Where is Moses?
April 3, 2013 - by
Lost in the desert, North Carolina Democrats should learn from scripture and history that you need a Moses to lead you to the Promised Land.
In 1948, Kerr Scott led the farmers’ revolt against the bankers and utilities executives who ran things. In 1960, Terry Sanford mobilized the WWII vets against Luther Hodges’ conservatives and Beverly Lake’s segregationists. In 1976, Jim Hunt led the comeback four years after Democrats’ worst defeat ever (to that point). In 1992, he led another comeback eight years after a worse defeat.
Same thing in the legislature. The now-disgraced Jim Black led House Democrats back to power after 1994. Marc Basnight and Tony Rand built a lasting machine in the Senate, so powerful it elected two governors before collapsing in 2010.
Republicans, too. But they had behind-the-scenes leaders instead of candidates. In the 1970s, Tom Ellis envisioned a national conservative movement. He and Carter build the Congressional Club, which elected a President and U.S. Senate candidates through 1990. About that time, Art Pope put his money and mind behind an ambitious, long-term strategy to take control of state government, which he did in 2010 and 2012.
History is replete with examples. The civil rights movement needed Martin Luther King. The anti-Vietnam movement needed Al Lowenstein. The conservative movement needed Ronald Reagan. The New Democrats movement needed Bill Clinton. Today’s Democratic coalition needed Barack Obama.
North Carolina Democrats may wander in the desert until they find their Moses.
Where is Moses?
April 3, 2013/
Lost in the desert, North Carolina Democrats should learn from scripture and history that you need a Moses to lead you to the Promised Land.
In 1948, Kerr Scott led the farmers’ revolt against the bankers and utilities executives who ran things. In 1960, Terry Sanford mobilized the WWII vets against Luther Hodges’ conservatives and Beverly Lake’s segregationists. In 1976, Jim Hunt led the comeback four years after Democrats’ worst defeat ever (to that point). In 1992, he led another comeback eight years after a worse defeat.
Same thing in the legislature. The now-disgraced Jim Black led House Democrats back to power after 1994. Marc Basnight and Tony Rand built a lasting machine in the Senate, so powerful it elected two governors before collapsing in 2010.
Republicans, too. But they had behind-the-scenes leaders instead of candidates. In the 1970s, Tom Ellis envisioned a national conservative movement. He and Carter build the Congressional Club, which elected a President and U.S. Senate candidates through 1990. About that time, Art Pope put his money and mind behind an ambitious, long-term strategy to take control of state government, which he did in 2010 and 2012.
History is replete with examples. The civil rights movement needed Martin Luther King. The anti-Vietnam movement needed Al Lowenstein. The conservative movement needed Ronald Reagan. The New Democrats movement needed Bill Clinton. Today’s Democratic coalition needed Barack Obama.
North Carolina Democrats may wander in the desert until they find their Moses.