Posts by Gary Pearce
New Political Site
Check out this new website for political junkies: ncpol.com. It’s run by Raleigh lawyer Hart Miles. Its greatest virtue is that it’s fun. Its greatest drawback is an interview with me. But you can also see a terrific video with a dead-on Dick Vitale impersonator, Gerry Jacobs of Raleigh. Watch “Dickie V” break…
Read MoreThe Ironies of ObamaCare
A gun store in eastern North Carolina uses its electronic billboard to run a mix of hard-right political messages and gun-sale pitches. One message reads: “Work harder. Millions on welfare depend on you.” When it comes to health care, the billboard could read: “Work harder. Millions without insurance depend on you.” But therein lies…
Read MoreIn Praise of Negative Ads
Carter and I were doing our dog-and-pony show for a real-estate group – telling them what happens inside campaigns, taking potshots at each other and generally trying to lighten up a crowd that had just endured speeches from the gubernatorial candidates. During the Q&A, we got a familiar question: “Why can’t candidates be positive…
Read MoreHolding George Accountable
The ads from George Holding’s campaign and super-PAC make it clear: He wants to cut federal spending, cut federal spending and then cut federal spending again. Just for the record: How much did Holding’s Ahab-like pursuit of John Edwards and Mike Easley cost taxpayers? And want to bet on whether you’ll see those…
Read MoreSaluting Walter Jones
Nothing explodes on Twitter like a real or perceived gaffe. Just yesterday, we had Mitt Romney’s Etch-a-Sketch, the John Locke Foundation’s controversial image of President Obama and Walter Jones’ “Uncle Chang.” “Uncle Chang” did have the ring of offensiveness. It was also baffling. So I had to see what the notoriously unpredictable maverick congressman…
Read MoreThe Right Fight
This is the debate North Carolina Democrats want: Did the Republican budget cut jobs? It’s the debate we want going hot and heavy when federal funds dry up and school districts across the state lay off teachers next fall, right before the election. And it’s a debate challenge Governor Perdue should accept. Take…
Read MoreThe New Face of Journalism
Mark Binker is not necessarily a pretty face. But he’s the face of where journalism is going in North Carolina. And that looks like good news. Binker is former capital reporter for The Greensboro News & Record. He has left to work for WRAL-TV. That’s a story right there. TV political/governmental news used…
Read MoreMitt’s Three Blessings
Mitt Romney has three things going for him: math, money and stupid opponents. Math has become Mitt’s main message: “I’m going to win because the delegate math is on my side.” He’s definitely a numbers guy. He’s also a money guy. He doesn’t beat his opponents so much as he drowns them in…
Read MoreAnother Agenda Item for Paul Coble
Since Paul Coble doesn’t have George Holding’s money, he has to find other ways to get his message out: like meetings of the Wake County Commissioners. So far they’ve taken up same-sex marriage and the UN’s attempt to control our lives. Now it’s voter ID laws. Coble needs to take up another issue:…
Read MoreAmendment Politics
Why did President Obama announce he’s against Amendment One? Because African-American voters strongly support it. Since African-Americans lean so strongly Democratic, an oft-overlooked fact is that they are the most church-going, religious and even evangelical voting blocs in a religious, church-going state. And polls show they strongly oppose same-sex marriages. The recent Elon…
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