Good to see the Uptown paper of record taking a stand against willy-nilly claims of racial bias. In this instance, it involves state Rep. Alma Adams (D) claiming that questions about the financial doings of the Legislative Black Caucus Foundation are racially motivated.
But interesting how the Observer feels at liberty to find fault with Greensboro’s Adams reaction to criticism while ignoring that Charlotte’s own Rep. Beverly Earle (D) reacted in much the same way. Recall what Earle told the N&O weeks ago when news broke that Foundation money was going to relatives of lawmakers:
Rep. Beverly Earle, a Charlotte Democrat, said her sister’s granddaughter received a scholarship to attend N.C. A&T University in Greensboro.
She said her sister has little income and was raising two grandchildren.
“There was nobody more deserving or in need,” Earle said.
Earle questioned why the foundation was coming under scrutiny, saying no other nonprofit had been pressured to disclose similar information.
“I don’t know why the caucus is under attack,” she said.
Moreover, Earle is the immediate past chair of the caucus and the pattern of political giving to the foundation goes back a long, long time. The call for more disclosure also dates back to April.
Earle has gotten a pass on answering questions about all this. Now comes word that Earle used foundation money to pay her legislative assistant $2,500 for “consulting.” The group’s tax filings for 2005 indicate that “professional services” payments were made to several caucus members’ aides, in fact.
By all means, let’s continue the tradition of whacking an out-of-town politician while turning a blind eye to local lawmakers’ questionable dealings.
It worked out so well with regard to Jim Black.
