Jim Black's Stench Remains

The guilty plea and resignation of Jim Black brings to a close a despicable chapter in the history of the North Carolina State House.  But there is little evidence that the standard of ethics that Black brought to that body has been expunged.

Doug Clark correctly asks whether House Democrats should be accountable for what occurred.

Let us recall a bit of history.  The allegations about Black had been swirling about through much of last year.  Editorial pages across the state were calling for his resignation, but he held fast.  State House Democrats were feeling the pressure to respond, and ultimately made decisions about what should be done.  Instead of replacing Black as the House Speaker, they elected to allow him to retain the position through the remainder of the year.  A new speaker would be elected with the next session.

House Democrats from Guilford County were repeatedly asked what their response was.  Alma Adams, Earl Jones and Maggie Jeffus remained loyal to Black to the very end.  Pricey Harrison, after initial waffling, ultimately did call upon him to step down.  But for Pricey, there remained the not-so-small matter of the enormous sums of Jim Black money she had accepted to win her House seat initially.  Black had directed much of this money through the state Democratic party.  NC Spin estimated several months ago that she had received (by my memory) about $70,000 in this manner from Black.  There had been some suggestion at one point that she was going to return all of the Jim Black money.  We do not know whether that happened, and to what extent.  But if these numbers are true, then she had gained her seat illegitimately, and should return that as well.

In the News and Record, Earl Jones said of Black's legal troubles, "Other than that blemish, his track record is impeccable."  He indicated Black should not be remembered for his legal difficulties.   

Pricey Harrison said he should be remembered "as a champion of education funding and for helping steer the state through tough economic times".

Where is the outrage?

In truth, the outrage does not exist, because there is a culture of corruption, both locally and statewide, that enabled Black to operate as he did.  The News and Record, in an editorial this week, referred to "the legislators who happily swam in his swamp."  This included Adams, Jones, Jeffus, and Harrison (for a time).

Sam Spagnola correctly points out that it was vote-buying that was taking place in the North Carolina State House.

We need a two-party system in the state of North Carolina.  Such a system will not eliminate corruption, but it would add a layer of protection for the public so that corrections can occur at the ballot box.   Some have speculated as to why that correction did not take place in 2006.   Yes, it was a Democratic year, and what was occurring nationally had some effect.   But a united opposition party that campaigns well still should have brought this correction to the State House.  The state Republican Party never even remotely came close.  In fact, it lost seats.

The hope is that, with new leadership and stronger ethics laws in place, the old habits and attitudes deeply ingrained in State House Democrats will magically erode away.

But I would not count on it.

Comments

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Joe, as you know, I have been a strong critic of Black (A DEMOCRAT) for quite some time. And I have not been as nice on my blog as you are here. Jim Black's casual, gentlemanly arrogance and crookery is just the tip of the corruption in Raleigh . . . where lying and cheating and stealing from the public has become the status quo.

The same kind of arrogance and "We're SOOOOOO above the law," attitude trickles down into the cities and burbs outside of Raleigh. It's exactly the SAME reason I have not been given the time of day on black & white perjury charges in Asheboro . . . and those who run the city of Greensboro chose James Hinson over David Wray.

I actually was amazed Black went down so quickly and relatively quietly. The Feds must have a library of books to throw at Black . . . for him to have pled guilty (as opposed to "no-contest") to a big fat time-serving felony without a fight. And now, we shall wait to see how many others are exposed and fall . . . as Black scrambles to "cooperate" with prosecutors and shave down jail time.

I imagine that's why so many of his fellows were "somber" and sad this week as Black fell (hard) from the political heavens he once ruled. Some of them may peeling themselves off the pavement very shortly.

For the most part, the big-city MSM in North Carolina as well as the liberal bloggers (so willing to skewer Republicans) gave Black everything but a free pass . . . another form of the journalistic paternalism and arrogance to which we have become accustomed. "We know what's best for you . . . Just trust us to tell you what you need to know."

Never mind that the public has been stolen blind and beaten black&BLUE.

I think people ARE outraged . . . at their representatives . . . at their journalists. I hear it every day. But it is a slow, simmering just-under-the-surface outrage. Perhaps it will blow. Perhaps it will not. But it would be my advice to those charged with the public trust (not just the politicians) to CLEAN UP THEIR act before things really get ugly.

[Joe Guarino]

Mary, I would have liked to see this matter get more prominent coverage locally through all its stages. This was fairly consistently front-page, above-the-fold material, but it only occasionally reached that level of placement.

You raise a good point about the potential for Black to be offering information to prosecutors in exchange for some type of deal. He could not have pulled off all this corruption alone. Others complicit in his designs need to be identified and prosecuted as well.

[Bubba]

I'm afraid that it will soon be business as usual in Raleigh after the requisite brief period of crawling back into the woodwork for cover.

With a few exceptions, there are no plans for meaningful reform. And the few exceptions will be quickly shunted aside.

We need to stay vigilant.

[Joe Guarino]

You are right, Bubba. And for the state Republicans, this needs to be a time of party-building, unity-building and identification of potential leaders. The Black phenomenon was partially enabled by a vacuum of real opposition.

[Stormy]

I believe that Black went down easy because he had a plea deal reducing the charge from fraud to a lesser charge. Whether he will give up some of his co-conspirators is still in question. He may not have to do so, since he has already gotten a reduced charge.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Yes, Stormy, the charge Black pled guilty to was "lesser" in theory, BUT (as the N&O reports this morning - now suddenly all over the story) the sentence could be ten years.

I expect there are still "deals" to be made. We The People may never hear about some of them.

The N&O's article this morning details Black's political "MO": "He aligned himself with a less wealthy tier of special interests who concentrated their resources on the one House member who could most influence legislation."

And the thing that is still really torquing me off is the relative SILENCE from our friends on the "left" side of this local blogosphere . . . the ones who embrace every Democrat who comes down the pike NOMATTERWHAT and miss no opportunity to slam Republicans (please remember I am an Independent). I am sick of the double standard and the hypocrisy. If you're against corruption . . . you're against it PERIOD . . . even if it's in your own backyard . . . and no matter who it is. And you DO/SAY something about it.

You do not sit on the fence.

Joe is right about "the vacuum" of opposition in Raleigh. The Dems think they own the place . . . and they know the rest of us don't. But I think it's about much more than party. I've been on the receiving end of the same kind of arrogant abuse of power for nine years . . . I think it's about a moral vacuum . . . and an incredible amount of societal apathy . . . we're numb to corruption . . . we expect it . . . and (generally speaking) if something does not directly affect the individual, they do not care.

[Joe Guarino]

Stormy, you may be right. In this particular case, I hope not; and I know Black was involved in a number of questionable activities other than the one for which he pled guilty.

And thank you Mary, for your posts and your concern over this issue. It is, indeed something that is of enormous magnitude; and dwarfs many of the various scandals we have been reading about in Washington because the head of a legislative chamber has pled guilty to a criminal charge.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

The Charlotte Observer is reporting that Black will enter an "Alford" (guilty but not) plea to something in state court on Tuesday.

I fear a lot of stuff is being shovelled under the rug.

[Bubba]

"I fear a lot of stuff is being shovelled under the rug."

Standard operating procedure at the state and local level.

As we well know already.

[Brenda Bowers]

I give Black two years tops. And no he won't squeal on anyone because he is calling in “favors” at this point. I have no hope for North Carolina state politics and politicians if what we have sent to Raleigh is any example. Best we can do is try to clean up our own back yard.

And remember, we have a marvelous tool for influencing the voters that we have never had before: our blogs!