Editorial: How low can you go?
CBC Editorial: Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019; Editorial #8481
The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company
“Scumbag” and a “bottom feeder” – that is how Dylan Watts, speaking on behalf of state Senate leader Phil Berger and the other 28 Republicans in the Senate, described Bob Hall.
Hall is the retired head of the election and voting advocacy organization Democracy North Carolina. He had the temerity -- Watts termed it “pathetic” and “phony” -- to question whether Berger, who represents Rockingham County and practices law there, was using campaign funds appropriately to essentially pay the mortgage on a Raleigh home.
Dylan Watts, meet Bob Hall. He is a recipient of a MacArthur Fellow Award (known as the “genius grant”) and the N.C. Press Association’s First Amendment Award. For 25 years Hall led the non-partisan Democracy North Carolina’s efforts to keep elections and government clean as well as get as many people to vote as possible – regardless of political affiliation.
In doing that he made friends and enemies of Republicans and Democrats – occasionally at the same time. It was his organization’s efforts that raised concerns about former Gov. Mike Easley’s campaign finances. It was Hall’s organization sounded concerns about illegal donations from sweepstakes vendors to GOP legislators and former Gov. Pat McCrory.
Dylan Watts language and tone are reprehensible. They are particularly inappropriate when coming on behalf of 29 elected members of the state Senate.
Apologies are in order from Berger and the members of the GOP caucus. Watts needs to find another job.
Too often, the tone coming from Berger’s office about those who differ with him and his views is negative and includes personal attacks. Watts’ comments have gone too far. End it now.
