archived: 21 Nov - 3 Dec, 2005         Back                 Next

                        THE FUTURE 

TPJ continues its support for modified same day voter registration program in North Carolina.  It is good public policy.  It is also good politics for the Democratic Party. 

TPJ has noted in previous articles on the subject that younger voters gave Democratic Party candidates, including Sen. Kerry, a boost in the 2004 General Election.  That boost was emblematic nation wide.  

Maine’s experience with younger voters in the 2005 off-year election provides further support for the proposition that Democrats in North Carolina should be focusing on registering younger voters.  Maine’s legislature enacted law for a third time that prohibits discrimination against individuals based upon sexual preferences, while not addressing same sex marriages.  In Maine, citizens may have legislation placed on the ballot to exercise a “veto referendum.”  Maine citizens “vetoed” similar non-discriminatory laws enacted in 1998 and 2000.  

The third time was the “charm” for Maine.  In 2005, Maine adopted the law for a third time.  Citizens of Maine declined to veto the law, votes supporting the gay rights law leading 55 percent to 45 percent over those seeking to overturn the law.  Progressive forces won despite the fact that the opposition was well organized: 

The issue, which was put to a statewide vote for the third time since 1998, pitted a coalition of mainstream religious and business groups and politicians against a network of Christian church groups that viewed gay rights as an assault on traditional marriage.  . . .

 

The Christian Civic League of Maine and Maine Grassroots Coalition, drawing on support from evangelical churches across the state, saw the gay rights law as a step toward legalized gay marriage. – Maine Today 

How did Maine progressives win in 2005?  One observer noted (emphasis added): 

The difference this time was a change in attitudes, "a strong and consistent message" and involvement of young people in the campaign, said Ted O´Meara of Maine Won´t Discriminate.

 

"Sometimes these struggles take time," said O´Meara. – Maine Today (emphasis added) 

Progressives in North Carolina should be taking a lesson from Maine.  Younger voters are one of the keys to developing a strong progressive base.  Same day registration is one tool in that effort.           

                        THOSE BATTLING REPUBLICANS  

The Republican Party, still smarting from its loss of majority status in the State House of Representatives, has decided to oust one of its most influential Representatives, Richard Morgan.  It is an internecine war that is fit for a Shakespearean tragedy. 

Republican Party officials say they will cast aside a tradition of not picking favorites in primaries and use their influence to try to beat state Rep. Richard Morgan, R-Moore.

 

Morgan is a target of the party leadership because he has participated in power-sharing with Democrats in the state House. Many GOP members have criticized Morgan for striking deals that made him co-speaker in 2003 and speaker pro tempore in 2005.

 

Over the weekend, the state Republican Party's Executive Committee approved a resolution urging voters in Moore's district to pick someone other than Morgan in next May's primary. The resolution also gives state GOP chairman Ferrell Blount the authority to lend "aid and support" to Morgan's primary opponents.

 

"It is a very unusual step," said Bill Peaslee, the state party's chief of staff. "The party really doesn't want to involve itself in primaries. But in this instance, the executive committee felt the threat was so great, it felt compelled to act."

 

The resolution contends that Morgan helped get redistricting rules changed that will hurt Republicans in the future and that he publicly criticized 2004 Republican gubernatorial candidate Patrick Ballantine during the campaign.

 

Morgan said the resolution approving the local campaigning against him was pushed by extremists. The executive committee adopted a resolution last year that bars Morgan from holding party titles for five years.

 

"It should not be that Republicans who are elected to offices in their districts should have to check their brains at the door and plug up to a machine that tells you how to vote," Morgan said. – Charlotte Observer 

The Republican leadership in Moore County immediately reacted: 

Moore County Republican Party Chairman John Owen immediately lashed out at those behind the resolution. . . .  Owen calls last Thursday “a day that will go down in infamy for the North Carolina Republican Party” and “the day the party’s headquarters declared war on Moore County.” 

Rep. Morgan is correct that “Republicans who are elected to offices in their districts should [not] have to check their brains at the door and plug up to a machine that tells you how to vote.”  He is wrong, because the Republican Party he describes, even in North Carolina, no longer exists. 

Democrats in Moore County need to recruit an exceptional candidate.  With every indication that the Republicans will engage in political civil war, Democrats have an opportunity to pick up another seat in the State House.

TAR HEEL DEM CELLAR