From the Raleigh News and Observer (10/23/09): A political tip: If you're going to send something to the governor's office, you'd better know what's in it.
Like, say, a check.
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger showed off a wheelbarrow full of “Conservative Voter Surveys” Tuesday that he said reflected lots of anger and frustration with Democrats.
As Dome noted Wednesday, the survey questions were written to stir up anger and possible Republican campaign contributions. We’re guessing Berger never imagined the governor’s staff would bother to read them. He was wrong.
Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson, responding to a request from Dome, said she had skimmed about a third of the 3,000 or so surveys. She noted comments written to the Republican Party included:
“I am embarrassed to be associated with this organization. Your tactics are disgusting and you’re going to lose a generation of voters.”
And then there was the check. A staff member found a $50 campaign contribution made out to Berger tucked in the surveys, which were, after all, a fundraising ploy.
That brings us to political tip No. 2: If you get a check, cash it.
“I was surprised to find a check,” Pearson said, noting that one woman wrote to the party, “Don’t just throw this away, read it.”
Pearson said the office intended to forward the check to its intended recipient.
Another comment: “Stop wording questions so geared up to get the answers you want and start wording them to actually find out the people’s opinion, not just confirm your own. There are probably only three questions on here that are legitimate.”
On Dome’s own sample survey, a Harrisburg woman wrote in the box for including a credit card contribution: “Not sending you any more money.”
Jim Blaine, director of the N.C. Republican Senate Committee, said both parties need to pay attention to the surveys.
“We’re glad her staff has looked at the surveys,” Blaine said. “We hope she takes to heart the responses that are critical of her programs as we take to heart the responses that are critical of our programs.”
Perdue’s staff might just want to get its own wheelbarrow and deliver the surveys, which are now public records, back to Berger.
News & Observer Staff Report (from a series of briefs, all of which can be accessed by clicking the link to the right)