Creech says Governor’s remarks no different than Hillary’s ‘basket of deplorables’ comment
By M.H. Cavanaugh
Christian Action League
February 23, 2018
RALEIGH – In a letter written to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, NC Governor Roy Cooper, urges the company to consider making the state its home for a second headquarters. But it’s the way the Governor describes conservative North Carolinians that is likely to offend a large segment of its citizenry.
In addition to citing the state’s “business-friendly economy that growing companies love,” Cooper references previous support for HB 2 by lawmakers and others as a kind of anomaly in the state. His words are indicative of shame and embarrassment.
He writes: “Finally, I want to tell you that North Carolina is a welcoming state. Like every family with an embarrassing uncle or two, we have a few politicians who want it to be 1957 instead of 2017.”
Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said he believes Cooper’s remarks are equivalent to Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” statement concerning Trump supporters.
In September of 2016, during the Presidential campaign between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Clinton said half of Donald Trump’s supporters belong in a “basket of deplorables.” She said they were characterized by “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, and Islamaphobic views.”
Clinton’s “deplorables” remark sparked outrage. It became the number one trending topic on Twitter. At the time Trump tweeted, “Wow, Hillary Clinton was SO INSULTING to my supporters, millions of amazing, hard-working people. I think it will cost her at the Polls!”
Clinton’s remark also incited Fox News Radio host, Todd Starnes, to write a book titled, The Deplorables Guide to Making America Great Again. T-Shirts and other political paraphernalia were created.
Dr. Creech said, “What’s the difference in what Hillary said and what Cooper wrote to Amazon? There isn’t any. Cooper’s remarks are emblematic of the Governor’s elitist views and condescension toward North Carolinians who still believe in good morals. These fine folks in our state are not backward or stuck in the 1950s because they believe in a Christian sexual ethic or that men shouldn’t be allowed in women’s restrooms, showers or locker rooms. I don’t know what else to conclude about the Governor’s appeal to Amazon except to say he’s obviously embarrassed at any North Carolinian who would hold to what he believes are antiquated views.”
Liberty Headlines also picked up on the Governor’s statement in the letter to Bezos and highlighted that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBT rights advocate in the country, honored Bezos last year with their “Equality Award” for his company’s long history of supporting gay rights.
LH noted that HB 2, “since partially repealed, was passed by a supermajority of Republicans in the state House and Senate who represent the majority of North Carolina voters…After pandering to the Seattle-based online retail giant, Cooper has yet to elaborate on his reasoning for choosing to insult the majority of voters in the state as a means of attracting Amazon’s business.”
LH adds, “Not everyone wants Amazon to build its headquarters in the state.”
Dr. Creech argues that numerous large corporate entities like Amazon are the reason for the partial repeal of HB 2.
“Liberals have traditionally been more suspicious of big corporations than of big government, but with HB 2 Cooper co-opted the big corporations for his own political gain,” said Dr. Creech.
“If Amazon comes to North Carolina,” Creech continued, “I believe we would likely see an alliance between big left-wing Amazon and leftist politicians such as Cooper that could literally flip a state from red to blue. For those who still believe marriage is between a man and a woman, that gender is not fluid, that life is sacred at every stage, and religious liberty is paramount, Amazon’s arrival in the Tar Heel state could spell grave danger for these Christian values. No money in the whole world, no prosperity, is worth losing our own souls.”
Last week, The Atlantic, reported, “the company’s selection could plausibly nudge the current swing states of Pennsylvania and North Carolina toward the Democrats – or accelerate Georgia’s transition into a genuinely competitive battleground. It might take years, but if Amazon founder Jeff Bezos picks one of those places, he could deliver a major political disruption right to the two parties’ doorsteps.”
“Cooper’s vision for North Carolina,” said Creech, “sees North Carolinians with conservative values as an embarrassment, like a foolish and backward family uncle or a cousin deplorable that you hope you never have to introduce to anyone. It’s appalling.”