North Carolinians may be aware that the candidates for Governor are Roy Cooper and Pat McCrory. Of course, North Carolina has been in the news for the voter ID law and more recently HB2. Though, state elections don’t make it past local news. Anyone who watched the debate last Tuesday night knows McCrory was the clear winner. Roy Cooper was doubtful, a sharp contrast to Pat McCrory who had a personality that took up the whole stage. Of course, demeanor alone does not win elections so, I have made a list of their positions on issues to make it easier to choose who to vote for.As the reader continues, bear in mind I am a biased; Real Clear Politics is a great resource for impartial political facts.
Roy Cooper
- Taxes – Cooper did not mention cutting or raising taxes.
- HB2 – Avid opposer of law, and believes it harms the economy.
- Who’s lives matter? Black lives matter.
- Does implicit bias exist? Yes, minorities are generally targeted.
- Obamacare – can be improved.
- Voter ID laws – clearly unconstitutional (as ruled) and should have never been brought up in the first place.
Pat McCrory
- Taxes – tax cuts for businesses and the private sector, but raised sales taxes and other “hidden” taxes
- HB2 – still stands behind his decision to put the law into place in the public sector.
- Who’s lives matter? All lives matter.
- Does implicit bias exist? Yes, but with everything like clothing, personality, and other factors, and it is used for police to properly assess situations.
- Obamacare – it is a complete failure.
- Voter ID laws – he still stands by it even after the ruling and continues to support it.
In my personal incredibly biased opinion, McCrory has good policies with improving teacher pay and encouraging a flourishing economy, though, that is shadowed by the amount of money North Carolina has lost from the HB2 law. McCrory admits that the law is shameful and that the economy suffers for it but he continues to support it. He also refuses to denounce the Voter ID laws, which were repealed because it prevented too many African American and elderly citizens from exercising their right to vote. The current governor has added additional hoops to jump through to get an abortion, though McCrory states he has worked to create safe, sterile, environments for women to receive a constitutional abortion.
Roy Cooper ran in circles the entire debate; he never really addressed how he would deal with taxes or about his performance as the North Carolina Attorney General. Though, he recognizes the struggles of minorities and of women’s rights. Cooper believes that a Trump presidency is bad for the American image as well as for National Security. The Attorney General promises to bring North Carolina from 41st of the 50 states in academics to at least the national average, as well as address issues with the criminal justice system.
The verdict: well, that’s for you to decide. I reiterate, I am biased; black boys being gunned down in the middle of the street is a more urgent issue to me than which bathroom a transgender student chooses to use. Roy Cooper would have my vote. McCrory is evidently discriminatory to anyone who is listening to it. If I had no regard for social issues or human rights, or if I valued monetary prosperity over the quality of life of Every. Single. Person (not just those of a certain group). I would vote for Pat. Still can’t decide? Cooper supports Clinton and McCrory endorses Trump.
Nothing substitutes for true political awareness. Too many people have fought for the right to vote, and too many people treat the right to vote with contempt. The average citizen should be able to collect their own data, draw their own conclusions, and vote with their conscience. If you are a North Carolinian whether or not you are voting for President on November 8, I urge you to vote for Governor (*cough* Roy Cooper).
