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State Senate Leader Phil Berger reacts to Gov. Perdue's controversial comments
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Now from a controversial comment that triggered a political backlash and how.
Democratic governor Bev Perdue of North Carolina raised eyebrows when she told a crowd.
That congressional elections should be suspended for a couple of years so that the lawmakers can just focus on the economy not have to worry basically about reelection.
Well that brought howling criticisms.
From Republicans and raise questions.
About whether this governor was advocating.
Folks to ignore the constitution.
Produce can't insist that her comments were quote hyperbole.
Now she has come out and -- her point was one of saarc has some.
But not everyone is convinced.
We actually just obtained the audio of the government's cut -- governor's comments.
We will play it for you and let you decide whether this was meant as hyperbole or sarcasm or not -- -- -- Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah it's.
-- Okay yeah.
Republican.
From North Carolina State Senate leader Phil Berger is with me now to react.
And sir you you put out of a press release saying in light of her support for suspending congressional elections I -- -- state clearly on the record.
I do not support suspending our next -- gubernatorial election.
Do you buy it that's hyperbole sarcasm that it was not meant seriously.
I don't think so why I was willing to give the benefit of the doubt before the audio tape came out.
But listening to the holidays audiotape it's it's fairly clear -- -- she was soliciting support for the proposal done at the very end of that.
No law you know if any fine we go may need to move up next year's gubernatorial election.
In perspective for our audience -- her suggestion is rather controversial.
Well it it basically says that.
The voters really aren't smart enough to figure things out it says that.
What we need is some new lead to a group to make decisions for -- and that so -- They'll go ahead and make the right decisions force whether we think they're right or not than it -- counter to everything that our country's science.
Their former Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory who is expected to challenge governor Purdue next year came out and said the governor should admit she made a mistake here and just apologized.
And said in that -- it's one thing for the governor to suggest that we should suspend congressional elections is a very odd approach to getting the economy moving.
It's an entirely different thing for the governor to get her staff to cover up her blatant mistake by saying she was joking now again they say that -- say she was joking.
It was hyperbole it was sarcasm but this is becoming a campaign issue now.
Is a chance -- your mind as she actually believe this a constitutional provision -- these elections in the house every two years.
That she actually was advocating suspending the constitution.
It you know I don't I don't know that anybody can not can actually get in her head but that the thing is she's the governor of the state of north -- law.
One the larger states in the United States when you hold that position.
I you don't make those kinds of comments and and you don't do it even if thought even if you're joking or -- or certainly you don't do it in the manner that that she did though because so I didn't hear any by -- Does -- play -- to a greater narrative because there was a piece online today citing.
Governor produce comments and it also pointing out that the former white house budget director and a President Obama.
Peter Orszag has come out and said that it in that this is a quote that that we need to rely on more.
Automatic policies in this country.
And deep politicized commissions.
To make more policy decisions given the gridlock in Washington went on to say that we need to make sure that political institutions suffering from gridlock.
Are less democratic.
And it that's the only way -- get things done and they sound good for people who want to get things done but there is the little matter the constitution and the voters who.
Who are in its in part behind the gridlock a lot of voters -- gridlock they don't want.
To see anything mortgage -- Yeah I don't see how the solution to our problems is so less democracy -- -- The solution to our problems is so is more involvement about the people and I think that's what some of the power -- are concerned about is that though there are more people who are -- -- more people who were involved.
And you know that's just it's kind of messy and -- -- concerned.
But but is -- -- criticism of governor -- on this -- which you know you one has to wonder whether she could possibly have been serious right on on this from mark.
Is the -- criticism of her evidence.
Of why we have such gridlock you know -- lesson -- she said something stupid or sarcastic or predict what I don't know what it was but.
And now it's a story the Republicans are making something out of it.
You know would it would there have been a day twenty years ago where people would shrug their shoulders and said whenever the governor -- saying what ever but obviously it's not worth.
Following up on.
Well they the governor has slump has a history of lovemaking.
Come off the cuff remarks in fact the Paper this morning had some -- Some examples of that you can see those side of my web -- Phil -- dot com.
If thought if it were something similar to what she had done in the past I would say yes shrug it off flawed so that that's just.
That's just governor Purdue but -- when she talks about ignoring the constitution when she talks about.
Doing away with elections you know I think people get real sensitive about that sort of senator Phil Berger thank you so much for being here.
Thank you make.
