Easley got a mulligan on dues

The leaders of an exclusive golf club waived monthly membership dues for former Gov. Mike Easley while he was in office, granting the Democratic governor a $50,000 benefit over eight years that he did not disclose.

Members at the private Old Chatham Golf Club near Research Triangle Park include many prominent business and political figures, some of whom Easley appointed to high-level positions during his two terms as governor.

The club's president confirmed in an interview that Easley's dues were waived.

The Old Chatham deal adds to questions about benefits the former governor accepted while in office. State and federal authorities have been investigating reports related to Easley and free flights, his family's use of cars and the purchase of a coastal lot at a favorable price, as well as records that show the governor was involved in the creation of a job for his wife at N.C. State University. (N&O)

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Re: Easley got a mulligan on dues

Submitted by BitterEXdemocrat on August 17, 2009 - 12:09pm.

if Frank Daniels still ran this rag, this information would have never been allowed in print! lol...

STRIVE to be SMARTER than a VILE CORRUPT NC Democrackkk! Right Frank? yep

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Re: Easley got a mulligan on dues

Submitted by WilmingtonDemocrat on August 17, 2009 - 9:26am.

Clearly a legal violation of the gift rules for an elected official in North Carolina. Whoever holds fidicuary responsibility at Old Chatham and the Governor need to be held responsible.

When will elected officials and College Presidents learn. If you choose to be a public servant and be paid a generous salary by the taxpayers, you should not do things like accept free dues at exclusive country clubs or rides on private planes for you and your kids to the ACC tournament.

N and O - get to work - whoever was responsible at Old Chatham for offering $50,000 in gifts to Gov. Easley broke the law and should be held responsible. I would not be suprised to learn tha it was probably some of the same folks he put on Boards and Commissions, State jobs etc.

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Re: Easley got a mulligan on dues

Submitted by Brice_Trent on August 17, 2009 - 8:56am.

She carries a three handicap.

And you should see her work a wood lathe. Mike taught her during one of the five meetings they had in his eight year tenure.

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Easley = Perdue

Submitted by concerned53 on August 17, 2009 - 8:18am.

Free flights, the family's use of cars, not correctly filling out ethics forms, etc. Mike, these are terrible things for a politician to do while in office. OOPS! These are some illegal and/or questionable activities that our current governor, Beverly Perdue has admitted to after the fact (as if she didn't know they were wrong when she was Lt Gov). Yet the press is letting her get off with not even a slap on the wrist.

Beverly, do you play golf?

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Re: Easley got a mulligan on dues

Submitted by night_hunter on August 17, 2009 - 7:32am.

My Gosh- the way the news media carries on you'd think he was a Republican!

Why stop with Easley? Lets go back to ALL past governors in the last 50 years and determine if they got "benefits" from being governor or helped their friends and family in getting jobs!

If there isn't any news worth reporting, you'll create some - right?!

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Re: Playing golf with the guv.

Submitted by domewatcher on August 17, 2009 - 6:51am.

I do not see anything wrong with the club giving the guv a break!

Do you people really think that the guv should play golf with the common folk? This is a security issue problem and the golf course people were doing the people of North Carolina a favor. We can’t have the guv playing on a public course were he would come into contact with the commoners. Can you imagine the guv playing golf on a course with a bunch of beer swilling rednecks and other tank-top wearers? Many of those public golf course types use knockoff clubs, dip snuff and carry the swine flu virus!

No harm, no foul. The state gets a free membership and the golf course owners get some good cocktail party conversation material: “You know, I played golf with Mike today. You know…..Mike Easley……he’s the Governor. We’re real close, Mike and I. I was telling Mike what a grand job he was doing as the Governor. Best Governor we ever had! And I’m helping Mike with his swing. Mike just does not turn…..swings from the shoulders. And Mike burns easily. Mike has real fair skin. Mike doesn’t get out enough. All that sunscreen makes Mike's grip slick. Can’t hit a good shot if you don’t have a good grip. But I let Mike beat me anyway. It’s not proper protocol to beat the Governor. But Mike and I had a grand time out there on the links. Mike and I are best pals now. Bestest buddies in the whole wide world! It was probably the best day of my life......playing with the Governor.....playing with my newest best friend.....Mike.....”

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