Just not believable

by | Nov 3, 2015 | Editor's Blog | 7 comments

Pat McCrory has long had a problem with the truth. He’s shown over and over again that he will say virtually anything to make himself sound good or to please his audience. So when McCrory says he didn’t hear a big donor complain that he wasn’t getting an adequate return on his campaign contributions, he’s just not believable.

McCrory admits that he was in the meeting when Graeme Keith told the Governor and a group of prison administrators that he wanted his contract renewed because he had given a lot of money to political candidates. However, he says he was “in a side conversation” when Keith made the statement. Secretary of Public Safety Frank Perry confirmed that Keith made the statement and that he had heard the same complaint from Keith before. Keith had also been talking to McCrory about the matter so it seems likely that he let the governor, who was the recipient of the contributions, know  that he was unhappy with the return on his investment—because this is what it looks like to run government like a business.

If McCrory had a record of transparency and honesty, he might get the benefit of the doubt. He doesn’t. Instead, he’s built a record of saying whatever is politically expedient.

Most famously, he told a debate moderator, clearly and forcefully, that he would not sign legislation that further limited access to abortions. Since he’s been governor, he’s signed several. He’s told numerous smaller, less consequential lies. He claimed to have gone to the Moral Monday protests when he didn’t. He’s listed as a partner with his brother’s firm but says he’s not and never was. He defended hiring inexperienced campaign workers at inflated salaries by claiming they beat out other candidates for the jobs even though nobody else applied. He blamed his predecessor for a budget she vetoed and that was passed by the Republican legislature. So when McCrory says he never heard Keith’s complaints, he’s just not believable.

McCrory is one of those politicians who sees government as a way for him and his friends to make money. It’s called crony capitalism and when he gets caught at it, which seems to happen fairly often, he blames the media. His big lie is his campaign pledge to end cronyism. He never had any intention of cleaning up anything. He just knew that it sounded good to voters so he said it. Once in office, he’s handed out favors like candy at Halloween. And we got tricked.

7 Comments

  1. Helmut Mueller

    I think that the voters of this state deserve exactly what they got. Never underestimate the stupidity of the average voter!

  2. Norma Munn

    As long as there is no penalty for lying, elected officials will lie when it benefits them. Isn’t is a crime in NC to give a contract in return for money?

  3. Matt

    An insightful and accurate take, though I think you go over the top in the last paragraph. I don’t think he’s in politics to make money. If that were his goal, he’d take a bunch of corporate board or “consulting” jobs. My take is that he’s too much of a stooge to recognize when people are taking advantage of him.

    • Onlooker

      “The boy on the runaway horse.”

    • Ben Howe

      He knows the payoff will come after he leaves office.

  4. Someone from Main Street

    Here’s to hoping Democrats actually turn out and vote in the upcoming election…

    What the Republicans are doing in NC is tragic. They’ve got a business crony in charge of environmental regulation; they’ve got a women intent on destroying UNC system as president of that system; Wos left as her subpoena landed on her desk. I have NEVER seen such blatant and bold corruption in all my life. These politicians are really despicable.

  5. Apply Liberally

    One of you best blogs ever, Thomas. Your litany of McCrory double-crosses/double-speaks is right on and helps us follow this governor’s two-faced pattern.

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