archived: 30 Jul - 5 Aug, 2006         Back                 Next

                       A BLIGHT  

Gov. Easley frames the issue of Michael Decker’s plea in Federal Court this week correctly as he: 

didn't mince words when asked about a former political ally of Black's who admitted yesterday that he took 50-thousand dollars to switch parties in a move that allowed Black to remain in power.  Easley called the guilty plea from ex-Representative Michael Decker "a blight on the state." 

In TPJ’s view, political corruption by members of either political Party should be subject to the full weight of the law.   

It is rather apparent that Federal investigators are not finished.  Decker, a Republican who turned Democrat, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to extort money.  Obviously a conspiracy is more than one person and Federal investigators will now focus on the other conspirators. 

Bob Hall with Democracy North Carolina writes in an email circulated yesterday (emphasis added): 

The first campaign report that Decker filed after switching parties and voting for Speaker Jim Black in 2003 is full of revelations. [An analysis] shows the donors of the checks totaling $37,600 which we suspected came to Decker at Jim Black's request -- i.e., this is the "about $38,000" involved in Overt Act #4, the federal charge that Decker received about $38,000 in checks and $12,000 in cash in a deal to vote for Black.

 

These donors include, near the bottom of the list, the $2,500 that lobbyist Alexander "Sandy" Sands III told the State Board of Elections he solicited from his fellow Womble Carlyle lawyers, at Speaker Jim Black's request, and then sent via FedEx to Black's home -- i.e., Overt Act #3 in list of federal charges.

 

Other money comes from video-poker donors, chiropractors, optometrists, hog operators, etc. Our analysis of past reports indicates that NONE of these donors had ever given to Decker before. They are all related to, or themselves, reliable donors to House Speaker Black.

 

In testimony at the State Board of Elections, several of these donors admitted that they also gave Jim Black checks payable to Rep. Steve Wood, another Republican the Speaker was then wooing to his side. It seems appropriate to ask why these people would make contributions to Decker and Wood, but send their checks to Speaker Black. Didn't they have any qualms about the appropriateness of such a transaction -- even as members of the state's largest law firm? Are they at risk of being charged with participating in a conspiracy? 

The conspiracy in this case appears to be a “chain conspiracy.”  Decker reached an agreement with one person, another person or persons delivered money to Decker.  Federal prosecutors usually work from the bottom of the chain to the top.  If there are indeed more indictments; which appears to be a virtual certainty, the typical pattern would be to indict the “bagmen.”  From there, prosecutors will move to the next higher link in the chain until they reach the top or until the evidence will no longer sustain indictments.  

Most observers are looking to Democratic Party House Speaker Jim Black as the “top” of the chain as it was Decker’s switch of Parties that help keep Democrats in joint control of the State House.  However, North Carolinians may be several months away from learning the true answer. 

Republicans will point to Speaker Black as an example of Democratic Party corruption.  In truth, Decker was a Republican and those giving money to finance the alleged deal came from both Parties. Indeed, a blight on North Carolina.

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BUILDING THE BRAND 

Western North Carolina Democrats are taking the first steps to build the Democratic Party “brand.”  Using the “Burma Shave” advertising technique from the first half of the 20^th century, mountain Democrats are erecting groups of signs touting Democratic Party messages.  

The first signs have gone up in Watauga County focusing on energy prices.  The message: 

The high price of gas
Greatly impacts us
But Big Oil's politicos
Still avoid taxes
WNC Democrats
Emphasize energy independence 

This coming week, environmental issues will be highlighted.  

These are two great messages for Democrats to convey to the public.  The energy campaign focuses on an issue that is critical to the nation and one on which Republicans have failed to exercise leadership.  Recent polling indicates that the voting public understands the Republican failure.  A 30% advantage for Democrats on this issue is a critically significant advantage.  

Additional signs messaging education, Social Security, and the economy are also composed and waiting for funding to print the signs.  The "Burma Shave" campaign will extend through the Fall.  

Most importantly, WNC Democrats are starting to build a “brand,” what does the Democratic Party stand for.  Bill Bradley adroitly observed that it is a fatal flaw within the Democratic Party (emphasis added): 

[I]n the frantic campaign rush there is no time for patient, long-term development of new ideas or of new ways to sell old ideas. Campaigns don't start thinking about a Democratic brand until halfway through the election year, by which time winning the daily news cycle takes precedence over building a consistent message. The closest that Democrats get to a brand is a catchy slogan. 

TPJ’s Editor Michael Carmichael states the objective most eloquently (emphasis added):  

It is [our duty] to reinvent the Party.  We need a deeper and more powerful understanding of the Democratic Party.  We need to define our identity as a political party in opposition to a tyrant and the shameful political movement that is neoconservativism.  Until we understand the Democratic Party brand, we cannot shape policy, design new strategies or create new visions of the future for American democracy.

 

To do this, we must have a crystal clear image of our brand, the Democratic Party, so we will have the power to implement positive changes.  When we are united in mind, we shall be ready to launch our campaign to preserve our constitutional democracy through the Democratic Party.  To achieve that vision, we must engage with the people.  We must energize, motivate and inspire them while encompassing our agenda to protect and defend the constitution from the ravages of neoconservative bellowing , , , ,   

WNC Democrats are developing the brand we need.  The “Burma Shave” technique is a relatively inexpensive advertising method and one easily emulated by Democrats across the State.  

TPJ readers can help the cause by making a donation to put up even more signs.  Send a check to: 

North Carolina Democratic Party
ATTN Caroline
220 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, N.C. 27603

Write "Burma Shave" in the memo line.  

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                        STRENGTHENING THE PARTY 

State Chairman Jerry Meek endorses Gov. Dean’s 50 State Strategy.  Chairman Meek outlined his vision in a post on BlueNC (a TPJ favorite).  Some excerpts: 

North Carolina now has three new regional political directors – paid for by the DNC, but managed by the State Party – who are traveling the State, training local party leaders and helping to build local organizations. . . .

 

The North Carolina Democratic Party is growing stronger. New people are joining the ranks, and local parties are more sophisticated and more active than at any time in recent memory.

 

Both the DNC and the State Party have an obligation to work towards long-term development of the Party, in every State and every county. We can’t just myopically focus on the next election – we need to be investing in ways that will strengthen the Party, both in the short term and the long term. Gov. Dean’s “50 State Strategy” is helping our State Party grow. And the work that he is doing will inure to the Party’s benefit for decades to come. 

Building infrastructure and effective local Democratic Party organization is the key to a Party that is successful in election and that can effectively govern.  TPJ commends Chairman Meeks’ article as a must read (just click on the blue hyperlink above).

TAR HEEL DEM CELLAR