Pat McCrory kicked off his re-election campaign yesterday with an attack on the News & Observer. He’s selling bumperstickers that read “I don’t believe the Raleigh News & Observer.” It looks like he will go into 2016 with two opponents, Roy Cooper, the likely Democratic nominee, and the Capitol press corps. It’s an interesting strategy.
The old saying “Don’t pick fights with people who buy ink by the barrel” no longer applies. The newspaper industry is struggling to survive and cable and internet sites allow people to get the news they want, not necessarily the news that’s accurate. In this environment, McCrory is betting that he can discredit the so-called “mainstream media.” With tens of millions of dollars in third party money behind him, he might be right, at least with the audience he needs to win the election.
McCrory’s battles with the News & Observer are nothing new, but most of his wounds are self-inflicted. He came to Raleigh after running as a moderate and then rolling over for the most conservative members of the legislature. He’s repeatedly lied to the press throughout his tenure, leaving reporters and editors skeptical of his claims.
The tipping point came when the Governor claimed in his announcement video that he had once lost his job and the paper’s online headline seemed to question his veracity. And why not? He told reporters he went to Moral Mondays when he didn’t. He told reporters he didn’t hear a donor say he wanted a contract extension as a reward for campaign donations, despite being in the room when the donor made the statement. He told the whole state, on television, that he wouldn’t sign bills that restrict abortion, but he’s done that over and over.
His other option is to ignore the News & Observer, which is just one of the papers questioning his performance. He received the endorsement of half the state’s newspapers in 2012, including the Charlotte Observer, his hometown paper and one that has been at least as critical of him than the News & Observer. He may find himself taking on the entire mainstream media before 2016 is out. Maybe that’s what he wants.
McCrory can’t make the lies he’s told truthful so now he wants to discredit the people shining a light on his shenanigans. If he’s successful, he’ll show that big money can defeat an independent press. It’s a scary proposition since the Fourth Estate has done more to keep our government open and honest than any other institution.
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 >
Hey, dG, just remember that whether or not you keep engaged in any discourse has nothing to do with “politically correctness.” If you don’t enjoy jousting with those who lack intellectual wherewithal, whose only aim is to troll, and who are frozen in their extreme ideology, you are certainly are not obligated to do so.
“Intellectual wherewithal?” Wow, A.L., you sure know how to turn a phrase. I can’t help but wonder, did you come up with that one on your own???
C’mon, D.g., are you going to give in to peer pressure to be politically correct. Be your own man, suck it up and tell those who would tell you what to do to shove it. Otherwise, this blog could become a safe zone for conservative “agitators.” The rest of your fellow liberal posters don’t have the intellectual wherewithal to challenge dissenting opinions. It’s now all up to YOU.
Back to promoting the old class warfare ruse again, eh D.g.? But it is good to know that you’re ok with letting all those ignorant folks vote, even though you think they vote “against their own best interests.”
Maybe you should encourage them to read some of Karl Marx’s essays to help them fully understand how all those “greedy” Republicans capitalists are exploiting the middle class.
D.g., you claim NC voters ” do not understand measures designed to further their interests.” (Your exact words.) This was a basic theory of Marx. That’s why he felt it was necessary to have a “dictatorship of the proletariat.” Workers just couldn’t be expected to know what was in their best interest.
You claim wealthy Republican fat cats are exploiting the poor and the middle class. Marx claimed that greedy, elite Capitalists would exploit the working classes. Seems your views and those of many other “progressives” are quite consistent with many of Marx’s economic and political theories.
I am not surprised you claim to be well versed on Marx, D.g. But lacking a coherent response, you regress once again to personal insults. Par for the course.
While I respect and admire your willingness to continue to engage Ebrun, thread after thread, I just hope you understand that nothing you ever say to him will get past his biased filtering, or his right-wing, echo-chamber mindset.
As he revels in the belief that he knows everything there is to know in politics, he will always have ready an answer –albeit skewed, strident, contorted, off-point, myopic– to any of your questions, points, and counterpoints.
Were you to end your volleying with him, I think the overwhelming majority of regular posters here would not blame you or think any less of you.
Hey, D.g., your fellow liberal posters are putting the pressure on you to be politically correct and refuse to debate an articulate conservative. Besides, your feeble responses are undermining their liberal orthodoxy. They must cringe every time you come up with one of your Orwellian notions like Marxists are not really left-wingers but are more like conservative Republicans.
So do what you think best. I will keep on posting whatever your decision.
Newspapers did not ever make the bulk of their money from the money the paperboys gave them, but from advertising. The loss of advertising dollars starting with Craigslist replacing classifieds along with much other ad revenue along with the difficulty of competing with free news such as seen in Huffington Post is the stress for newspapers.
As a writer with journalistic ethics I hate it if I get the facts wrong, which I sometimes do. Facts do add up to a truth, and contribute to an image, expectation, judgement of someone who is a political actor.
McCrory does not look good from a humanistic, ethical, point of view, and insulted our intelligent with: “We just corrected the calendar.” in regards to access of North Carolinians to the polls.
The wonderful thing for all contenders has been the willingness of all to be distracted from in detail discussion of 25 percent “food insecurity” as reported the case in the Triad, which means poverty to me. Or the complete loss of tax credits for those working in the renewable energy industry. Or the power grab by McCory after the Fracking suit in the hands of the Court Judge.
Things like that.
Of course, you must be right, D.g. It’s ok to patronize the folks with paternalistic policies, but it’s just a shame they get to vote. They just can’t figure out what’s good for them. If only Big Brother government could govern by decree and not have to indulge the stupid masses every four years or so, what a wonderful world it could be.
D.g., you just don’t get it. It’s not politicians who cause problems for liberals, it’s the VOTERS. If liberals could just figure out a way to avoid regularly scheduled elections, they could impose with impunity all the confiscatory policies you can think of on their political opponents while redistributing the spoils of their appropriation to their compliant supporters.
There are, of course, models for American leftists’ political aspirations right here in the Western Hemisphere. Regimes in Cuba and Venezuela have shown that Socialism can survive, at least for awhile, without having to deal with ignorant voters in free and fair elections.
Once conservative pundits and analysts gained access to mass audiences, their own skewed brand of biased reporting and interpretation of the news was exposed to millions.
Thank goodness that there are no major, NC-based and focused media outlets pushing conservative claptrap and support for McCrory.
D.g., it was Mr. Mills who stated the the “newspaper industry is struggling to survive.” I suggested one reason may be because the general public does not trust the partisan news reporting that is endemic in most NC metropolitan newspapers.
And yes, no GOP candidate can afford to ignore the MSM, which includes most metropolitan TV stations that parrot the major metropolitan papers. But Republicans have figured out that it is to their advantage to make liberal media bias a campaign theme. This may not be an effective political tactic inside the Raleigh belt line, but it does resonate with voters in exurban counties where with small cities and towns like Hickory, Mooresville, Burlington, Gastonia,Salisbury, Concord, Jacksonville, Morganton, New Bern etc, where Republicans have received substantial majorities in recent elections.
And BTW, D.g., the are many internet news sites that are not “tied to newspapers,” even in NC. And the last time I watched Fox News, I didn’t notice any parroting of the NY Times or the Raleigh News and Observer.
The GOP denials or claims that liberal news distorts the facts is laughable….We can see how they all voted to sell this state out to special interests…That is not a distortion…The real facts are there….The only voters the GOP will get are from the crazies either the over religious or the KKK crowd the anti abortion bunch or the basic stupids…But their are more smart people who vote than they are on the crazy side…McCory dont realize it but he got elected with the help of democrats…They will not be voting for him next time….All I can say is bye bye….Hope he enjoys the new unemployment benefits he has made us endure….Mr One Term Governor….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E0CgBYChYE#t=11
Another point of view.
I have another relevant bumper sticker that the “We are Not Scientist ” party can crank out for McCrory campaign ” Ignorance is Strength “
dG: Took the words right out of mouth. Did you really expect any coherent and rational understanding of the role of the press/media in American society in that post offered from a conservative viewpoint?
Anyway, I for one am tired of so many Americans failing to understanding two things:
First, that, as Thomas says, “the Fourth Estate has done more to keep our government open and honest than any other institution.” Sharing facts, information. analysis and commentary openly is key to a functional and fair democratic society. Instead of squealing incessantly about the “main stream media,” many more US citizens should appreciate the role played by the free and open press, and be counting their lucky stars that our government, unlike dozens of others, generally does not interfere with it.
Second, that there is a huge difference between (a) media that has a priority of printing/sharing accurate, truthful, and as-objective-as-possible information with the public, using high journalistic standards, and (b) those outlets that are clearly advocates/promoters of a particular point of view or ideology, that wouldn’t know a journalistic standard if they tripped over one, and that purposefully give certain targeted consumers only what those consumers WANT to hear/see. Too many “internet and cable networks now available to consumers of political news” fall into this category. They are not purveyors of the facts, balanced analyses, or a diversity of viewpoints, but only of an ideological and slanted mindset and view of the world.
P.W., the problem for the MSM in recent years can be summed up in one word—competition. No longer do only a few national and regional news outlets have a monopoly on reporting and, most importantly, interpreting the news. Once conservative pundits and analysts gained access to mass audiences, the biased reporting by the major TV networks and the large metropolitan newspapers was exposed to millions.
You can rail all day about “high journalistic standards,” but any sophisticated consumer of political news knows you are just bemoaning the loss of influence on the part the liberal MSM.
So Mr. Mills thinks a Republican Governor might “find himself taking on the entire mainstream media” in his 2016 reelection campaign. Duh, what else is new?
GOP candidates in NC have a long and often successful track record in taking on the MSM over the past 60 or 70 years. Just ask GOP officeholders such as Thom TiIlis, Dan Forest, Virginia Foxx and most of the other Republican Congressional reps about how much support they received from the News and Observer, the W-S Journal , the Ashville Citizen-Times etc. etc., in their election campaigns.
The reality is that the major NC newspapers have been a political mouthpiece for the Democrat party for many years now. Perhaps this is why “the newspaper industry is struggling to survive.” With alternatives such as the internet and cable networks now available to consumers of political news, the MSM’s influence on public opinion is rapidly declining.
Is that why both the News and Observer and the Charlotte observer (neither of whom Mr. McCrory wants us to listen to now) both endorsed him in 2012? Total Democratic media bias there, right?
It is obvious why the News and Observer and the Charlotte Observer endorsed McCrory in 2012. They were astute enough to see that the Democrats’ ship was sinking as a reaction to the scandal ridden Easily and Purdue administrations. No doubt liberal editorial staffs hoped they could influence the new GOP Governor to follow a RINO path. When he turned to out to be more conservative than they wished, they began a major campaign to discredit him.
So now, not surprising, NC political alliances are back to where they were for the previous 75 years or so.
What planet do you live on, dude? I’d argue the point but clearly where ever you’re from they don’t believe in using facts or evidence in the debate process.
Matt: IMO, it isn’t worth the time or exasperation to volley with certain posters. I’ve learned to beware of posters who have proven, time and time again, to be exceptionally and deliberately adroit at confounding, roiling, enflaming, or diverting thread discourse. Doing so is their only aim. They have their rigid beliefs and narrative which will not be shaken.
.
A. L., I think what you really mean is that you “have learned to beware of posters” who fail to adhere to the convention wisdom of the liberal posters who dominate this blog. There is no doubt that challenging convention wisdom can be “confounding,” “roiling,” and “enflaming” (sic), especially to those who rarely are intellectually exposed to contrary views and opinions.
In other words, in addition to confounding, roiling and inflaming, challenging liberal ideology on this blog is just not politically correct.
Hey dude, you seem a little frustrated. Keep on posting, it’s good for the psyche.
See what I mean, Matt?
For the record, they endorsed McCrory in 2008, too.
For the same reasons, I suspect. Bev Purdue barely squeaked out in 2008 despite a Democrat wave. And besides McCrory, who the major state papers now oppose, what other Republican candidates for major state or federal office have the major metropolitan papers in NC supported in recent years?
By now, Thomas, don’t you see that, whatever the point, all-knowing Ebrun has all the right answers, explanations and comebacks, even when he’s wrong?
Maybe you could help Mr. Mills, P.W., identify those Republicans who the state’s major newspapers have endorsed for election to public office in recent years. McCrory’s the only one I can think of, and now they have turned their reporters’ and editorial writers’ wrath on him. Seems that, in their eyes, he hasn’t been a good little RINO.
Why would I, or anyone else, need to help Mr. Mills with the answer to that? I’m sure he already knows, as I and most clear-thinking NC voters do, that there hasn’t been a Republican candidate worthy of a major NC newspaper endorsement for over 5 years now. The exception, the endorsements of McCrory, were ill-considered and have proven to be bad bets.
You’re making my point, P.W. The mainstream metropolitan NC newspapers are the lap dogs for the NC Democrat Party. They’re all out to defeat McCrory for re election and they will no doubt oppose every other Republican candidate for major office except, perhaps, those who have no Democrat opposition. This should be no surprise to any veteran observer of NC politics.
And, BTW, the partisan endorsements and biased reporting of the big newspapers is one reason why the MSM has lost the trust and confidence of a majority of the American public. As Mr. Mills noted,”the newspaper industry is struggling to survive.”
Actually, you are proving MY point, which I have voiced, a few times, about your comments.
Your insights and posts are almost always totally off-point, and on the margins of the messages you are replying to. You repeat yourself ad infinitem. You very often your comments “reply” only to your own warped presumptions about what a particular poster is saying.
I am a progressive, not a registered Dem. I did not say anything close to “The mainstream metropolitan NC newspapers are the lap dogs for the NC Democrat Party.” You did.
Of course I did. That was the point of my initial comment under this thread which you and several other commenters took issue with, Mr. Mills essay suggested that it was big news that Gov.McCrory’s re election campaign would have to take on the entire MSM in NC. My point is what else would any astute observer of NC politics expect.
If you think my posts are so “off point” why do you and other “progressive” commenters here feel the need to spend so much space and type responding. Since I started commenting on this blog site as the only conservative, liberals have spent a tremendous amount of time and energy posting rebuttals and critiques of my messages and “wrapped presumptions.”
Why? Oh….I guess it’s an urge to not want preposterous statements and skewed thinking to just sit out there in the digital ether, twisting readers’ better understandings, going unchallenged.
But, you do make a rare good point. and you thus have talked me into action. I will henceforth join the group of other regular posters here who do not bother replying to you.
Enjoy those cricket sounds! But I doubt that you will, as you seem to relish and feed on others spending “so much space and type” and energy responding to your screed.
See ya……
Sorry to see you drop out of the conversation. I guess you will find it to be more intellectually challenging to respond only to those who agree with you.
McCrory is trying to place himself on common ground with folks who have lost their jobs by saying “me too,” because Duke Energy laid him off in 1988 — for three weeks — before hiring him back with a better job. Three weeks? What McCrory calls outta work most other people call vacation. And now he’s mad with “the media” for their having finally seen the light, the error of their former ways and are recanting their earlier endorsements, one of which, as I recall, was from The N&O. Indeed, that, for sure, was one time I didn’t believe the N&O.
“The old saying “Don’t pick fights with people who buy ink by the barrel” no longer applies.”
Sure it does. Even an unseasoned armchair psychologist knows the definition of “pathological” and “liar.” McCrory [is] … for a newspaper, what crack is … to an addict.
Remember Dana Cope?
Super paks can say what they want….We the citizens of NC know exactly what this governor has done to our great state….He is systematically destroying anything good in this state and replaced it with pay to play…..He avoids reporters like the plague because they like to call him in on his lies…I dont think a super pak or 20 super paks can help him ..All of his new policies have affected nearly everyone in the state except the rich…He represents them and their business corporations…He will destroy our water our air our land as long as his sponsors make profits and it all trickles up and we get the bill…His tax relief plans was a fraud…His tax plans only helped them that didn’t need it…Now it cost more to live in NC than before….He claimed the former Democrats were crooked and we needed fresh blood and he was going to be the Honest Bob to come in and clean it up…LIES….lol..yeah RIGHT ……Me I will trade these new crooks for the old ones any day at least their policies didn’t cripple the working people in this state nor did they open us up for all the polluters and looters to come in here and help their self..and he stoled our ability to stop them from fracking our towns ands country..He stole our property rights…….Governor you are a CROOK…a Duke Power patsy..You Niel and Bob the oil Moguls…(FLUNKIE)..One term will be your destiny…You are not fit to run a cat house…
Tony, while I agree that this gov has been a dismal failure in many ways, I also have to grudgingly predict that he will win a second term. The conservative and pro-business voter base is very strong in NC; he will have a ton of outside dark money to tap; people will only see that the state’s economy is better (and not figure out that he and NCGOP policies had very little to do with it); and finally and most importantly, Cooper doesn’t strike me so far as a candidate that can clearly distinguish himself as a “big difference.” Without that sort of public perception and persona, I say Cooper won’t attract enough votes from all those in the center in NC to win.