News-Record.com

Monday's Short Stack.

City Manager Mitchell Johnson held his long-anticipated Q&A session with the public Thursday night but the public didn't show up.

Given that some people blame Johnson for everything from the resignation of Police Chief David Wray to the weather, this was expected to be a tense and heated affair.

Instead, Johnson faced a sea of mostly empty seats at the Greensboro Historical Museum.
By our count, 26 people came out for the session, including media, city staff, members of the sponsoring Greensboro Neighborhood Congress and a few police officers.

Which leads us to wonder if all of the alleged angst over Johnson's job performance could be at least a little bit overblown.

Appalled but not shocked

The Raleigh morning radio shock jock who thought it was funny to disparage Lumbee Indians as "lazy" was suspended for three days without pay after Lumbee groups and others complained about the broadcast.

He and his crew were scheduled to return to the air this morning.

But you have to wonder whether the station's tepid statements of apology were sincere, or merely considered another cost of doing business.

The 15-minute bit involved the host, Bob Dumas "joking" with an intern, whose fiance is a Lumbee.

Dick Harlow, general manager of the station, WDCG (105.1 FM), later apologized on air, as did Dumas.

But in light of the controversy last year over Don Imus' foul remarks over the air about the Rutgers women's basketball team, these people had to know better.

Then again, controversy is morning talk radio's stock in trade. They probably expect it and even plan for it, the same as the National Enquirer budgets for celebrity lawsuits.

After all, the station is No. 1 in its market. And Dumas has been in trouble before.

In 2003 he was suspended for encouraging drivers to harass bicyclists (boy, that was a hoot).

In 2004 he described High Point native and "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino as "low-class" and "ghetto."

Does anyone seriously believe he won't pass this way again?

Universities can name finalists
UNCG and N.C. A&T leaders deserve commendation for naming three finalists, all with sterling credentials, for the position of dean of their Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering.
Yes, naming three finalists ... which is what the universities say they can't do when they're hiring a chancellor. They think publicly identifying candidates frightens off top prospects.
If the universities are sure they've got well-qualified finalists for their important new position, they should be just as confident of openness in the chancellor search process. When the UNCG search committee narrows its choices to three, it should let the community know who they are.

Votes for sale
Saying she'd become disenchante
d by the Democratic presidential primary campaign, which she likened to car commercials, an N.C. State senior decided to put her vote on the market.

Literally.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that Sara Yasin auctioned her vote on eBay, with the bidding starting at 15 cents.

Of course, the state Board of Elections does not take very kindly to literalism. So the ad was yanked last week, after the bidding had climbed to $11.50.

Buying and selling votes -- at least overtly -- is against the law.