NORTH CAROLINA OPEN THREAD Sunday, September 19, 2021
331st Weekly Edition
This is a weekly feature of North Carolina Blue. We hope this weekly platform gives readers interested in North Carolina politics a place to share their knowledge, insight and inspiration as we work on taking back our state from some of the most extreme Republicans in the nation. Please join us every week. You can also join the discussion in four other weekly State Open Threads.
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Covid data 9/19/2021 1:00pm EDT
Click here for Covid-19 data from Worldometer Real Time World Statistics.
USA NC Total Cases New Cases Total Deaths New Deaths Total Recovered Active Cases 1,330,492 15,615 1,202,974 111,903
Track NC Covid Data Track NC Vaccine Data
Please jump the fold for links to stories I hope you find interesting, useful and timely. The floor is yours.
Coronavirus hitting harder in communities of color across NC
WRAL, Ali Ingersoll, 9/17/2021
DURHAM, N.C. — Nearly 7,300 new coronavirus infections are reported a day in North Carolina, which is up 40 percent from a month ago. But the cases are hitting some groups harder than others.
According to data from the state Department of Health and Human Services, Black and Latino residents are disproportionately affected by the virus.
Latino residents, for example, have experienced 15,586 cases per capita, which is 82 percent more than the 8,553 cases per capita among white residents, according to DHHS data. Cases per capita among Black and Native American residents are 11 percent and 10 percent higher, respectively, than the rate for whites.
"I think it's a combination of the multi-generational households [and] a lack of access to health care prior to the pandemic," said Donald Hughes, program coordinator for We Are Ready for Life, a Durham nonprofit focused on improving the quality of life and economic opportunities in underserved communities.
"[It's] created a situation where there are a lot of pre-existing conditions that are exacerbated by COVID-19, which ultimately led to worse health outcomes for Black and brown communities," Hughes said.
Despite pressure from campuses, UNC System leaders aren’t pushing for a vaccine mandate
News&Observer, KATE MURPHY, 9/16/2021
UNC System officials and leaders of the individual system campuses have faced consistent pressure from some faculty and students to implement a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. But top leaders have not pushed for that, saying they don’t have the authority.
On Thursday, UNC System President Peter Hans defended the system’s position that it cannot legally require a COVID-19 vaccine at this time. He would not say whether he would want to mandate vaccines for students and employees if he could.
“I think it’s best left in the hands of public health experts,” Hans said in a press conference.
He then quoted a state law and said lawmakers clearly delegated the ability to add immunizations for children to public health experts through the North Carolina Commission for Public Health. And “that’s where those decisions best lie,” he said.
President Joe Biden announced new COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for large private businesses and federal contractors last week. However, it’s unclear how that will affect colleges and universities, and more guidance is expected. The vaccine mandate could have more impact on large research universities where faculty and staff work with the federal government.
3-JUDGE PANEL RULES NC VOTER ID UNCONSTITUTIONAL DUE TO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION:
BlueNC, 9/18/2021
Republican lawmakers in North Carolina wrote the state’s voter ID law with the intent, at least in part, to make it harder for Black residents to vote, a panel of state judges ruled on Friday.
“In reaching this conclusion, we do not find that any member of the General Assembly who voted in favor of (voter ID) harbors any racial animus or hatred towards African American voters, but rather ... that the Republican majority ‘target[ed] voters who, based on race, were unlikely to vote for the majority party. Even if done for partisan ends, that constitute[s] racial discrimination.’”
The ruling strikes down a voter ID law that lawmakers wrote in 2018, after voters statewide approved the general idea during the 2018 elections, on a ballot referendum for a constitutional amendment. That amendment passed with over 55% of the vote. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article254318478.html
Editorial calls out state superintendent for uninspired and inadequate education plan
NC Policy Watch, Rob Schofield, 9/17/2021
Be sure to check out this morning’s lead Capitol Broadcasting Company editorial on WRAL.com — “Truitt’s schools plan must embrace Leandro remedial order not dodge it” — and its powerful critique of state schools Superintendent Catherine Truitt’s new “Operation Polaris” plan for the state’s K-12 education system.
Truitt’s plan purports to chart a course for recovering from the pandemic and moving the state’s public education system boldly into the future, but as the editorial rightfully observes, it’s mostly a “glossy” “pablum of proposals” and a “gussied-up defense of the status quo” that ignores the elephant in the room: the Leandro court mandate that requires the state to meet its obligation to provide students with access to a sound basic education. This is from the editorial:
Its vision is severely limited and fails to take in the brightest guides so clearly present. There is mere passing reference to the landmark 1997 state Supreme Court decision that declared the state’s Constitution demands a “quality education for every child;” as well as the 2004 high court decision that declared the state had failed to provide adequate resources for “the opportunity for a sound basic education.” That 2004 decision also directed the assignment of a special superior court judge to monitor compliance.
Similarly there’s an isolated mention of “Wested” without any detailed reference to implementation of the consensus court-ordered plan, a comprehensive multi-year program to deliver on the state’s pledge.
Truitt’s vision doesn’t see Leandro. It doesn’t encompass the carefully crafted program top educators and advocates worked to develop. It ignores the quarter of a century that the state has failed to deliver its promise to our children, despite the findings and court orders.
Dire school bus driver shortage is emblematic of the GOP-authored crisis in our public schools
NC Policy Watch, Rob Schofield, 9/17/2021
Zac Campbell paused suddenly and took a minute to gather himself, while colleagues shuffled toward him to touch his back in support. The emotion that can accompany the act of baring one’s soul in front of a phalanx of TV cameras, photographers, and notepad-bearing journalists on a controversial matter of public policy had briefly caught up with the veteran Wake County school bus driver. For someone who usually does most of his public speaking into a rearview mirror as he addresses a gaggle of energetic kids, speaking in public in front of the state Legislative Building last Friday was clearly a new and challenging experience.
After a few seconds, however, Campbell composed himself. He quickly made clear to the assembled audience the source of the emotion he was displaying: his passionate commitment to the children he serves and his deep frustration with the shameless cruelty of the state’s Republican legislative leadership.
The event at which Campbell was speaking had been organized by the North Carolina Association of Educators to protest the ongoing refusal of the General Assembly to pass a state budget that provides a living wage for school bus drivers. And as the compelling testimony offered by Campbell and his colleague, 20-year veteran Juneakcia Green, made clear, the current situation across the state is dire.
Wake Forest prof: the links between politics, science denial and the pandemic
NC Policy Watch, Adrian Bardon, 9/16/2021
Vaccine refusal is a major reason COVID-19 infections continue to surge in the U.S. Safe and effective vaccines have been available for months, but as of mid-September 2021, only 65% of eligible American adults are fully vaccinated. In many areas, a majority of eligible adults haven’t taken advantage of the opportunity to get vaccinated.
In the U.S., polling on intent to get vaccinated shows a massive political divide. Counties that went for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election show higher vaccination rates than counties that went for Donald Trump. Attendees at the Conservative Political Action Committee’s summer meeting cheered the fact that the U.S. didn’t meet Biden’s July 4 vaccination goals for the country.
Politically motivated denial of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness tracks with a dramatic politicization of trust in science itself. In a survey conducted in June and July, Gallup found that the percentage of Republicans expressing a “great deal” or “quite a lot of” trust in science is down, shockingly, from 72% in 1975 to only 45% today. Over the same period, confidence in science among Democrats is up from 67% to 79%.
Ending harsh felony disenfranchisement laws in the South
Facing South, Elisha Brown, 9/17/2021
A lawsuit seeking to restore voting rights to North Carolinians with felony convictions faced a setback on Sept. 3 when the state Court of Appeals stayed a lower court's August ruling that would have allowed people on probation or parole to register while the case moved forward. The lower court's decision would have immediately affected about 56,000 people who have lost the right to vote due to the state's felony disenfranchisement law.
The plaintiffs then turned to the state Supreme Court, which on Sept. 10 rejected their motion to allow probationers and parolees to continue to register while the case makes its way through the legal system. But it did allow those who registered between Aug. 23 and Sept. 3 to stay on the rolls.
Forward Justice — a legal services advocacy group based in Durham that serves as co-counsel on the case, which was filed by the Community Success Initiative, the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, Justice Served NC, and Wash Away Unemployment as well as individual plaintiffs — said in a press release that it was disappointed the Supreme Court didn't fully reinstate the total rights restoration injunction. But it's pleased that those who already registered can remain so.
Madison Cawthorn won't be charged for knife at Henderson County school board meeting
Citizen-Times, 9/17/2021
U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn won't be charged by the Henderson County Sheriff's Office for having a knife on school property earlier this week, according to HCSO Public Information Officer Johnny Duncan. N.C. 11th District candidate Jay Carey shared photos on social media of a knife tucked underneath the seat of Cawthorn's wheelchair during the Henderson County Board of Education's Sept. 13 meeting.
The Super PAC FireMadison.com posted a picture of the handle next to an image of a knife made by the Mills River company Microtech. The handle looks the same as Microtech's "SBD" knife.
"Although unacceptable, occasionally a person inadvertently possesses a knife on educational property or other property where such possession is prohibited," Duncan wrote in a news release.
In another weapons incident earlier this year, Cawthorn attempted to board a plane Feb. 13 at Asheville Regional Airport when Transportation Security Administration workers found an unloaded gun in his carry-on bag, along with a loaded magazine, according to airport officials.
FireMadison.com Calls For Criminal Investigation of NC11 Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s Alleged Violation of Yet Another Weapons Statute, This Time On Educational Property
Download the press release PDF, with attachments including letter and photos
Left panel: Madison Cawthorn speaking at the Henderson County Board of Education meeting on Sept. 13th (courtesy Jay Carey). Middle panel:Enlargement of alleged knife mounted beneath seat. Right panel: Microtech SBD dagger, displaying its distinctive handle.
Spruce Pine, NC, Sept. 14 2021 – Photographs taken by NC11 Democratic candidate Jay Carey, and circulating today on social media, are purported to show a sheath knife hidden within easy reach of his assistant on NC11 Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s wheelchair during his appearance Monday at the Henderson County School Board meeting, held at the Henderson County Public Schools Administrative Offices in Hendersonville, NC.
NC Statute § 14-269.2 states, in part: “It shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any [...] bowie knife, dirk, dagger [...] or any sharp-pointed or edged instrument [...] on educational property.” The statute further defines “educational property” as “property owned, used, or operated by any board of education or school board of trustees, or directors for the administration of any school.”
This appears to be Rep. Cawthorn’s second serious violation of significant weapons laws since he was sworn into office, coming as it does on the heels of a February incident in which the TSA discovered a 9mm handgun and ammunition illegally secreted in Cawthorn’s unsecured carry- on luggage as he attempted to board a commercial flight,” commented David Wheeler, President of American Muckrakers PAC and FireMadison.com.
Wheeler went on to say “Cawthorn’s flagrant and repeated violations of weapons laws present a clear and present danger to the public. I have therefore today filed calls with the Henderson and Polk County Sheriff’s Offices, along with the North Carolina Attorney General’s office, for a criminal investigation into this incident and, if warranted, appropriate actions against Cawthorn including referral to the District Attorney’s office for trial. Armed criminals – even if they’re members of Congress – must not be allowed to endanger our airports and schools.”
UPDATED 9/17/21 5:58 PM ET: Henderson County Sheriff's Office announces "The Henderson County Public Schools Administrative Office building has now been clearly marked as an educational facility which prohibits weapons on or in the property at all times. Congressman Cawthorn is now aware that the administrative offices of the school system is considered educational property and NO WEAPONS are allowed," apparently indicating that no charges will be brought against Cawthorn.
UPDATED 9/15/21 10:55 AM ET: Henderson County Sheriff's Office public information officer Johnny Duncan Jr. has responded by email to our request for an investigation of Madison Cawthorn: "We are aware of the allegations and the photographs that have been distributed concerning Representative Cawthorn. We will release further information as it becomes available."
Madison Cawthorn Says Constitution Protects ‘Unrestricted’ Travel Without Vaccines
Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) has stepped in it again, insisting Americans have a “constitutional” right to completely “free and unrestricted” travel anywhere in the U.S. without being vaccinated.
As for unrestricted, he apparently forgot that time earlier this year when he was stopped trying to board a plane carrying a gun and ammunition, which is illegal and not protected by the Constitution.
Cawthorn didn’t cite which constitutional clause he thinks grants freedom to people who won’t get vaccinated against the coronavirus pandemic in his Newsmax interview. He failed to mention airline requirements like providing identification, wearing a seat belt and not smoking. The airline industry is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which sets safety regulations.
He also missed a landmark 1905 Supreme Court decision, Jacobson v. Massachusetts, that said vaccines can be mandated by local governments in a case that involved smallpox.
Brian Williams Brutally Mocks Madison Cawthorn’s Claim of Constitutional Right to Air Travel
Media ITE, Tommy Christopher, 9/17/2021
MSNBC host Brian Williams brutally mocked North Carolina Republican Congressman Madison Cawthorn over his claim that the United States Consitution guarantees unrestricted domestic air travel.
On Thursday night’s edition of The 11th Hour With Brian Williams, the show’s sardonic moderator devoted his final segment to dragging Newsmax — “the cable channel for those who think Fox News is too leftist” — and Cawthorn in particular.
Williams introduced a Newsmax clip of “Madison ‘Rootin Tootin’ Cawthorn, the North Carolina congressman last seen beating up on a tree,” in which the arboreal pugilist told host Grant Stinchfield that requiring vaccines for air travel is akin to apartheid:
This is a medical apartheid, plain and simple. There’s over a hundred million Americans who are not vaccinated. I think it’s even more than that. And if they want to start shutting down air travel for these people to get around the country, I think that’s actually a constitutional violation because you actually have a constitutionally protected right to free, unrestricted travel within the United States of America.
“Perhaps you’re wondering, as we did, who’s going to tell them,” Williams remarked following the clip, adding “We checked the Constitution, no mention that we could find of airlines and increased legroom, tray tables, carry-on bags, peanuts, none of it.”
He then read aloud this tweet from Retired General Michael Hayden:
I don’t think so. He’s in Congress??? We have to go to school. 10th grade maybe. https://t.co/9eqcpSLDNo
— Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) September 16, 2021
Madison Cawthorn Is So Stupid It Hurts
Crooks and Liars, John Amato, 9/17/2021
Guaranteed airline travel is not in the Constitution. You are also subject to search and seizure in airports -- gasp --without a warrant.
Certain members of the Republican party in Congress are even worse than the Alex Jones type hate shock jocks that permeate the right wing-media complex. Case in point: on Newsmax yesterday, Rep. Madison Cawthorn told philistine host Grant Stinchfield that any vaccine mandates from airlines are "medical apartheid."
Does this idiot even know what apartheid is? The stupid, it hurts. Then Rep. Cawthorn turned to the overall action of traveling on an airplane in the country and showed us how ignorant and myopic a Republican House member can be.
As a prequel, any time Cawthorn says he "thinks" something is up, just assume he's wrong.
"I think that's actually a constitutional violation," Cawthorn said. "Because you actually have a constitutional protected right to free unrestricted travel within the US of America."
It appears Madison Cawthorn just passed the 28th amendment to the US Constitution on Newsmax. An airline can kick a person off a flight for a number of reasons. and can refuse anyone from boarding a plane if they refuse to show proper identification or are screaming at a TSA member.
Don't forget this is the guy who tried to take a loaded gun onto a commercial flight.
Madison Cawthorn facing growing list of GOP challengers as some DC Republicans would like him ousted: report
According to a report from the Daily Beast, freshman Rep. Madison Cawthron (R-NC) is seen as vulnerable by some Republicans back in his district as the drive for the 2022 midterm election begins to ramp up.
The report from the Beast's Sam Brodey notes that there are now four challengers to the controversial Cawthorn -- a few of whom feel he is not representing his district and is more interested in increasing his national exposure as a trash-talking politico in the mold of Donald Trump.
Noting Cawthorn has glibly jumped into a variety of hot topics as of late -- including the withdrawal from Afghanistan, attacking c school boards over mask mandates and attacking the "DC swamp" -- Brodey writes, "It's these sorts of antics—deeply popular with adoring Trump fans and deeply unproductive for a legislator—that have produced four Republican challengers against Cawthorn."
According to one of those candidates, Eric Batchelor, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. "Being a representative is about being a representative to this district. It's not about flying around this country raising national campaign dollars and searching for the next photo op. It's about being here in this district."
NC-11 Democrats for 2022
In alphabetical order. Please visit all the candidate’s websites, and social media to learn more. Revised 6/11/21
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
Website: jasmineforcongress.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/beachferrara
TW: @JBeachFerrara
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Grt6zkLs3o
Jay Carey
Website: jaycareyforcongress.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/JRCareyNC11
TW: https://twitter.com/jrcareyncdist11
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jaycareyforcongress/
Katie Dean
Website: electkatiedean.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ElectKatieDean
TW: https://twitter.com/electkatiedean
IG: https://www.instagram.com/electkatiedean/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSQGsOR60GrhvcqhJBl2CqQ
Eric Gash
Website: https://ericgash.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/GashForCongress/
TW: https://twitter.com/GashForCongress
IG: https://www.instagram.com/gashforcongress/
Bo Hess
Website: https://www.bohessforuscongress.com/
FB: https://m.facebook.com/bohessforuscongress
TW: https://twitter.com/bohessforus
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bohessforus/
Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC4bSAGC-GxtpExLA1ZBTGVQ
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bohessforuscongress?lang=en
Josh Remillard
Website: https://www.joshremillard.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/JoshRemillardNC
TW: https://twitter.com/joshremillardnc
IG: https://www.instagram.com/joshremillardfornc/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGD8uOV1fyKPWMVnLBLKeg
Thanks for reading and contributing, I hope you have a safe week.
