(North Carolina RAT governor) Mike Easley campaign returning money from topless club owner

News & Observer ^ | 2/03/05

[Libloather]

Easley campaign returning money from topless club owner
The Associated Press
Published: Feb 3, 2005
Modified: Feb 3, 2005 2:40 PM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Gov. Mike Easley's re-election campaign will return donations it received from a Charlotte-based operator of topless bars. Easley political adviser Mac McCorkle offered no reason for the refund to David "Slim" Baucom, who runs 17 topless clubs, including 12 in North Carolina. Easley, who won re-election in November, has returned contributions from other club owners in the past.

Campaign finance reports at the State Board of Elections show Baucom gave $8,000 to Easley during the 2004 election cycle.

"We're going to return all the money," McCorkle said Thursday.

Baucom said he didn't give the money so Easley would look out for his industry.

"I'm looking for him to represent me, my family, my grandchildren, the citizens of North Carolina," Baucom said.

Baucom has never met Easley, although he attended the governor's inaugural gala in downtown Raleigh last month. Baucom said he is puzzled why some are fussing over his donation from a legal business.

"The world we live in here, the public perception, I guess they have to deal with that all the time," Baucom said. "They'll take money from hog farmers and drug companies and tobacco companies and don't have a problem with that."

Cindy Thomson, coordinator of the Charlotte chapter of the National Organization for Women, said Easley deserves praise for taking the "high road."

"Easley needs to send a message," Thomson said, "that this is not the ideal kind of business to be having in North Carolina."

Baucom bought a $10,000 table at the inaugural gala and invited colleagues from the Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance.

The rejected money hasn't soured Baucom on Easley's politics. But he decided the inaugural festivities were not an experience he was going to repeat.

"I can write that off my list," he said. "That's just not my cup of tea."

[Libloather]

"We're going to return all the money..."

...one dollar at a time. Ba-dum-bump...

[jsmith48]

Why? He's probably a Platinum member at the local nudie bar.

[mlc9852]

I think he did the right thing and I'm glad I voted for him. Sometimes I think we are too quick to criticize our elected officials. Some public officials really believe in what they are doing and try to do what they believe is right. Why would anyone even want to run for public office?

[NonValueAdded]

Let me guess ... all one dollar bills, kinda crumpled and a little wet, with a slight odor of shoe leather.

[Shisan]

Sort of reminds me of the headline in the Enquirer, "Headless Man Found in Topless Bar".

[traviskicks]

I don't see what the big deal is. Why would he return the money?

[traviskicks]

I don't really have a terribly negative opinion of Easley, but I wish the Republicans would have gotten a true Conservative to run against him last election...

[TaxRelief]

NC *Ping*

Please FRmail Constitution Day, TaxRelief OR Helms if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[southernnorthcarolina]

You just gotta love that headline...

Mike Easley campaign returning money from topless club owner

Was it an owner of a topless club, or a club owner who was topless?

[Tax-chick]

OH ... MY ... GOD!

!!!!!!

[Political Junkie Too]

Campaign finance reports at the State Board of Elections show Baucom gave $8,000 to Easley during the 2004 election cycle.

What was his margin of victory?

The problem with these post-election funds returns is that, by the time they are returned their purpose has been served.

-PJ

[Tom D.]

I wonder how many dollars he kept from owners of abortion mills and lottery operators.

[Phantom Lord]

Why did you for for Tax Hike Mike?

[mlc9852]

I think he has done a good job under the circumstances.

[Phantom Lord]

Well that was an informative answer.

[mlc9852]

Okay - a more detailed explanation. He tried his hardest to protect jobs from going overseas but there is only so much a governor can do. He has worked hard to finance improvements for community colleges, has used tobacco settlement money for bio-tech training, worked hard on getting companies to relocate to the state (although not necessarily in my area of WNC), believes in the death penalty, pro-guns. But I do disagree with him on the lottery. He thinks it would be a good source of revenue for education. Coming from So. Fla, I can tell you it isn't. And he's a native North Carolinian, went to college here, wife teaches at college in NC. And I think he cares about the state.

[Phantom Lord]

has used tobacco settlement money for bio-tech training

Yes. In direct contradiction to the proscribed used of the pay out. It was to be used for anti-smoking measures.

And he's a native North Carolinian, went to college here, wife teaches at college in NC.

Well, if there is a reason to vote for someone, there it is.

[mlc9852]

Who did you vote for?

[Phantom Lord]

I voted for Barbara Howe. I knew she had no chance of winning when I cast my vote.

Also, I know someone who was on Hunt's staff and Easley retained him. Neither he or his wife voted for Easley.

[mlc9852]

It's too bad the Libertarian Party has never gotten very far. However, I don't believe in wasting my vote. If I didn't think the person I was voting for had a chance, I probably wouldn't bother. And in voting for Easley, I never said he was my perfect choice. There is no perfect candidate so I vote for the person I feel is the best choice. But truthfully, I think NC is a weird state anyway.