It looks like Pat McCrory wants to have the best of both worlds in his ongoing game of campaign peek-a-boo. In the process, however, the way he’s going about his re-run for the governorship makes him seem like some cheap hustler trying to game the system.
Here’s what I mean: As reported by enctoday.com and the Kinston Free Press, McCrory recently announced that he has every intention of running for Gov. Bev Perdue’s position in 2012, but he doesn’t plan to make a formal announcement until early next year. McCrory told reporters that the election period is too expensive, and by waiting till next year to make a formal announcement, it “allows me to have the flexibility to travel the state without spending a lot of money and continue to make a living, like most people have to do.”
Or….as BlueNC succinctly translated McCrory’s statement: “After watching what happened to Easley and others about misreported campaign travel spending, by not announcing until later, I can get people to pay for my travel and pocket money under the guise of speaker’s fees, and not have to worry about those pesky campaign finance laws!”
By pretending he’s not yet running for governor, McCrory is deliberately skirting campaign finance regulations; in other words, abusing those laws by violating their spirit. If this is a surprise to the rest of the state, we in Charlotte — who have years of experience dealing with Mr. I-Actually-Think-I’m-Slick — can tell you that the best is probably still yet to come.
This article appears in Oct 11-17, 2011.
I guess it’s ok if perdue did though, right?
Mayor Pat for Governor! has an awesome ring to it 🙂
does anybody read creative loafing?
All politicians do some kind of calculus such as this. Why is this so bad, regardless of who does it?
of course it’s ok if Perdue does it,she’s got the Pres. looking after her back
it would be great if Pat did run,he has my vote
best part he’s not promising hope and change like somebody else we know(not calling any names)
Why did CL become such a “hater” organization? I’m not a big McCrory fan, but even I know ALL politicians do this. Quite frankly, I wish MORE politicians would wait until the election year to identify their candicacies. It seems as though we’re in a political debate constantly–24/7/365. There’s no longer any relief. I elect my officials so I don’t have to deal with everything day to day, and if I don’t like their performance, I don’t re-elect them. Note to ALL MEDIA (including CL): Report news and events and just stop analyzing everything.
John Grooms thinks he is slick also. Nice way to attack Pat McCrory under the guise of writing an article. I wonder who you will be voting for? How much has crooked Beth Perdue given to you to attack Pat McCrory?
Can we stop attacking the messenger for pointing this out – Pat is going to be pandering to the Right Wing and fanning the flames of the Marriage Amendment to build support. His stance as the “moral” candidate will be another example of the hypocrisy that is driving people away from any interest in government. Where will the outraged Tea Partiers be on this skirting of the law?
Mayor Pat McCrory played favorites while he was mayor too, skirting laws and patting good old boys on the back. When they skirted the law, he looked the other way. That’s why we did not vote for him for governor. What’s the difference between Purdue and McCrory? An animal symbol that’s all. Let’s get some fresh blood in the race for governor.
Blue NC… there is an unbiased source to lift from…
Well Mr.Grooms it is definetly a Republican move witch you are not.What the hell is Gov. Perdue do doing this week as the Democrapic President is coming to NC? OH her greatness the Gov.is going to China!I voted the firat go around for Pat and I’ll do it again and again til it happens!
If the GOPers will stop telling lies about Democrats, I will stop telling the truth about them……
Obama’s coat tails are a bit short at the moment. I think Perdue is going to have a tough time riding them to a 2nd term.
Darn Pat! What did you do to this moron John Grooms? He absolutely just thinks you’re Satan! Either that or he might like you in a funny way? Water off a duck’s back Pat 😉 Grooms has no true writing talent and he writes like a teenage girl. He’s a flaming left wing secular progressive who writes for a free publication. No one reads Creative Loafing anymore and he’s considered a “loon”. Creative Loafing is only used to find out what bars and clubs have going on for the week.
I just look at Creative Loafing for the boob bar ads in the back… Not so much the boobs that write for it!
It would be so nice to have a governor that at least knows where Charlotte is. I get so tired of governors looking to Charlotte to finance projects everywhere in the state but here in Charlotte. Go to the eastern part of the state and check out the roads, nary a blemish. Charlotte has always gotten the leftovers (if we’ve gotten anything at all). It’s about time we had our share. Vote Pat McCrory 2012!!!
Welll, isn’t that what republicans excel in?–finding loopholes for the law. And robbing the poor and giving to the rich!!
CL should try to be more objective in its articles. However, the simple truth is that most Charlotteans will vote for McCrory because of one thing: I-485. It is impossible to forget Bev Perdue coming down here and pandering to Charlotte by promising to finish I-485 and years later there is not a foot of new pavement to drive on. Down with Bev Perdue.
The thing that stuck me most about these comments is friom BILLY. Why on earth would you not want Hope and Change? That is so narrow. You have turned a great uplifting message into something distorted. I am sure you would have no problem with “hope & change” if it was the platform Republicans were running on. Unfortunately it is not, they are much more concerned with keeping their money and making more of it. I certainly hope all of you republicans are wealthy individuals, otherwise I have no idea why you would support their idocracy.
Hey Charles Huffman: Not too used to reading political blog posts, huh?
DCM: Maybe learn the difference between a blog and a newspaper article. Also, please tell whoever is forcing you to read this blog to stop.
And hey, Charles Senn: Thanks again for another report on the state of the roads in eastern NC.
Lastly, to rob: It’s called remedial spelling.
Uhm…..John Grooms…….you forgot to stick your tongue out at everyone at the end of your comment. 😉
Actually, ILoveObama, I did, I thought you’d be able to see it. Sorry, I’ll try harder next time.