Posts by Gary Pearce
Teddy
Ted Kennedy was both an inspiration and political poison to North Carolina Democrats. We loved him because he was the last link to the glory days of John and Bobby Kennedy, the New Frontier, the Mercury 7 astronauts, the Peace Corps, “pay any price, bear any burden…” and all that. And his voice…
Read MoreYes Bev Can
Give Governor Perdue credit: She’s not a quitter. She has been a blur of activity since the legislature left. Launching a government-efficiency study. Riding a bus the first day of school. Asking for money-saving ideas. Sending out YouTube videos. Clearly, she has the energy to fight her way back. All she needs now…
Read MoreCharacters
Bill Friday surprised me in our UNC-TV interview when he asked me about the most remarkable characters I’ve met in politics. So I’ve given it more thought. I’ve come down to two people I met during Governor Hunt’s 1984 campaign against Jesse Helms. At different times that year, our campaign was advised by…
Read MoreBob Novak
I never liked the crabby grouch Bob Novak played on television. But I did like Bob Novak the reporter. I got to know him when he covered the Hunt-Helms race in 1984. Novak obviously was a conservative, but I don’t know what he thought of Helms. He liked Hunt personally, but I don’t…
Read MorePulling the Plug?
First President Obama retreated under Sarah Palin’s “death panel” attack. The Great Communicator couldn’t communicate how ludicrous the attack was. The provision actually was proposed by a Republican. It would have reimbursed doctors who advised patients about leaving instructions for how they want their end-of-life decisions made. Something everybody should do. It spares families…
Read MoreHealth Care As We Know It
There is an echo of the old welfare debate in the health-care debate. But worse – for Democrats. Until Bill Clinton “ended welfare as we know it,” welfare was a huge political problem for Democrats. Big majorities of the public – black and white – objected to a program they believed took money from…
Read MorePassion Gap
In politics as in sports, motivation often separates winners from losers. In the health care debate now, conservatives and Republicans are far more motivated than Democrats and Obama supporters. The passion factor has flipped since the election. Then, dispirited Republicans stayed home. Impassioned Democrats lined up at the polls for weeks at the…
Read MoreGood Luck Pearce Edwards
You’ll need it. Governor Perdue is bringing you from Washington State to save her administration. She may as well have painted a big target on your back. At least you’re from here. You’ll work for a governor who has a reputation for being tough on her staff – and erratic. You’ll be…
Read MoreBev Needs a Dick Morris
No, not the Dick Morris you see on Fox who apparently came unhinged from working for the Clintons. The Dick Morris who rescued Bill Clinton’s presidency after 1994. Governor Perdue needs somebody who will do what Morris did then: scour government agencies for a series of popular, bite-sized things she could do by executive…
Read MoreObamaScare
I’m not surprised Public Policy Polling found that only 54 percent on North Carolinians believe Obama was born in the United States, 26 percent said they do not believe he was and 20 percent aren’t sure. The poll reflects a fundamental divide about Obama here and across America. It was there throughout the campaign,…
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