MOREHEAD CITY – After speaking to passers-by at the Veteran’s Day Parade in Morehead City over the weekend, I knew Speaker Jim Black was in serious trouble.
In town to talk about two recent works of mine at the first (annual?) Crystal Coast Book Festival, I ended up spending less of my time talking about advertising or national politics than I did discussing North Carolina’s impending state lottery, Speaker Black’s political career, Meredith Norris’ confusing employment situation, Kevin Geddings’ rank stupidity, and Sen. Marc Basnight’s stalwart defense of ethical standards.
This was a bad sign – and I don’t just mean for my potential book sales. It was a bad sign for Jim Black. I have spoken hundreds of times over the years at meetings and clubs outside the capital city. I can usually predict with precision what even politically active people know, and care to know, about state government. In this case, however, I was surprised at the detailed knowledge of the case on the part of the politicos I met – and even more shocked that people stopping me during the parade to say hello not only knew who Jim Black was but associated him with a scandal without my prompting.
At the risk of future embarrassment, I must say that it seems to me Black may have jumped the shark. For those unfamiliar with the term, “jumping the shark” signifies the point at which a season, career, trend, or fad is officially in terminal decline. It stems from a notoriously bad episode of “Happy Days” in which the Fonz, yes, jumped a certain aquatic predator while on water skis. Now there are entire websites devoted to evaluating when TV shows, politicians, celebrities, and others have reached the point of no return.
I have some theories as to why Black’s latest woes may prove more of a serious threat to his speakership than past challenges were. First, people across the state are paying attention to this story because it began with and involves the state lottery. For years, it was a running joke in Raleigh that you could tell a lottery bill was going to be debated in the General Assembly if you saw a television-news van from out of town. The lottery issue fascinates viewers and voters in a way that few others can.
Second, the Scientific Shames affair – or the Meredith Collage (sorry for the slim pickings, as I’m not feeling particularly creative today) – is being propelled in part by good old-fashioned media competition. The Raleigh News & Observer, The Charlotte Observer, The Winston-Salem Journal, the Associated Press, and others are working feverishly to keep up with the story and break new ground whenever possible. This is not good if you are the ball these competitors are batting around.
Third, Jim Black’s predicament truly is serious. It’s not hype. Both federal and state law-enforcement agencies are reportedly conducting wide-ranging investigations. What has already been disclosed – regarding the cavalier attitude of the speaker and his top aides about conflict of interest, misuse of state property, and improper influence – is extremely damaging.
“Is the speaker going to survive this?” When you hear that sort of question in the Legislative Building, the newsroom, or the TV studio, you can shrug it off as typical insider chatter. But when you hear it shouted over the sounds of a marching band at a small-town parade, it represents something more significant.
Hood is president of the John Locke Foundation.