Tag: eugenics

And the GOP wonders why it struggles to attract minority voters

July 2, 2012 at 3:49 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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In recent months, there’s been some talk that the combination of the slow economic recovery and the President’s embrace of same sex marriage would somehow depress the support from racial minorities that he and other Democrats would garner in the November election.

Hmmm, maybe.

But as the 2011-2012 biennium of the North Carolina General Assembly has wound down in recent weeks, we’ve been reminded repeatedly why minority voters continue to support the Democrats by huge majorities (and why GOP claims about wanting to be a truly inclusive party when it comes to race) ring hollow for so many of these same voters: It’s about performance in office.

An obvious case in point: Read More…

Mansfield “disheartened” by Senate’s disregard for eugenics victims (Audio)

July 2, 2012 at 2:54 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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As the N.C. General Assembly works to wrap-up its seven-week session, Senator Eric Mansfield says there were several missed opportunities.

Mansfield, who appeared last weekend on News & Views with Chris Fitzsimon, says among this session’s biggest disappointments was the failure of his colleagues in the Senate to even consider compensation for victims of the state’s now defunct forced-sterilization program:

“It seemed not indicative of what I thought most of our Senators were, which even if they were nothing else, I thought the majority of them were empathetic and compassionate,” said Senator Mansfield.

To hear the full interview or download a podcast of last week’s entire show, visit the Radio Interview section of the N.C. Policy Watch website.

The legislature is expected to conclude its summer session on Tuesday.

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Bad for Don East

June 27, 2012 at 3:20 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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State Senator Don East is mounting a strong last minute rush in his campaign to be named Top Heartless Blowhard of the 2012 Legislative Session.

As the Mount Airy News reports, East is unrepentant about helping to torpedo compensation for eugenics victims.

“It doesn’t change anything — if they’re sterile, they’re still sterile,” said the Republican who represents Surry, Stokes, Yadkin and Alleghany counties in the Legislature.

Maybe next year, East will propose a bill to abolish punishment for murder. After all, as the Senator would be able to argue, “It doesn’t change anything – if  the victims are dead, they’re still dead.”

The Senate budget summed up in one vote

June 14, 2012 at 7:25 amCategory:Uncategorized

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If you want to get the gist of what the new version of the state budget as advanced by the NC Senate is about, check out this story by Lynn Bonner in Raleigh’s News & Observer.

In one fell swoop, GOP leaders voted to say “yes” to preserving a tax break for profitable businesses that they slipped into the budget while no one was watching last session and “no” to compensating victims of the state’s horrific, mid-20th Century eugenics program.

Thanks for making things so clear, Senators!

 

Senate passes budget, pans eugenics compensation (video)

June 13, 2012 at 5:47 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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The state Senate gave tentative approval to its $20.1 billion budget on Wednesday. But unlike the NC House, it appears Senate Republicans are not interested in providing compensation to the victims of the state’s forced-sterilization program.

During the debate, Senate Minority Leader Martin Nesbitt said he believed that almost everyone was on board with legislation in the House that would set aside $11 million for the living victims of the state’s eugenics program.

But Surry County Senator Don East made it clear he didn’t believe the state should shoulder the blame or the financial burden:

“You can’t rewrite history. I’m sorry,  I had nothing to do with that, “said East. “A few dollars ain’t going to change nothin’.”

Randolph County Senator Jerry Tillman told Nesbitt he should have pushed for compensation when the Democrats had control of the legislature, rather that look for support this year.

The Senate is expected to give final approval to their proposed budget on Thursday.

To watch Wednesday’s heated exchange over eugenics compensation, click below:

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