The first ads of the gubernatorial campaign are out. Americans for Prosperity are thanking Governor Pat McCrory for cutting taxes while Real Jobs NC, an Art Pope funded group, is giving conservatives credit for the “amazing” turn around in the state. The buys are relatively small and the ads are more designed to solidify the base than win over independents.
McCrory has never earned the trust of his right flank. He’s seen as a bit wishy-washy and too moderate for many of the true believers. These ads hit on core Republican themes like cutting taxes and conservative leadership. They’re telling conservatives that McCrory is one of them.
The ads also engage in Republican revisionist history and leave out parts about raising sales taxes. The AFP ad starts out reminding us how bad things were in North Carolina in 2010, like they weren’t bad everywhere in the nation. The “amazing” turn around the ad mentions is the lackluster recovery we’ve felt for the past five years.
These are optimistic ads. They’re telling us about the good times conservative leadership is bringing North Carolina. With Republicans in control of the state, expect everything we see for the next nine months or so to try to convince us that the state is on the right track. It will help them if the economy cooperates.
Roy Cooper and his allies will need to figure out how to be critical without sounding pessimistic. The state and country are starting come out of the economic doldrums and nobody wants to hear about how bad things are. Still, Cooper and company need to give voters a reason to fire McCrory.
Instead of focusing on what is happening in the state, they will be better served focusing on McCrory’s weak leadership and personal inconsistencies. McCrory has been run over by the legislature, unable to stand up to legislative overreach. He also has problems with the truth, telling reporters that he attended Moral Monday protests when he didn’t and pledging not to sign abortion restrictions when he did. They need to make the race about McCrory’s personal failings instead of broader themes that have to do with the direction of the state.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
McCrory and Republicans raised taxes on senior pensions in 2014; they also took away the tuition waiver for one community college class for seniors. The waiver costs the state nothing, since instructor salary is already paid, and it hurts retirees on a budget who can’t afford to take classes otherwise, while it provided an opportunity to get out for the older folks.
Raising sales taxes hurts the most vulnerable — the poor and the elderly.
Roy Cooper needs to run some ads, or Democrats do, pointing out who benefits and who is hurt by tax policies that put extra burden on older folks.
McCrory and Republlcan cronies raised taxes on senior pensions in 2014; they did away with the tuition waiver for one class for seniors, which cost the state nothing, since instructors’ salaries are paid already if the class makes, but denies retirees on a budget an opportunity to get out for life long learning in the community (a mission of the community colleges, to be a resource to all).
McCrory is raising taxes on the most defenseless! Sales tax, too, hurts the poor and the elderly.
How do the Republicans get away with these outright lies? Ben Carson flat lied about not endorsing the shoddy supplement firm Mannatech, which settled a deceptive practices lawsuit in Texas for $7 million. They paid him and his picture was on their logo. As a state legislator, Marco Rubio billed the Republican party for “repairs to the family minivan, grocery bills, plane tickets for his wife, and purchases from retailers ranging from a wine store near his home to Apple’s online store.” (Rubio said that the expenses were all related to party business.) Jesse Jackson, Jr., went to prison for similar conduct. He also double billed the state for airline tickets. Oh, I know the answer: They trash the network that dares to ask these questions.
Yes, it was an amazing demonstration of prevarication by two of the GOP candidates.
Even several conservative media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and the National Review say that Carson is lying about his Mannatech association. And several others have been pointing out that Rubio failed to truthfully acknowledge his many suspect and well-documented financial dealings. In both cases, the pattern was to not answer the moderator’s question, to state that there is no evidence (when in the real world, there clearly is), and to shout media bias.
On Carson, just google “Ben Carson and Mannatech” to see his obvious support and endorsing of that company’s products. Remember that he is/was one of the most acclaimed brain surgeons in the world—a man of medical science—and Mannatech claims its products protect against and even cure against cancer.
On Rubio, here’s just one reaction–by one former GOP congressman–to his blatant lying:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/scarborough-marco-rubio-flat-out-lied-to-the-american-people-during-debate/
I can’t think of anything that has improved under this regime. They have destroyed thousands of film jobs and reduced income for hundreds of small businesses benefiting from productions. They have weakened regulations that protected the environment and safety of NC residents. They have attacked public schools, the university system, women’s rights, voting rights, etc. etc. etc.
Sure the ads weren’t paid for by the Club for Growth? See: Separated at Birth?
http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2015/10/27/separated-at-birth/
Dems need to emphasize every bad bill McCrory didn’t veto, and every bad appointment he made, especially Wos, Shanahan, Skvarla, and Tata. Also that nearly executed sweetheart deal with Duke-E on coal ash waste BEFORE the Dan River spill, and the very suspect service on corporate boards vis-a-vis his own stock portfolio. There’s lots to use against him…
Do Art Pope and the Koch brothers really run this state now? God help up all. Get involved and get out and vote.
“Koch Carolina” has a nice ring to it. If I could, I’d move out the first chance I had.