RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Signed only two weeks ago, North Carolina’s new law blocking anti-discrimination rules covering the LGBT community has become an issue in one of the nation’s most contested gubernatorial elections.
The campaigns of Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who signed the law, and challenger Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper, who has refused to defend it in court, have been citing the conflict over the law as they seek donations.
Cooper and McCrory won their respective March 15 primaries the week before the General Assembly held a special session to block a Charlotte City Council ordinance that extended protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people at hotels, restaurants, and stores.
The two are expected to run in one of the most expensive and competitive gubernatorial races this year, so every extra donation is important. National Democrats consider North Carolina their best chance to knock off a Republican incumbent. The two campaigns already have raised more than $13 million, with Cooper ahead in the money chase through the end of February.
Criticism of the law and McCrory has led to a federal lawsuit and vocal protests outside the governor’s mansion and on cable television news. Social conservatives are holding prayer vigils and rallies supporting McCrory and other Republicans, who say Charlotte crossed the line when the ordinance allowed transgender people to use the rest room aligned with their gender identity at public accommodations.
Both candidates “are going to try to raise the money from the red-hots,” said Gary Pearce, a longtime consultant in North Carolina Democratic politics. “That’s what anger is always a good motivator for — contributions on both sides.”
McCrory has said he’s been unfairly treated by the national media and with an orchestrated campaign of misinformation about the law.
“The White House attacked us. The ACLU sued us. And Attorney General Cooper won’t try to stop them from stripping the basic expectation of privacy and safety North Carolinians have when they or their children use the restroom,” said a McCrory campaign email signed by campaign manager Russell Peck while asking for $25.
The state law went further by preventing others counties and cities from enforcing similar rules and requiring public schools and universities and government agencies to limit multi-stall bathrooms to people of the same biological sex only.
Cooper has said McCrory inserted discrimination into state law and created a “national embarrassment” that will lose the state jobs. More than 130 corporate executives — the latest include those from General Electric Co., Oracle and LabCorp.— have signed a letter demanding McCrory seek the law’s repeal.
“Together, we can take a stand against this law. Together, we can make our voices heard and say we won’t stand for bigotry and discrimination in North Carolina,” said the email fundraising plea, signed simply, “Roy.”
The state Democratic Party and state Senate leader Phil Berger also have tapped into anger about or defense of the ordinance with their own email and online donation pleas.
Pearce anticipates the controversy would benefit Cooper’s campaign finances more and expects he’s targeting cash support from business leaders in Charlotte, where McCrory was mayor for 14 years.
Republican consultant Dee Stewart, who is not working in the gubernatorial race, said he expects both candidates will benefit but the issue will motivate “low-dollar donors” more. He cautioned the shelf life of raising money off the law is limited and gubernatorial candidates will move to the next big thing that gets media attention.
“That’s just the nature of politics,” Stewart said.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
You know if these morons would STFU about “bathrooms” and their fear and just let it go I’d place bets that only the indoctrinated would have an issue.
I’m 70 and when I went to elementary/middle school in the 50s we had one set of facilities period. No one had any issues that I am aware of. Doors were just a couple of feet apart one said boys, the other girls, both led to the same place. Urinals on one side, sinks in middle and stalls on the other side. When I got to high school we had separate facilities and initially that seemed weird.
Later in life as an US Army officer I was around when the WACS got integrated into the regular army and guess what most units had only one set of facilities, one set of showers, etc, etc and very few had any issues. Yes, there was harassment and especially older soldiers had some problems but they very soon worked themselves out. Yes, I had to discipline some officers and NCOs who acted as jerks but it only took one or two times before everyone understood. Yes, harassment still exists to this day, some people never learn, especially when officers cover for one another, exactly as in civilian life. But the point is we all eventually get over the fears of “something different” and life goes on.
I understand that the manufactured hoo-haa re: transgender use or restrooms is the bodily function equivalent of at-the-polls voter fraud.
But has there ever been a case in the entire history of public restrooms where a transgender person took the advantage of the opportunity of the facility to sexually assault any person of any age of either sex?
Gee…you know what would really help? If those same CEOs from those NC based companies threatening to pull out of the state, put their money where their mouth is and also donated to Cooper in order to show their disdain for that law. Republicans would love to go onto talking about something else to change the subject but Dems shouldn’t let them get away with it without drawing attention to how and why Republicans are trying to do that. The economic security of the state related to that asinine law is at risk, so all NC citizens should be concerned about that.
Unfortunately, the issue is obscuring more serious problems with the law that was passed. The transgender issues was a trogen horse to slip other laws by the public without a vote by the people. Also included the legislature slammed its iron fist down crushing communities that might want to increase the minimum wage for a town that was left behind on the recovery of the recession. The geographics are telling about the South. Also people can now discriminate against Veterans, or who ever they believe deserve it based on their religion. Although this was passed last year the NORTH Carolina Republicans change tax law that forces all tax payers to claim ZERO DEDUCTIONS during the year which results in a Intrest free loan to the state. They can then claim deducti8ns when they file their tax return. They get their money back but the state has had intrest free use of that money for the year. Republicans believe in small gvt control until they get in charge. Then the policy of take the money and try to never ever give it back. Wake up North Carolina.