Two days earlier in his "live blog" on BlueNC.com, Faison posted campaign rhetoric and hyperbole for the most part, often relying on buzzwords like "tea-party" and "grassroots" whereas Parker gave substantive answers with specifics on how to fix what's broke inside the NCDP. BlueNC moderator James Protzman even commended Parker for his "thoughtful and thorough responses" calling it "well done" and "dang impressive." The best Protzman could say about Faison was "a darn good keyboarder." Damned by faint praise.
Today, Faison's reaction is to accuse Parker of attacking him! Faison's latest missive actually misquotes Parker who did not state "that a sitting legislator cannot serve as party chair because of redistricting." Faison is trying to fool you using the oldest trick in the Smear Tactics handbook, a misinformation campaign against Parker. (Stay tuned for the upcoming article, Part 2 of the Faison's Smear Campaign against Parker)
Here's what Parker actually stated verbatim on the mailer Faison referenced:
"The best prepared Chair will have that kind of experience in our Party and make this job his sole political priority. It's because of progressive ethics and transparency reforms that a sitting legislator can't serve us in this capacity, and the NCDP can't simply hand any one legislator undue power over his Democratic colleagues during the coming redistricting fight."
-David ParkerIt's evident Parker is saying the best person for the job is someone who will make it a sole political priority (something not even close to possible for an effective, elected public official like, say, a state house representative.) Parker astutely points out the pitfall of giving one public official power over other elected officials as the "decider" of who can and can't run for office once republicans have finished redistricting the state.
Still, Faison isn't completely wrong in today's diatribe. He is correct in reminding us here have been 4 other sitting legislators who have served as NCDP chair, the last being Herbert Hyde. What Faison fails to mention is that Hyde served both roles some twenty years ago back in 1991, when NC Democrats had majorities in both the state house and state senate. That is the complete opposite of today.
Faison's Herbert Hyde citation is an epic fail because Hyde -- unlike Faison -- had a long history of party involvement and party experience at the precinct and county levels having served as a county chair prior to becoming state chair. Faison glides over the fact he has no party experience or involvement whatsoever. Faison even admitted it during his statewide chair-bid teleconference Tuesday night (Jan.11th) because (and we're quoting Faison verbatim) "the state party is irrelevant." Faison also stated he "doesn't know any legislator who feels the start party did anything to help get them elected." Still skeptical? Ask for a copy of his teleconference meeting and check it out for yourself.
If Faison really wants to "build up, support and elect other Democrats across this State," and is "not running to tear down another Democrat," he would withdraw from the NCDP chair's race today. While it may sound good to the politically naive that Faison promises to "focus all my energies on helping Democrats win and beating (...) tea-party republicans," Faison was elected to serve North Carolinians in District 50 for the next two years. And that is where all his energies should be focused.
Make no mistake, Faison is running to tear down his opponent. Faison is doing this as a political favor for former party chair Jerry Meek who's own energies are soley focused on settling the score in a personal rivalry between himself and Parker. Faison is just a tool.
We all know our party needs a leader who makes things happen and understands political strategy in a way Faison has yet to master. Take a stand right now against party in-fighting like misinformation campaigns. Call Faison today at 919-606-6700* and urge him to withdraw from the Chair's race so the party can go to work immediately on defeating the GOP instead of waiting until January 30th.
* Oddly, Bill Faison, who says he wants to hear from you, does not provide a phone number anywhere on his website or mailers. We finally located one on the NCGA website. David Parker's cell phone number is listed on all his materials and website.
