Cross-posted in the Concord Standard
It was a year ago this week that Cabarrus County Commissioner Coy Privette was arrested on six counts of aiding and abetting prostitution. While most readers remember the highlights - the most poignant and often overlooked observation to follow in the wake of the Privette Scandal came from one of his most ardent supporters: Harold Smith.
Kannapolis voters might remember Harold Smith from their 2003 and 2005 municipal ballots. Others might remember his website – www.goharoldsmith.com – where his antics included posting the salaries of all of the county’s employees and manufacturing scandals that usually wilted at the first sight of scrutiny. It was his site that inspired mine. I often countered Smith’s claims – which were largely reprints of Privette’s statements. In the end: Smith’s devotion couldn’t countenance the revelation of Privette’s pandering. Smith’s farewell post noted that his brief foray into politics didn’t return the results that investments in his family and other personal enterprises did. A businessman like Smith understood the importance of writing off a sunk cost and moving on.
The lesson that Smith conveyed is when you look to politicians to provide inspiration and purpose in your life – you’ll come up disappointed. Unfortunately, this lesson was missed by nearly all who witnessed the Privette debacle; but might be learned the hard way by Cabarrus voters in 2008 – specifically Obama supporters.
Unfettered by the burden of a substantial record that comes from a complete term in the US Senate, Barak Obama has been allowed to manifest from his own ego (and a talented group of consultants) the promise of a change agent who will right all that is wrong with Washington, the World, and our day-to-day existence. Obama devotees elevate this message resulting in a bizarre feedback loop. The most egregious example: Oprah Winfrey stated that Barak Obama is “The One” to help us “evolve to a higher plane”.
The non-stop adulation has caused some strange behaviors on the part of the Democratic Nominee for President. From his homemade Presidential Seal to self-aggrandizing campaign venues like a 70,000 seat stadium in Denver and the Brandenburg Gate (yes, the site of Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” and Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall”), Obama has decided to display his “evolution” as an uber-candidate ahead of actually getting elected.
Between now and November 4th, voters should remind themselves that missing from Article II of the Constitution is being the inspiration for YouTube videos. The standard Presidential duties are those not usually best for a first-term, Junior Senator to carry out. Not looking past ethereal rhetoric in 2006 has caused many who voted for Privette some serious buyer’s remorse – a lesson that shouldn’t be ignored by voters a short two years later.
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10 responses so far ↓
1 Brad Spry // Jul 22, 2008 at 9:16 am
A vote for Obama is a vote for Satan!
2 Aaron // Jul 22, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Brad, please change your password. Coy and his buddies are posting under your ID.
3 Steve Smith // Jul 23, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Justin
For many years Coy represented this County from the Conservative Right then when he commits one utlra liberal mistake, everyone blasts him with both barrels. That being said, you should compare him with Bill Clinton not Obama. Obama is just representing his party as all other liberal Democrats have done over the years. When I was trying to get you guys to support McCain everyone was bashing him left and right, now I hope you see the error of your ways and come around to see that he is what he is. And now he is our only choice so lets get on board and beat the drums, sound the horns and support McCain for President. And forget about Coy!!!!
4 JustThrewUpaLittle // Jul 24, 2008 at 8:36 pm
How can I not heart a Republican apologist reaching across a giant pit of quicksand to link Robin Hayes’ number #1 GOTV mobilizer in Cabarrus to Obama. The one man that got Hayes elected in spite of the majority of counties voting against him? Are you serious? Can Hayes now go on record disavowing Coy or what?
Um, thank you?
Or, wait, wait, wait..maybe Hayes should say Coy is a good man with problems. I mean Hayes should say something right? Right? I mean RIGHT is right, right? And Hayes and Coy are peas in a pod.
Please more posts linking Robin Hayes to his Cabarrus organizer.
5 Justin Thibault // Jul 24, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Steve -
On Liquor issues, sure. Fiscally, Coy was far from conservative - see here.
First off, I think that history will show that whoremongering is a bipartisan affair. And “one mistake”?
Really?
I liked what Gary Pearson said about it: “As for being a first-time offender, Privette must be the unluckiest man on earth to get caught the one and only time he did this.”
Done. “Unlike Bill Clinton, I admitted I had sex with the woman” - Coy Privette
The Obama supporters remind me of the Coy supporters. I never heard anybody give detailed policy reasons why they voted for Coy. It was always “He’s a conservative”, “He’s a preacher”, etc. Similarly, I’ve never heard an Obama supporter say - “He will implement this program” or “He got that bill through the Senate”. We’re could possibly put someone in office who was less accomplished in the Senate than John Edwards…that’s saying something.
I’m going to say this: I liked McCain 2000 more than I like McCain Vista. However, the last two ads tell me that Mac is Back. You were pulling for him in the Primaries…we all had our choices (mine just happened to be McCain; but I was being cantankerous enough with my support of Orr) - I don’t think anybody has “seen the light” - the primaries are over and he’s our nominee.
Not as long as he’s in office.
6 Brad Spry // Jul 24, 2008 at 11:28 pm
The Mac is Back, Apple Macintosh that is.
7 JustThrewUpaLittle // Jul 25, 2008 at 1:17 am
Yawn. So, no response to Coy running Robin Hayes’ re-election campaign the past decade in Cabarrus? Figures. And I love it.
8 Cabarrus Cheap Seats // Jul 25, 2008 at 8:27 am
A Video is Worth 450 Words…
OK, what it took me to do in 400+ words in my past article is best demonstrated by this hilarious video from the McCain campaign.
Enjoy. (H/T: The Next Right)
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/jfogMFL7UJo” width=”425″ height=”350″ …
9 Justin Thibault // Jul 25, 2008 at 2:57 pm
JTUaL -
I’m ignoring you - hoping you’ll go away.
Coy Privette couldn’t get himself elected in 1992 to Congress, he’s consistently been the among the lower vote-getters on the County Commission, and his people can’t even win during the County Conventions - so, the fact that Hayes is in office shows that the credit belongs elsewhere.
Nice try, though.
10 Mark Smith // Jul 29, 2008 at 10:25 am
JTUaL:
I’m sure Mr. Privette said good things about Mr. Hayes and worked to get him elected as he worked to get other Republicans elected. However, I do not recall at any time Mr. Privette being the official “Hayes Campaign Coordinator for Cabarrus County.” I know of several different individuals who took that responsibility. There were several of us who were distributing signs and literature all over the county and district.
Therefore, to say that Mr. Privette ran Mr. Hayes campaign over the last 10 years is a false statement.
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