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We're gonna do a little 
tonight on how, exactly, Republicans have used their racially gerrymandered (super)majority over the last decade in North Carolina.
Wanna hear about bribery, election fraud, corruption, dirty tricks, culture warring and lots of racism? Here we go!
tonight on how, exactly, Republicans have used their racially gerrymandered (super)majority over the last decade in North Carolina.Wanna hear about bribery, election fraud, corruption, dirty tricks, culture warring and lots of racism? Here we go!
The last chairman of the NC GOP is literally in prison right now for bribery. Robin Hayes - 10-year Congressman, prominent state Republican - tried to help a prominent GOP donor manipulate the insurance commissioner into doing favors. This was last year. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article235704972.html
Literally one of NC Republicans' first priorities after winning a majority - while working on their gerrymander - was passing a same-sex marriage ban.
After it was struck down as unconstitutional, a bunch of Rs proposed bills to defy the Supreme Court.
https://indyweek.com/news/elections/dark-day-n.c.-amendment-1-passes/
After it was struck down as unconstitutional, a bunch of Rs proposed bills to defy the Supreme Court.
https://indyweek.com/news/elections/dark-day-n.c.-amendment-1-passes/
The state of North Carolina does not have a budget - and probably won't pass one!
The reason is because Republicans in the legislature are holding raises for teachers hostage for more corporate tax cuts, and refuse to negotiate with Gov. Cooper. https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/article239492868.html
The reason is because Republicans in the legislature are holding raises for teachers hostage for more corporate tax cuts, and refuse to negotiate with Gov. Cooper. https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/article239492868.html
After 2018, Republicans in NC no longer have the votes to override Gov. Cooper's veto.
To do so, House Rs straight up lied to the Democrats and staged a surprise vote - on 9/11, when most were away - to override. It was as low an act as we've seen. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article234965872.html
To do so, House Rs straight up lied to the Democrats and staged a surprise vote - on 9/11, when most were away - to override. It was as low an act as we've seen. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article234965872.html
(I love that shot of @TerenceEveritt looking concerned in the background)
House Bill 2 - the "Bathroom Bill."
It was dirty, transphobic, hateful and mean. It also screwed North Carolinians by prohibiting local minimum wages and anti-discrimination ordinances. National controversy. It hurt our state and continues to do so. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/24/us/north-carolina-to-limit-bathroom-use-by-birth-gender.html
It was dirty, transphobic, hateful and mean. It also screwed North Carolinians by prohibiting local minimum wages and anti-discrimination ordinances. National controversy. It hurt our state and continues to do so. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/24/us/north-carolina-to-limit-bathroom-use-by-birth-gender.html
When @NC_Governor won in 2016, Republicans in the legislature called a special session to strip the governorship of all the authority they could. Cut the positions he appointed by 80%. Manipulated the state election boards. Just outrageous shit. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/12/16/13971368/republican-power-grab-north-carolina-explained
WE'RE NOT EVEN IN THE TOP THREE YET
The NCGOP literally tried - and almost succeeded - to steal a Congressional seat!
NC Republicans hired a goon - who's worked for them before - to commit ballot fraud and steal an election from @McCreadyForNC. Almost pulled it off. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article222459875.html
NC Republicans hired a goon - who's worked for them before - to commit ballot fraud and steal an election from @McCreadyForNC. Almost pulled it off. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article222459875.html
NC Republicans have cruelly withheld access to affordable healthcare from 500,000 NCians by refusing to expand Medicaid.
They make up all kinds of excuses - healthcare will make people lazy, it's expensive - but really it's because they hate poor people. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/12/06/medicaid-expansion-keeps-breaking-through-red-america-next-stop-north-carolina/
They make up all kinds of excuses - healthcare will make people lazy, it's expensive - but really it's because they hate poor people. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/12/06/medicaid-expansion-keeps-breaking-through-red-america-next-stop-north-carolina/
North Carolina Republicans are outrageously racist and have argued as much in open court.
They literally researched voting behaviors by racial groups and then figured out how to disenfranchise as many black voters as possible - and said so themselves! https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/07/29/the-smoking-gun-proving-north-carolina-republicans-tried-to-disenfranchise-black-voters/
They literally researched voting behaviors by racial groups and then figured out how to disenfranchise as many black voters as possible - and said so themselves! https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/07/29/the-smoking-gun-proving-north-carolina-republicans-tried-to-disenfranchise-black-voters/
But I submit that the single worst thing North Carolina Republicans have done is essentially suspend representative democracy as most Americans understand it.
A lot of people don't realize this. Since 2012, the NC legislature has not represented North Carolina voters.
A lot of people don't realize this. Since 2012, the NC legislature has not represented North Carolina voters.
By ramming through arguably the most aggressive gerrymander in the country, Republicans in NC made themselves immune from voter accountability.
They aren't coy about this. They literally say, "we drew maps to ratfuck the Democrats. Deal with it." https://www.wral.com/editorial-tillman-offers-exhibit-a-of-illegal-gerrymandered-congressional-maps/18778877/
They aren't coy about this. They literally say, "we drew maps to ratfuck the Democrats. Deal with it." https://www.wral.com/editorial-tillman-offers-exhibit-a-of-illegal-gerrymandered-congressional-maps/18778877/
Democrats won a majority of votes for the NC House and Senate in 2018 - by about 2.5 points overall.
You know what happened? They *barely* broke the Republican SUPERmajority.
The gerrymander made it simply impossible for Democrats to win back power. That's what it did.
You know what happened? They *barely* broke the Republican SUPERmajority.
The gerrymander made it simply impossible for Democrats to win back power. That's what it did.
There's so much more that we could point to here.
Wanna read about what @ThomTillis was doing before he went to the Senate? Google the "Motorcycle vagina bill" - it's a thing! He did it! It was really shitty! https://medium.com/@longleafpineslate/top-10-worst-things-nc-republicans-have-done-2560e02bac2b
Wanna read about what @ThomTillis was doing before he went to the Senate? Google the "Motorcycle vagina bill" - it's a thing! He did it! It was really shitty! https://medium.com/@longleafpineslate/top-10-worst-things-nc-republicans-have-done-2560e02bac2b
I am not exaggerating in the least when I say that 2020 is a fight for the goddamned future of representative democracy in North Carolina.
If we lose this year, we're gerrymandered into irrelevance again. The bad guys win. Democracy loses.
If we lose this year, we're gerrymandered into irrelevance again. The bad guys win. Democracy loses.
But there's good news! This year is our chance!
We have new court-ordered maps. Democrats - finally! - have a viable path back to power. And we are fighting to make it happen.
Learn more at http://LongLeafPineSlate.org - or give directly here
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/longleafpine
We have new court-ordered maps. Democrats - finally! - have a viable path back to power. And we are fighting to make it happen.
Learn more at http://LongLeafPineSlate.org - or give directly here
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/longleafpine
Oh - I almost forgot!
Want to help this effort? We need you! Specifically, we need friends - in NC or not - to help organize small groups who just wanna learn more. (I have a presentation...)
DMs are open.
Want to help this effort? We need you! Specifically, we need friends - in NC or not - to help organize small groups who just wanna learn more. (I have a presentation...)
DMs are open.
