Pat McCrory just can’t get his politics right. He’s once again botched a situation after he almost got it right. This time, his mistake has come at the wrong time in the election cycle and might just cost him the Governor’s Mansion.
When the Charlotte City Council first included allowing transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice as part of their nondiscrimination policy, McCrory wrote a note warning members of the council that if the measure passed, the General Assembly would address the issue. That may have been big government conservatism at work, but it wasn’t fatal politics. When the legislature started making noises about a special session, McCrory declined to call one because he said the proposed bill addressed additional issues that should be taken up during the regular session. That was the right call. When the legislature then ignored him, called the session, and passed the sweeping bill, McCrory signed it into law despite his earlier objections. That was the big mistake.
McCrory just won’t rely on his instincts. Or maybe he won’t trust the people on his staff who have good ones. Regardless, he should have vetoed the bill, even if the legislature had overridden it, and declared that the bill was too broad and needed proper discussion, not rushed through a one-day session.
McCrory could be taking the lead in trying to calm the nerves of businesses fleeing the state. He could be the leader working across the aisle to reverse the damage and finding the compromise to resolve the issue. Instead, he’s the guy out there defending a bill he didn’t want anyway and has become the face of a party that’s increasing seen as discriminatory and out of touch with the rest of the country.
We’ve seen this lack of judgment throughout his tenure. In his first session of the legislature, he signed several bad bills into law including an anti-abortion measure that he had promised not to sign. Then, he vetoed two bills that nobody really understood, just to have his veto overridden. The abortion bill made him look like a liar, and the veto overrides just made him look weak.
In politics, if you’re going to lose, at least go down fighting. Some people will give you props for standing on principle. Otherwise, you’re just a loser.
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 >
Mr. Mills’s take is good, but not deep enough. Yes, he has terrible judgment, but that should come as no surprise to anyone who’s followed his career and NC politics in general over the past two decades.
Charlotte, like many North Carolina cities (including my own Asheville), has a strong city manager/weak council form of government. Unlike many cities, it also has many shared services with the Mecklenburg County government.
As I understand it, being the Mayor of Charlotte is not a job requiring strong management skills or particularly deft political ones. The mayor is, in effect, the first among equals on Council, but when the council passes policy measures it’s up to the Manager to carry them out. The mayoralty, in other words, is not a job of governing (running the city) but of being its public face.
For that job Hapless Pat was ideal: he was a glad-handler and “closer” in his official job with Duke Power, the friendly face of the company who made sure that everyone felt good about whatever his bosses decided. And as mayor, he smiled and shook hands and signed the deals that the Manager and staff arranged and negotiated and carried out.
McCrory is in so far over his head as governor, in a job that does require negotiating skills, leadership qualities, principles, decision-making ability, and fundamental intelligence, that it should surprise no-one how poor his judgment has been on virtually every issue that’s confronted him. A smiling, happy, hail-fellow-well-met empty suit is simply not capable of leading a state as diverse and wonderful as ours. As a result, he has allowed, or enabled, the “wonderfulness” to be drained out, perverted, trashed, and reversed into Mississippianism in less than four short, and tediously long, years.
There is no doubt that the left and its character assassins are determined to smear Governor McCrory to the maximum extent they can muster. But notice how their focus is on his character and competence rather than on substantive policy differences.
McCrory’s critics fail to acknowledge that the Governorship in NC is considered one of the weakest in the Nation. The real power in this state is wielded by the General Assembly. And since conservatives have a veto proof majority in both the state House and Senate, there is little opportunity or incentive for the Governor adopt policies and positions that might tend to placate his liberal detractors.
Since the left realizes that the NCGA is firmly in control of conservative Republicans, they see defeating McCrory as their best political opportunity this year. So the vitriolic personal attacks on McCrory’s character will be the Democrats’ bread and butter in the upcoming gubernatorial campaign
In order to have “substantive policy differences” with someone, both sides need to have “substantive policy”. Pat McCrory wouldn’t recognize a substantive policy if it reared up and bit him–as this issue appears to have done, hence his floundering in response. And I see it less as an attack on McCrory’s character (assuming he has one) than on his judgment and ability to understand an issue.
Intelligence and judgement are essential elements in one’s “character.” Claiming the Governor exhibits poor judgement and lacks the ability to understand an issue is an slur on his character.
And your point is? Aside from the fact that I disagree with your initial assessment of the composition of character ( I would assess intelligence and judgment as elements of wisdom; character is not so much about our abilities as how we use them, IMHO), is the General Assembly preparing a bill to punish those who say mean things about elected officials, or Republicans, or who voice any opinions on laws emanating from either? If it’s the last of those options, I think they’ve already made a pre-emptive strike.
Sorry JC, but sophomoric speculation is not worth a substantive responsive.
In the last gubernatorial election, I tried (unsuccessfully) to convince McCrony’s Dem. opponent to use the campaign slogan, “More than just a pretty face”. This time around, I’m pushing “Pat McCrory: much less than just a pretty face.”
What a clever slogan. Absolutely brilliant! I am sure Cooper’s campaign will be contacting you shortly for some more fresh ideas. LOL
By hurriedly convening a one-day session to put government into the bathroom, our beloved General Assembly demonstrated that they continue to put ideology and politics above common sense or scientific knowledge. They attempted to solve a difficult-to-determine issue by using the birth certificate as a determiner. However, by doing so, they created criminals out of many responsible citizens, many of whom may not even realize they they will be violating the law.
Prior to going to law school, I was a medical school anatomy professor and biomedical scientist; my research area was reproductive endocrinology. My doctoral dissertation was based on research of the hormonal make-up of pseudohermaphrodites, of which there are actually several types.
My point is that the term “biological” sex is too imprecise to be useful. “Genotype” sex is determined by the genes–either X X or XY chromosomes are “normal.” “Phenotype” sex is the physical appearance of the sex organs and external appearance. Where the GA screwed up is that not all people neatly fit this master plan. There are numerous types of “INTERSEXUAL STATES.” For example, the type of pseudohermaphrodites in my research are “testicular-feminized males” (tfm), which are genetic males with testosterone levels 4-5 times that of “nomal” males. However, they are born with what appear to be female genitals and are infertile. Humans with this condition are usually raised as females despite having internal testes. According to some studies, as much as 1.7% of human births result in questionable or indefinite sexual identity.
“Birth certificate” sex identification is often done by guess-work by often unsuspecting delivering physicians. If some “perpetrator” is ever prosecuted for the “potty law,” DNA analysis may provide some real surprises. The GA rushed this law through for political reasons–this is a problem for which study commissions should have been consulted and hearings held.
As Troy quoted above, “trans-sexual” usually refers to gender identification and psychological identity. Persons who have a true intersexual state, may or may not, wish to change their gender identification.
As an attorney, I could call this law the “Increasing Bathroom Assault Law.” Contrary to the fear-mongering, people with intersexual states don’t appear to be pedophiles with any greater regularity than “normal” individuals. At public events, some women will now become criminals if they attempt to bypass the long lines for the women’s restrooms and enter men’s restrooms. However, can you imagine what will happen if Bruce/Caitlin Jenner, who is probably an XY genotype, walks into a legally mandated men’s room with a few good ole’ boys?
The transgender issue was just the tip of the media iceberg to keep us from looking at the meat of the bill. One glance is all you need to know that that is the reason why McCrory knew it needed a full legislative session to deal with all the descriminatory items that were slipped in. So, its no wonder that we haven’t heard how this bill actually rolls back N.C. to the 50’s when descrimination on all levels was ok and now it is again and there is no State recourse anymore for employees, et al.
One does need to wonder why he could not keep his pen off the paper!
Look at the content and protest the entire bill. Shout about the entire descrimination action in that bill, not just the LGBT. That was the media smoke screen to keep us from seeing the sewage below the surface.
#McCronyism #NothingCompares
Thomas, this is one of your best ever assessments of McCrory and his lack of political acumen.
Anyone here actually know what a transgender person is? They are people born with androgynous sex organs–having physical characteristics of both sexes. Hermaphrodites. Wonder where they’ve been peeing?
Mr. Reeve, This is incorrect and helps explain why there is so much misunderstanding of this bill. You need to do more research.
Your definition and its source please David.
I’m not David Mr. Reeve, but the following definition is used by the American Psychological Association (APA) with regard to what the term “transgender” means.
For your edification sir:
Transgender is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity, gender expression or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. Gender identity refers to a person’s internal sense of being male, female or something else; gender expression refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice or body characteristics. “Trans” is sometimes used as shorthand for “transgender.” While transgender is generally a good term to use, not everyone whose appearance or behavior is gender-nonconforming will identify as a transgender person. The ways that transgender people are talked about in popular culture, academia and science are constantly changing, particularly as individuals’ awareness, knowledge and openness about transgender people and their experiences grow.
Based on my observation, McCrory’s style of governance is very similar to Geo. W. Bush’s. A likable person with dubious intellect elevated into a position for which he lacks the skills to succeed. His naiveté has made him vulnerable to being manipulated by bright but devious types like Berger and Pope who constantly pull his strings. The governor should be pitied, not vilified. Then, he should be replaced.
As his hometown paper described him, he’s “the boy on the runaway horse.”
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article26993065.html
Liberals are day dreaming again if they think signing HB2 will lead to McCrory’s defeat in November. He may well lose, especially if Trump heads the GOP ticket. But revoking the Charlotte ordinance actually improves his re election prospects.
No doubt McCrory would have preferred that the Charlotte ordinance be taken up in the regular session. But vetoing HB2 would have been the equivalent of McCrory falling on his sword. His veto would have been overridden, he would have looked weak, and there would have been nothing gained. But the conservative base would have been incensed.
McCrory has never been a favorite of tea party conservatives in NC. Many could vote Libertarian to protest his moderate (in their eyes) leanings. In a close election, two to three percent of the vote for the Libertarian candidate could swing the election to Cooper, as it did in 2008 for Obama in NC.
Now that McCrory is feeling the wrath of far left advocacy groups, the LGBT community, big national corporations and liberal Governors from solid blue states in the North and on the left coast, the GOP base will be energized and far right tea party conservatives are likely to stick by him.
The Governor is much more politically astute than the left gives him credit.
I have no idea why NCGOP would chose to ignite this firestorm if there were nothing in it for them. I think they’ve got the religious right up in arms about the rapists in the bathroom and McCrory is seen as the “protector of women and children.”
I think this is one of the oddest states in the union right now. Have no idea how to call the election this fall. Have never felt so topsy-turvy about an election before…
McCrory’s political ineptitude is astounding. It makes one wonder how he was re-elected several times as mayor of Charlotte. I’d be interested to know what has happened to his political instincts. Baffling!