Black's Days Finite?

This week may prove to be the turning point from the standpoint of hastening the end of Jim Black's state House Speakership.

The Charlotte Observer editorialized today that Black should resign as Speaker.  This is quite significant because the Observer is his hometown newspaper.

Elsewhere, it was reported that Democrats are planning contingencies in the event he falls.   

Finally, Tom Campbell of NC Spin indicates in the following passage that indictments of Meredith Norris and Kevin Geddings may be forthcoming next week:

The next week is critical to Black, but there may be more bad news coming. We understand that indictments against Kevin Geddings and Meredith Norris will be issued next week. While they may not mention Black directly the press will once again be talking about him.

 

The other shoe that might drop is the ongoing federal investigation. You can bet your bottom dollar that the information gleaned from the SBOE hearings was well noted and will be compared with what the feds already knew. Testimony will be compared and witnesses will be recalled. This case is far from over.

 

All across the state phones are ringing and people are wondering what this means for the future of the Speaker. A quick read is that this is damning to Black's chances to remain in power. There are conversations taking place as we write, among House Democrats, that perhaps it would be best for the party if Black steps aside, at least temporarily like Tom DeLay on the federal level, while the investigations continue and until he is cleared. This movement is gaining strength among liberals in the House, who want Joe Hackney to be the next Speaker, and among the Black caucus, who (despite Black's large campaign contributions) aren't happy.

For state Democrats, control of the state legislature may ride on the events that occur in the near future.  Several potential Speakers have been mentioned in the event Black is replaced-- Hugh Holliman, Hackney, Jim Crawford-- and whoever rises to the position would have a significant impact on the state.  These three men are not identical politically or philosophically.

For local Democrats in the state legislature tied to Black-- Pricey Harrison, Earl Jones, Alma Adams-- a campaign issue has been handed to any opponents they may face in the future.

It is hoped we will see an end to this sorry chapter soon.

 

Comments

[Roch101]

North Carolina progressives aren't too happy about the smell of corruption either. The presidents of the Progressive Democrats of North Carolina and the Progressive Democrats of North Carolina PAC are calling for Jim Black to step down as speaker. This from an email:

---------------------------

Democrats: Where do we Stand?

So far no Democratic elected official has called for Jim Black to step down as Speaker.

Why?

The voting public can clearly see that he flagrantly abused the spirit, and at times the letter, of our weak campaign finance and ethics laws. Optometrists, lottery vendors, and video poker interests showed their ?appreciation? for the Speaker?s support of their special interests by flooding him with campaign finance contributions that he could share with his cronies.

True, the Speaker has not been indicted nor convicted. But should the Democratic standard be ?is there enough evidence to convict?? rather than ?what is the level of ethical conduct we should demand from our party?s leader?? When Democrats rightly condemn the special interest domination of the Bush administration and the Abramoff influence peddling in Congress, can we righteously stonewall inquiry when our own representative does the same thing?

Which battle do we Democrats want to fight: defending Jim Black?s actions OR fighting for real ethics, lobbying and campaign finance reform? Is it time to seize the moral high ground, or will we continue to argue that, despite appearances, we Democrats aren?t really as bad as the Republicans?

Some legislators appreciate the Speaker?s support for their campaigns, and feel a personal loyalty to him. They argue that what Jim Black did is no different than the actions of many others, and that he is being unfairly singled out by the media. But what about the higher loyalties of public service: to the people of North Carolina, to the principle of honest and transparent government, and to the best of the Democratic Party?

Some concede that Jim Black is a major embarrassment, but argue that ?we need the money.? The Speaker has been successful at raising the huge sums needed to run for office in the modern political environment? great at using the system to benefit Democrats. But now we know that we see how that system works and what its true costs are?we must question: Is our political soul for sale?

Others argue that since Black has (finally, under pressure) come out for sweeping lobbying and ethics reform, we would do better to accept his apology and grab this opportunity for reform. But we can?t really have it both ways. The ?reverse coat-tail effect,? or what former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich calls ?the skunktails? of scandal will attach to all who make excuses for Black?s conduct. We can?t argue for high moral principle and simultaneously refuse to make the obvious moral judgment.

Still others argue that the legislators already positioning themselves for the Speaker?s chair are even worse examples of ?good ole boy,? special-interest, conservative Democrats. But the real opportunity is for progressives, African Americans, women, and all House Democrats of principle to team up and elect a proven reformer for Speaker.

Finally, some whisper that to oppose Black now would be ?political suicide? if he manages to survive. That is hardly an endorsement of the character of Jim Black. The answer is not for progressives to tiptoe around the obvious but to organize and to stand for an altogether different method of doing the state?s political business.

In the end, there is only one positive way forward for Progressive Democrats. Ask the Speaker to step down now; elect a real reformer to the chair; fight for the strongest ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance reform legislation possible. The North Carolina Democratic Party, unlike the Republican Party, is firmly on record as supporting such legislation. The choice is ours. It is time to stand up for the courage of our convictions.

For the good of the State of North Carolina and the good of the Democratic Party, Jim Black must resign as Speaker of the House.

Joint statement by:
Progressive Democrats of North Carolina; MacWhatley, President mac@greendogs.org
Progressive Democrats of North Carolina PAC; Pete MacDowell, President petemacdowell@nc.rr.com

[Joe Guarino]

Roch-- Thanks for attaching that e-mail. It was quite interesting. The picture that is emerging is of his political support rapidly collapsing. It is an open question as to how defiant he will be with respect to holding on to power.

Black's recent advocacy of lobbying reform is somewhat reminiscent of one congressman charged in the Abscam investigation 25 years ago. This particular person told the entire nation, entirely straight-faced, that he when he accepted the money, he was "conducting his own investigation."

North Carolina really needs to do better with respect to ethics in elected officials-- both at the state and local levels.

[Patrick Eakes]

I have been curious why there has not been a bigger groundswell to get Black out of the speaker's chair, if not out of Raleigh completely.

I think...and it's only my gut at this point...that most NC residents generally ignore the state legislature, and that is why Black has been able to skate so far. No matter the reason, dude needs to do himself and the rest of us a favor and hit the trail.

[Glenn C Jordan Jr]

I think Patrick has it about right. Most people in NC probably don't know who Black is. I don't see how Black can do anything but distract from the business of the General Assembly.

[Joe Guarino]

Patrick, Glenn, I agree. There is not nearly enough attention paid to the state government in Raleigh. Yes, all politics is local, but... state governments still have a significant impact on the lives of citizens. Black is finally emerging from beneath the radar screen.

[become a home inspector]

who is black?