# How will the Moral Monday movement affect politics in NC & the South? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 21, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900 "2014-02-21T19:08:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/61 "2014-03-27T18:22:37Z")
On the sort-of-opposite side of the spectrum, we’ve just found out that the Democratic mayor of Charlotte has accepted tens of thousands of dollars of bribes from undercover FBI agents. Thanks, Cannon, for blowing a big old hole in Dems’ chances of gaining ground in November. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/62 "2014-03-27T19:38:55Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > On the sort-of-opposite side of the spectrum, we’ve just found out that the Democratic mayor of Charlotte has accepted tens of thousands of dollars of bribes from undercover FBI agents. Thanks, Cannon, for blowing a big old hole in Dems’ chances of gaining ground in November. I don’t think that hurts the electoral prospects of Dems in general, and the mayoralty of Charlotte is not much in the larger scheme of things. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/63 "2014-03-28T23:37:50Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I don’t think that hurts the electoral prospects of Dems in general, and the mayoralty of Charlotte is not much in the larger scheme of things. I hope you’re right. But one of the narratives that’s helped the GOP, and that’s been to a significant degree true, is that the NC Democratic Party is infested with corruption. This feeds into that narrative, and feeding into that narrative goes a long way toward undermining the work of all the wonderful folks involved with the Moral Monday movement. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/64 "2014-03-29T00:16:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Heck, most of the programs that the Pentagon _does_ want are wasteful and don’t accomplish much, too. But you never hear of anyone but liberals calling for their end. The Defense budget tends to be welfare for conservatives. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/65 "2014-05-16T00:32:25Z")
Well, the legislature is clearly paying attention to the Moral Monday protests–it’s good to know they’re listening. First day back in session, they [revived an obscure committee to pass rules restricting future Moral Monday protests](http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/05/15/3863594/legislature-adopts-new-rules-on.html). On the one hand, c’mon guys, really? On the other hand, I can’t see how this can possibly work out in their favor. The rules were passed in kind of a sketchy way, but they’re not terribly onerous, but they’re also clearly put in place to limit future protests of the sort we saw last year; given that plenty of Moral Monday folks have already shown a willingness to be arrested, this feels like a very unsavvy move on the Republicans’ part, handing a gift to the Moral Monday crowd. It’ll be an interesting few months, of that I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/66 "2014-05-22T23:19:44Z")
Hm. [They might be doing a sit-in next week.](http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2014/05/moral-monday-protests-resume-in-n-c-state-capital) > [@](#): > > We are here today to protect ourselves from this extremist assault on our traditional values,” said the Rev. William Barber, president of the N.C. chapter of the NAACP, in his opening address. > > He led the marchers from the First Baptist Church of Raleigh to the capitol building and then to the rally at the Bicentennial Plaza in downtown Raleigh. > > Barber said this would be the first and last time the protest would be silent. Next Tuesday, protesters plan to organize at 9 a.m. to enter legislative building offices and talk to General Assembly members. > > When asked about next Tuesday’s event, Barber did not rule out the possibility of a sit-in. > > **Familiar game, new rules** > > The General Assembly changed the legislative building rules last Thursday, allowing visitors on the second floor and banning the congregation of people on the grass in front of the building. > > The changes come after nearly 1,000 Moral Monday protesters were arrested and charged with violation of building rules, failure to disperse and trespassing last summer. > > \ > > Groups can no longer reserve or use space in the legislative complex if they have more than 200 participants. > > The updated rules also include banning signs on handsticks and actions that could disturb the legislative session, such as clapping or shouting. The new building rules said the examples of disruptive actions are nonexclusive. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/67 "2014-05-23T04:00:15Z")
I’m surprised that some posters seem to think that disrupting the legislature’s activities is acceptable. If we’d known the rules beforehand, we could have stopped ACA from passing. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/68 "2014-05-23T10:47:43Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’m surprised that some posters seem to think that disrupting the legislature’s activities is acceptable. > > If we’d known the rules beforehand, we could have stopped ACA from passing. The House Republicans were doing their best… ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/69 "2014-05-23T10:53:56Z")
Using procedural rules. Not even close to the same thing. Disrupting legislative sessions seems to be a tactic solely of the left. Might be time for the right to start using that weapon too. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/70 "2014-05-23T11:48:23Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’m surprised that some posters seem to think that disrupting the legislature’s activities is acceptable. I’m not surprised that that’s how you misread what people posted, or that you think that a sit-in is a greater threat to democracy than strategic closing of polling places, the most gerrymandered districts in the nation, and sweetheart deals to give public jobs to major donors. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/71 "2014-05-23T12:43:53Z")
People in the observation deck of the legislature building can’t stop legislation from passing. They can make it annoying to the legislators, but the legislators can still do their jobs if they’re determined about it. The point isn’t to stop them; it’s to make it clear to them that the people don’t like what they’re doing. If as a result of that they choose to stop, that’s great, but they’re not forced to stop. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/72 "2014-05-23T13:21:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > People in the observation deck of the legislature building can’t stop legislation from passing. They can make it annoying to the legislators, but the legislators can still do their jobs if they’re determined about it. The point isn’t to stop them; it’s to make it clear to them that the people don’t like what they’re doing. If as a result of that they choose to stop, that’s great, but they’re not forced to stop. And, of course, the legislators always know they have to answer to the voters in their districts, not the demonstrators in the gallery. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900/73 "2014-11-06T06:43:02Z")
Update: Moral Monday almost entirely failed. Republicans gained in the NC Senate, lost a few seats in the House. They still maintain veto proof majorities in both houses. That’s dominant. [http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/gop-maintains-firm-hold-nc-legislature/nhzrn/](http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/gop-maintains-firm-hold-nc-legislature/nhzrn/) Given that we have seen similar results in Wisconsin, I have to wonder if this kind of thing turns off voters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-moral-monday-movement-affect-politics-in-nc-the-south/681900.md?page=3)