Folwell Won't Endorse Robinson for Governor

 

NC Newsline Report:

State Treasurer Dale Folwell declined again on Tuesday to endorse Republican Lt. Governor Mark Robinson in North Carolina’s closely watched gubernatorial contest.

Folwell, who lost the GOP nomination race to Robinson in the March primary, has refused since that time to endorse Robinson in his general election showdown with the Democratic nominee, Attorney General Josh Stein. On a Tuesday call with reporters, Folwell reiterated that he won’t be doing so.

“I’ll say what I’ve said before,” Folwell said. “I’m not going to waste my vote going forward in my life on anyone.”

It’s up to the Republican nominee to prove himself to the voters why he’s the best person for the job, Folwell said.

Dale Folwell Slams Republicans in #NCGA for Secrecy Provision

 

Dale Folwell, state treasurer and current candidate in the Republican primary next March for governor, denounced his fellow Republicans in NCHouse & Senate on October 10th for slipping the provision into the state budget that exempted them from the public records act. He published his statement about it on his official state treasurer website the next day. The act of removing themselves from accountability was so outrageously anti-democratic and prima facie evidence of corruption to boot, that a straight-laced puritan like Dale Folwell couldn't help but break ranks. Folwell wrote:

By allowing individual lawmakers to determine what records are public and what material can be destroyed without ever seeing the sunshine of public view creates a system without standards or accountability. It prevents the public from learning who and what influenced decision-making on their behalf.

In the interview Folwell gave to Dan Kane on October 10th, he emphasized how simple and easy a legislative task it would be for Berger and Moore to simply have their chambers repeal that secrecy provision right now, for the sake of democracy and for the sake of Berger-Moore's own reputations as honorable men. (It's so cute of Folwell to confuse those two with honorable men!)

As far as we can tell, Folwell's press release caused nary a ripple on the placid surface of Republican domination. That's how effective Folwell is as a challenger to Mark Robinson, or to anybody.

In his commentary for NCNewsline Oct. 19, editor Rob Schofield praised Folwell for doing the right thing, despite its effectiveness (lack of).

'The Mark Robinson Show' Gets Bad Reviews

 

So one of Mark Robinson's political advisors -- or maybe Robinson came up with this himself -- decided that a sterling opportunity had arrived for candidate Mark Robinson to not just aspire to be governor but to be the governor -- because Roy Cooper is in Japan on a business recruitment trip and the lieutenant governor is technically the "acting" governor in his absence. In that role on Wednesday Robinson solemnly announced a "special event" -- which WRAL labeled a "mystery," cause Robinson wouldn't say what it was all about -- for the following day in the NC Senate chambers (where Robinson is privileged to preside as lieutenant governor but rarely does). The special event turned out to be Robinson's stumbling over prepared remarks proclaiming "North Carolina Solidarity with Israel Week" and wordage someone else wrote for him about how North Carolina stands strongly behind the Jewish people. (Who would dare deny that Mark Robinson is a classic opportunist?) He also condemned "anti-semitism," repeating the term several times (and having trouble pronouncing it repeatedly). But that part of the special event worked against him because it sparked almost all of the questions at the subsequent press conference, questions about his past statements that have struck many as anti-semitic. (Was it just an unfortunate tic or a "tell" that he stumbled over "anti-semitism" every time he said it?) (WRAL features a 10-minute video of the entire event, including the unfortunate-for-Robinson press conference.)

Robinson said,

“But I think what we’re seeing here now is the state of North Carolina including me as one of its top leaders, we are dedicated to stamping out antisemitism wherever we find it. And we are definitely dedicated to standing with the nation of Israel as they deal with real antisemitism that has turned into murderous violence. And so our position is clear. There is no antisemitism standing here in front of you, and I can definitely say in the state of North Carolina, the majority of North Carolinians feel the same.”

I'll boil them cabbage down: Asked directly if he would now apologize for the statements he's made about Jews, particularly some Facebook posts that he now disavows (or sez he does), Robinson said, "I apologize for the wording, not the content."

Hmmmm. So instead of calling the producer of the movie "Black Panther" -- Robinson hated it -- "an agnostic Jew," the wording should have been "an agnostic" and the whole vibe is fixed, right? No one will ever be the wiser.

Dale Folwell

The response to Robinson's actorship as governor that caught my attention was the one issued by Republican-rival-for governor Dale Folwell, who minced no words and addressed Robinson directly:

I could not, in good conscience, accept your invitation as a member of the Council of State to stand with you at your press conference this morning.

You have regrettably seized the opportunity to engage in a stunt with dubious authority as acting governor during a brief interlude while Gov. Cooper is overseas conducting state business. How can you pretend to be governor when the record is clear that you haven’t done your job as lieutenant governor? As a person who has shamefully denied the Holocaust and whose history is checkered with hateful anti-Semitic comments you have no right to be commenting on this topic.... (emphasis added)

Whoa. That attack seems particularly well aimed. 

The More, NOT the Merrier

 

Photo Robert Willett,
News and Observer

The pompous blowhard Mark Robinson, our Lieutenant Governor whose startling political rise may end up knowing some bounds in 2024, did it yesterday -- officially announced his candidacy for Roy Cooper's job. In keeping with Robinson's brand, it was a raucous spectacle at the short-track Ace Speedway outside Altamahaw, with thousands of screaming fans thirsty for the blood-red meat Robinson always dishes. But yesterday, Robinson was more careful, in keeping with his new attempt to remake himself as a thoughtful public servant. He emphasized his own up-from-poverty life story and praised his mama.

Which Republican big-wigs are buying in on the Robinson brand? Some important ones: "A large group of Republican state legislators, including Senate leader Phil Berger, took to the stage soon after the event began, to express their support for Robinson, and convey the importance of electing a strong conservative to governor" (Avi Bajpai).

Phil Berger wants this guy? Who, if elected, will truly be the worst loose cannon of Berger's career. Good luck with that, Mr. Berger.

Mark Walker

Timed to coincide with Robinson's announcement also came word that former Congressman Mark Walker will get into the race for governor soon: "Tim Murtaugh, whose firm National Public Affairs includes Bill Stepien, former President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign manager, told FOX8 that the firm is advising Walker and that he is expected to enter the race for the Republican nomination for governor 'in the coming weeks.' ”

Forlornly buttoned-down state Treasurer Dale Folwell is already in the governor's race, so with Walker also getting in, Robinson's chances of surviving the primary just went up.

Get ready, North Carolina.

At Least Dale Folwell Seems Sane

 

Gary D. Robertson, for the AP:

North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell announced on Saturday he will run for governor in 2024, a bid that will likely require him besting Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to earn the Republican nomination.

Political prognosticators, and not a few smart-alecks, say the Republican primary for governor is already over, and Robinson won. I suspect that's true, but I have to applaud Folwell's willingness to offer a rational alternative to the irrational ravings of a man who gained his fame because he has a big, booming voice and uses it to preach hellfire 'n' brimstone against anything resembling progressive fairness.

When I learned this next bit about Folwell, it's been my go-to measure for his humanity and his potential for not being a complete conservative jerk in office:

In May 1999, Folwell's 7-year-old son Dalton died after being hit by a car as he tried to board a school bus. Following the accident, he and his wife allowed their son to be an organ donor. Since then, Folwell has been an advocate for organ donation, and in 2012 completed a motorcycle ride of all 48 contiguous United States for the cause.

 

NCGOP Attempts To Make Bank Failure a Culture War Issue

 

Dale Folwell

Republicans are trying their best to make recent bank failures just another sub-category in their culture wars, claiming that "woke" attitudes toward fairness and diversity caused the Silicon Valley Bank collapse. The NCGOP used that line in attacking Wesley Harris, the Democrat serving a Mecklenburg County House district who has also just this week announced he's running for NC Treasurer. The current Republican Treasurer, Dale Folwell, may step aside to run for governor. (It's been rumored.)

“NC should reject #Silicon_Valley_Bank-style leadership for the NC Treasurer’s Office,” appeared on the NCGOP Twitter feed. (Never seen underscores used in a hashtag before, so what's up with that?)

But ... oops. The news came out very soon after this GOP attempt at issue-mining that under Dale Folwell's administration, over $17 million of the state's retirement fund was invested in Silicon Valley Bank and also in the other failure, Signature Bank. Folwell's spokesperson Frank Lester sounded desperately forlorn: “We are unsure at this time” if the money will be recovered, he said.

Republicans are supposed to be soooo good with money. They're terrible at understanding irony too.

Turkey Talk

Rep. Dale Folwell (R-Forsyth) will be the Number 2 Republican in the new House majority, and in an interview with the Winston-Salem Journal, he sounded a good deal more eager than his Number 1, Thom Tillis, about taking the General Assembly deep into the culture wars:

Q. What kind of priorities will you guys have beyond the budget? Will immigration reform come up? Will we see a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage? Will we see new abortion legislation?

A. I think there will be enough time and talent to hit singles and doubles on all of those issues. But, more specifically, voter ID and voter fraud and voter integrity [will be addressed] .... I think there will be enough time and talent to deal with how people who murder pregnant women in this state are going to be charged. I think there's enough time and talent and will of the people to deal with the marriage amendment issue. I think there will be enough time and talent to do that, including figuring out what's going on with illegal immigration.

Q. How do you keep from over-reaching ... from going too far beyond the mandate of this election and causing a backlash?

A. The same way that you would hopefully prevent yourself from over-reaching if you haven't been up to the plate in a while and your intention is to go up there and hit a grand slam. Chances are you're going to pull a muscle.

If they "pull a muscle," we predict it'll be in the groin, as they attempt to legislate various of their hottest moralizings. Not to mention an Arizona-style "show us your papers" anti-immigrant law. Good times!