David Ingram’s otherwise interesting dispatch on an A-list of corporations — Bank of America, Wachovia, Duke Power, Progress Energy, and Blue Cross Blue Shield — leaving the ranks of N.C. FREE didn’t quite scan. Why would all these cautious corporate entities all jump at the same time to leave a business-interest group in Raleigh?
Ingram cites a general divergence of views between deal-making corporate lobbyists and FREE, which was trying to come up with some objective measure of legislative support for members’ interests. Surely that could be a factor. But for everyone to bail at the same time sounds like an either-or deal. An ultimatum, even.
Who might be in a position to make such a demand? Try state Senate Finance Committee co-chairman Dan Clodfelter. A powerful and influential player in Raleigh, especially for the Uptown crowd and the Bank of Wachovia Power, Clodfelter was left off of FREE’s most recent list of endorsements.
Makes sense to me, but applying logic to such things is fraught with peril.
