Robbie Perkins Watch: The Good Wife

Within the last week, the News and Record had an article on the Greensboro mayoral race.  Surprisingly, the paper reported in a grey inset box that Robbie Perkins' marital status is "separated".  This was buried among numerous other factoids, and could have been easily missed.  It is still not entirely clear to me at this point whether Mr. Perkins abandoned his wife.

Last night, I received an e-mail unexpectedly.  More about that later.

We previously discussed here the fact that Perkins' wife Carole had written for the GoTriad section of the News and Record.  A couple of weeks ago, I discovered, via the magic of Google, that she has also had a blog.

And it turns out that Ms. Perkins has discussed the issue of depression on her blog.  She openly describes how she and a friend had both struggled with this condition:

I'm no expert in matters of depression, but I do know the serious grip of that python who tries to strangle its victims, sometimes successfully.

A while back, I found myself sitting in the pit in the dark with my legs drawn up to my chest. I knew I wasn't alone...

(I)t was of great comfort to me to know I had my girlfriends who meet on Wednesday mornings to talk, pray, laugh and sometimes cry.

Of course, having a spouse who is prone to this type of condition would make any act of abandonment even more ethically problematic; and potentially quite harmful.

I had posted here a couple of weeks ago about lessons transmitted by my dad regarding the type of man who abandons his wife and kids.  We talked about how it can reflect on a man's character and integrity and honor and trustworthiness.  The manner in which marital and family obligations are handled strike at the very core of a man's life.

We previously had also discussed here in a comment thread the ethical justifications for divorce.  I suppose it is possible for reasonable people to disagree on these questions.

The fact is, however, that people get hurt in various ways... sometimes very badly.  It can be life-shattering to be betrayed, to have vows and commitments broken.

The e-mail that I discovered in my inbox last night was a bit unsettling to discover.  It had come from Carole Perkins. 

(A friend of mine, entirely outside of the political and blogging realm, had met her recently; and told me that she seemed to be a wonderful lady.  But I honestly don't know how she learned about this blog.) 

In any case, it was obvious from her e-mail that Mrs. Perkins had seen my most recent post on this topic.  That post argued that the News and Record should report about this particular marital separation.  It also commented on the phenomenon of Robbie Perkins running for mayor in the midst of a separation, and what that might say about the man.

Mrs. Perkins thanked me for my complimentary words about her writing.  But here is what she also wrote to me:

"I read your blog last night and really appreciate your insight into this situation. I totally agree with you on all counts."

I encourage readers to lift up Mrs. Perkins and her family in prayer. 

Comments

[Ron]

couldn't help but notice, the number of early voters has doubled for the city council election. Looks like we are going to see quite a few different faces on city council after the election. City Council could get a bit more liberal.

http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-early-voters-double-for-greensboro-city-elections-20110928,0,4386200.story

[Billy Jones]

So now that you've got what you want will you be able to capitalize on it?

[David Hoggard]

Just a guess, but I'd be willing to bet a dollar to a doughnut that the truth concerning your quote from a private email will eventually reveal two things:

You broke a trust with a private correspondent who assumed you where an honorable man.

What she "totally agrees with you on all counts" isn't exactly what you infer it to be.

[Joe Guarino]

David, she agreed with me about the post she had seen-- the very last one I had written. That post expressed my belief that the matter should be reported. My inference was that she does not want this situation covered up by the media.

Ron, the prospects for this particular election were always worrisome for conservatives. That was evident even back during late 2009. I hope that, when the dust settles, we will be able to limit any damages. But conservatives are going to have to work hard for their candidates and open their checkbooks.

Billy, the general population will not know about this situation unless the media reports it. If they continue to help this particular candidate with a soft cover-up, there is little we can do. The public needs to know, and they need to understand. "Capitalize" is a strong word; and my interest instead is that the public appreciate the character of the man.

[David Hoggard]

Did she give you permission to report on the correspondence between the two of you?

[bubba]

Ignore the troll, Joe.

[Billy Jones]

I can't help but wonder if Ms Perkins has read all the following posts:

http://guarino.typepad.com/guarino/2011/09/rumor-mill.html

http://guarino.typepad.com/guarino/2011/09/details-of-a-major-life-change.html

http://guarino.typepad.com/guarino/2011/09/the-major-life-change.html

http://guarino.typepad.com/guarino/2011/09/lessons-from-my-father.html

http://guarino.typepad.com/guarino/2011/09/temporal-relationship-as-coincidence.html

And if by chance Ms Perkins supports what Joe has been up to after reading all the above then I can't help but wonder if she might be just a bit vindictive.

Finally, please remember I am no fan of Robbie Perkins and would love to see him lose his bid for mayor. I would love to see Robbie Perkins run out of the country. I consider Perkin's type the scum of the earth but Joe's recent actions put Joe very near the same level.

[bubba]

Ignore the troll, Joe.

[Joe Guarino]

David, the answer to your question is no. But I advised that I intended to continue reporting the story unless she gave me a signal that she did not want me to do so. I have not heard back from her thus far. She has not yet given me that signal. And she did not ask me to keep her e-mail confidential.

Billy, I am not "the bad guy" in this matter. If you want to find "the bad guy", you need to look elsewhere.

[anon]

Yeah, Billy. In Joe's mind, Ed Cone must be the bad guy. He's the one that so astutely cracked the case and named names. And Joe had no idea who it was until then. Joe would NEVER sully himself by dragging a candidate's personal and family life into his political crusades. Shame on you for your awful insinuations.

[Joe Guarino]

Billy, I have one further point. I wonder whether Mrs. Perkins feels conflicted and betrayed and burdened by the fact that her husband being touted in various segments of the community as "Mr. Wonderful". I suppose she might know some things that others do not.

[anon]

Can you give some specific examples of this Mr Wonderful/Jiffy Pop phenomenon you keep referring to?

[Harold]

For the sake of saint peter Joe, leave other's marital problems to be worked out among the affected. Yeah, Robbie is probably a jackass (dumping a faithful wife, whose stood by him on his path to success, in order to acquire a young trophy wife), but to put this matter to public display as you have is quite disgusting. To exploit what is a very difficult matter between two adult people and their children is shameful on your part.

[conservativewatcher]

Almost astounding hearing Liberal Parasites protecting a registered Republican....

[anon]

For some badly needed perspective, ask your own wife and children their opinion of your crusade and tactics to bring down Robbie via he and his family's private travails.

CW, you seem like a real sweetheart of a person!

[Joe Guarino]

Anon, there are four discrete groups that are supporting Mr. Perkins, or that are expected to support him:

1. The Melderec crowd
2. The area's classical progressives-- i.e., liberal Democrats
3. The east Greensboro political establishment and politically active clergy
4. The media

It was always expected that Mr. Perkins would receive the support of the Melderec crowd because he is, after all, one of them. They likely feel they have a lot riding on his candidacy financially.

But remember that he is a Rich White Republican Male. In spite of that fact, the area's east Greensboro political establishment and black clergy and the city's classical progressives are supporting him. They are placing a lot of hope in his candidacy that he will deliver them from the "evil" conservative city council.

And then there is the media. I can think of at least three different reasons they might be supporting him, for placing hope in his candidacy, and for covering up for him-- even though he is a Rich White Republican Male.

[anon]

Melderec schmelderic.Was that your response to this???
"For some badly needed perspective, ask your own wife and children their opinion of your crusade and tactics to bring down Robbie via exploiting he and his family's private travails."

[Joe Guarino]

This is not about me or my family, anon. This is about Mr. Perkins and the city's mayoral election. It is also about the role that the area's local media is supposed to play with respect to informing voters about the candidates.

It would be unsurprising, of course, if Robbie were to win the election. That would be typical Greensboro.

[conservativewatcher]

"CW, you seem like a real sweetheart of a person!"-Anon

Thank you Anon, I do appreciate when people notice my personal observations of them.

[anon]

Yeah, I guess I would be ashamed to let my family know too.

[David Hoggard]

"The answer is no." That wins me half of my doughnut.

So, if I contacted you on "back channels" and revealed how much I am in love with - not with my wife, but with bubba - and I didn't specifically request you keep my communication regarding my unnatural tendencies confidential - we should assume you believe it is OK to blog about it?

I'm guessing your political allies and foes alike will now take note of your extraordinarily screwed up sense of decorum and discretion.

Despite what you believe this is about, the reality is that it has become much more about you than you seem capable of understanding.

[Joe Guarino]

David, anon, what would you think about a man who would run for mayor in the midst of a ripe marital separation?

What do you think it would say about his judgment? Do you think it might somehow reflect arrogance or even narcissism on his part?

[Dan]

Arrogance and narcissism in a doc, er, politician? Nooo.

[anon]

You keep deflecting from your own behavior to his, as if one justifies the other, not that you or anyone else knows the dynamics of his situation. Dealing in innuendo, gossip and rumor as directly as a good reporter would fact, your behavior is clearly visible for your readers to see, whereas his situation is not knowable to us in enough detail to make assumptions and judgments. You seem to have no such reservations, leaping to the most negative possible conclusion, loudly and publicly.

The other clearly visible difference between you and he to your readers is that you are seeking to destroy a person politically and personally and have no qualms using his family as a tool (looks like that one fell into place quite nicely for you). He is not.

[bubba]

Ignore the trolls, Joe. They offer nothing of substance, nothing worth a response.

The public needs to know every aspect of this personally despicable man of no character who would be mayor, thereby subjecting us all to the statist, expensive and destructive agenda that he and his cronies of the self-appointed "elite" have decided is "best" for our community.

[Abner Doon]

Does she know what Robbie did with TREBIC and RUCO?

Does she know about the grant and Chester?

[Abner Doon]

"The most common psychological and social stressors in adult life include the breakup of intimate romantic relationships...
(Holmes & Rahe, 1967; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Kreiger et al., 1993)."

...about 30 to 40 percent of those undergoing divorce report a significant increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety
(Brown & Harris, 1989).

...Relationship problems at least double the risk of developing a mental disorder..."

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter4/sec1_1.html

"Divorce is one of the most stressful events that can happen in a person’s lifetime. Even when the divorce is amicable, the result is life-changing and affects both parties physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and financially.
The Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale (1967) ranks divorce second only to the death of a loved one as the most stressful life-changing event that can affect a person’s health."

...You may question your sense of identity and your sense of security.

You may have doubts about your future and feel that you have somehow failed...
.
.
.
I believe Greensboro voters do not have some material information
to base rational voting decisions on.

A mayorial term is two years.

A Divorce takes at least one year.

If the above applies to a mayorial candidate
and the news industry chooses not to inform
the voting public of what could be important information,
how is this not a case of Journalistic Malpractice?

How is this not a coordinated lie of ommision
retarding democracy?

Would the chance of making up increase
by running for and winning the mayor gig?

In how many different circumstances could the public
be negatively affected by the situation
or what it could turn into?

Could it affect effectiveness?

What if, in many opinions, some would not vote one way or the other
but most won't know because it wasn't reported?

Isn't that kind of unfair to someone who would care
but wasn't informed by the candidate or the press?

[Joe Guarino]

You are right, Abner. It would be unfair to these folks. And yes, we are seeing journalistic malpractice and "lies of omission" by the local media.

You are also correct that marital dissolution is a MAJOR life stressor that can have a significant effect.

Abner, please also note that I have not asked Mrs. Perkins any questions whatsoever about any details. It has been my intention to discuss the story-- which is of significance-- without what I perceive to be unnecessary or unwanted intrusions for her or for her family.

[sensei]

I totally agree with bubba!!!
The majority of Greensboro's citizens don't read these blogs; thus entirely dependent on mainstream media. They do have the right to know the character of Perkins. Furthermore, how can someone be an effective mayor with the stress of such an event hanging over them?
Those of you who are attacking Joe - Are you carpetbaggers, scalawags or just ignorant?

[Abner Doon]

Greensboro's voting public
is currently interviewing mayorial candidates
that will represent and work for the city
which the press and voters hope to elect a mayor
that will act in the best interest of the city.

The local press evaluates how each candidate
could represent the best interests of the the city's population.

If the press, who are charged with communicating to the public
don't do what is in the best interests of the population
and withold material information,
what could happen that may not have to?

Why would who not want to do
what's in the best interests of the voting public
which in this case, appear to be most who don't know
and probably won't, if some important information
on top of what is also not being reported
is not disseminated?

How is this not a lie of ommission by the press?

How can this not be an amazing example
of how voters can be convinced by Greensboro's local press
to not think what you could?

Should voters have known about Kern,
or just those at the country club?

What if Kern had won?

Would all the court docs be publicized
after he won the mayorial race
without the press telling anyone?

Think Mrs. Perkins wants thier laundry gone over
with a magnifying glass?

Could this be why most our elected rulers suck?

[Abner Doon]

Early voting has begun.

No printed report of how TDBS protected Robbies left flank.

etc...

How has this election not been purposfully been manipulated
by our esteemed paper of record?

The Rhino Times.

Yes Weekly.

The TV stations.

The Greensboro News & Record.

[Joe Guarino]

Abner, the non-reporting obviously is a decision made by intentionality. And I am not just talking about the N&R. I am also talking about the local TV stations and the local weeklies. They all do reporting on local matters.

[Joe Guarino]

Abner, the election has, indeed, been manipulated by the local media; but that process began long before any of us knew about a marital separation.

[Billy Jones]

Joe, without a doubt, Carole Perkins knows things about her husband that he would rather the world not know. And without a doubt the same can be said for Mrs. Guarino. He's a politician, you're a doctor and both of you would suffer if wives told all. Such is the nature of marriage.

[Abner Doon]

Many of the poorest renters in Greensboro
are out voting for a man
who funded the elimination of statewide rental inspections
and voted to kill RUCO twice
while saying the opposite to the uninformed.

This is a travesty.

They will have no one to blame but the press
when thier kids get asthma from mold,
or fall through floors,
or get electricuted on open wires.

This is cowardace.

[Abner Doon]

How many Greensboro voters would vote for Robbie
if they knew he got a grant from Guilford County
three days before selling the property to Brown?

[Joe Guarino]

Abner, many of those renters are African-American. And yet, African-American leaders-- elected officials, clergy, and other community leaders-- appear to be lining up behind this man's candidacy. How could that be?

[Abner Doon]

What does Skip do?

What does Cardes Brown do?

What does Zack do?

This isn't white against black,
this is the crony rich against the dumbass uninformed poor.

[Abner Doon]

Let's not forget that the marital nastyness
was started by a blog post by the Greensboro News & Record's
John Robinson.

And later confirmed by Ed Cone.

Did someone ask Ed to say it?

[Abner Doon]

Where is Everest?

Where is anon?

Harold?

Hoggard?

Come on, defend the status quo guys.

Defend the indefensible.

How can you not be backing
one of the most crooked polititians
in Greensboro's history?

[Joe Guarino]

These are all great points, Abner; great questions.

We have the spectre of the east Greensboro establishment and local progressives falling in line for Robbie, the Rich White Republican Male-- a man who has been heavily identified with development interests.

It is unsurprising that they would affiliate themselves with "one of the most crooked policians in Greensboro's history". That is par for the course. But why would they hitch their wagon with a Rich White Republican Male who represents development interests?

Isn't it curious? Why would they do that in the first place?

And now, to add icing to the cake, they have a ripe marital separation!

[Abner Doon]

"why would they hitch their wagon with a Rich White Republican Male who represents development interests?"

Maybe he told them what they wanted to hear,
regardless of what he does behind their backs,
and "they" choose to believe.

White Street Landfill.

Swimming Pool.

Science Center.

New Schools.

All with borrowed money
to buy votes
and enrich the developers simultaniously.

[Joe Guarino]

"Maybe he told them what they wanted to hear,
regardless of what he does behind their backs,
and "they" choose to believe."

Precisely. But I would take it a step further.

Maybe he adopts certain political positions to meet the expectations of the aforementioned leaders, to make it appear that he is advocating on the citizens they represent. But he really is not. Instead, maybe he is just playing along with the local game of identity politics to advance himself.

[Abner Doon]

While those in the local RE bussiness etc... who know
are providing the campaign money
for Robbie to spread the "word".

[Abner Doon]

Which may mean Greensboro's black leadership
has betrayed thier unaware constituents
as the local press maintaines the canard.

[conservativewatcher]

I voted yesterday and noticed that Robbie Perkins was listed as the first choice in the option for Mayor on the ballot. It is not alphabetical so how does he get placed above a sitting Mayor on the ballot?

[cheripickr]

"Let's not forget that the marital nastyness
was started by a blog post by the Greensboro News & Record's
John Robinson.
And later confirmed by Ed Cone.
Did someone ask Ed to say it?"

I don't know about anon, Everest, Hoggard, Harold , etc, but the above is the most contrived, contorted and cartoonishly misleading pile of h-----t I have ever read in a blog. Do you take people for complete fools?

[Joe Guarino]

CW, my understanding is that the order of the candidates on the ballot this year is reverse alphabetical order. "Z" goes first, "A" goes last.

Cheri, I don't think either John Robinson or Ed Cone was nasty. But it is clear Robinson said he would choose not to run such a story unless the candidate campaigned on a marriage platform. That would seem to discriminate in favor of social liberals at the expense of social conservatives. Robbie is a social liberal.

[conservativewatcher]

"CW, my understanding is that the order of the candidates on the ballot this year is reverse alphabetical order. "Z" goes first, "A" goes last."

Is this something that is normal or is it a convenient election to try it in this year?

[Abner Doon]

"the above is the most contrived, contorted and cartoonishly misleading pile of h-----t I have ever read in a blog."

prove it.