Charlotte Observer recommends Jim Black's defeat
Cheers for the Charlotte Observer, which today endorsed Hal Jordan over Jim Black in the 100th N.C. House District race.
"Speaker Black has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments in his 10 terms in the N.C. House -- the past four as speaker," the Observer noted. ...
"But in addition to that record of achievement, Speaker Black has another record that does not reflect well upon him or the institution he serves. It involves how he built and used his influence."
Ironically, a news story in today's Observer reports that North Carolina Democrats have raised five times as much money as North Carolina Republicans and quotes the executive director of the N.C. Democratic Party, Caroline Valand, as saying voters aren't concerned about the scandals associated with Black:
"That's not what voters care about. That's not going to affect voters' everyday lives. That's not going to raise the minimum wage. It's not going to improve their access to health care. It's not going to improve their kids' school."
The Observer's editorial board disagrees:
"The determining factor for us is not legislative accomplishments or public policy. It's public trust. While Rep. Black can point to many accomplishments, ethically he has cut too many corners and crossed too many lines. His actions have stained the House's reputation, eroded trust in government and given the impression that money talks much too loudly in state politics."
The Observer has it right. It's too bad the leaders of the state Democratic Party think public trust and integrity in government don't matter to most North Carolinians. But maybe they think all their money will keep on talking through Election Day.
Update: This is just not Jim's day. There are likely to be many more bad ones to come.