On January 10, 2011, Bill Faison participated in a "live blog" between 9 and 10 pm on BlueNC.com to answer questions posted earlier by readers. One person specifically asked Faison "have you met with Governor Perdue regarding this (chair) position? If so, has she expressed her opinion about your candidacy?"
Faison's answer was incredibly unclear. Here's his response, verbatim:
"I have spoken with Governor Perdue, Commissioner Goodwin, Education Secretary Atkinson, Minority Leader Elect Senator Nesbitt, Minority Leader Elect Representative Hackney, numerous Senators and Representatives, Former Governor Hunt, and SEC members across this State. They all want the same thing. They want Democrats to win. They want a Democratic agenda both legislatively and administratively. All of these elected officials know me and have worked with me in the Legislature. They all believe that I can do the better job leading the party and helping all democrats across our State win election."
- Bill Faison
Is it just me or is Faison purposely sidestepping the question by being vague? I don't see a straight answer from him as to whether Perdue is or is not endorsing Faison. Instead he uses an unverifiable yet suggestive phrase claiming to know what Perdue and other elected officials "believe"-- that he's the guy to do a better job leading the party.
Well, who couldn't do a better job in comparison to the current state party chair David Young's performance? In case you haven't heard by now, two years ago the outgoing NCDP chair Jerry Meek worked like a rabid dog to find someone to run against David Parker who was the front runner for the state party chair seat. Meek then blackmailed the gubernatorial candidate Perdue into backing David Young over David Parker. It worked. And then things didn't work.
Perdue sided with Young to appease Meek during a tough election while Meek was still chair. Then the state party began its sad descent into handing over most elections to republican candidates over the next two years. Sadly, David Young has done a poor job which contributed directly to our democratic candidates take a major "shellacking" across the state. Now, Jerry Meek wants Bill Faison to chair the state democratic party.
By now you've got to ask yourself can we really afford to have another Meek-pick in the most important job of the North Carolina Democratic Party? Yeah, I don't think so either.
Meek's reasons for backing Bill Faison have nothing to do with Faison and everything to do with scrambling again to find a challenger to David Parker who announced his chair candidacy first on the heels of Young's announcement he would not be seeking a second term. It's widely known Meek has a chip on his shoulder where Parker is concerned.
It's also widely known Bill Faison's district is likely to disappear once the Republican majority gets through redistricting this year and consolidating democratic districts to further reduce the democrats votes in the House. Faison's political career is certifiably vulnerable and Meek knows it which is why he chose Faison, like the sacrificial lamb slated for slaughter.
But folks, don't take my word for it. Just look around. Our state and our nation are in dire straits with the Republican takeover after the disastrous mid-term elections which can only blame a small part on the Tea-Party tidal wave of momentum. A big part of our losses here in NC were due to a weak effort to get democrats to the polls and an even more feeble result in raising funds to support those democratic candidates.
We can not afford to sit back and hope for the best. It's time to pay attention and think this through and make up your own mind, instead of running with the herd of sheep led by Meek promising progressives whatever it takes to keep their confidence. For what it's worth, Meek never did make good getting the Progressive Democrats that elusive auxiliary status inside the party.
Now, do you really think a sitting legislator like Bill Faison is going to have the time to run his law firm, fulfill his duties as a legislator, meet with his constituents while running the state party (a 60-hour work week, minimum) and regularly visit the 100 counties in order to raise the much needed party funds rather than for his own re-election campaign? And what happens when the legislature is in session? Who'll run the party and making the trips needed to glad-hand donors, meet activists and solicit funds from PACs? Faison says don't worry, he's a high-energy guy. Yeah, right. He's 63. And there are only so many hours in the day. Most of his are already filled.
Meek's mission is simple. Based on his own personal issues, he is working hard to rob the North Carolina Democratic Party of the solid, proven leadership of David Parker who's a full decade younger than Faison and far more experienced in party-building and party leadership. And Parker knows how to win elections, too, both as a campaign manager and as an elected official (2002-2006). Check out his bio. As for endorsements, a clear majority of the 13 congressional district chairs are solidly backing Parker and are listed along with SEC members and officials on Parker's endorsement page on his website, www.voteparker.com for some time now.
Meanwhile, the Faison website's endorsement page is completely blank and still unmarred by a single name.
Well, who couldn't do a better job in comparison to the current state party chair David Young's performance? In case you haven't heard by now, two years ago the outgoing NCDP chair Jerry Meek worked like a rabid dog to find someone to run against David Parker who was the front runner for the state party chair seat. Meek then blackmailed the gubernatorial candidate Perdue into backing David Young over David Parker. It worked. And then things didn't work.
Perdue sided with Young to appease Meek during a tough election while Meek was still chair. Then the state party began its sad descent into handing over most elections to republican candidates over the next two years. Sadly, David Young has done a poor job which contributed directly to our democratic candidates take a major "shellacking" across the state. Now, Jerry Meek wants Bill Faison to chair the state democratic party.
By now you've got to ask yourself can we really afford to have another Meek-pick in the most important job of the North Carolina Democratic Party? Yeah, I don't think so either.
Meek's reasons for backing Bill Faison have nothing to do with Faison and everything to do with scrambling again to find a challenger to David Parker who announced his chair candidacy first on the heels of Young's announcement he would not be seeking a second term. It's widely known Meek has a chip on his shoulder where Parker is concerned.
It's also widely known Bill Faison's district is likely to disappear once the Republican majority gets through redistricting this year and consolidating democratic districts to further reduce the democrats votes in the House. Faison's political career is certifiably vulnerable and Meek knows it which is why he chose Faison, like the sacrificial lamb slated for slaughter.
But folks, don't take my word for it. Just look around. Our state and our nation are in dire straits with the Republican takeover after the disastrous mid-term elections which can only blame a small part on the Tea-Party tidal wave of momentum. A big part of our losses here in NC were due to a weak effort to get democrats to the polls and an even more feeble result in raising funds to support those democratic candidates.
We can not afford to sit back and hope for the best. It's time to pay attention and think this through and make up your own mind, instead of running with the herd of sheep led by Meek promising progressives whatever it takes to keep their confidence. For what it's worth, Meek never did make good getting the Progressive Democrats that elusive auxiliary status inside the party.
Now, do you really think a sitting legislator like Bill Faison is going to have the time to run his law firm, fulfill his duties as a legislator, meet with his constituents while running the state party (a 60-hour work week, minimum) and regularly visit the 100 counties in order to raise the much needed party funds rather than for his own re-election campaign? And what happens when the legislature is in session? Who'll run the party and making the trips needed to glad-hand donors, meet activists and solicit funds from PACs? Faison says don't worry, he's a high-energy guy. Yeah, right. He's 63. And there are only so many hours in the day. Most of his are already filled.
Meek's mission is simple. Based on his own personal issues, he is working hard to rob the North Carolina Democratic Party of the solid, proven leadership of David Parker who's a full decade younger than Faison and far more experienced in party-building and party leadership. And Parker knows how to win elections, too, both as a campaign manager and as an elected official (2002-2006). Check out his bio. As for endorsements, a clear majority of the 13 congressional district chairs are solidly backing Parker and are listed along with SEC members and officials on Parker's endorsement page on his website, www.voteparker.com for some time now.
Meanwhile, the Faison website's endorsement page is completely blank and still unmarred by a single name.
