For Governor:Walter Dalton

As of Wednesday, October 31, 2012

We endorse the gubernatorial candidacy of Walter Dalton, the Democratic lieutenant governor, for several reasons.

Not the least of them is that we believe this longtime former legislator and attorney from the foothills town of Rutherfordton has the values and political experience that the office calls for.

Putting Dalton in the executive mansion would also help preserve the balance that state government has needed ever since Republicans captured both houses of the General Assembly in 2010 and proceeded to take rash and sometimes radical actions that have not served North Carolina well.

Republican Pat McCrory, by contrast, has given every indication that he would be in favor of more of the same kinds of things the legislature has rammed through - spending cuts that gutted early-childhood programs, forced school systems to eliminate much-needed teacher positions, and put the state's proud university system on a starvation diet at a moment in history when education is more important than ever to improve America's standing in the world.

Where McCrory has pinned unrealistic expectations on increased energy exploration as a key to economic recovery, Dalton has taken a more measured stance - especially as regards the dubious "fracking" craze, which has northern Moore County in its sights.

"The one thing no one has focused enough on in the fracking debate," Dalton said in an interview with The Pilot's editorial board, "is the supply of water. Fracking takes a lot of water." Indeed it does - a fact especially relevant to water-short Moore.

Dalton grew up in a textile town and has seen how devastated such localities have been in the past couple of decades. He knows that most of those jobs are not coming back from overseas even after things improve, and he would focus instead on high-growth industries like biotech - which require more, not less, emphasis on higher education.

The last thing we need in the governor's job is someone who would rubber-stamp the excesses of the legislature. We need someone to provide a rational power balance, and that someone is Walter Dalton.

Lieutenant Governor: The Pilot endorses Linda Coleman, a mainstream Democrat with solid experience on the Wake County Board of Commissioners, in the legislature and in the state government's executive branch.

A strong supporter of education, Coleman provides a sensible alternative to Republican Dan Forrest, who seems less concerned with the everyday issues facing North Carolinians than with tea party causes like supposed U.N. takeover threats and a mythical effort to put North Carolina under Shariah law.

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truthmatterstome2 6 months, 3 weeks ago

You certainly have the right to endorse Dalton, but I contend that the endorsement of Dalton is the endorsement of a continuation of good ole boy government. It is time for a change. Democrats have led one of the most corrupt governments in history. Consider the number of high level elected and appointed democrats, who are suppose to represent us in North Carolina, who have gone to prison for abusing their power. It is apparent that The Pilot and its owners are willing to endorse corruption in government just to keep their party of choice in power. Their endorsements show that they have no more respect for our state, or our state's citizens, than those democratic politicians who are in jail. After over 100 years the "progressive" democrats, who pretend to be all inclusive, need to accept the reality that they have elected numerous politicians who have been nothing less than common criminals. What does this really say about The Pilots' endorsements?

PaleRider 6 months, 3 weeks ago

Walter Dalton is a Sandy Mush boy, from outside of Forest City. A good man.

Southron 6 months, 3 weeks ago

truthmatterstome2 has been reading one-sided lists by Civitas that don't include Stephen LaRoque, Stan Bingham and Don East, good Republicans all. Corruption is not limited to one party any more than lack of piety is limited to one religious sect, and our current administration hardly qualifies as "the most corrupt government in history." Please, spare us tthe hyperbole. What our state needs to avoid is this destruction of our educational system by the narrow-minded and cluelessness with more dollars than sense. With great fanfare the legislature ended a 1/2 cent tax that I didn't even know I was paying, all to hatchet anything and everything the legislature didn't like. From there they went to every "brainchild" hatched by people without a lick of sense twelve states over that thought that if they thought it was great, then it would work in North Carolina. They have no knowledge of the set of challenges our state faces, a state almost landlocked by its Outer Banks and devoid of natural resources like coal or oil. No, North Carolina must rely on excellent education, and its earliest leaders understood that -- men like Archibald DeB. Murphey, Calvin Wiley, Kemp Battle, Buck Duke, R.J. Reynolds. They built sold educational institutions to keep our state strong. The cabal that is using the Republican Party as its stalking horse have one thing in mind -- to starve the state educational system. They are not farsighted enough to see what the effect of their policies will be. One need only look to the counties in Virginia that, rather than integrate in the early 1970s, abolished their public schools entirely. These same counties now have -- 40 years later -- the lowest effective literacy rates to be found in the entire nation. Our legislature has now pushed our educational spending per capita to the lowest in the country. There is no way we will compete in a global market with ever lower educational expectations. Do you really want to help? Go to county commissioners' meetings, ask questions, make sure every penny is spent for a purpose. Don't be misled by pseudo-indignations like the voter ID scam, dedicated solely to suppressing entire voting blocs and not to root out a virtually non-existent problem. It's a waste of money -- giving out free photo IDs that the rest of us have to pay for. Also, are you making sure that candidates stick to what they're supposed to be doing, keeping germane to their mandate and not whining about the encroaching United Nations or running commercials that make it seem like our Supreme Court goes out on patrol with the police in their free time, rounding up criminals like they were in Dodge City. Is it great political theatre? Yes. Does it have anything remotely to do with the actual task of the NC Supreme Court. No. Don't let them get away with nonsense. You are too intelligent to be putting up with silliness like this.

aggou 6 months, 3 weeks ago

Well, sadly, your candidate will get blow out on election day.

The_AnonymusProfit 6 months, 3 weeks ago

So I dont really no much about the 2 gubernatorial candidates tbh, I can certainly say that the editorial seems to be the same type that any endorsement for a liberal would be. I doubt Pat McCory ever got a real discussion.

Sorry but its time to cut spending, if you dont want schools to suffer, then fire the bureaucrats so you can keep the teachers.

BTW this idea that we need dalton to bring balance to our legistlature....yea like 140 years of democratic control balance.

The AnonymusProfit endorses Pat McCory.

Middleman522 6 months, 3 weeks ago

This state needs commerce and Pat McCrory made Charlotte a much better city with just that, Commerce! Democrats have had their chance in Raleigh and it's time for "Change". Even you hard core Dems can understand "Change"!!

truthmatterstome2 6 months, 3 weeks ago

Southron, please list the Republicans in NC that have been convicted of corruption of our state government in the last ten yeas. Now list the Democrats. Be honest, if you can. Now, list the Republicans who were involved in the UNC and the NCSU scandals. Now list the Democrats. List the number of failed Democat political candidates who have been appointed to executive or newly created positions in the Community College and University systems. Now list the Republicans. DUH!

getreal 6 months, 2 weeks ago

Sorry to change the subject but this too important and good to not get out there!

UAW Files Government Ethics Complaint Against Mitt Romney for Failing to Disclose Over $15 Million in Auto Bailout Profits

Groups urge Office of Government Ethics to make Romney disclose or divest

WASHINGTON — A coalition of community, labor and good-government organizations is calling on the U.S. Office of Government Ethics to investigate GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney for noncompliance with the Ethics in Government Act and compel him to either disclose his investments or divest them. “The American people have a right to know about Governor Romney’s potential conflicts of interest, such as the profits his family made from the auto rescue,” said UAW President Bob King. “It’s time for Governor Romney to disclose or divest.” “While Romney was opposing the rescue of one of the nation’s most important manufacturing sectors, he was building his fortunes with his Delphi investor group, making his fortunes off the misfortunes of others,” King added. The groups sending the complaint letter, including SEIU, UAW, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Public Citizen, Public Campaign, People for the American Way and The Social Equity Group, believe that Romney’s undisclosed stock holdings create serious conflicts of interest. They point to the auto rescue as a key example. The Nation recently reported that the Romney family personally profited by at least $15.3 million from the auto loans of 2009 through his investment in the Delphi Corp. auto parts company. Yet Romney’s June 1, 2012, Public Financial Disclosure Report to the Office of Government Ethics did not reveal this windfall because he did not disclose the underlying holdings of his private equity and limited partnership funds.

At a press conference in Toledo, Bob King, President of the United Automobile Workers, will announce that his union and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) have filed a formal complaint with the US Office of Government Ethics in Washington stating that Gov. Romney improperly hid a profit of $15.3 million to $115.0 million in Ann Romney’s so-called “blind” trust. The union chief says, “The American people have a right to know about Gov. Romney’s potential conflicts of interest, such as the profits his family made from the auto rescue. It’s time for Gov. Romney to disclose or divest.” “While Romney was opposing the rescue of one of the nation’s most important manufacturing sectors, he was building his fortunes with his Delphi investor group, making his fortunes off the misfortunes of others,” King added. The Romneys’ gigantic windfall was hidden inside an offshore corporation inside a limited partnership inside a trust which both concealed the gain and reduces taxes on it.

Middleman522 6 months, 2 weeks ago

Getreal every group you named that went after Romney is a UNION or Community group. What the heck do you expect. And what the heck does this have to do with NC!!?? Unions are so corrupt that you can't possibly post this with any sanity! UNIONS are the thieves in the AUTO takeover! Stockholders got the UNION shaft! Get Real!!

getreal 6 months, 2 weeks ago

You see no irony that the bailout, one of Romney's key attack topics was manipulated by Romney to make a $15+ million profit??? That he stands behind a false ad campaign denouncing Obama for the bailout while he knows he made 3000+% profit from the bailout??? You worry about stockholders getting robbed, well Romney was one of the thieves! You don't think this is yet another example of the lack of integrity and honesty in this shape shifter vulture? It speaks volumes about his hidden information and his disgraceful attempts to avoid paying taxes to the country he wants to elect him! He hasn't answered one reporter's question or had an interview in 23 days! What is he afraid of? Why is he running away from questions?? Romney is terrified someone will ask him about this and other subjects like his continued support of Mourdock or why Bush is in the Cayman Islands as we speak giving a lecture on investing and banking overseas! Romney is good at running away, he honed those skills when he dodged the draft during the Vietnam war. Romney may be rich but money can't buy integrity or a backbone!

jat 6 months, 2 weeks ago

McCrory will win. So many people are quick to point fingers at the democrats for years of corruption. Corruption is indicative of an unscrupulous individual, not an entire party. What people haven't noticed is that North Carolina has the fifth highest unemployment rate in the United States. The Republicans have had complete control for two years. What have they done to rewrite the tax codes? Nothing. What have they done to entice business to come to this state? Nothing. What have they done to assist those people who are struggling? Nothing. What have they done to education in both colleges and public schools which represent our future? Had drastic cuts. What have they done for salaries of public employees? Nothing. What have they done for bonus in government? See Tom Tillis for an explanation of why his staff deserved bonuses. The bottom line is that overall a Republican dominated state will be as bad as a democratic state with complete power. Why? Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

getreal 6 months, 2 weeks ago

@101jackson, Who said Dems don't have off shore accounts? I only care about the guy who wants the country, that he is avoiding paying taxes to, to vote for him as their President! It doesn't instill a warm fuzzy feeling of patriotism does it? No, it doesn't. Just like Romney's involvement in the Sensata outsource going on as we speak doesn't instill a good feeling about all his promises to be tough on China. How many lies and double speak will you ignore to support this sorry excuse for a candidate?

truthmatterstome2 6 months, 2 weeks ago

No, it doesn't instill a warm fuzzy feeling of patriotism. It does, however, show that Romney has enough sense to take advantage of the bill that President Bill Clinton signed into law. Romney has earned a huge amount of money. No one is denying that. Everyone knows where Romney earned his money. I would like to know how President Obama made his millions (far fewer than Romney). He certainly didn't make it as a street organizer. He didn't make it as a professor. He barely had a law practice. WHERE DID HIS MONEY COME FROM?