The News & Observer‘s reaction piece to Black’s guilty plea is a gold mine or a minefield of comments, depending on your perspective. Examples:
“It’s just appalling,” said House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman. After saying earlier this week that Black shouldn’t go to jail, the Lexington
Democrat said he had changed his mind.
So now we know the threshold for imprisonment with this
bunch: Paying a legislator at a pancake house dining table to switch
parties in order to keep you in power = no jail; moving the deals into
a restaurant ter-let to accept cash bribes = prison jump suit.
In a prepared statement, House Speaker Joe Hackney said the House
has new leaders and that he was confident that any improprieties are in
the past.“The public’s trust must always come first for every
elected official,” the Orange County Democrat said. “It is unacceptable
for any of us to put our own personal gain ahead of the trust of the
people, and any elected official who does, must be held accountable.”
Democrats and perhaps half the Republicans can take the blame for
violating the public trust. Well after they knew about Black’s “issues”
and management of the House, they continued to support him as the
Speaker. It was all about each of their personal gain, one way or
another. And if “any improprieties are in the past,” it’s only because
the U.S. Attorney is getting downright proctological with the General Assembly.
