during the campaign for party chair, that included an anonymous letter alleging Fetzer is gay. Wright and Sea Comm settled the suit with an apology letter from Wright. Neither paid any money to Fetzer.

Fetzer jabs Hackney for speech's 'pothole'

bniolet — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:02:51 -0400

N.C. Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer couldn't resist poking fun at a gaffe House Speaker Joe Hackney made while trying to show he is knowledgable about issues related to Charlotte.

Hackney mistakenly referred to Charlotte's incomplete Interstate 485 as "495."

"Despite his selfless attention to Charlotte’s roads, Hackney struck an oratorical pothole when he didn’t know which road he was talking about, and had to be corrected by the audience," Fetzer said. "Speaker Hackney went to Charlotte to demonstrate his awareness of the Queen City’s needs and laid an egg. Let’s hope he didn’t take the wrong road home to Chapel Hill.

"The Speaker should know his roads. And not just the ones that curve sharply to the left,” Fetzer said.