Ridpath condemns Stam for Noose Bill Vote.

Binker has this story

The NC Legislative Black Caucus, had this to say:

The members of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus are utterly shocked, saddened and disappointed in Rep. Skip Stam’s lone vote AGAINST increasing the penalties for cross burnings and noose hangings (Senate Bill 685). The bill passed in the House by a vote of (113 to 1).

Rep. Stam, the House Minority Leader, has taken a position that flies in the face of the forward progress being made in our communities, our state and nation. Further still, Rep. Stam has offered no explanation or apology for the only vote to keep these gross actions from occurring in the future. The LBC hopes Rep. Stam fully understands the implications of his vote on the millions of African Americans and minorities across this state. Representative Alma Adams, legislative Black Caucus chairwoman comments:

“Numerous noose episodes and other instances of hatred throughout our state and nation have been consistent with a kind of terrorism in America that all people should dispel. This legislation is therefore necessary and appropriate for our state to have passed.”

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Ed Ridpath
www.EdRidpath.com

I've known Ed Ridpath ever since he took time to come help the Orange County Democratic Party with web issues. So I know that Ed's goal is to help us all.

As for "Skip" Stam, let's just say that we learned far too much about him back when we were fighting for women's rights: the guy's a troglodyte and a disgrace to North Carolina.

When Ed called me, I coughed up a little bit of my meager funds for him, and I urge all BlueNCers to do likewise. Ed is the real deal.

-- ge

Besta é tu se você não viver nesse mundo
http://george.entenman.name

This thread really picked up at Daily Kos

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Ed Ridpath
www.EdRidpath.com

the leadership has to vote against a bill for some procedural reason, so they can bring it back up. There isn't some obvious reason for his vote is there? Because, if not, this should sink him like a lead balloon.

that Rep. Stam has been, and is, wrong wrong wrong about. He seems to have a complete inability to think in any way but backwards.

Go get 'im, Ed.

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry Truman

grades various aspects of the recent GA session. Looks to be a good opportunity to let him know that this is unacceptable. The thread is here.

Person County Democrats

There were problems with the noose bill (multiple versions) as it worked thru the system.
Not the least of which were existing statutes that were broader and easier to enforce and prosecute. All that needed to be done is raise the penalty from misdemanor for the first offense to felony penalties for all offenses.

NCGS 14-12.12 and 14-12.13 have been on the books for years. They cover cross burnings and the display or exhibit of ANYTHING against ANYBODY in an act of intimidation, regardless of the race of the offender and the victim.

Early versions of the noose bill specifically specified nooses and cross burnings, and the offender had to be intimidating someone from another race, religion or ethnicity. Prosecutors and police said that was too narrowly defined and would be more difficult to make a charge stick.

Under the terms of the bills introduced prior to the passage of yesterday's bill, if a white guy burned an effigy, or posted hate mail or even hung a noose against another white guy for being a civil rights sympathizer....the noose bill would have done nothing. The current law would have at least allowed a misdemeanor charge.

Unfortunately, some legislators (Sen. Doug Berger in particular) saw the noose bill as an opportunity to garner headlines and some press. They knew that, during an election year, politicians didn't want to vote against a noose bill.

But without the actions taken yesterday, a weak, hard-to-prosecute law would have been passed for the sake of headlines. That would have been serious lost opportunity.

I am not defending Stam. But there was legitimate opposition. And there was legitimate concern that a bill that really did the job was passed. And, thankfully, that happened.

There were problems with the noose bill (multiple versions) as it worked thru the system.
Not the least of which were existing statutes that were broader and easier to enforce and prosecute. All that needed to be done is raise the penalty from misdemanor for the first offense to felony penalties for all offenses.

NCGS 14-12.12 and 14-12.13 have been on the books for years. They cover cross burnings and the display or exhibit of ANYTHING against ANYBODY in an act of intimidation, regardless of the race of the offender and the victim.

Early versions of the noose bill specifically specified nooses and cross burnings, and the offender had to be intimidating someone from another race, religion or ethnicity. Prosecutors and police said that was too narrowly defined and would be more difficult to make a charge stick.

Under the terms of the bills introduced prior to the passage of yesterday's bill, if a white guy burned an effigy, or posted hate mail or even hung a noose against another white guy for being a civil rights sympathizer....the noose bill would have done nothing. The current law would have at least allowed a misdemeanor charge.

Unfortunately, some legislators (Sen. Doug Berger in particular) saw the noose bill as an opportunity to garner headlines and some press. They knew that, during an election year, politicians didn't want to vote against a noose bill.

But without the actions taken yesterday, a weak, hard-to-prosecute law would have been passed for the sake of headlines. That would have been serious lost opportunity.

I am not defending Stam. But there was legitimate opposition. And there was legitimate concern that a bill that really did the job was passed. And, thankfully, that happened.