John Davis Consulting

North Carolina: The Jurassic Park of Business and Agribusiness Democrats.  Extinct. Caused by one of the most avoidable political disasters in state history.

North Carolina business and agricultural leaders did not leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left them.  John Davis Political Report, July 30, 2012

 Post: Monday, July 30, 2012       Vol. V, No. 24      11:13 am

Why did business/agribusiness Democrats become extinct?

 This report is a continuation of the John Davis Political Report series on the structural deficiencies of the North Carolina Democratic Party, deficiencies that severely limit their ability to keep Republicans from dominating all branches of state government after the 2012 elections.

Thus far, deficiencies have included a loss of political power, loss of the political fundraising advantage, loss of a majority of legislative and congressional districts, and loss of strong leaders.

Today, I am adding the loss of the North Carolina business and agribusiness communities.  I consider this the greatest loss.  A statewide loss of influential leaders.  Contributions.

North Carolina has become the Jurassic Park of pro-business Democrats.  An extinct species.

Democrats ignored the warnings.  They were cautioned that the balancing influence of business Democrats in their caucuses was needed to keep business/agribusiness on their side.

Now it’s too late.  They didn’t recruit business/agribusiness candidates.  Today, only 8 of 71 Democrats in the North Carolina General Assembly have pro-business ratings.

Simply put, North Carolina business and agricultural leaders did not leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left North Carolina business and agricultural leaders.

It is one of the most avoidable political disasters in state history.

 The proof is in the voting records; Democratic numbers just don’t add up

 Of course, all Democrats will tell you that they are pro-business/agribusiness.  But listening to a liberal Democrat insisting that they are pro-business is like listening to a conservative Republican insisting that they are pro-environment.  Examine the voting records.

The Senate: Based on the most recent business ratings of North Carolina Senators and House members conducted by the North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation:

• Of 19 Senate Democrats, 2 have business ratings above 70% (highest category)
• 12 of 19 Senate Democrats have business ratings below 55% (lowest category)           (Note: Remaining 5 Senate Democrats have scores between the highest and lowest categories)

Problem:  When it’s time to elect the caucus leaders, which ideological group will prevail?  The group of 2 senators in the highest business category or the group of 12 in the lowest?

Now you know why Senator Martin Nesbitt, D-Buncombe, with a business rating of 39.7%, was elected leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus.  And, now you know why business and agricultural interests lost confidence in Senate Democrats.

The House: Business/agribusiness began to lose confidence in House Democrats in 2007 when Rep. Joe Hackney, D-Orange, was elected Speaker.  Hackney, with a life-long record of alliances with groups opposing the business position on issues, has a business rating of 16.1%.

• Of 52 House Democrats, 6 have business ratings above 70% (highest category)
• 42 of 52 House Democrats have business ratings below 55%, (lowest category)

(Note: Remaining 4 House Democrats have scores between the highest and lowest categories)

With half the House Democrats having business ratings between 29.6% and 8.2%, it’s little wonder that Hackney, with a business rating of 16.1%, was elected caucus leader.

 The proof is in the voting records; Republican numbers are off the charts

 The Republicans:  Based on the most recent business ratings of North Carolina Senators and House members conducted by the North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation:

• Of 31 Senate Republicans, 100% have business ratings above 70% (highest category)
• Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, has a business rating of 96%
• Of 68 House Republicans, 67 have business ratings above 70%
• House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, has a business rating of 96%

 Who will rescue North Carolina Democrats in 2012?

 Gallup released a national study on Thursday, July 26, 2012 showing that business owners in the U.S. are now among the least approving (35%) of the job President Obama is doing.  Only one other occupational group thinks less of Obama (34%): farmers.  Business/agribusiness.

Although Obama is certainly most responsible for spoiling the relationship between Washington and the business/agriculture community with regulatory overreach and anti-business political rhetoric and gamesmanship, Democratic legislative leaders in Raleigh are most responsible for spoiling their party’s 100-year-old mutually beneficial relationship with business/agribusiness.

So, who will come to the rescue of North Carolina Democrats in 2012?  President Obama is on track to becoming the first president in history to raise less money than his opponent because he alienated business/agribusiness interests.  Democrats in the North Carolina General Assembly are on track to becoming the first class since the 19^th Century to raise less money than Republicans because they alienated business/agribusiness interests.

By alienating business/agribusiness, the federal and state Democratic parties have lost their most reliable source of political contributions.  It’s their greatest loss.

North Carolina has become the Jurassic Park of pro-business Democrats.  Extinct.

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