Parker’s Folly

Character is destiny, especially in politics. The pressures and the spotlight inevitably show the world exactly who you are. So it was with David Parker yesterday.
 
The N&O called it “an extraordinary act of political theater.” John Frank described Parker as “assured.” Those who know him use another word: “arrogant.”
 
He has a habit of looking down his nose at you. He lectures instead of listening. You see, he always knows better than you. Perhaps that serves him well as a lawyer. Or perhaps he’s just a condescending know-it-all.
 
Parker seems to have been running for party chair for decades. You have to wonder about someone who pursues that job that hard that long. He failed repeatedly, until he had the good luck to run against Rep. Bill Faison. Faison’s campaign collapsed when details of his divorce spread.
 
Parker brought to the job the same political skill set as when Terry Sanford picked him to run his Senate reelection campaign in 1992. Parker ran off anyone with any experience running campaigns. He, of course, knew better than they. Sanford, of course, lost.
 
Knowing that, you see why Parker appointed himself judge and jury – a one-man “decider” – for this case. You see why he didn’t pick up the phone and consult any of dozens of attorneys experienced in cases like this. Or ask for an independent investigation. Or consult other party leaders. Or seek advice from…I don’t know, maybe Jim Hunt or Burley Mitchell or Wade Smith, a former party chair himself.
 
No, David knew best. He alone could conclude that the former executive director was a “friendly” fellow and a “close talker.” A regular locker-room towel-snapper, it seems.
 
Unfortunately for Parker, Democrats have more confidence in Sally Leslie, a long-term toiler in the party trenches, than in him. She has a different view of the situation.
 
So now you see why Parker puts himself first – not the party and certainly not a minor matter like the reelection of the President of the United States.
 
Now you see who David Parker is.
 
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Gary Pearce

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Parker’s Folly

Character is destiny, especially in politics. The pressures and the spotlight inevitably show the world exactly who you are. So it was with David Parker yesterday.
 
The N&O called it “an extraordinary act of political theater.” John Frank described Parker as “assured.” Those who know him use another word: “arrogant.”
 
He has a habit of looking down his nose at you. He lectures instead of listening. You see, he always knows better than you. Perhaps that serves him well as a lawyer. Or perhaps he’s just a condescending know-it-all.
 
Parker seems to have been running for party chair for decades. You have to wonder about someone who pursues that job that hard that long. He failed repeatedly, until he had the good luck to run against Rep. Bill Faison. Faison’s campaign collapsed when details of his divorce spread.
 
Parker brought to the job the same political skill set as when Terry Sanford picked him to run his Senate reelection campaign in 1992. Parker ran off anyone with any experience running campaigns. He, of course, knew better than they. Sanford, of course, lost.
 
Knowing that, you see why Parker appointed himself judge and jury – a one-man “decider” – for this case. You see why he didn’t pick up the phone and consult any of dozens of attorneys experienced in cases like this. Or ask for an independent investigation. Or consult other party leaders. Or seek advice from…I don’t know, maybe Jim Hunt or Burley Mitchell or Wade Smith, a former party chair himself.
 
No, David knew best. He alone could conclude that the former executive director was a “friendly” fellow and a “close talker.” A regular locker-room towel-snapper, it seems.
 
Unfortunately for Parker, Democrats have more confidence in Sally Leslie, a long-term toiler in the party trenches, than in him. She has a different view of the situation.
 
So now you see why Parker puts himself first – not the party and certainly not a minor matter like the reelection of the President of the United States.
 
Now you see who David Parker is.
 
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Gary Pearce

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