Feb. 19, 2007
How Shocked Should We Be?
By Chris Heagarty
RALEIGH - One of the best lines in the movie “Casablanca” occurs when corrupt Captain Renault needs a pretense for closing down Rick’s bar.
“I'm shocked -- shocked! -- to find that gambling is going on in here!” he huffs indignantly, right before the croupier hands him his winnings.
Are the talk show hosts and political pundits who profit from controversy any more credible when they denounce scandal in politics? Or is it just an excuse to beat up someone they don’t like?
Former four-term Speaker of the House Jim Black pled guilty to accepting cash from chiropractors seeking special legislation and could face a 10-year prison term. Black has already accepted guilt for this crime, so there is no need to retry him here.
Instead, I would like to challenge all of you to look into your own hearts and minds and judge how you really feel. Are you like the political pundits and shocked -- shocked! -- that someone in politics might have illegally accepted money from a group seeking special support? Or are you more surprised that someone actually got caught? Or do you even care?
Research done by the N.C. Center for Voter Education in 2006 revealed a very interesting trend in public opinion during the early weeks of this investigation.
Forty percent of voters were aware of news about ethics and campaign finance allegations in the state legislature last May. Of those voters, 45 percent mentioned Jim Black by name and 55 percent of them were able to recall a specific detail of the controversy, from mandatory eye exams, questions about lottery vendors, even blank lines on contribution checks.
This is a shockingly high level of detailed awareness uncommon in public opinion research about politics. It is undeniable that voters around the state knew about the controversy.
So, voters cannot plead ignorance. Aware of the accusations and reported evidence, what did they do about it?
Voters in Black’s district returned him to office, citing his record on support for education and jobs. Voters re-elected Black’s political allies, giving even more seats to the Democrats than the Republicans who campaigned against them on the corruption issue.
This has led me to the conclusion that in their hearts, voters really only care about corruption when it’s “the other guy” who’s wrong.
Do supporters of former President Bill Clinton still refuse to admit any wrongdoing in regards to his behavior in the White House? Do supporters of President George W. Bush still, to this day, believe some secret cache of weapons of mass destruction will be found in Iraq? I am convinced that people are willing to believe anything bad about the candidates they oppose but will turn a blind eye to the candidates they like.
Do you think there’s a problem with our system of government? Or will you accept the problems that grow more obvious every day so long as “your guy” remains in charge?
If we are ever to restore accountability and public confidence in government, voters must make reform a priority, even if it’s their side that’s at fault. That’s why we need to be talking about solutions, not just expressing outrage at the problem.
If we limit the role of special interests in campaign fundraising, they will have less influence over elections and state policy. They won’t be able to hold captive the time and attention of candidates in search of hundreds of thousands of dollars, allowing legislators to devote more time to solving the problems of average North Carolinians.
If candidates do not have to rely on big contributions or special-interest money to run for office, there will be a more level playing field and better candidates can run for office. Many qualified citizens find the entire political process distasteful and do not serve for that reason.
Let’s use this legislative session to limit special-interest influence over elections and give candidates an alternative to those waving around money with strings attached. Let’s restore some order to the process so more deserving men and women can run for office and afford to serve, and let’s make sure politicians are accountable to the public, not their big donors.
We all know what the problems are, but until we are willing to make them a priority and to address them, we are no more entitled to be shocked by corruption and controversy than old Captain Renault.
Chris Heagarty is the executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, a Raleigh-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving elections in North Carolina.
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