Why would Bill Faison, candidate for chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, contribute money to a republican legislator's campaign?
Records show Bill Faison contributed $250 to Lou Burrow Wilson's campaign on March 17, 2006, while Faison was serving a term in the State House. Wilson was running to replace Republican Arlie Clup for NC's House of Representative District 70 in 2006.
Wilson came in last in a 3-way race of the May 2006 Republican primary which saw Pat B. Hurley go on to win the Randolph county district in the general election. Hurley defeated democrat Hampton (Happy) Spivey for District 70's House seat.
What was Faison thinking? And will he do it again? It would be embarrassing for the Democratic party if its own state chair contributed money to republican candidates again.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
No Endorsement for Delmas Parker seeking 4th term as Vice Chair
 |
| (2010) Delmas Parker seeks a 4th term. |
Politically, times have changed drastically for Democrats in North Carolina. And the leadership that once worked now needs an upgrade. After six consecutive years on the state party's executive council, it's time for Delmas to put aside his personal ambitions and consider what's best for the North Carolina Democratic Party to take control back from the GOP.
Delmas has run unopposed before and is currently unopposed again in this bid for a 4th term. Delmas has served as the state party's Second Vice Chair under Jerry Meek in 2005 and 2007, again under David Young in 2009 term and now wants a fourth term to stay on through 2013.
Ordinarily it would appear Delmas has broad support but that is not the case. Delmas simply has run unopposed for the Second Vice Chair office time after time and winning by default does not rise to the level of a clear mandate by the people. While all other executive offices have seen several candidates competing for the win, Delmas's position has gone uncontested too many times and alludes to more sinister undertones of candidate intimidation.
Prior to seeking party office, Delmas Parker ran for State House in 2003 and lost to Cass Ballenger by a wide margin (29% to 68%). Both men ran unopposed in their primary election and we recognize Delmas for bravely trying to unseat a republican incumbent in a solid GOP district 11 years ago.
However, we can not endorse Delmas Parker for three reasons:
- After three consecutive terms and six years on the executive council, it is time to move on and allow others with modern ideas and different perspectives to help lead the party
- Despite his long service to the party, Delmas was a part of the 2009-2011"Missing In Action"administration under David Young and is responsible for the party's mid-term losses statewide
- Delmas serves formally on the board of a pseudo-auxiliary club that falsely portrays itself as an arm of the state party. Delmas's participation on this board encourages party infighting over unity by promoting and portraying an ideology-based club as an auxiliary in exchange for its "endorsement" at state party elections. Delmas's work on their behalf violates the NCDP Plan of Organization on two fronts. First, the Plan does not recognize clubs organized by ideology. Second, the Plan does not permit internal group endorsements among competing democrats. Only individual endorsement are permitted*
- Delmas has no personal experience winning elections having run unopposed each time.
____________
*Until Delmas's non-auxiliary group stops making candidate endorsements in state party races, NCDPpolitics will counter with endorsements of its own. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Monday, January 17, 2011
NCDP chair candidate David Parker commemorates MLK
You can tell a lot about a person by what they say and what they don't.
David Parker, candidate for North Carolina Democratic Party's state chair position issued this statement today to commemorate the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Opposition candidate Bill Faison has yet to issue any statement today. Parker wrote:
Thank you, David Parker. Your awareness and history of working to insure the rights of everyone is why we endorse your candidacy for state chair. We wish you success in the NCDP state party's chair race.
David Parker, candidate for North Carolina Democratic Party's state chair position issued this statement today to commemorate the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Opposition candidate Bill Faison has yet to issue any statement today. Parker wrote:
"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
A single score and five years ago, we, as a people, began formally celebrating MLK as a voice crying in the wilderness for human dignity. And like John the Baptist before him, and so many others of our heroes, he was cut down before he could see the small saplings of freedom that he planted bear much fruit. We have had to overcome much to get this far on the journey. Jesse Helms fought this day. But we overcame him. And now his disciple, Art Pope, is seeking to reverse years of work in North Carolina. But we shall overcome him and his henchmen too.
Each of us has stories about our journey on the path of MLK. In these last few days, I have talked with two remarkable women who fought on the front lines of the battle in the 1960's and who will be with us in Raleigh on January 29th.
Margaret Herring of Wilmington whose story is told in the Hands on the Freedom Plow: Personal Accounts by Women in SNCC which she was kind enough to sign for me, and Mary Ellen Phifer Kinton of Kannapolis who was active with the Brooklyn CORE working for equality in the workplace and in society. Margaret is white; Mary Ellen is African-American. They were joined across time and sang "we'll walk hand in hand" together, although they have never met. They will meet, though, through our North Carolina Democratic Party and I am proud to have their support.
My own story is modest, but I have joined in the overcoming. In 8th grade I spoke for Hubert Humphrey in my school and found that being a Democrat in a Nixon-Wallace dominated environment meant that my friends were few, were racially diverse, and were dear. In high school, I was a part of the integration of Wake County Public Schools. I can remember singing in our Choral Ensemble songs with fellow SEC member Winnona Swayze. That progress in diversity in Wake County is now threatened by the Jesse Helms - Art Pope disciples.
I supported former mayor of Chapel Hill, Howard Lee for Lt. Governor in 1976. The first political campaign I helped manage was that of Bill Thorpe, who in 1977, was elected as the first African American council member in Chapel Hill.
There are many, many stories in my life which space will not allow, but I want to be clear: I have been unwavering and that perseverance may explain the remarkable diversity in my endorsements and supporters in this campaign.
We lost fellow State Executive Committee member, and former State Auditor Ralph Campbell last week and celebrated his life this past weekend. The lack of racial diversity among our statewide office holders is deplorable and I will do everything possible to see that our nominees look more like our Party. But it is not enough to simply say that we need another African American member of the Council of State: we need racial balance and equality in all levels of our party and government. As our next State Chair, I intend to recruit more candidates of all walks, of all creeds, of all colors, of all orientations, of both genders to hold office -- that truly is the "change that works" that we seek in becoming a better North Carolina and a better Democratic Party.
The dreams of the past fallen heroes cannot fade in our memories or wither with the passage of time. It is up to us to fulfill the aspirations of the witnessing spirits that surround us every day as we fight for racial and civil justice in America.
Thank you in sincerity as we celebrate this great day,
David Parker"
Thank you, David Parker. Your awareness and history of working to insure the rights of everyone is why we endorse your candidacy for state chair. We wish you success in the NCDP state party's chair race.
Pam Spaulding supports David Parker for NCDP Chair
Who else supports David Parker? Check it out tonight on Twitter.
Check out Pam's website to view her endorsement posted in the upper left side of her blog!
»
Pam_Spaulding Pam Spaulding
@ncdppolitics Faison doesn't deserve support. @voteparker is the choice for a 21st century Dem Party. #ncpol http://goo.gl/WccnW
@ncdppolitics Faison doesn't deserve support. @voteparker is the choice for a 21st century Dem Party. #ncpol http://goo.gl/WccnW
Faison won't support LGBT rights
The GOP legislative agenda will focus on redistricting and the state budget. After that is the plan to place the Defense of Marriage act on the 2012 ballot as an amendment to the state constitution. If the General Assembly can actually pass the bill by through the required super majorities, the governor has no ability to block it.
So who among the democratic state party chair candidates stands for the rights of LGBTs?
David Parker does. Bill Faison does not. According to several sources, including Michael J. Gould's post today on BlueNC who wrote Faison didn't even recognize the acronym, LGBT whereas Parker knew it instantly and supports the cause for equal rights. Gould wrote:
Finally, I approached Bill a few weeks ago, as I did with David, and asked him why we don't have a LGBT Caucus formerly within the state party. Bill looked at me and asked what I meant by "LGBT." Now if I had been talking with a typical registered democrat, the lack of detailed knowledge would be understandable, but not with a sitting legislator and candidate for state chair. David did understand what I was talking about and expressed enthusiasm and support for a caucus. -- Michael J. GouldLGBT stands for "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender" people who make up a significant population on the planet. Homosexuals alone are estimated at between 10 and 13% percent of the human population. The population stats on Bisexual and Transgender have yet to be confirmed. Still, the majority of this demographic supports the democratically party and votes democrat. The Daily Kos blog published well-known democratic blogger Pam Spaulding's story which referenced The IndyWeek article quoting Faison's anti-gay rights position.
Perhaps underscoring Faison's tobacco-country appeal is his position on issues relating to gay and lesbian rights. "As a general proposition, I think the concept of gay rights is a misnomer," he says. "It's not about rights at all. It's about public visibility, people wanting to make a statement. Rights are legal things and can generally be accorded without involvement of the state." When asked where he would stand on legislation banning the legal recognition of any same-sex relationships, including domestic partnerships, a bill gay rights groups fear will be introduced soon, Faison responds, "I would not support legislation to treat same-gender relationships as if they were a husband and wife." --Fiona Morgan
The GOP has the votes in the state senate required to vote against the Defense of Marriage bill. To put it on the ballot, the GOP need only convince four House democrats to vote with them.
With Faison's anti-gay rhetoric, it's shocking to see progressive democrats supporting him over David Parker' for state party chair. We need a leader who welcomes every democrat not just those who's lifestyle is deemed politically "safe."
If you care about equal rights for the LGBT, vote Parker for NCDP Chair. It's just one of the many reasons he's a better leader for our party.
Why this blog exists
NCDPpolitics has received numerous twitter messages and comments asking about this blog and the identity of those writing it. Some of the questions and comments have been polite, others not so much, like this tweet:
dorisraleigh Doris Weaver
Does anyone know who NCDPolitics is? Cowards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Our intentions are to kick open the backdoor of NCDP's smoke-filled room and expose the private deals, secret decision-making and dark horse nominations designed to keep control of the party by a well-connected few with disregard for the will of the party faithful.
Call us naive, but as lifelong democrats we believe it is the people's right to chose their own leadership. One person, one vote. It's enough that the Meek shall inherit the earth, we don't have to give him NC as well.
NCDPpolitics ...
It's your duty as SEC members to educate yourself before you vote for state party officers. They will decide how we'll work to win back control of NC's governing bodies. Don't waste this opportunity. Do this today: 1) Bookmark us, 2) check back regularly, 3) contribute through our comment boxes* at the bottom of each article and 4) share this website address with other SEC members immediately. You may also confidentially communicate to us via Facebook and Twitter using their direct message device.
Thank you for reading.
-------------------
*The only way to communicate with site administrators is through the comment box. Your comments will not be published until a moderator has approved it --and we have approved every comment received to date. However, if you are sending confidential information to us, please indicate your content is not to be published but only to share information. Your anonymity is protected.
NCDPpolitics ...
- is written by democrats living in NC
- writers are liberals and moderates, SEC members and employees of the party
- is written anonymously because of reprisals and personal attacks aimed at taking the focus away from the truth (see tweet above)
- wants the very best leadership for our state party to regain control of the state legislature and county governments.
Read our blog with an open mind, untainted by personal alliances and personal agendas. Open your eyes to what caused the failed state party leadership of the past two years. And most of all, be wise to the mass mailings and messages that treat you like "sheeple" mindlessly pushing name recognition over qualifications and results.
Thank you for reading.
-------------------
*The only way to communicate with site administrators is through the comment box. Your comments will not be published until a moderator has approved it --and we have approved every comment received to date. However, if you are sending confidential information to us, please indicate your content is not to be published but only to share information. Your anonymity is protected.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Candidates needed for 2nd Vice Chair seat
Currently there is just one announced candidate running for the Second Vice Chair office of the North Carolina Democratic Party and unless others come forward, an incumbent will win re-election.
That incumbent is 74-year-old Delmas Parker. Unfortunately, Delmas has done little to help democratic candidates win during the disastrous 2010 midterm elections. Instead, Delmas prefers to wield power within the party, over the rank and file party members and bend the rules -- of the North Carolina Plan of Organization -- to suit his needs and his allies.
Delmas, a close ally of former chair Jerry Meek, was content to sit back and watch Meek's hand-picked successor David Young bungle the party's grassroots efforts and funding. Like Meek, Delmas also stayed closely aligned with the Progressive Democrats of North Carolina, even acting as their unofficial spokesman within the state's executive board.
Delmas's best days are behind him. His age isn't really the issue as much as his penchant for ignoring the Plan of Organization's prescribed rules, regulations and processes. He actively runs interference to protect party officers from disciplinary action (as long as they are members of the Progressives democrat group) for working against democratic candidates deemed not liberal enough.
Delmas rarely communicates with the party's active base because he's confident his pseudo-auxiliary club members will insure him another term. Unfortunately, Delmas's actions cost the party time, money and other resources in order to appease a non-auxilliary club all for the guarantee of their voting block. They keep him in office and he will protect their members despite rogue behaviors.
We can not endorse anyone who would encourage division inside the party by helping a sect of highly liberal democrats to ridicule, harass and malign the reputations of less-liberal democrats and the party's more moderate candidates. The hardcore recruiting must begin today!
It is imperative that someone step up to challenge Delmas for the Second Vice Chair office. Delmas has served on the party's state board in other positions but times have changed. It's time for fresh ideas, energetic work ethic, integrity to treat all democrats fairly and to follow the party's organizational regulations and procedures.
It's time for a new face on the state executive board and it's time for Delmas to step aside.
That incumbent is 74-year-old Delmas Parker. Unfortunately, Delmas has done little to help democratic candidates win during the disastrous 2010 midterm elections. Instead, Delmas prefers to wield power within the party, over the rank and file party members and bend the rules -- of the North Carolina Plan of Organization -- to suit his needs and his allies.
Delmas, a close ally of former chair Jerry Meek, was content to sit back and watch Meek's hand-picked successor David Young bungle the party's grassroots efforts and funding. Like Meek, Delmas also stayed closely aligned with the Progressive Democrats of North Carolina, even acting as their unofficial spokesman within the state's executive board.
Delmas's best days are behind him. His age isn't really the issue as much as his penchant for ignoring the Plan of Organization's prescribed rules, regulations and processes. He actively runs interference to protect party officers from disciplinary action (as long as they are members of the Progressives democrat group) for working against democratic candidates deemed not liberal enough.
Delmas rarely communicates with the party's active base because he's confident his pseudo-auxiliary club members will insure him another term. Unfortunately, Delmas's actions cost the party time, money and other resources in order to appease a non-auxilliary club all for the guarantee of their voting block. They keep him in office and he will protect their members despite rogue behaviors.
We can not endorse anyone who would encourage division inside the party by helping a sect of highly liberal democrats to ridicule, harass and malign the reputations of less-liberal democrats and the party's more moderate candidates. The hardcore recruiting must begin today!
It is imperative that someone step up to challenge Delmas for the Second Vice Chair office. Delmas has served on the party's state board in other positions but times have changed. It's time for fresh ideas, energetic work ethic, integrity to treat all democrats fairly and to follow the party's organizational regulations and procedures.
It's time for a new face on the state executive board and it's time for Delmas to step aside.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)