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Da Debate, Part 1: The GOP
posted at 2008-01-11 20:21 | Last modified 2008-01-17 20:48
So about that debate… Well, there were two, really, miles apart from each other. So I’ll split up the posts, too. (For the unified-field version, my Friday morning story is here.)
Part 1: In which a gentlemanly panel of three Republicans - Bill Graham, Bob Orr, and Fred Smith - agree that taxes are too high, the roads are bad, the schools aren’t up to scratch, illegal immigration is against the law, and health care costs are hurting people. That said, there were a few moments of interest.
Graham: Dropped a lot of eyepopping stats – so many, I looked a few of them up.
Claim 1.: "We’ve had a 1500% increase in Hispanic illegal aliens into in this state since 1990. 15 hundred percent. And we’ve got to clean up that problem.”
US Census Bureau data compiled by Pew puts NC's 1990-2006 increase at 284%, not 1500%. Granted, it’s hard to get a good count of illegal immigrants, but his number is higher than anything else out there – except, of course, the claims of anti-immigration activists.
(Oh, and..."Clean up that problem"? Whether or not you think they should be here, they're humans, not a toxic spill. Just sayin'.)
Claim 2.: (talking about state budgeting) “Taxes have continued to go up over all these years. Almost 91% in the last ten years.”
Not even close. The Tax Foundation, as cited by the John Locke Foundation, says the total NC tax burden (that’s state and local) went from 9.7 in 1997 to 10.5 in 2006 – an increase of about 8.2%. Other authorities, like Mike Walden at NC state, put the increase anywhere from 8-10% - nowhere near 91%.
Claim 3.: “North Carolina’s roads are the 47th worst in the country.”
Actually, a 2006 study by UNC-Charlotte and the Reason Foundation puts us at #31, not #47.
Okay, I didn’t mean to pick on Graham. But he was the only one up there throwing around stats that were so clearly out of whack that they got my attention.
Orr: had some interesting things to say about education and innovation. He may have finally figured out how to “package” his tax and anti-incentives positions as ideas voters can understand, like this comment on using incentives money to help businesses that are already here.
"You know, we’ve paid hundreds of millions to bring Google to North Carolina for 200 jobs and a server farm. We want North Carolina to be the place where the next Google starts and grows. Because that’s how we sustain an economy."
He was also by far the most positive of the three. While Smith and Graham talked a lot about how bad things are in NC, Orr didn’t share their pessimism, though of course he argued that things could be better. (He IS running for office, after all.) He’s also the only one of the three who talked about bipartisanship.
Smith: like Graham, burned a lot of calories trying to wrap his ideas around a few key buzzwords. Like this “what?” moment:
"We need leaders. That’s what the people are looking for. Not a critic, not a politician. Leaders understand how to predict and look at challenges that are ahead. To come up with solutions. To execute their plan to solve those solutions.”
Okay, sure...as long as you don't think of a 3-term state senator as a politician.
On the bright side, Smith’s hair color is looking better than ever. Only his hairdresser and campaign consultant know for sure, of course, but it’s a lot less dark than it used to be, and a lot more flattering, too.
Actually, all three of the Republicans looked very nice. Guess that’s what TV does to you (heck, even the camera guys were in ties, which never happens.) Graham was a little shaggy, but his suit was great. Orr was rocking the Carolina Blue under black, and Smith looked rested and ready for primetime.
But – all that aside – what’s really striking, and what you don’t see on camera, is how nice these guys are to each other. There’s nerves, sure, but no animosity. Wonder if that’ll change when Pat comes on board next week?
Part 2: Da Dems to come. Stay tuned. Meantime, you can catch the rebroadcast at 9 tonight 1pm Sunday 1-13 on UNC-TV.
Comments? Drop me a line.
