Republicans mistakenly broadcast private meeting, leak strategy

[zazen]

Source: Raleigh News & Observer

House Republicans held a behind-closed-doors caucus meeting to discuss their strategy on the budget and other issues Friday, but did not know all their remarks were being broadcast live into the press room through an open microphone. . .

"On one point, I only want David Lewis to talk," Stam said, an Apex Republican. "The talk about redistricting and this thing in the budget is extremely sensative to the other people not in this room who are voting with us. No one but David talk. David can obfuscate more than anybody I know."

The "other people not in this room" is an apparent reference to the five Democrats voting with Republicans on the budget. . . .

"This is not about Democrats, because we have Democrats voting for this budget," he said. "Please, do not go after the Democrats. If you want to go after an individual member for saying something stupid, gut punch them. These five Democrats are going after her (Gov. Bev Perdue.) We'll go after the governor; when we have a veto override."

Read more: http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/republicans_mistakenly_broadcast_private_meeting

---

Damn. Bev Perdue is having a good week.

Wonder who left on the open mike? ;-)

[ProfessionalLeftist]

1. Ha. Good. Perdue is having a good week! n/t

[zazen]

2. keep this k&r'd--this needs to go on MSNBC

I hope the nation will see these good ole boys bullying her, and bullying suffering North Carolinians to further their anti-immigration, anti-LBGTQ, pro-gun, anti-middle class agenda. The GOP cut off their unemployment benefits for about two months as part of their "strategy."

Some D's have called her a good ole' boy too. And I agree, she's hardly a yellow dog progressive. But much of the hate directed at her is clearly because she's not only a woman but a very attractive blonde, blue-eyed one who seems like she should be on their arm, not twisting it, and she's really just outmaneuvered them.

More from the article:

"The news of Perdue filling an executive order to restore unemployment benefits broke at about the time House Republicans were meeting.

Tillis suggested they respond by saying it's illegal or that she should fire her lawyers.

Stam went further.

"Either way, she's incompetent," the Apex Republican said. "We really need to crack on her for this. This is probably one of the worst things she's done.""

[libmom74]

3. Maybe Obama can take

some pointers from Perdue and sign an executive order to send emergency funds to Tornado stricken Joplin MO. No more compromising with economic terrorists.

[zazen]

4. great point n/t

[truedelphi]

66. Nah, Obama's argument against that sort of action would be that

he really and truly needs to keep the concept of the clear separation of powers, as detailed in the Constitution, alive and well, and to take such an executive action would be detrimental to the health of the Constitution.

Never mind that he allows his Monsanto-ruled agencies like FDA and EPA to overturn the court rulings against GMO's. (So that despite court ruling that these new foods, and the fusarium and other toxins that the RoundUp those crops need certainly exposes crops to indicates that many of us will be sick any time we have wheat or corn.) Never mind that the judge in the Ninth district court understands these frightening foods need more study.

Never mind his allowing backroom deals between Rahm and the Executives of Big Pharma and Big Insurers to continue for most of the summer of 2009.

[blm]

63. No one in CORPORATE MEDIA is talking about this...focking fascists protecting GOPs yet again.

.

[NCarolinawoman]

69. Insert Governor Nikki Hailey of S.C. dealing with a bunch of foolish Democrats,

and the media would be all over it. Talking about the wondrousness of Nikki and what a spine she has dealing with the idiot Democrats.

I remember the media was worshiping her when she became the S.C. Governor. It was all about the ascendancy of the "Strong Southern TEA-PARTY Woman".:argh: :puke:

[barbtries]

5. only David can talk because

"David can obfuscate more than anybody I know."

republicans suck. gawd i hate republicans, and that just fucks me up because i don't even want to be entertaining hatred in my body or my soul.

[savalez]

18. I agree.

Only he can talk because he's the best at concealing their true intent!?!

aholes.

[Enrique]

6. "No one but David talk. David can obfuscate more than anybody I know."

David Lewis:

[cui bono]

70. That picture needs obfuscating. n/t

[Taverner]

7. Danger Will Robinson!

Is this a trap?

I'm not saying it is, but I am always reminded by an FDR quote: In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.

Now Perdue might just be that fucking stupid...but maybe not

[zazen]

9. i wondered. . .Obama's "accidental" mike comment comes to mind

Except that seemed to uniformly flattering to him.

Do any NC DU'ers have any theories about this?

To me the most chilling thing are his comments about the "five Dems who want to go after her," the ones who are already voting with the GOP. Was he dissing them? Or giving them more cover?

If it wasn't an accident, I'm inclined to believe we should thank a secret someone who is sympathetic to real North Carolinians (of whatever party). I could be very wrong, of course.

[nxylas]

59. One theory about what they might be up to

That stuff about not pursuing Democrats doesn't sound like an unguarded comment to me. I wonder if it isn't a deliberate attempt to depress the Democratic vote by confirming suspicions that both parties are as bad as each other.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Where was this?

[zazen]

11. in North Carolina (the title didn't say it)

It's from the N&O. They've got it as late breaking news but it's currently on their blog since they must have transcribed and uploaded it from the press room. :-)

[SoapBox]

10. "obfuscate" ...OH CrazySarah....new word for you to butcher!

Let's hear her use that...It would be worth the price of admission to her Circus Bus.

[zazen]

12. frankly, I was surprised they knew the word

I mean, they'd know the behavior.

[Ignis]

42. +1

[Odin2005]

67. I can never pronouce that word properly.

I always want to pronounce it "AHVS-fuh-skate" :)

[MrScorpio]

13. They are literally The Gang That Can't Shoot Straight

How wonderful

[awoke_in_2003]

48. I don't know...

they shoot pretty damn straight when the targets are things like women's reproductive rights and social safety nets.

[LetTimmySmoke]

14. This is what happens when you have a platform based on lies.

Your party attracts dumbasses and opportunists.

[suzanner]

23. Seems most of these people get elected to become welfare 'kings'

living off the dole and playing the government like a game of risk.

[nolabear]

15. K&R&Big belly laugh! These guys need a clown car.

[No Elephants]

56. True. Meanwhile, maybe they can borrow Palin's bus.

[roxiejules]

16. GOP: Just make up stuff to say

"The news of Perdue filling an executive order to restore unemployment benefits broke at about the time House Republicans were meeting.

Tillis suggested they respond by saying it's illegal or that she should fire her lawyers."

[Beartracks]

57. Everyone knows "gut reactions" are front page news!

Facts and retractions get stuck on page 10.

-------------------------

[HillWilliam]

17. Bigfat tar-heeled Democratic K&R n/t

[JNelson6563]

19. I can't believe ANYONE takes them seriously

How they manage to hold any power in this country truly mystifies me.

Julie

[plumbob]

37. I'm with you. I've been teaching three decades, and I'm sure none of these

dumb asses could pass either my economics or my government class!

They're truly despicable.

[defendandprotect]

55. But ....

that's like saying gangsters -- hey, the Sopranos! -- are dumb .... !!

Elites go to these types of thugs when they want something done --

think of the power to "obfuscate" -- !!

The power to lie continually and hide the darkness of what you're doing -- !!

Quite a talent -- sadly --

[John_Adams]

20. Any "newsworthy" tweets...?

[seafan]

21. NC Governor Bev Perdue is slapping around the good ol' boys.

Putting your earlier link here, zazen:



North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue



In battling Republican lawmakers over the budget, Gov. Bev Perdue has emerged as a mighty opponent , June 1, 2011


And the Republicans are acting out, even more stupidly than usual, if that's even possible.



Republicans mistakenly broadcast private meeting, leak strategy. June 3, 2011

House Republicans held a behind-closed-doors caucus meeting to discuss their strategy on the budget and other issues Friday, but did not know all their remarks were being broadcast live into the press room through an open microphone.

.....

"On one point, I only want David Lewis to talk," Stam said, an Apex Republican. "The talk about redistricting and this thing in the budget is extremely sensitive to the other people not in this room who are voting with us. No one but David talk. David can obfuscate more than anybody I know."

.....

The news of Perdue filling an executive order to restore unemployment benefits broke at about the time House Republicans were meeting.

Tillis suggested they respond by saying it's illegal or that she should fire her lawyers.

.....

"Either way, she's incompetent," the Apex Republican said. "We really need to crack on her for this. This is probably one of the worst things she's done."

Rep. Mark Hilton, a Catawba Republican, told members of his caucus that groups supporting a constitutional gay-marriage ban need a vote this year so they can organize their get-out-the-vote campaigns. ..... The marriage amendment "is important to conservative groups," he said. "They need to be able to get their ground-game working to get out the vote for it to be on the November ballot."

Other conservative items of interest: illegal immigration and "gun issues."

Perdue's order extends unemployment benefits, June 3, 2011

Saying "enough is enough," Gov. Bev Perdue today issued an executive order extending benefits for 47,000 unemployed North Carolinians.

Perdue and Republican legislative leaders have been at odds for weeks over the extension, which expired in April.

An extension is included in a $19.7 billion GOP-backed state budget passed this week by the Senate and expected to be approved tomorrow by the House.

"Republicans in the legislature stubbornly cling to their political games," Perdue said in a statement. "They continue to use desperate people as leverage to extort my support for an ideologically-driven budget that needlessly cuts millions from our public schools and inflicts millions of dollars more in damage to our universities, pre-school programs, community colleges, job creation efforts and vital health care services.

"I will not stand for it and I will not sit by idly as the legislature continues to play these games and deny the jobless the unemployment benefits they need.... North Carolina cannot wait any longer for the legislature to do what they should have done more than a month ago."

.....

Cruel, greedy, dogmatic, arrogant legislative Republicans, getting what they deserve.


Along with 47,000 unemployed North Carolinians.


There are some Southern women ya don't mess with.

[zazen]

26. she may become a galvanizing figure--one woman up agst a bunch of bullies

She's always been more mainstream, but her wit, strength and fundamental sense of justice are really coming out here, and I could see this getting the national attention it deserves. She's not exactly Elizabeth Warren, but compared to the right-wing knuckle draggers she's up against, it's proportionally similar.

I'd say the NC GOP is a bunch of good ole' boys, but they include some prominent "Yankees" among them. Florence King always said "good ole boys" knew no geographic boundaries, as Nixon in her opinion was the quintessential good ole' by, and I tend to agree.

Thanks for the nicely formatted, highly readable compendium, Seafan!

[seafan]

31. Y'welcome, zazen. We're pulling for y'all in NC. Wish we had a Democratic Guv in FL....

Right now, things are beyond bleak down here.


We'll "get there". It's just gonna take a bit longer.

[seafan]

71. For first time in history, NC Governor Bev Perdue vetoes state budget.

Perdue vetoes state budget

June 12, 2011

Raleigh, N.C. — Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the General Assembly's $19.7 billion, two-year budget Sunday afternoon. After a reiteration of her belief that investment in education has been the hallmark of North Carolina's success, Perdue said, "I will not put my name on a plan that so blatantly ignores the values that have built this great North Carolina."

.....

"The General Assembly, many of them, may be satisfied with a state moving in reverse, but I am not," Perdue said.

....

Since the budget's passage on June 4, Perdue has said she was carefully reviewing the plan. She publicly criticized the budget several times this week, saying that its education spending makes her "sad for our state and our people."

"This budget is a living document," Perdue said Sunday. "It is a reflection of our values as North Carolina."

For the governor, those values include investment in education. Education spending and closing a $2.4 billion projected shortfall have been at the center of the budget debate.

Perdue has pushed for an extension of sales taxes intended to be temporary as a means of retaining teachers' jobs. The Republican majority, many of whom ran on a platform of lowered taxes, emphasized the need to find savings rather that maintain that tax.

.....

Perdue has also criticized the budget for consolidating and cutting spending on early childhood education programs Smart Start and More at Four.

.....

More from the AP:

RALEIGH -- Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue vetoed the North Carolina budget plan Sunday, saying the Republican-led Legislature's proposal would do "generational damage" to public education and other pillars of the state. Still, she may be unable to stop the plan if members of her party defect and vote to override.

Perdue's announcement in the old Capitol building made history. She's the first North Carolina chief executive to ever veto the state government budget bill. It was written by the first Republican majorities to hold both the House and Senate in 140 years.

.....

She's traveled the state over the past few weeks deriding the budget, saying it will devastate public education and lay off thousands of workers after what she calls decades of improvements done largely under Democratic state leadership.

She talked about her discussions with local educators, business leaders and other citizens over the past week. Perdue said she made up her mind in Friday while in Boone when a schoolteacher told a student interested in a similar career to work in another state because of all the damaging cuts to schools.

"North Carolina has a Legislature that is turning its back on our schools, our children, our longstanding investments in education and our future economic prospects," Perdue said. "This budget results in generational damage, to tear at the very fibers that's made this state strong," she added. "Not only our schools and our universities and our community colleges are damaged, but also our communities, our environment, our public safety system and our ability to care for those who need us most."

.....

Courtesy of DUer SaveAmerica, here are the 5 Democrats who voted for this destructive Republican budget, and who may join Republicans in an override:

Jim Crawford 919-733-5824

Bill Owens 919-733-0010

William Brisson 919-733-5772

Dewey Hill 919-733-5830

Tim Spear 919-715-3029

It is LONG past time for the people of North Carolina and the rest of the country to face the stark reality that this generation of Republicans, with the help of a few enablers prostituting themselves, DO NOT have the education, well-being, health or safety of our people as a priority.


They must be stopped from commandeering our government and strangling, gutting and burying our economy and social safety nets.

[zazen]

22. Now Perdue's having fun with them: Update to story by N&O editor

from original web link http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/republicans_mistakenly_broadcast_private_meeting

"UPDATE: Perdue had some fun at the Republicans' expense at her afternoon media conference. Walking up to a bank of microphones, she pretended to fumble with them and quipped: "Are these things on? Is there a switch I need to ..."

After the press corps broke into laughter, she added: "I'm pretty competent with microphones."

The governor's dig was a reference to Stam's comment (included after the jump) that she is "incompetent." "


I wish Comedy Central did its regular live Stewart/Colbert programming on Friday nights!

[Plucketeer]

27. LOL!!!!

One COOL Lady! presiding over a gaggle of keystone cop Rethugs! :rofl:

[Bryn]

32. What awesome lady!

Sweet! :)

[Odin2005]

68. Oh, SNAP!!!

:rofl:

[mistertrickster]

24. Hilarious . . . the banality of evil, indeed. nt

[DFW]

25. You know who will be the most surprised by all this?

The Republicans in the meeting, that's who.

They probably think we're all completely shocked at their slimy tactics.

Not at all, guys. All you did by making this public is confirm what we already knew about you in the first place.

[zazen]

28. a Repub on the N&O web site says "one head has already rolled"

No doubt.

Advocating deliberate obfuscation by a public servant is apparently okay. But accidentally allowing the public to hear that this is what your boss is doing is a fireable offense.

[zazen]

29. would someone x post this to TPM and Raw Story?

I'm tired of the national press only associating North Carolina with John Edwards.

The rest of the country needs to know the GOP-crap we're dealing with so maybe they'll see why some of us aren't obsessed with all-Edwards, all-the-time, and how hard our state Dems are working to try to maintain some safety net for our hardest-hit citizens. We're too busy fighting off record cuts to our once leading state public university system and our struggling public schools to focus on him constantly. ( I just want him to go away, and take that tacky 24,000 square foot home in Chapel Hill with him.)

[ixion]

30. "David can obfuscate more than anybody I know."

And here is our entire political system, boiled down into a single sentence.

[roxiejules]

47. You are correct: the political system fits the definition

Obfuscation: the concealment of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, intentionally ambiguous, and more difficult to interpret.









http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obfuscation

[struggle4progress]

49. It's a great quote. I'm sure we'll hear it a lot down here!

[pnorman]

33. I'm marking this entire thread for careful study later!

n/t

[dwilso40641]

34. K&R N/T

[ooglymoogly]

35. 'Twould be nice to have names and pictures of the 5 traitors

"This is not about Democrats, because we have Democrats voting for this budget," he said. "Please, do not go after the Democrats. If you want to go after an individual member for saying something stupid, gut punch them. These five Democrats are going after her".

Its interesting to see these flim flam artists at this meeting recognize who and what they are. Just a bunch of used car salesmen selling nothing but junk heaps and crap piles.

[wildeyed]

51. Here they are.

According to this article. http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2011/may/08/2/perdue-benefits-democratic-oks-nc-budget-ar-1015388/


Jim Crawford of Oxford http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/membersByDistrict.pl?sChamber=H&nDistrict=32

Bill Owens of Elizabeth City http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/membersByDistrict.pl?sChamber=H&nDistrict=1

Dewey Hill of Columbus http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/membersByDistrict.pl?sChamber=H&nDistrict=20

Bill Brisson of Bladen http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/membersByDistrict.pl?sChamber=H&nDistrict=22

Tim Spear of Washington http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/membersByDistrict.pl?sChamber=H&nDistrict=2

In addition to an odious budget, they may side with the Reps on a number of nasty bills aimed at suppressing youth and minority voters. They are trying to enact a voter picture ID law and eliminate much of the early voting period that was used to good effect by the Obama campaign in '08. Hopefully being exposed in today's publicity as the turncoats that they are might help them see the error of their ways.

[zazen]

60. thanks, wildeyed n/t

[crim son]

36. "Sensative"?

Ugh.

[slay]

38. I live in NC - I'd like to see those 5 so-called "Democrats" try to join with the Repukes now!

might as well resign if they do. I'm glad this shit is being exposed cause NC is under attack by Republicans just as bad as many other states which get more news coverage!

[roxiejules]

39. Vote Obfuscation, Vote Republican....

You'll never understand what hit you!

}(

- from comments at the link

Read more: http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/republicans_mistakenly_broadcast_private_meeting#ixzz1OGB3zd6n

[zazen]

41. "IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORD OBFUSCATE, THANK A TEACHER"

Or "Obfuscation (archaic): Term once used widely by educated American English speakers until public education was eliminated during the 21st century period of vulture capitalism, in which public resources were transferred to wealthiest 1%."

They're trying to eliminate thousands of teaching positions while simultaneously accusing NC K-12 (which was brought up in the rankings over the past two decades only by Dems dragging GOP kicking and screaming) of needing "serious reform."

[roxiejules]

45. A big Thank You to all the teachers

who not only work hard to educate our children, but also have to put up with the demonization of their profession.

[underpants]

40. +

[Jamastiene]

43. I hope we get Perdue for the full 2 terms.

:)

[RainDog]

44. k&r - n/t

[Kingofalldems]

46. Never trust a republican

More confirmation.

[young_at_heart]

50. We get daily updates in the Asheville paper about important programs to be cut

Here's a snippet from today's paper: "Money to help local governments and conservation groups protect water quality would be slashed by tens of millions of dollars."

It's obvious that Republicans are power-mad!!

[wildeyed]

52. Audio posted here.

http://www.news-record.com/blog/53964/entry/119625

[glinda]

53. K & R n/t

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ccharles000]

58. k/r

[Corruption Winz]

61. Jesus... what a bunch of idiots.

What is this? Three's Company? Mr. Roper hearing this through a slightly ajar door?

This is how you know you're not fit for office of any kind. You're not even good at doing bad things.

[WillyT]

62. K & R !!!

:kick:

[S_B_Jackson]

64. I don't think this was a "mistake" at all....

more like a false flag operation whose sole intent was to get us to turn our suspicions inward upon ourselves. Fuck the pubbies! They're the enemy, not our own.

[Odin2005]

65. BWAHAHAHA!