N&O misses the point

I'll give the N&O credit for covering the 527 story we reported a week ago, but it's too bad they missed the main point.

Three of the paper's top political minds, Kane, Curliss and Christensen, teamed up Under the Dome and they still didn't get to the heart of North Carolina's open market for buying and selling elections.

The N.C. Association of Realtors views state Rep. Bonner Stiller (R) as a friend and supporter of its interests. But that hasn't stopped the association's new political group from promoting his opponent as the November election approaches. In the past few weeks, fliers hailing Democrat Allan Dameron as a proven leader have popped up in mailboxes in Stiller's Brunswick County district. Residents have received phone calls praising Dameron.

The political group makes no mention in the fliers and phone calls that it was formed to promote the interests of real estate agents. It's called the N.C. Homeowners Alliance. It is a nonprofit issue-oriented organization known as a "527," after a tax code provision.

Stiller, a two-term Republican, is a bit perturbed. Stiller says he has voted for the interests of real estate agents nearly all the time, and now they are trying to oust him -- without his constituents being able to figure out who is pulling the strings.

"I just wish they would say that the Realtors are trying to run Brunswick County," said Stiller, an attorney.

Well Mr. Stiller, you can thank the Puppetmaster Art Pope for opening this Pandora's box. You see, you Republicans have mastered the art of pouring money into local elections. And now a bunch of Realtors figure you're not quite extreme enough (in support of their agenda) and they've chosen another Puppet guy.

The Greensboro-based association started the political group last month, according to papers filed with the Internal Revenue Service. They list the association's chief operating officer, William DePriest, and its lobbyist, Timothy Kent, as contacts. The association boasts the largest political action committee in the state; its most recent campaign finance report showed roughly $750,000 on hand.

"We feel like residents of North Carolina need to be able to get information on issues of importance to them, and be able to identify leaders who can make a difference," Kent said.

Why Dameron? He's a real estate agent who has served on the association's board of directors.

Kent disputed that the goal of the 527 is to help certain candidates win election. None of the information the 527 put out asked residents to vote for Dameron. Kent declined to say how much the alliance spent on fliers and phone banks.

Sound familiar? It's the Art Pope Buy-and-Sell-a-thon in reverse ... a Democrat being bought and paid for by the North Carolina Association of Realtors. I say screw them both. Stiller and Dameron both seem like shills for developers, and it makes me sick to see this disgusting trend accelerating. To my knowledge.

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So what did the dynamic trio miss at the N&O? Only the most important question:

The story misses the point that NO expenditure report is due until October 15, 2006 – less than three weeks before the election – and no disclosure to voters as to amounts spent or who is contributing.
It's bad enough that Larry Leake and the rest of the State Board of Elections condoned this insanity in the first place, but with the rules in place, there's no way for us to know who's buying what until it's too late.

Isn't it exciting to see the lapdogs watchdogs of the press in action? Aren't you glad they're out there representing the interest of citizens and good government?

Bleh.