McIntyre Refuses To Disclose How Much His Political Show Is Costing NC Taxpayers

Good Morning,

North Carolina’s middle-class families might find themselves scratching their heads as they flip to Congressman Mike McIntyre’s new taxpayer-funded political TV show called “Capitol Conversations.” The 30-min taxpayer-funded infomercial for McIntyre gives him an unfiltered forum to pontificate to voters anddoesn’t allow constituents to call-in with questions. Today’s Star News editorial says McIntyre is refusing to disclose the amount spent on the show, “It was produced ‘with House of Representatives resources,’ meaning taxpayers’ money or equipment paid for with taxpayers’ money, although how much of that money was not immediately disclosed.”

With North Carolina’s record-high 9.9% unemployment rate, doesn’t McIntyre think he should be working to reduce government spending and create jobs? Not wasting their hard-earned money on candidate infomercials? McIntyre needs to disclose how much this political show is costing his constituents today. Unfortunately this is only the latest example of McIntyre’s reckless misuse of taxpayer funds. This spring he went on a 10-day taxpayer funded trip to Rome and bragged about celebrating his wedding anniversary on the vacation.

Please consider the following comment from the NRCC as you cover McIntyre’s misuse of taxpayer dollars.

“First it was a taxpayer funded vacation to Rome, now Mike McIntyre is wasting North Carolina middle-class families’ hard-earned money on political infomercials. North Carolina voters are tired of McIntyre saying one thing in North Carolina and then doing another in Washington.” – NRCC Spokeswoman Andrea Bozek

In Case You Missed It…

Star News: Editorial – McIntyre Takes To The Airwaves, Assures Us It’s Not Political
Published: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 9:22 p.m.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20110816/ARTICLES/110819732/-1/sports03?template=printart

There is a fine line between elected officials’ obligation to keep their constituents informed and the natural tendency to spin the issues to put them in the best possible light come campaign season. Rep. Mike McIntyre’s foray into cable TV raises the question of just where that line begins and ends.

"Capitol Conversations" is billed as a discussion of important issues "to better inform citizens about the federal policies that directly affect Southeastern North Carolina." Its host is McIntyre, the Lumberton Democrat who represents this corner of North Carolina and who faces a tough battle for re-election because the 7th District he represents has been redrawn to the point that he no longer lives in it.

It was produced "with House of Representatives resources," meaning taxpayers’ money or equipment paid for with taxpayers’ money, although how much of that money was not immediately disclosed. The congressman’s spokesman Dean Mitchell insists that the show "is not political or connected to the McIntyre campaign."

In other words, it meets all the technical distinctions in congressional rules governing separation of public service and politicking. Voters, however, understand that the two are never more than an arm’s length apart – especially heading into an election year – and that’s where things start to get fuzzy.

Regardless of the stated intention, this program has the added benefit of getting McIntyre’s name, face and soft-spoken, values-infused commentary into people’s homes, in a venue he controls.

The first installment featured fellow Blue Dog Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma, who heads that coalition of conservative Democrats. Their topics were the budget, the national debt, veterans and other issues that are likely to figure heavily in the next campaign. Boren is not seeking re-election next year, but McIntyre is.

The men spent the first few minutes of the inaugural 22-minute show on introductory duties, lauding each other’s commitment of service and pointing out the Blue Dogs’ important role in balancing the budget. They discussed the budget, the national debt and veterans’ issues (during which McIntyre made note of the progress of new Veterans Administration clinics in Wilmington and Brunswick County). There was no partisan posturing, just two colleagues having a congenial conversation.

On its face, the concept is a good one: giving constituents a closer look at some of the pressing issues facing Congress and the nation. It is informative to see public officials discussing serious issues without boiling them down to a 20-second sound bite or firing partisan salvos.

But whenever an elected official seeks to "inform citizens," the spin is designed to put the official in the best possible light. All politicians do it. Newsletters, email lists and other communication tools are used not only to let voters know what the lawmaker has been doing but also to wave the partisan flag. For example, state Sen. Thom Goolsby’s frequent e-newsletters and communiques (which come via his campaign website) remind voters, er, constituents of the accomplishments of the GOP legislature while getting in a few shots at Democrats.

We want our public officials to tell us what they’re doing, but we don’t want them using our money to fuel their re-election bids. The line isn’t as defined as some purists would like to believe, but with his TV show McIntyre seems to be inching awfully close to it.