Governor Easley has taken two steps back – and one step forward – in his confrontation with The News & Observer.

Last week, the Governor poked a stick in the N&O’s eye at a press conference – especially when he evaded Pat Stith at the Capitol. He also maintained – evidence to the contrary – that his administration opposed the mental health reforms.

Not good. Stith promptly wrote that the Easley administration previously had told a DHHS official to lie to him. Executive Editor John Drescher wrote a column comparing the Governor to Mark McGwire and calling him Governor Meltdown. Associate Editor Steve Ford – in the unkindest cut of all – said Easley is no Jim Hunt.

This weekend, the Governor backed off. He said he will take some share of the blame for reforms gone wild. He and Dempsey Benton seem determined to fix the problems. Easley blamed his Capitol sidestep on his security detail, and he gave an N&O reporter a 30-minute interview.

All good moves, albeit clumsy and late. It doesn’t pay to rile up the N&O pit bulls, especially Stith. Believe me, I’ve been there.

But Easley created a new flurry by saying he “chunked” a hand-written note from Carmen Hooker Odom, the main player in this mystery. The N&O and the Press Association already were pursuing the charge that emails were deliberately deleted. And questions still swirl around Debbie Crane and Secretary Odom.

This was all unnecessary. A Governor faces enough problems without actively seeking out more. Cooler heads need to prevail at the Governor’s Office.

The strategy is simple: Take your share of the blame. Focus on real people who need help. Come up with a sensible fix. Talk to legislators, experts and advocates. Talk to the media; don’t hide. Do the right thing.

Because this story will go on.

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