The Bellamy Appointment

Several months ago, I posted an item drawing an analogy between the Greensboro Police Department matter and Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities.

The appointment of David Wray's successor this week, however, brought to mind yet another Tom Wolfe novel-- A Man in Full.  It is well known that Greensboro has a strong African-American political power structure, mostly embodied in the Simkins machine.  Atlanta happens to be another southern city with a strong African-American power structure, and was the object of Wolfe's social criticism.  He describes the interactions between Charlie Croker, a real estate developer, and the less-than-savory black mayor of Atlanta, Wes Jordan, modeled after former Mayor Bill Campbell.  Check out the plot line in case you did not read the book:

"The central plot of A Man in Full involves its hero's abortive attempts to save both his financial empire and his sense of self-worth. Croker's efforts are quickly compromised by the politics of race in the self-proclaimed "City Too Busy to Hate." A sexual incident between a Georgia Tech football star and the daughter of a major power broker—consensual sex according to the black athlete, date rape according to the white debutante—threatens to widen the already considerable fissure that marks the city's racial fault line. The threat of bad publicity, a challenge to Atlanta's claims for being the nation's (according to some of its boosters, the world's) civil rights capital, calls for problem solving "the Atlanta way." As lines are drawn between the races, as well as between classes on each side of the city's color line, negotiations between Atlanta's two major power groups—black politicians and white businessmen—are set in place for behind-the-scenes, back-door, Atlanta-style politics. The designated spokesman for the Atlanta way this time around, both factions agree, will be Charlie Croker, legendary Tech football star and edge-city entrepreneur. How well he performs in this role would seem to determine his fate, both financial and personal."

We learned more about how official Greensboro chose to handle the GPD matter in a pair of news articles in the Greensboro News and Record that appeared over the last several days.  Friday's front page article was accompanied by a picture of Bellamy with a placidly grinning Mayor Keith Holliday.  Today's article, also on the front page, proclaims Bellamy in a banner headline to be the "right man at the right time".

Another picture showed a group of individuals giving Bellamy a standing ovation.  In some respects, it resembles an inverted version of the children's tale, The Emperor's New Clothes.  But in this case, it is Bellamy who is likely aware of those in the cheering assemblage who are strutting with inadequate insight into their nakedness.

The Coverage  

Some excerpts from the new articles:

"He stressed the city's 'core values' of honesty and integrity and pledged to do the 'right thing for the right reason'."

Reaction: This is a bit reminiscent of when George H.W. Bush succeeded Ronald Reagan as president stating that he wanted a "kinder, gentler nation."  It was an overt attempt to draw a distinction between his goals and the previous administration, and to present himself in a more favorable light.  Cheap ploy.

"There are some issues (with truthfulness and unethical behavior).  And we are currently dealing with those issues through disciplinary procedures according to our directives manual."

Reaction: It is unclear whether he is dealing with the alleged problems associated with Wray's subordinates implicated in the GPD matter, or whether he is discussing the black officers discussed in the Bledsoe series.  But we know which group has been pushed out and disciplined, and which has not been.

"The qualities Johnson described in Bellamy-- fairness, inclusion, field experience-- were some of the same traits many officers had complained to Johnson were lacking in former chief David Wray.  Johnson said the city needed a 'big belt' chief, someone who had spent more time as a beat cop than administrator."

One of the fascinating aspects of this entire drama has been the extent to which official Greensboro has reverberated the stated concerns of the dissatisfied contingent of officers beneath Wray.  Under this formulation, the chief works for his subordinates.  This is a complete reversal of the previously established ground rules, in which police departments are administered according to a hierarchical, quasi-military model.  There were valid reasons for this system.  The rules essentially were changed on Wray in the middle of the game.  Now-- all of a sudden-- the police chief is, on the surface, expected to be a practitioner of participative management.  On the big issues, of course, the employees will not be making the decisions, but the chief is at continuous risk of the guillotine as long as a vocal group of employees, who capture the attention of the political class, does not like his approaches.  In the meantime, however, we will be observing somewhat of an experiment in the management of police departments-- if, of course, it works out as Johnson and Bellamy say it will.

"By the time Johnson made an offer, two of the four finalists had withdrawn, citing other opportunities and the impressions they weren't the favored pick.  Johnson said the decision tho hire Bellamy wasn't affected by the withdrawals."

Reaction: Presumably, Johnson is saying that he would have chosen someone who had withdrawn from consideration.  Doesn't seem likely.  It was apparent to two of the finalists that the decision had already been made.

"Eddie Summers, president of the 435-member member Greensboro Police Officers Association, said Bellamy's appointment would bring 'stability back to the department, something we've not had for the past 14 months'."

Reaction: Gee, I wonder who may be at fault over that situation!

"Bellamy has promised to hit the streets 'four, five, six times' each month (on patrol), he said hours after his appointment.  He'll require future assistant chiefs to do likewise."

Reaction: I wonder if there is any proof that this would make a difference.  The emphasis on the "big belt" approach--the lack thereof having been an employee group criticism of the previous administration-- is interesting.  But it is far from clear whether the big belt approach will reduce crime or use manpower more effectively.  It sounds good for PR, however.

In summary, there was considerable verbiage expressing concern over assuaging the sensibilities of the police officers in the department, and relatively few over the imperative to drive down crime aggressively.  Yes, some tools for crime control were briefly discussed, almost as an afterthought.  The emphasis was on satisfying the employees in the department, not protecting the public.

But of course, the emphasis on employee relations over the central mission to fight crime is an expression of the local political culture.

What has Bellamy been doing?

Some people I know and respect, who know Bellamy personally, have indicated to me that he is a good man.  I have been told that he is not a part of the group of black officers highlighted in Bledsoe's series.

Nonetheless, I have had some lingering concerns about the circumstances of his ascendancy.  I had a post a couple of months ago that expressed my misgivings over the fact that the famed City Attorney's report suggested that Bellamy had certain racial grievances against David  Wray.  This could create the appearance that he was complicit with the group that was engineering Wray's demise, and his own rise to the position of chief.

Moreover, Brenda Bowers had this post here earlier this week, suggesting Bellamy knew, or should have known, about some of the misbehavior reported by Bledsoe as it was occurring:

"What is wrong with Tim Bellamy’s appointment? He has been a player all along in every one of the “problem” areas and his actions were less than what would be expected a mediocre police officer let alone one who is now Chief of Police. He was Hinson’s supervisor when he caught Hinson with an illegal civilian prostitute in his police car and he looked the other way. Hinson was breaking a law in two ways, having a civilian in his police car and fraternizing with a “shady lady”. He was Hinson’s supervisor when much of Hinson’s working two jobs at the same time took place. Hinson was caught red handed stealing from the city coffers!……what did TB do about that? He was the “snitch” in Wray’s command structure as his comments on events after Wray’s resignation show. He has had a year and a half to do some cleaning house in the police department and all he has done is protect the criminals in the department and make damned sure those who were investigating the criminals have been punished. Will he restore any confidence in the police force? A person has to be either Mitchell Johnson or brain dead to expect that outcome for this appointment!"

The alternative, of course, is that Bellamy has been keeping his head down, savvy about the politics of the situation.  He may have known that taking on this challenge would jeopardize him.

The Politics

Bellamy is, indeed, savvy about the politics surrounding his leadership, and is responsive to what his bosses would expect.  This means he is more likely to have longevity as chief.  The question is whether the motives of his bosses are pure.

The chief reports to the city manager, who in turn reports to the city council.  The council has been populated by those who have been principals of the Simkins machine or who have sought and obtained its endorsement in the past.  It has also been populated by white politicians representing development interests who must do business with this machine in order to get things done; and by liberals who attempt to express political virtue by working with it.

These people, for the most part, do not care one flip regarding the plight of East Greensboro residents struggling with the impact of crime and drugs in their communities.  They lack appreciation of how much better crime control can invigorate and restore these areas.  The black politicians have their own interests and priorities to which they attend; and the white politicans have theirs.  And the constituents of the white politicians are largely insulated from the worst effects of local crime because of housing patterns.  They don't come in contact with it.

Jerry Bledsoe goes into a masterful discussion of the Simkins PAC in part 13 of his series on November 2, 2006.  I will not go into all the details, but it is not pretty.

In the Project Homestead manner, it was Robbie Perkins, Don Vaughan, Claudette Burroughs-White and Yvonne Johnson who intervened on behalf of Michael King to prevent Jacky Dowd from conducting an audit of the organization.

And in the GPD matter, it was Joe Williams who secured the assistance of Mr. Vaughan and Ms. Burroughs-White.  He obtained the attentions of the city legal office, which proceeded to write a one-sided report that endeavored to make the case that the City of Greensboro had discriminated severely and repeatedly against black officers.  The City Council authorized the hiring of an outside consultant-- RMA-- to investigate further.  It was all over for Wray probably by September of 2005.

But in reality, it may have been over for him much sooner.  As soon as the media reports began about the secret police in June, 2005, he was in a compromised position.  I had written at that time about the dynamics of having a black police chief versus a white police chief.  In fact, Bellamy will be in a much stronger position than Wray was because he will be given a pass on racial issues-- profiling, brutality, excessive force, internal matters, etc.  The overt symbolism of having a black chief will preemptively defuse the tendency of detractors and the media to magnify such complaints.

The city of Greensboro, at this time, is not nearly tolerant enough to have a white police chief.

But this is partially attributable to our political culture, akin to that seen in Atlanta which Tom Wolfe lampooned.  Remember that fictional character Charlie Croker, the wealthy developer, recognized that he had to do business with the mayor.

Comments

[Bubba]

Solid piece of commentary, Joe.

This is the best description of the situation I have ever read:

"The chief reports to the city manager, who in turn reports to the city council. The council has been populated by members who have been principals of the Simkins machine or who have obtained its endorsement in the past. It has also been populated by white politicians representing development interests who must do business with this machine in order to get things done; and by liberals who attempt to express political virtue by working with it.

These people, for the most part, do not care one flip regarding the plight of East Greensboro residents struggling with the impact of crime and drugs in their communities. They underappreciate how much better crime control can invigorate and restore these areas. The black politicians have their own interests and priorities to which they attend; and the white politicians have theirs. And the constituents of the white politicians are largely insulated from the worst effects of local crime because of housing patterns. They don't come in contact with it."

And with the selection of Bellamy, nothing will change.

Thus, the status quo is preserved, and it's business as usual for all the participants in the power game.

This is about as corrupt as it gets.

And no one besides you and several others wants to talk about it.

Forget the main stream blogosphere, as exemplified by Cone. They will never touch this aspect.

Forget the media, as the N&R puff piece is typical of what we're likely to hear for months on end, now that everything has been put back in its proper political place.

We need to take this thing to a much wider audience.

How can we best do this?

[Fec Stench]

Why don't you put on hoods and set fire to a cross? I might expect this tripe from a dumb redneck, but to have to read it from another carpetbagger really chafes my hide.

[Bubba]

"Why don't you put on hoods and set fire to a cross? I might expect this tripe from a dumb redneck, but to have to read it from another carpetbagger really chafes my hide."

"Hoods"...."set fire to a cross"......

Go sleep it off Fec......come back when your brain gets reconnected.

[Brenda Bowers]

Joe, Thank you for quoting my entire comment. You needn’t have done that. I just pointed out that he hadn’t done his job as a Deputy Chief and Supervisor, or as an Interim Police Chief so why in the world could anyone expect an epiphany with the appointment as Police Chief.

Your analysis of the situation is of course correct. Yes, there is no doubt that he does know the lay of the land and he wanted the job as much as those who gave it to him wanted him to have it. A real love-match made in Hell!

Bubba, Several weeks ago I blogged about getting a referendum for the public election of the Chief of Police on the 2008 ballot.. http://www.triadblogs.com/BrendaFayBowers/3944/There+is+a+Solution+to+the+GPD+Debacle.html The people are ready to sign the petition for the referendum and they are certainly ready to vote for it given all that has happened and is going to continue as the system is now set up. We need to get the selection of the Police Chief in the hands of the public and out of the hands of one hired, not elected, official. Unless the people do a clean sweep of the council in this election then we are going to be hung with Johnson for a long time. Some expressed the fear that the Simkins PAC would back their man and he would win an election as Police Chief. I don’t think that would be the case in a city wide vote as this would be. And if so, it wouldn't be any worse than we have hadwith the last two Black cpolice Chiefs. And, he will only be in office four years before the people have another chance to vote if they don’t like who is in office currently.

The police department is NOT like any other city department. The police department is in charge of our security and catching the criminals whom ever they are. To effectively do this the police department must be autonomous and the Chief elected by the people and who serves at the peoples pleasure. If some whining group of officers don’t like him they have a right to vote against him and even to work during the election to have him deposed. But while under his command he is in command. There won’t be any running behind his back playing politics as I feel sure Bellamy did when he had the chance. Too much politics and too much power in the hands of an unelected official (City Manager). And I might point out the Sheriff of Guilford County is elected and it seems to operate well since I haven’t heard of nor read any scandals concerning Guilford County Police Officers.

[Joe Guarino]

Bubba, thanks for your comments. There have already been comments that there will be significant turnover this year on the City Council. Unfortunately, with our non-partisan system and the power of the machine, it is very difficult to get good candidates who deviate significantly from the status quo, who possess integrity and who have a chance to win. But good people-- who are not gullible or compromised -- need to step forward. Two years ago, I called upon candidates to commit to refrain from seeking the machine endorsement. We need to do this again.

Brenda, I think your idea is a good one if it is doable legally.

[Joe Guarino]

Fec, I am having trouble accessing your blog today. And why does your name link to "mucus"?

[Fred Gregory]

Thanks Joe . That was superb.

The staus quo in this city appear to be permanent. The words of Dante Alighieri seem appropriate.
You are in the 'Boro like it or not:

Through me you pass into the city of woe

Through me you pass into eternal pain

Through me among the people lost for aye

Justice the founder of my fabric mov'd

To rear me was the task of power devine

Supermest wisdom, and pimeveal love

Before me things create were none, save things

Eternal, and eternal I endure
All hope abandon ye who enter here.

[Fec Stench]

My blog will be back soon enough.

As you can see from the comments and as you might have seen had you been paying attention, you are now widely considered to be a Racist and will be henceforth ignored.

[Bubba]

Bye bye, Fec.....don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.....

[Fec Stench]

Bubba, you really are to be congratulated for your continuing stellar ability to marginalize any conversation with which you are involved, and they are legion.

[Bubba]

As opposed to your ability to totally misrepresent what is being said on this thread?

Leaving aside any comments about your other obvious problems, including your behavior at a certain bloggers' meeting last fall, you are not one who should be pointing fingers at anyone else about marginalizing a conversation.

One more thing....if your intent is to start a fight with me, let's do so on some other venue.

[David Hoggard]

Bubba...

Like you, Fec calls them like he sees them. It ain't pretty but that's the way some people are built. Thicken your skin.

And again, like you, Fec has never been anything but a gentleman at any function I have ever attended with him. So you must have some bad information in your third hand snipe at him.

As for your post, Joe. Your paranoia over what you percieve as an undue level of power that the Simkins PAC welds continues to fascinate me.

They are a political action committee who's sole purpose is to get out the black vote in support of black-centric issues. They do this in the same was that TREBIC strives to get ou the developer/realtor vote in support of develop/realtor issues.

Your unending focus on, and contempt for, them to the exclusion of any examination of Greensboro's other - arguably more powerful - PAC continues to strike me as a bit hypocritical.

They are both Political ACTION Committees. They take action.

Get a bunch of folks together to start and your own PAC if your interest is truly about countering/quelling Simpkins' efforts.

Call it the Bubba PAC.

[Fec Stench]

You're right, Bubba. I was caught unawares and came unglued when presented with so many link whores at once.

I'll be glad when the Doc gets back, so I can quit dealing with his dimwitted wingman.

[Wendell Sawyer]

I remember when the George C. Simkins Jr. Memorial Political Action Committee was simply known as the “Citizens Committee.” My father, Tom Sawyer, was a Democrat back in the 1970s and he served three terms in the state house from Guilford County. He had known Dr. Simkins for years before he ran for the legislature and he sought the endorsement of the committee when he ran in 1972. After checking the results, there was no doubt in my mind that the committee’s endorsement made the difference in my father’s successful race that year and his subsequent two re-election bids.

Years later, when I was in the state senate, the Citizens Committee endorsed my candidacy for re-election in 1986. However, unlike my father, I was a Republican.

I remember that Herman Gist was heavily involved in the Citizens Committee at that time. Herman was a remarkable man. As I remember, he was a bricklayer by trade and he later owned a store that sold exotic coffees. He was extremely intelligent and he possessed an uncanny knack for politics. When he first came into public view during the 1970s, he was an opponent of “forced busing” being used as a tool to desegregate the public school system. As I recall, he had some political differences with the Simkins’ Citizen Committee and started his own political organization. Eventually, Gist and Simkins worked through their differences and Gist and his group merged with the committee. Later on, Herman ran and won a seat in the state house.

I know some of the folks in today’s Simkins PAC. Joe Williams and Steve Bowden are good, successful lawyers.

So, I don’t have a grudge against the PAC. But, I do understand why Joe Guarino is concerned about what he perceives as the inordinate political clout of this political organization. A good example of that clout is the political demise of Don Vaughan. Don was elected to the city council over and over again; so many times that I can’t remember just how many terms he served. As I remember, the Simkins PAC endorsed Vaughan in all of his city council races. That is until 2005. For some reason or other, Vaughan fell into disfavor with the PAC and he wasn’t endorsed. As we all know, he was defeated that year and replaced by a novice, Sandra Anderson Groat, who had never held elected office before. One big difference was that she received the PAC’s endorsement and Don did not. It is interesting to note that Ms. Groat, the political rookie, was selected by the city council to be mayor pro tem.

So, David, I don’t think that Joe Guarino is suffering from paranoid delusions when he criticizes the Simkins PAC. He may not use the words that I would choose to use. But, I can’t imagine anyone who is familiar with local politics that would deny that the Simkins PAC is a powerful political organization that doesn’t hesitate to use its political muscle in local races for office. And, as many of us know, the PAC does tend to endorse and support candidates who are of the liberal persuasion. Joe, being the good conservative that he is, has just as much right to criticize the Simkins PAC as the gun control folks have in criticizing the National Rifle Association. Whenever you move into the political arena in such a big way, you have to expect criticism from your political adversaries.

As for the developer/realtor supporters and PACs, I would like to focus on them and do a little critical analysis of their handiwork. That would be an interesting topic. But, that will have to wait for another day on another thread.

[Bubba]

"I'll be glad when the Doc gets back, so I can quit dealing with his dimwitted wingman."

I'm not responsible for your emotional problems, little buddy.

Take it off here and come to my place.

[Fec Stench]

Bubba, I have never been and doubt I ever shall be your "little buddy." I will , however, wait here resolutely for someone to offer evidence of any link between the Simkins PAC and Chief Bellamy, or for that matter, Mitch Johnson.

It's like peeking in the window of a Klan meeting.

[Bubba]

"And again, like you, Fec has never been anything but a gentleman at any function I have ever attended with him. So you must have some bad information in your third hand snipe at him."

No, David....it's no snipe. I have good information from attending that John Locke Foundation meeting at the convention center last October.

I came in as he left the meeting room in full rant and rave.

Our demented little buddy knows full well what he what, and when he did it.

Remember Ed Cone's thread about inappropriate blogger comments over the the recent lost GSO boy scout?

Remember who confessed to being one of the culprits?

In reference to that episode, check out the last sentence in both Jeff Taylor's and Sam Hieb's comments at sam's Piedmont Publius.

http://triad.johnlocke.org/blog/?p=560#comment-2894

http://triad.johnlocke.org/blog/?p=560#comment-2895

Guess who they're talking about?

Calling Joe Guarino a racist is over the line.

I'm calling him out over his repeated bad behavior.

[Joe Guarino]

Joe Williams, a PAC heavyweight, brought his concerns early to the city council members above. He was acting as Hinson's lawyer, but once he brought it to the council, it was no longer just a legal matter. It then became a political matter. And Williams' word, with his influence and position in the PAC, carries significant clout.

Lawyers don't ordinarily bring their concerns over their clients to elected representatives. They usually follow other, more legitimate legal channels and practices.

Johnson works for the Council, and the PAC is therefore --indirectly and secondarily-- one of his employers.

Any records of communication between council members and Mitchell Johnson have not been released. But we would have to demonstrate an awful lot of faith to assume that Mr. Williams' intervention did not have an impact. He received a generous welcome in the city legal office, which wrote its report in close harmony with the case that Hinson and Co. were preparing.

[Bubba]

"It's like peeking in the window of a Klan meeting."

You're out of line, but out of courtesy to Joe, I will not shred your fragile mental state here.

[Joe Guarino]

David, in fact, much of this post made reference to the enabling role that the representatives of the city's development community on the City Council have had in situations such as these. I hardly let them off the hook.

I have chosen to discuss the Simkins PAC periodically on my blog. There are many other local bloggers who may wish to adopt TREBIC as a focus of interest, and I welcome them to do so.

Thanks, Wendell, for your comments, which are always instructive.

And Fred, I enjoyed your creative use of Dante.

[Fec Stench]

Don't forget my go with MKH and Fred Gregory at TownHall, if you can find it. And I think Wizbang had a comment.

[Joe Guarino]

Fec, when conducting blog conversations, it is much better to engage the argument rather than to discuss and characterize each other. Personalizing the debate leads to a downward spiral. Talk about the issue, not about each other.

You are well within bounds, however, to express skepticism about or disagreement with the content of a post.

[Fec Stench]

Joe, I called you a Racist and stand by that claim. Bubba digressed and I followed him. Look to your sycophant for remedy.

[Fec Stench]

BTW, I think it only right that I uncloak at this point. My name is Jeff Martin and I am prepared to satisfy any other particulars you may require. I face evil without artifice.

[Joe Guarino]

Sorry, Fec, you just elected to end this conversation. But you are certainly welcome back at any time.

[sean coon]

call it like you see it, jeff. i know that might shake the foundation of the koolaid kid's klub, but hey, this is america, right?

[Jeff Martin]

Jeepers, Joe. You don't have to look hard at my blog when it's up to find instances of racism. I was gonna cop to it and then we could get on with the conversation. I could tell you how the bottom is getting ready to drop out of this community with the SBI indictments and your particular version of racial conspiracy theory and hysteria is the last thing we need right now.

But you're not interested, so nevermind.

[Tony Ledford]

Fear is an ugly thing. It makes people smell bad, too, especially over the "internets."

Best regards,

[David Hoggard]

Wendell, I agree when you say, "I can’t imagine anyone who is familiar with local politics that would deny that the Simkins PAC is a powerful political organization that doesn’t hesitate to use its political muscle in local races for office."

That's really not been the point of Joe G.'s many jabs at the PAC over the years. He almost comes off as one who believes a PAC shouldn't do what PACs are supposed to do - namely use its political muscle.

Joe's usual characterization of the Simkins PAC has the word "machine" in there somewhere, thereby giving his unstated but undeniable shading of a corrupt Tamany Hall-style organization.

They are influential, yes. But unduly influential and corrupt? hardly.

[Tony Ledford]

David, it's possible that many or most white Republicans *do* think that PACs "shouldn't do what PACs are supposed to do" if said PACs are advancing the interests of African-American Democrats.

Seems to me, anyway.

Best regards,

[Bubba]

"But you're not interested, so nevermind."

I think he told you that the conversation was over.

Like everything else you say and do, you ignore what you don't want to acknowledge and rush head first over the edge of whatever cliff you always chose to place yourself.

I feel sorry for you.

[Joe Guarino]

Tony, I think it would be extremely inappropriate for a PAC to be designed to advance the interests of white Democrats or white Republicans. It is also inappropriate for other ethnic and racial groups. Race-based political claims are inherently wrongheaded. This is not fear. It is an acknowledgment of reality. We are one nation, not a collection of interest groups based on racial or ethnic derivation.

David, we have had this conversation before. We disagree. I think there has been much to be concerned about with the Simkins PAC, some of its principals, and the manner in which its power has been wielded.

[jw]

What, then, is the role of a PAC? Or should they exist at all?

[Roch101]

"Vaughan fell into disfavor with the PAC and he wasn’t endorsed. As we all know, he was defeated that year and replaced by a novice, Sandra Anderson Groat, who had never held elected office before." -- Wendell

That's a very incomplete picture, Wendell. Don Vaughan was not in a two-person race. Vaughan also lost to Florence Gatten and Yvonne Johnson (there were six candidates for the three at-large seats for which Vaughan was running). Gatten didn't have the Simkins' PAC endorsement either, but she defeated Vaughan too.

I don't know why you'd leave that little factoid out, unless you were unaware or it was inconvenient to your implications.

Hoggard makes a good point about other political action committees. I'd like to see this same kind of won/lost analysis of the candidates who received TRIBEC's endorsements. Are there more sitting city council persons endorsed by TRIBEC or Simkins?

And Wendell, as I suspect you are probably aware, the mayor pro tem position traditionally goes to the at-large council person who got the most votes. That's why Anderson-Groat got the position and her election to that position is "interesting," as you wrote, only if one is trying to imply sinister forces to something that is explained by consistency with tradition. But if you still don't want to take that on its face, maybe it can be explained by her membership in TRIBEC.

[David Hoggard]

You are right, Joe. And I appreciate you letting me be redundantly obstinent every time you raise the issue.

There has certainly been some questionable behavior and actions on the part of some of the PAC's members over the years. I just don't translate that into an indictment of the whole group.

There are many good people on that committee... people of great integrity and impeccable reputation. I'm just not willing to throw them all in your 'machine' bucket and will challenge the assertion whenever raised.

If they have any undue influence among our elected people it is because we have weak-kneed candidates and office-holders, it is not because the PAC is overly powerful.

[Joe Guarino]

JW, the role of a PAC is to advocate in the political process for the election of candidates friendly to a certain set of political interests. It is one of the unsavory aspects of politics. But it is objectionable if it is based on race or ethnicity. I think it would be quite objectionable if we had an Italian-American PAC advocating for the putative political prerogatives of Italian-Americans. But let me ask you specifically-- do you think it would be appropriate to have a PAC specifically designated for white Americans? If not, why not, if it is acceptable for other racial groups? If it is acceptable for some racial groups, but not for others, well, when does it no longer become acceptable for a racial group to have a PAC, and how do we decide? As I stated above, I don't think it would be appropriate to have PAC's for white Americans.

David, I agree with you that we do not have a shortage of weak-kneed elected officials.

[sean coon]

"Tony, I think it would be extremely inappropriate for a PAC to be designed to advance the interests of white Democrats or white Republicans. It is also inappropriate for other ethnic and racial groups. Race-based political claims are inherently wrongheaded. This is not fear. It is an acknowledgment of reality. We are one nation, not a collection of interest groups based on racial or ethnic derivation."

nice veil, joe. let's talk about reality. just a bit of history here, don't worry, it'll be quick and only sting a bit:

who designated racial lines in this country?

not black folk.

it began with white folk unloading ships of black folk for zero cost labor and it continued with white folk lynching and hosing black folk *hundreds of years later* because white folk wouldn't, or couldn't, modernize to the fact that all men are created equal.

see, that didn't hurt much. here's a lollypop:

for you to sit there and try to equate "white republicans or white democrats" with the african-american community -- fully cognizant of american history and the distinct differences in the collective, general experiences between races, well, to be nice, i'll leave it classified as "beyond intellectually dishonest."

question: have you ever stepped outside your bubble to experience the african-american community in our town, joe?

http://www.seancoon.org/2006/11/building_community_beyond_the_digital_divide.html

there's something about shared experiences that pull people together. whether you want to admit it or not, in 2007, race is a shared experience in america because our founding fathers saw fit to determine that path as suitable to their needs and tastes, *not* because black folk are coming together to squash the interests of whitey.

the simkins pac didn't arise out of the ether; it arose out of the need to empower and mobilize black folk in greensboro who very well may experience life in greensboro quite differently than either you or me.

if there wasn't a need, believe me, it would've been already been marginalized by its constituency.

as for your one nation comment (this one might sting, i need to hit a meaty part of your body):

we are one nation just as much as we are one religion.

yes, i know you believe that is true as well, but it isn't.

we are a nation of myriads of interests, experiences and aspirations. we crossover each other along certain lines -- including race -- but we are not *all one*.

if we were, your usual peanut galley would be more representative than a bunch of sycophants.

[Marion]

Joe won't say it because he is too much of a gentleman but Hoggard, Coon and " Skip " Stench .. Fuck Off !!

[Joe Guarino]

Sean, I interact with African-Americans every day. Many of them. Virtually all of those I deal with are fine people-- in some ways, more respectful and courteous than some other groups with whom I interact.

Many, but not all, are firmly ensconced in the middle class. Many drive nicer, newer vehicles than I do. Some probably have nicer homes than I do. And I am a physician! But I do not for a moment begrudge them that. I am very pleased that there is so much success, and that so much opportunity has been accessed.

The problem with your post, Sean, is that it fails miserably to recognize the enormous strides in opportunity that have occurred for black Americans. Equality of opportunity has been attained. Equality of outcome has not been, for a number of reasons which are really beyond the scope of this discussion.

So my question to you, as it was to JW, is when the legitimacy of political organizations designed to advance the interests of a given racial group no longer exists? When are claims to racial entitlement no longer acceptable? When do we cross that threshold?

We need to be one nation. We need to assimilate to one American mean. We don't need to balkanize according to ethnic and racial interests. The whole idea of the Simkins PAC is outmoded and outdated. It is a dinosaur.

[Uncle Remus]

Skip? And you forgot Roch.

[sean coon]

"We don't need to balkanize according to ethnic and racial interests."

who's this "we" that you speak of, joe? we, this "one people of america?"

you talk about "reality," but then sugar coat it with idyllic perspectives dipped in propped up constructs.

balkanize?

is that what you think the simkins PAC is about? attempting to *further* a racial divide?

how is it that when "self-empowerment" speaks to a greater level than simply serving "self," some people get so worked up?

are you mad because you're not being "assimilated" into such efforts?

i previously asked if you've ever experienced the african-american *community*. you responded that you treat black folk and speak with black folk and watch black folk drive nice cars and take advantage of opportunities for success.

a round of applause.

the problem with *your post*, joe, is that you're equating happiness and progression strictly with material gains and then confusing observations of individual interaction with experiencing a community that you're not a part of.

to be damn sure, my experiences with african-american communities are only as "real" as the people in the particular communities have allowed them to be for me -- from montclair to syracuse to brooklyn to jersey city to here.

i inherently recognize that, in general, my presence is one of an outsider, so no matter what, i can "get it" to a certain degree, but i'll never fully understand.

i'd be a jackass to think that i should be able to "assimilate" into ***any*** community without putting foot to pavement and establishing my credibility first and foremost.

but i guess driving nice cars and recognizing financial opportunities is a nice starting point of "understanding" in this case (smacks forehead!)

"The whole idea of the Simkins PAC is outmoded and outdated. It is a dinosaur."

so support legislation against PAC's in general, joe, otherwise you're nothing but a hypocrite.

you really can't understand why i'm saying this, can you?

maybe one day you'll realize that *your world* is not one that everyone must "assimilate" towards.

but i'm not holding my breath.

[Brenda Bowers]

I took it upon myself to answer David concerning the Simkins PAC and as usual got more involved so I refuse to clutter up Joe’s site. Any who care to see it will find it on my site under “David and the PAC”.

Joe I realize you mean that the Simkins PAC is a dinosaur because it has achieved those things it was formed by Dr. Simkins to achieve. But it really hasn’t in Greensboro. It was taken over by thieves and corrupt self serving individuals before it could do what Dr. Simklins hoped to do for the Blacks in east and southeast Greensboro. He wanted not only the opportunities for achievement, but the actual abilities to achieve for his people. They have the opportunities but they have not been encouraged by their leaders to prepare themselves for these opportunities. Instead the leaders of the Black community who are members of the Simkins PAC used these people and their discontent to spread hate and blame the Whites racism for every thing wrong in their lives. It is this hate that brings them to the polls to vote as they are told. Then these same candidates laugh at their stupidity in believing the myth of White racism being the cause of their problems and forget them as they line their selfish pockets. The Simkins PAC has been around long enough with enough Black leaders to have made east and southeast Greensboro the center piece of the city. But millions squandered by the PH group many of whom are PAC members, millions more squandered by thieving council members and commissioners to build themselves big homes while east and southeast Greensboro is adrift in substandard public housing, young Black men killing each other on the streets, drugs, prostitution, hate and fear. BB

[jw]

Joe,

I agree with much of what Sean said. I have a great article at work that I'll send to you tomorrow, but I didn't want to wait until then to reply. Personally, I would rather PACs didn't exist. It would make MY job easier. Of course I wouldn't advocate of a PAC designated for "White" Americans. It isn't necessary. The system is skewed in favor of white Americans. This is the same argument folks use against Black History Month. Should we have a White History Month?

"Many drive nicer, newer vehicles than I do. Some probably have nicer homes than I do. And I am a physician!" I'm not sure I understand what you're saying here. Do you expect that you should have better material goods just because you are a physician? Is that a sense of entitlement I detect?

Things have gotten some better but they are by no means well. And the reason people often don't see it is because it doesn't affect them. I too interact with African Americans, both in work and in social situations. Deeply honest discussion with my African American friends leads me to the understanding that there are many ways I can't understand. This is why I refuse to deny it exists. It does. Racism is alive and well and NOT happening to me. Therefore I owe it to my friends to do what I can.

I will continue to think that a PAC that supports African American concerns is necessary until the day when racism no longer exists; until a time when we don't have people in our community saying, "White people need to get their act together," in response to a political issue.

Perhaps we'll just disagree on race, Joe, but like you, I have to put my head on the pillow at night and I have to answer to God for how I conduct my life. And when it's said and done I hope I hear, "Well done my good and faithful daughter," but I've got miles to go before I sleep.

[Cara Michele]

>> "Racism is alive and well and NOT happening to me. Therefore I owe it to my friends to do what I can. I will continue to think that a PAC that supports African American concerns is necessary until the day when racism no longer exists."

Amen! And well-said, JW. (And Sean.)

[Wendell Sawyer]

Roch:

You are correct. There were other dynamics involved. For example, Sandra Anderson Groat's candidacy seemed to be well financed as evidenced by her aggressive advertising campaign.

Another factor may have been the News & Record editorial endorsements; Groat was endorsed, Vaughan wasn't. I may be wrong but I think that this may have been the first time that Don failed to receive the endorsement by the N&R for the council race. Some may disagree with me on this but I think that the N&R endorsement may still have some punch in local nonpartisan elections.

In the previous two election cycles, the three at-large council seats were won by Yvonne Johnson, Don Vaughan and Tom Phillips, in that order. Johnson and Vaughan received the Simkins PAC endorsement and Phillips didn't in those two races. In 2005, Gatton ran at-large and, like Phillips, did not receive the PAC endorsement and came in third place (again, like Phillips).

I think that the big shake up was in the Groat/Vaughan results. Vaughan won and came in second in the two previous election cycles (and had consistently won each previous election before these) when he had the Simkins PAC endorsement and came in fourth and lost when he failed to get the endorsement in 2005.

I think that most political observers would agree that the Simkins PAC endorsement was crucial to Groat’s success and to Vaughan’s downfall. If you check the 2005 election results in the precincts where the Simkins PAC has a strong influence, you can easily see how the endorsement assisted Groat in her election. In contrast, you can also see how the non-endorsement contributed to Vaughan’s defeat, especially when you compare the votes he received in 2005 with the numbers he received in 2001 and 2003 in those very same precincts. A visit to the Guilford County Board of Elections’ website will confirm this.

The Simkins PAC endorsement was important and the numbers show it. There isn’t anything sinister about it. The PAC is a strong political organization that is a force to be reckoned with in local elections. I don’t know many local politicians who would disagree with that statement.

My point was that any political organization with such a strong impact is subject to public discussion and criticism. You may disagree with the comments made by the political adversaries of the Simkins PAC but I think that it’s healthy for citizens to engage in a public discussion about any political organization that has such a strong impact on local elections. And, yes, I mean any such political organization. That would include those comprised of realtors, developers, bankers and other such special interests.

[Bubba]

>> "Racism is alive and well and NOT happening to me. Therefore I owe it to my friends to do what I can. I will continue to think that a PAC that supports African American concerns is necessary until the day when racism no longer exists."

And marginalizes (to use Fec's word) the people it is intended to help, and encourages the cult of victimization and entitlement mentality of same.

And encourages diversionary tangents like "apologies for slavery" and "reparations."

And when no progress is made, revert back to the "racism" creed as an excuse.

It's been discussed before.

The enabling and the excuses never stop, do they?

[Joe Guarino]

Sean, after reading your response, I am not sure if you comprehended my post, so I encourage you to read it again.

JW, my comment about material goods, of course, was not driven by any sense of entitlement as a physician. I was merely trying to dramatize the extent of the advancement that many in the African-American community have seen. And that is a reality.

Undoubtedly, we have an underclass that consists of whites and blacks and Hispanics and perhaps those of other racial groups or ethnicities. Many blacks do not belong to that underclass. Economic and social challenges are not confined to any one group. The premise that a PAC is needed for one racial group because their challenges are so unique really trivializes the challenges that others face. I see white poverty, and Hispanic poverty, every day. I have seen oppression in my own ethnic group-- both in the old country and upon arriving here-- and other ethnic groups have experienced this as well. Many of us come from a legacy of oppression.

You say that a PAC supporting African American interests will be needed until racism no longer exists. Of course, by that criterion, we would never see the PAC go away, because racism will likely always exist to some extent. White on black racism will exist; and black on white racism will exist. Neither justifies balkanized political communities based on race.

So, in any case, you are effectively arguing that the machine always should exist, that it should never expire, no matter how far the aspirations of African Americans advance. That is your right to hold that belief, but I strenuously disagree with it. Particularly when there have been so many improprieties, conflicts of interest and ethical lapses.

[sean coon]

"Equality of opportunity has been attained. Equality of outcome has not been, for a number of reasons which are really beyond the scope of this discussion."

equality of opportunity has been attained... really, joe? the way i see it, there will always be someone ready to cloud and twist and spin "attained opportunities" into some nefarious.

take your position on chief tim bellamy as an example.

comprehend that, joseph.

[Joe Guarino]

To suggest, Sean, that Bellamy's route of ascension was a clean, traditional path up the organizational ladder is a bit of a stretch. Someone had to be forced out politically to make it happen, over questionable circumstances. As my original post suggests, I cannot be sure to what extent he may have been a participant in making that happen.

But I have to state that your continued use of sarcasm, which compounds your pattern of disrespect in the manner you communicate, does not further the conversation or the cause you are trying to espouse. And for instance, when you take the word "assimilate", and use it in an opposite meaning to that which I originally used, it does not further the conversation.

The entire GPD matter raises some very serious questions regarding the nature of our leadership here in Greensboro, Sean, white and black. One of the things bloggers do is to discuss and analyze local government and politics. And it is well within the nascent tradition of blogging to take an adversarial/skeptical point of view.

Much of the traditional media have abandoned the approach of skepticism and being adversarial on this particular controversy once Wray was pushed out. I understand some in the local blogosphere do not want to take that approach either because of the racial implications, and because of predetermined attitudes regarding race and politics. According to that set of values, it is simply impermissible to talk about certain things.

But I am going to continue. I simply do not buy into the set of assumptions that you and some others bring to the debate.

[Bubba]

"And for instance, when you take the word "assimilate", and use it in an opposite meaning to that which I originally used, it does not further the conversation."

Joe, the particular poster you are addressing is not interested in furthering the discussion.

Like some other posters, he simply wants to advance a particular world view/political agenda item without having to actually debate the merits of what he believes in.

I love the emotional appeals that are used, and the throw-away comments such as:

"the way i see it, there will always be someone ready to cloud and twist and spin "attained opportunities" into some nefarious."

or

"question: have you ever stepped outside your bubble to experience the african-american community in our town, joe?"

That's a great example of being "intellectually dishonest', indeed!

The next step is to pick up on the name-calling meme again.

Watch.