Turning to Cooper

by | May 18, 2016 | Editor's Blog, LGBT Rights | 13 comments

The message of the press release was clear. Businesses are turning to Attorney General Roy Cooper for assurances that North Carolina is still a good place to live and work. Pat McCrory has clearly lost their confidence.

Braeburn Pharmaceuticals announced that it would continue its plans for a manufacturing facility in Durham despite its strong opposition to House Bill 2. The company said in a press statement that conversations with Cooper were, in part, their reason for staying the course. The company’s CEO said that Braeburn will fight to overturn the law. The statement also implied that Pat McCrory believes the law will be found unconstitutional in the courts.

Across the country, people are ready to see a change in leadership in the state. Republicans here are viewed as a party of extremists who discriminate against minorities, interfere in local government, and choose politics over competence as evidenced by the firing of Tom Ross. That’s the rebranding that’s taken place under Pat McCrory and the GOP legislature.

The GOP fails to realize how it’s perceived outside of the state. North Carolina’s reputation has clearly taken a hit. Tourists are going to other states to vacation. Performers of all stripes are canceling shows. And while Braeburn is staying, other businesses have opted out of North Carolina. It’s hard to predict the long-term damage to our reputation and ability to attract businesses and entrepreneurs.

Repealing HB2 would be a start, but changing leadership would do more to restore North Carolina’s credibility than anything else. Pat McCrory’s attempt to make the case for the bill on national news shows has done more harm than good to his reputation. He’s looked unprepared and uninformed and then blamed the media for his poor showing. Businesses sense the end of his tenure is near and are already building relationships with the man they think will be the next governor.

 

 

13 Comments

  1. Jay Ligon

    Braeburn Pharmaceuticals’ CEO said that the company would never have signed the lease for their Durham facility if HB2 had passed prior to their entering into the deal. The company considered backing out of the obligation knowing it would cost them a lot of money. In a meeting with Gov. McCrory, they were persuaded that the courts would overturn HB2. Roy Cooper met with the company and urged them to stay. If the governor believes that the law will be overturned as unconstitutional, why is he on the Sunday talk shows defending it? Clearly the law is an attempt to appease racists and bigots in an election year. This election will cost the people of North Carolina dearly.

    • Someone from Main Street

      McCrory is appealing to his base – extreme right wing people who believe the Bible should rule over the state. That’s why he’s on the talk shows. Read the comments on his Facebook page. People LOVE what he’s doing with HB2.

      Do NOT underestimate the power of this voting block – the people interested in establishing a theocracy in NC and in the US. Franklin Graham is calling the shots, not just Art Pope.

  2. Someone from Main Street

    HB2 is a terribly destructive law – it is unenforceable, eliminates the right of an employee to file a discrimination case in NC courts, prevents a city from establishing a minimum wage and codifies discrimination into law.

    AND the bathroom part of the law – use only the bathroom of your biological birth – is unenforceable.

    AND it is costing NC millions in lost business. And it’s being promoted in a deceitful manner – NCGOP claims it protects women from rape in public bathrooms – it does no such thing.

    BUT it’s riling up the theocrats who want the Bible to rule over all.

    When did the Republicans become so unAmerican anyway?

  3. Frank McGuirt

    Regardless of all of that McCrory has never been ready for prime time. Not only is he not too smart he apparently surrounds himself with others with matching inabilities. He’s toast.

  4. Ebrun

    A Governor, even a liberal Democrat Governor , can’t change a state law. Only the General Assembly can, so gerrymandering would be a problem. It would really be interesting if Cooper is the Governor and the General Assembly refuses to repeal HB2. How would Cooper respond to boycotts by businesses entertainers then?

  5. MyTurnNC

    I haven’t seen any criticism of Beyoncé giving a concert here in Raleigh. Other well known performers have cancelled performances because of HB2.
    Is Beyonce so big she’s beyond criticism?

  6. Earl

    True about gerrymandering.

    But the absurd voter id requirements and the closure of polls and understaffing in heavily Democratic areas – both of which will be in play this November – could have a significant negative influence on turnout and on vote count (of those provisional ballots that may – or may not – be tabulated if determined to be valid, I assume by sagacious elves).

    Advance voter registration and turnout efforts by Democrats will be critical. Organization, funding, and commitment – well in advance – are essential.

  7. Someone from Main Street

    This implies that NC voters will align with Cooper. Not sure about that. Gerrymandering is a significant problem.

    But please read the comments on Pat McCrory’s Facebook page – he’s got TONS of supporters. North Carolina is a bellwether state. Will be curious to see if NC is owned by the religious right – Franklin Graham and his cohorts – or if sane and rational people are in the majority. Jury’s out on that though…

    • Beck

      The governor’s race is a state-wide election and the last I checked you can’t gerrymander an entire state. Give the current regime enough time though and they’ll probably figure out a way. Their voter suppression strategies were a good start.

    • Concerned Dem

      Gerrymandering doesn’t apply in a state-wide election.

    • Arthur Dent

      Additionally, it must be noted that however many supportive comments are posted on Governor McCrory’s Facebook page, it is enormously unlikely that his opponents are using that medium to express their contempt for this moronic over-reach on the part of the Republicans. There are already laws against sexual assault, rape, indecent exposure, public nudity and who knows how many other related acts – acts that have happened so rarely in restrooms that there is little longitudinal data available at all – that the specific nature of HB2 is just ridiculous on first look. They might as well pass HB3 against child bedroom appearances of “the boogeyman,” as it is about as likely to cause an issue

      • Someone from Main Street

        Will those opposed to HB2 vote? That’s the question.

        NCGOP has riled up its theocratic base with HB2 fears of rape in the bathroom caused by the Charlotte bill. THOSE people will vote – for McCrory et al. It’s utterly foolish for Democrats to ignore that passion.

    • mys

      Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Billy’s “son” is another person I despise. Big mouth, discriminating attitude. Is Billy Graham beyond talking with his son? You know, Father to Son?

Related Posts

GET UPDATES

Get the latest posts from PoliticsNC delivered right to your inbox!

You have Successfully Subscribed!