bev perdue

Public Policy Polling released its latest polls on Monday and Tuesday and the news is good for most Democrats.

The N&O doesn't often take unambiguous stands on its editorial page, but today is a welcome exception. Steve Ford and company deserve a pat on the back for this excellent commentary on the politics of education:

It should be clear that allowing motivated, capable young people to continue their education benefits both them and the public at large. Those young people already are entitled, reasonably, to attend public elementary and secondary schools. What's the point of denying them a chance to continue along the academic path? After all, most of them are here in the first place because they were brought by parents. Punishing them for a situation not of their making seems both unfair and counterproductive to society.

I've taken a few days to digest all the post-primary chatter, and found myself distressed by the discussion as it relates to Kay Hagan and Bev Perdue. At the center of the distress is the presumption that candidates "owe" voters answers to whatever questions are asked. From where I sit, candidates don't owe voters anything. Just as we can choose or not choose to ask questions, so can they choose or not choose to answer them. I may be upset if candidates decline to answer my questions, but that's my problem, not theirs. I can either vote for them or not vote for them, but that's pretty much the extent of my power.

Which brings me to the real question: What do I do when they're silent ... or worse yet, when I don't like their answers?

Whew! The last three days have been a blur—traveling on Monday, the excitement of Tuesday and the endless media obligations and phone calls today. Now that I got a moment, I would like to say thank you. I know I have a number of great supporters at BlueNC and I want to say thanks for your energy and for your vote.

I also know that there were some here who supported my opponent, but now I hope you will join me and the rest of the Democratic ticket because it’s time for us to unite this party and this state.

You can see the excitement building in the Democratic Party all around you. Our registration numbers are up and we had record turnout yesterday. We also know that we are on the right side of the issues for North Carolina families on health care, education, the environment, jobs, and more and more and more.

But we also know that we need to work together to reach out to independents, and yes, even some Republicans. If we come together now, I promise you I will be a fighter and a hard working candidate that won’t rest until Election Day and we will win.

Thank you and on to November!

It was a classy touch, I thought, that the first people that Bev Perdue thanked in her remarks tonight were North Carolina's teachers. Especially given all the attention to her record on education over the past few months, it was an appropriate acknowledgement. Over on UNC-TV, I caught the tail-end of Andrew Taylor's comment that credited teachers for promoting Perdue, too. While I kept tabs on the News & Observer's website for updates, I saw this note in the AP story: "In her speech, Perdue thanked the powerful N.C. Association of Educators, who endorsed the lieutenant governor early in the campaign..."

Which reminded me all over again...

With her campaign tottering on the brink of disaster a few weeks ago, Hillary Clinton set an increasingly desperate course in pursuit of her presidential aspirations. She participated in and condoned the smearing of her honorable opponent, by joining Republicans and their media whores in a full-scale war of trivial pursuit. She has sifted through Obama's every word in search of nuggets to exploit, painting a grossly distorted picture of a dedicated public servant, casting doubts about his integrity and patriotism, and demonstrating to my complete satisfaction that there is nothing she wouldn't do to win the nomination. Her campaign has been an ugly, vicious affair, a steady stream of lies about Obama and about her own meager accomplishments as First Lady.

When Bev Perdue announced that she was stopping the negative ads and was going to run a positive campaign, she reserved the right to defend herself against misleading attacks. That's what this ad is about. Setting the record straight in a manner that deals with the issues not tearing down the other candidate.