So the Difference Really Is Leadership?

For the past several months Mayor Pat has been touting his leadership record and tagging at least one of his TV ads "The difference is leadership". Now some 5 days in to the great "Obama Ad" controversy, I'm still waiting for Pat, Fred and Bill to get off the fence. Prior to our debate on WUNC-TV last Thursday they once again all said they hadn't seen the ad so couldn't really comment on it. Bull. And of course our ever vigilant press has continued to let them all skate without getting some kind of answer.

It seems to me that there are three positions to take on the issue. (1) Defend Chairman Daves and the state GOP for running the ad (2) Follow the lead of Senator McCain and the national GOP (as well as yours truly) in calling the ad a mistake and asking that the ad not be run or (3) keep trying to duck taking a position and hope it goes away. It seems to me that taking a position on the issue one way or the other is what leadership is all about. Sure, it's a controversial issue. Sure, taking a position will alienate some people on the other side. But the bottom line is that either the state party made a good decision or it made a bad decision.

Whoever gets the party nomination and is elected governor becomes the titular head of the NC Republican Party. Yes, that's the same party castigated around the state and nation as "racist", "out of touch" and "irrelevant". When the NC delegation casts its votes at the National Convention, I have no doubt that television commentators will make reference to the "racist actions" concerning the ad. We have, and continue to do, irrevocable damage to the image of the NC Republican Party. It may not be a correct image. It may not be right. But it's the image that people are now and will continue to associate with the state party and we simply cannot afford that image to continue.

So over the next 8 days leading up to the May 6th primary this ad and the resulting fallout will be the defining policy position for our candidates for governor. I made my decision immediately after being informed of the ad and taking the time to go on line and look at it. The painful and unacceptable silence of my fellow GOP candidates for governor - all of whom tout their leadership qualifications - points to an abject failure of leadership.

Labels: Obama ad


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