Republicans: Wright should step down

Grammar mistake fixed.

— RTB 

You are confused, and I'm genuinely sorry if the fault is my the words I used. I don't mean to be verbose. The writers who contribute to this exceptional and important blog only make an economy of words look easy. If I had more time, I would need less words.

But it remains a simple statement of fact anyway.

(Surely you wouldn't suggest I "back track" from something I have never said?)

Yes, I am a citizen of North Carolina, but professionally, purposefully disinterested - and I can't even tell you in anything other than generalities what the criminal charges are against Representative Wright.

I understand this might be difficult to believe, but it is the same with most of the professional and full-time staff at the General Assembly. Obviously, there are exceptions, but, as best I can, I actually try not to be one of them.

The facts are these. Whether a citizen of not, my opinion is irrelevant. Only those elected Members of the House have an opinion that has any teeth in this matter. And before that, in 2006 and every two years earlier, my opinion was equally outweighed by the majority of people who actually voted in the District represented in the House by Thomas Wright.

And it is a simple fact also that Thomas Wright, should he choose to resign, would put to rest the question of his "eligibility," and end any possibility of there being action of any kind that might result in his carrying the burden of being the only Member of the House expelled in more than a century.

And even this was not certain until the Governor agreed with Speaker Hackney's request to call this Second Extra Session, yesterday.

I have no more responsibility professionally than a White House Press Secretary, who even when strongly of an opinion opposed to that of the president is paid to defend his or her position. I was not hired to represent myself, but I was hired to do my best to represent those who are elected by the People to represent them in the North Carolina House.

As a citizen, I am entitled to my own opinion, but as the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) once said, this does not mean I'm "entitled to my own facts."

People in California had opinions about Jesse Helms, but not an opinion that counted when Election Day came around. People in North Carolina had opinions about Alan Cranston, at the time also, but his election was unaffected by anything other than the votes of people in California.

As a citizen, voting here in North Carolina involves enough troubles of its own. Is this enough for anyone?

This past weekend, on a remote highway, I blew a head gasket on my truck. I have bills to pay, and I do have plenty of opinions, but not on this. That's because the fate of the case of Thomas Wright and his differences with the State will be decided by a jury, and on one question, the House, unless he exercises an option to settle this latter question by his own action.

Is that still difficult to understand?

All this could be made instantly "moot" saving taxpayers $50,000 or so for the one day Extra Session by one simple action by one individual Member that would make the whole matter disappear until trial in a Wake County courtroom.
The resignation of Thomas Wright alone can prevent the first purge of any Member of the N.C. House in more than a century.

I am confused. From this quote you are saying that to save the taxpayer's 50k plus he needs to resign. If you are a citizen of North Carolina you are indeed in a position to ask him to resign. Quit trying to back track.

With respect, as always, Ryan, strictly speaking, I am not among "Some Republicans says (sic) Rep. Thomas Wright should step down."

I appreciate that you never, at any time, actually wrote that, but I wanted to make it clear from the context, where my statement is quoted, I am not in any position, especially as an employee of the General Assembly, to call for any Member of House to resign.

My name is neither anywhere on any ballot nor any Roll Call and, as the Governor has written, House Members alone have sole authority to determine the eligibility, the "qualifications" of its Members. That responsibility belongs to the "Man" or Woman "in the Arena."

What you quoted correctly was a simple statement of fact.

There would be no Second Extra Session of the 2007 General Assembly, charged with the duty spelled out by the Governor in his proclamation, if Thomas Wright resigned his office. The only question, I repeat, that is now the sad responsibility of the House, would no longer require an answer.

Let me emphasize to anyone interested that I am assistant to the Republican leader, Wake County Representative and co-chairman of the Select Committee Paul Stam. Nothing I wrote reflects his opinion on the matter, directly or indirectly, private or public. The context of this quote does imply that I have an opinion, one way or another, regarding what I might believe Representative Wright should do. At no time have I suggested he resign.

I'm at liberty to say, far from being a boon to Republican political fortunes, the Thomas Wright Affair is both a public and personal tragedy, and there is no enthusiasm among anyone I've met in or outside the Halls of the General Assembly who takes any joy in this situation. On the contrary, I honestly have no idea whatsoever what the House will do, and my duty is only to serve, dispassionately, those who are accountable for this responsibility.

I will say it is not a matter for celebration among any Republicans I have met, but almost universally a kind of dread of having to consider an action so unsavory and undesirable.

While working in a similar capacity for Patrick Ballantine from 1999 to 2004, the concerns of New Hanover County and its delegation brought me into close contact with Representative Wright, and I always found him to be an effective, solid citizen. His work to blow the dust off the Wilmington Insurrection and to validate that sad history as part of the North Carolina experience was enlightening, and his genuine concern for the welfare of his constituents was impressive.

I make no statement, nor have I made a statement that, at any time, comments on the activities delivered as evidence from prosecutors to the House leadership, nor have I even read any of those documents.

Like everyone else, I have listened to the Committee hearings grateful not to be a Member weighed down by the burden of having to sit in judgment of another Member and friend.

My great-grandfather was a state legislator in Texas, more than a century ago, and among the aphorisms passed down from him was a statement I found strange, when younger. "Voting," he would say, "is no privilege. It is a responsibility." The older I get, the more I appreciate what he said. If this is true for the average voter, it is multiplied 67,500 times for a North Carolina Representative.

My comments, such as they are, in no way stand as a statement on behalf of Rep. Stam, who was charged with such a tragic duty and sits in his position primarily because of a well-earned reputation for being trustworthy and fair, and well-informed as to the law.