Things that Make Noise in the Night, Part XVIII | Eastern North Carolina Now

Things that Make Noise in the Night, Part XVIII

    The article "Why do Beaufort County Republicans Beat Each Other Up?" by Larry Britt a former Chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party is a study in split personality.

    Our free speech doors are open wide and I certainly do my share of criticizing those who call themselves Republicans. My criticisms usually go to those who fail to follow the basic principles of the Party. Those are smaller government, lower taxes, less regulation and more personal responsibility. So far I have been reasonably successful in sticking to these principles in making my decisions on how to vote on issues and in deciding which issues are important and should be pursued. Following the Constitution as intended by the founding fathers gives me a steady political rudder.

    Britt talks abut obstacles to building he Republican Party. Those who do not subscribe to the conservative principles stated in the above paragraph are the major obstacle to growth in the Republican Party in my opinion. The liberal Republicans I have known are very similar to Democrats. They simply want to use government for their honey pot. They are frustrated that I do not vote for any of the proposed programs that favor special interests. Their view is that we will get along just fine if I vote for all of their liberal ideas. In regard to following conservative principles, I am sure I know them, and I am sure I am right about them. I do not need supporters or friends who simply want to use me to gain assess to the Beaufort County Bank account. There are many people who believe as I do and who support me because of my watch dog and whistle blowing behavior.

    Britt talks about what I have accomplished in 16 years. No, I have not raised taxes or started new social programs or voted along with Democrats to use County funds to help my friends or to provide legal services when I try to make deals and get investigated by the SBI. What I have not accomplished is more important that what Britt wants me to accomplish. I have not voted to raise taxes, and in so doing I have saved taxpayers al lot of money. I was the only Commissioner who would publicly stand against the OLF. I was the only Commissioner who made all of the trips to Washington DC to lobby against the OLF. This is of some importance because elected officials in Washington DC want to see local elected officials speaking up on issues. Jay McRoy publicly supported the OLF. My success along with all of the volunteers has been in saying "NO".

    Britt conveniently forgets, although he may never have known, it is the responsibility of the county executive committees to guide the Republican Party to success during elections. Larry Britt, it is hard to work toward success when you are trying to stab conservative Republicans in the back. We have always asked one person to step down when four candidates are running for Commissioner. This goes back to the beginning of limited voting. The candidate does not have to drop out. He is under no obligation to do anything. We asked Gary Brinn to drop out for many reasons, the most important of which was his ignorance of the political process. Guess what, we were right. Look as his campaign, attacking the strongest fellow Republican candidate. But Brinn is one of Larry Britt's picks. Do I need to say more?
It was a tough night for some candidates - that is what elections are all about. David Daniels (left) with Republican candidate for county commissioner, Larry Britt (right), who was hoped to have given Beaufort County Commissioner Jay McRoy "a run for his (political) money," literally see "the writing on the wall:" Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage
    Larry again forgets the facts. He said I received the full support of the Republican Party while he was chairman. Larry believes all those letters he wrote as Chairman of the Party to the editor of the Washington Daily News degrading me cannot be counted against him because he never said my name. Larry has a strange way of supporting fellow Republicans. I have never, until this year, received the full support of the Republican Executive Committee. Larry is correct, we have a conservative Executive Committee that for the first time in 16 years is doing its job and this is driving the RINO group nuts. Do you see the desperation in Larry's article.

    Britt reaches for another untruth to press his point. Britt was probably not even a resident of Beaufort County when the location of US 17 was decided. It was politically hot. Stan Deatherage and I wanted to build the road on the east side of Washington with a bridge across the Pamlico River. The Highway Department told the Commissioners the road would not be constructed until they had a unanimous vote on the location from the Beaufort County Commissioners. Stan Deatherage and I made the statement in open session that we would never vote to build US 17 west of Washington. Subsequently, the Highway Department said they would take a majority vote.

    The Democrats had started off wanting to build it in Pitt County. We squalled until it was moved to Beaufort County. Jay McRoy and Carolyn Harding voted along with the remainder of the Democrats to build the US 17 Bypass on alignment "B" as proposed by the Highway Department. McRoy and Harding consistently voted for routes west of Washington. Larry Britt calls this compromise to get something done. Look what we have? Look what Chocowinity has? The real compromise came when Stan and I saw the road was going to the west and proposed building US 17 along the present route that goes through the City of Washnigton. Jay McRoy and Carolyn Harding voted against that. route.

    Again Larry stoops to an untruth about the construction of the Blue Goose. The EDC crowd made those motions. I provided my technical ability in order that we get the most for our money because we had already wasted money on bad planning. The entire thing has been a disaster with Jay McRoy in the lead.

    Larry Britt and his cohorts lack the ability to debate on the principles of the Republican Party or the US Constitution and resort to personal attacks. Larry spent all of his words in personal attacks and none on principles.

    Another politician made the mistake of saying to me "If elected he would vote his conscience". I pointed out to him that murders and child molesters also had a conscience, so, what distinguishes your conscience from theirs. He made an alarming reply to the effect that he knew his conscience and he knew what to do.

    Everyone has a conscience of some kind and almost all of those with the kind of personality necessary to hold political office will tell you they are sure about what to do. Look at what Joseph Stallin and Adolph Hitler did to their own people. They ordered the death of millions of innocent citizens. Neither of these men ever shed a tear of remorse. I, as a County Commissioner, have seen several officials hide behind their conscience after casting votes that helped their friends. Don't buy into the conscience game, it is dishonest. People who cannot explain their vote or why they would vote a certain way other than to use conscience almost always have something to hide or are clueless about all policy.

    Elected officials should be able to cite the Constitution of the United States or the State of North Carolina, Christian teachings, legal precedence or some generally accepted principle when explaining how they voted or would vote. One's conscience is very private and not subject to review or the judgement of anyone other than God.