mbrock49's blog

NCCapitol profile from WRAL.com

Tonight's story: Democratic leaders fret (and the GOP gloats) over the defiance of #ncdem chair David Parker:

Supporters said Parker was the victim of a conspiracy by elected officials. Some say the conspiracy had to do with [how] party funding is divided. Others said Parker was scapegoated because the same-sex harassment came to light just three weeks before a ballot initiative to ban same-sex unions...

I have been following the controversy on this blog, and I have not wanted to jump in. No one would with the level of animosity that has prevailed over productive discussion. To give an opinion has been to invite attack.

I agree with James that it is counterproductive--as well as mean spirited--to continue the name calling and spewing of venom against fellow Democrats and fellow Progressives.

Gallup says yes. CBS says maybe not.

"As is often true in polling, it depends on how you ask the question."

"A Gallup poll last week showed that 51 percent of Americans support gay marriage, but a CBS News/New York Times poll out today shows that only 38 percent support it."
from article on Washington Post site:

When given that third choice, polls show that it draws significantly from both the pro-gay marriage and anti-gay marriage camps, but in the end, overall support for gay marriage drops well below a majority.

UPDATE:

Please see comments titled "Mary-Ann Baldwin" posted under comments for Frank's posting with more details and the complete letter sent by Baldwin.

Since I did not see the email, which I assume went to SEC members, I went to N&O's site (after reading about her announcement from WBTV). Her announcement letter is posted at www.newsobserver.com in Under the Dome for others who might be interested but who are also not on her mailing list.

I hope both announced candidates (and any other who might make a last minute leap into the race) will be willing to post here on BlueNC, as many readers need to know more before Saturday's meeting of the State Executive Committee and the election of a new Chair.

Mary Ann is a communications professional. Hopefully, she will take advantage of the opportunity to share her thoughts and plans in the future with progressives via BlueNC.

from WRAL,hich has great coverage and easy to use web site:

NC HOUSE DIST 2 PRIMARY (D)
Candidate

*Winkie Wilkins (i)
5,991 56%
Jim Crawford (i)
3,966 37%
Jason Jenkins
790 7%

This from ABC channel 11 (WTVD) on voter turnout around the state.

What is it like in your neck of the woods? My own precinct was so slow, i was the only voter present the whole time I was there to cast my ballot. I was around number 350 for a fairly large, strongly Democratic precinct in Raleigh.

Thanks to Kerry Sutton for posting this on FaceBook from Suzanne Reynolds, former judicial candidate and a professor at Wake Forest:

"Just posted the blog below to the Greensboro News and Record. Doug Clark was taking issue with the law professors who point out the dangers. Doug was relying on law professors (not family law law professors, by the way) who disagree with our conclusions. So

I posted the following. And please - get out the vote against Amendment One.
As usual, Doug, your comments are thoughtful. But family law professors from every law school in the state – including Campbell – agree with the UNC white paper on the dangers that Amendment One poses to domestic violence protection for unmarried couples.

From today's Charlotte Observer. The second in a five part series on NC's hospitals and their profits.

Adam Searing, director of the N.C. Justice Center’s Health Access Coalition, questions whether many hospitals are doing enough charitable work to earn their tax exemptions.

“I feel like the hospitals are breaking the contract they made,” he said.

Jessica Curtis, director of Community Catalyst’s Hospital Accountability Project, said the Observer’s findings echo what she sees happening elsewhere in the country. “It’s almost a blatant disregard for the needs of the poor,” said Curtis, whose Boston-based group works to improve access to care.

Read more here:

From www.wral.com: The embattled chairman of the state Democratic Party says he will not resign but has called a referendum on his role.

"I have met with our Executive Council via teleconference and am gratified by their strong support for my continued Chairmanship,"

David Parker said.

"Parker came under fire late last week when sexual harassment allegations against former party executive director Jay Parmley surfaced. Parker arranged for a settlement with the victim in the matter and allowed Parmley to continue working at the party..."

From Representative Virginia Foxx: 'No Tolerance' For Graduates With Big Student Loans To Pay

Say hello to The Sympathy Gap.

It's also why Republican policymakers have opposed extended unemployment aid -- the problem in 2012, the GOP argues, is that life has just become too comfortable for those Americans who just barely getting by. Congress should make conditions considerably more difficult for them, while giving tax breaks (and protecting tax loopholes) for millionaires.

"It may seem like a ridiculous message for a major political party to push in the wake of the most devastating economic disaster since the Great Depression, but Republicans apparently assume most low-income voters won't show up on Election Day anyway, and those voters who do participate can be scared by talk about "socialism."

Some factual errors in this editorial, but it is mostly on target.

The Charlotte Observer mistakenly says it was the N&O that broke the story about allegations about Parmley, the ED at the state Democratic Party. It was Daily Caller, Tucker Carlson's publication based in D. C.

Insolence, and worse, at Democratic Party
Harassment allegations are serious, need deeper look.