Follow the money...in NC here's how this historic upset happened

[mnhtnbb]

The Republican takeover of North Carolina's state legislature in 2010 -- the first time since Reconstruction -- caught many by surprise, but perhaps none more than state senator John Snow.

A three-term Democrat in the senate's western-most district in the mountains, Snow largely avoided controversy and often bucked his party; one group rated him as the state's second-most conservative senate Democrat. What's more, his Republican opponent Jim Davis -- a dentist and newcomer to state politics -- seemed like a long shot.

But then the money flooded in. Smelling an upset, the state Republican Party injected $321,600 into Davis' challenge campaign. By mid-October, the Republican had raked in a total of $448,000 -- a staggering sum for the small district, and nearly double the $225,000 incumbent Snow had raised. (Final campaign finance reports will be released in January.)

If he was caught off guard by the GOP's big spending, Snow was completely blindsided by another onslaught: A barrage of attack ads and mailers from Civitas Action and Real Jobs NC, outside groups backed by conservative donor Art Pope. In lockstep with the Republican Party, the ostensibly non-partisan organizations poured over $205,000 into attacking Snow -- almost as much as Snow had raised for his entire campaign.


Read the entire article here: http://www.southernstudies.org/2010/11/art-popes-big-day-millionaires-funds-key-to-historic-gop-wins-in-nc-legislature.html

[flamingdem]

1. This is the story of 2010, too bad people on DU want to ignore the campaign $$ issue nt

[CurtEastPoint]

2. Exactly why there must be a wholesale change in how elections are financed

and how voting takes place.

First amendment free speech my ass. This is about stopping the corporate takeover of our government.

[JoePhilly]

5. Too late.

Dems across the country stayed home ... and we just let the GOP solidify this, and we let them win enough state houses and Governorships so they can redistrict many states and lock in their gains.

Sadly, we've set ourselves back at least a decade or more.

[mnhtnbb]

3. I am reminded of the song "Money makes the world go around"

from the musical Cabaret. If you've never seen it, catch it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkRIbUT6u7Q

Of course, this was 1930's Germany. This is where we're headed, folks.

[sonias]

4. Disgusting

The whole Congress is being bought wholesale. :(

Sorry to see this spread so far. It's been the norm in Texas for quite a while. Bob Perry bought the legislature a long time ago here and he keeps expanding his purchases around the country. Bob Perry is the Art Pope of Texas. Deep pockets and way too much evil in his greedy heart.

NY Times 10/21/10
Big Gifts to G.O.P. Groups Push Donor to New Level

WASHINGTON — When Bob Perry, a wealthy home builder from Texas, emerged six years ago as a prime financer of the Swift Boat Veterans attack ads against Senator John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, the political strategist Karl Rove was there to vouch for Mr. Perry.

Bob Perry, a longtime donor to Republican causes, has given $7 million since September to American Crossroads, the conservative group the strategist Karl Rove helped start.

“I’ve known him for 25 years,” Mr. Rove said on Fox News. Back when Republicans were not so popular in Texas, Mr. Perry was one of the few wealthy Texans “willing to write checks to Republican candidates,” Mr. Rove added.

Now Mr. Rove and his party are benefiting from his old friend’s largess once again, as new federal disclosure reports this week showed that Mr. Perry has given $7 million since September to American Crossroads, the conservative group Mr. Rove helped start. Mr. Perry was the group’s biggest donor.

A pox on all their money....
:puke:

[mnhtnbb]

6. One of Pope's stores is in the University Mall in Chapel Hill: Rose's

It's a cheap--and I mean cheap--variety store. NO improvements to the physical space at all.
I'm sure he pays minimum wage. I really wish the mall would boot him out because the space
doesn't match the other places that are there--not your standard mall shops--and much more pleasant
spaces. You have to leave the county to go to Target or Wal-mart. Recently one of our State Reps
revealed that she's been trying to get Costco interested in locating in Orange County. That would be an improvement.

I don't want to contribute to Art Pope any longer--but I feel badly for the employees that would
be out of jobs if all us Chapel Hill liberals stopped running into Rose's.

[sonias]

8. I understand

Which is why we also have a tough time getting our voters out of Walmart. How the hell do you do that when it's all they have in their area and it's what they can afford.

And as you said, there are good people who work in there. :(

Our millionaire ass hat Bob Perry made his money on housing. Cheaply constructed houses in the suburbs. You know how that went. And when they fall apart, home owners have no recourse in Texas. Because Bob Perry owns the Lege, the courts and oh the ridiculous sham of an arbitration board that homeowners had to to go through first. The agency was finally scrapped. Perry owned all the board members anyway. And he also bankrolled the so-called lawsuit tort reform in Texas. You know so none of those home owners could sue him or at least the amount was capped.

I'm not sure where this case is now, but my gut feeling tells me this couple is going to lose in the Texas Supreme Court because Perry owns all of them too.

Housing Watch 5/26/10
Texas Couple Wins $51 Million for Defective $250,000 House
(snip)
The builder, Houston-based Bob Perry, first tried to have the record-breaking verdict thrown out. Now the homeowner, Bob Cull of Mansfield, Texas, says his case is in legal purgatory with caps and multipliers that could limit the award. Ultimately, a district court judge will render a judgment.

"But I'm sure Perry will appeal," says Cull, which will make his decade-long battle even longer.

The lawsuit has carried the retirement-age couple through the courts, arbitration and all the way to the Texas Supreme Court. Though they've won every round, their home is still defective and both sides have spent substantial money on legal fees for a $233,730 home. Van Shaw, the Cull's Dallas-based attorney, says Perry Homes has spent well over a million in legal fees. The Culls have spent more than $100,000 in hard legal expenses.

"I'm a conservative, " says Bob Cull. "Bob Perry and I probably vote alike. But I see this system not being functional any longer for the average, hardworking American."

"But I see this system not being functional any longer for the average, hardworking American."

I just wish more conservatives would realize this too. They all can't be millionaires right?

May Art Pope and Bob Perry meet each other in hell! :puke:

[spanone]

7. corporate america has bought a mandate

[Historic NY]

9. I think the state can go after election financing demanding accounting