Inspiration and poison

Submitted by bkrueger on August 27, 2009 - 1:05pm.
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Gary Pearce says Ted Kennedy was "both an inspiration and political poison to North Carolina Democrats."

Pearce, writing on his Talking About Politics blog, says Democrats loved Kennedy for the way he unabashedly fought for causes such as civil rights, education and health care.

"But we couldn't afford to be seen in public with him," writes Pearce, a veteran Democratic strategist. "As he became more liberal than his brothers ever were, he became toxic in North Carolina."

Pearce describes the 1980 Democratic National Convention, when Gov. Jim Hunt was supporting Jimmy Carter against a challenge by Kennedy. Pearce said they fought the Kennedy camp all week.

"But the last night of convention Kennedy gave the greatest political speech I've ever heard," Pearce wrote.

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Re: Inspiration and poison

Submitted by WilmingtonDemocrat on August 28, 2009 - 12:46pm.

Pearce - Carville

that was 17 years ago - old school - before the internet - there been 2 presidents and 2 governors elected since then

why don't we listen to Les Robinson tell us about college basketball

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Re: Inspiration and poison

Submitted by jlpe1969 on August 28, 2009 - 12:09pm.

If you've never heard of Gary Pearce, then you can't be that involved with NC Dems. Pearce has been around for decades. He has been involved with nearly every major political campaign in the state and many national campaigns--many within the past 5 years. If you watch the documentary on the Clinton campaign you can hear James Carville speaking to Pearce about trying to ensure Clinton would win NC. He is the go-to guy for politics.

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Re: Inspiration and poison

Submitted by captsfufp on August 28, 2009 - 12:14am.

Maybe I'm not "Raleigh" enough, but why does UtD keep quoting this gentleman? As someone very involved in the NC Democratic Party...I've never even heard of this gent.

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Re: Inspiration and poison

Submitted by WilmingtonDemocrat on August 27, 2009 - 4:12pm.

Can't we hear from someone who has been in a political race this decade?

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