Moore: "Reform to Invest"

It's my birthday today, so please let me get away with a diary that I'm bound to update later. I was at Richard Moore's campaign kickoff in Oxford, NC yesterday, where right next to trays of excellent hush puppies supporters found an example of excellent framing:

Reform to Invest

The early N&O story doesn't mention this line - and sure, you can't govern with soundbytes - but it's a key insight into how Treasurer Moore would lead NC, and a great motto for a campaign that wants to build a governor's mansion as innovative and as motivated as Jim Hunt's.

And it certainly fits in with the part of the speech the N&O does quote:

In a 20-minute speech, he cited small-town values, pledging to bring a "common sense" approach to state government. He noted that his father hated to throw anything away, making him learn to rebuild a lawn mower when he was young.

"I've worked to take that fix-it mentality and apply it to government," he said. "Because we need a fresh approach rooted in our best traditions to face the challenges of tomorrow, I'm here to declare my candidacy for governor of the great state of North Carolina."

Moore's major campaign pledge was to expand access to health care to every North Carolinian. He said that emergency room visits by the uninsured and inadequate insurance for the working poor were a drag on the state's economy.

"You can't have a strong economy without affordable health care," he said.

If we reform the system, North Carolinians will want to invest their hard-earned you-know-what dollars in a government that works for NC. And as the campaign goes on, I'm sure that we'll see more paths to reform from the campaign - especially if you go and ask the progressive questions on the campaign website.

Now, people who think like one of Salisbury's less popular exports are never going to get behind a government and a governor with an uplifting vision for our State.* But I think that we can do it, especially if we craft our message in the right terms. It's the right thing to do, we just need to communicate the message effectively, and I think Richard Moore is on the right path to do just that.

More after the Charlotte event, and my birthday festivities.

*But, to be fair to Mr. Graham, nothing can beat Cheerwine.