Recently, we received a link which featured a story that aired on the North Carolina Public Radio Station in Chapel Hill called WUNC 91.5, an affiliate of NPR. It was written by Dave Dewitt, a writer for WUNC who heads the Raleigh bureau per the bio on the webpage.
The piece would have been an excellent summation of the events that unfolded during this sheriff's race except for the ...FACT... the reporter didn't get the "facts" straight. The version he officially and publicly broadcasted wasn't actually what happened. The details he dismissed in his article initiated the process that closed a chapter of totalitarian dominance in the history of the Wilson County Sheriff's Department and the Wilson County Democratic Party.
Dewitt writes, " Turns out, the county’s democratic party chair ran Sheriff Gay’s campaign and is best friends with John Farmer, the now-independent candidate. But for months, the chairman refused to resign. Enter Jim Hunt. After the four-term former governor and Wilson County resident spoke out, the state democratic party removed the county chair. Hunt appeared at a democratic rally over the weekend. And he hasn’t lost his touch in rallying his base.
In his article, Dewitt holds conversations with Joel Killion, Wilson Co Tea Party founder and a member of a local sorority. He also plays snippets of audio featuring Wayne Gay, Calvin Woodard and John Farmer.
We're curious to know why didn't Dewitt include the part where Gwen Wilkins, the First Congressional District Chair for the Democratic Party asked for Chris Boykin's resignation as recorded and published by the Wilson Times. The headline read "Resignation demanded." Nowhere in the article does it mention the request came from Jim Hunt. So we'd he get his information?
If Dewitt had thoroughly investigated the facts before he wrote his story, he would have also come across the Wilson Times article headlined "Dems want chair out." It talks about the citizens who submitted a letter to the State Democratic party headquarters and they were the ones who asked for the immediate removal of Boykin as he ignored the request for resignation.
We'd like to ask the question, how did you miss all of this, Mr. Dewitt? In gathering your facts for this story, surely you came across this information. So, the question is ... these facts you failed to report "intentional" or "in error?" Which would you have us to believe is true.
Truth be told, Mr. Dewitt, Wilsonians know Mr. Hunt had not said a word publicly, openly or officially about the dem chair stepping down until after Ms. Wilkins' request was made. Even after Hunt announced Boykin's resignation was forthcoming Boykin never addressed the community or made any comments on the matter.
When he finally decided to say something he wrote in his letter of resignation to the State Democratic party the following taken from the Wilson Times:
"But Boykin did tell Young in his resignation letter he disagrees with the petition sent to the N.C. Democratic Party in Raleigh seeking his removal. "The petition filed with you dated Aug. 6, 2010, contains a number of inaccuracies, including the statement that I served as chairman of the Committee to re-elect Wayne Gay for Sheriff in the recent Democratic primary," Boykin said in the letter. "That is untrue. I know that the petition will be dismissed upon the receipt of this letter, but I wanted you to know the truth." (end quote) If that was so important to him to make mention of it in his resignation letter to the State headquarters why didn't he have enough courage and the decency to share that with the community.
Yet, in your article you pretty much make the same claim... one more time just for the record...you wrote "Turns out, the county’s democratic party chair ran Sheriff Gay’s campaign and is best friends with John Farmer, the now-independent candidate. But for months, the chairman refused to resign."
Oh, BTW, you don't have to take our word for it. Do your homework. Here's some information that may be helpful to you taken from the Wilson Times Archives: Dem chair resigns > Slugline Dem-chair-resigns > Publication Wilson Daily Times > Date August 17, 2010 Section(s) Local News
Mr. Dewitt, to have you exclaim to the country via NPR your version of the events that unfolded in the Wilson County Sheriff's race as factual (to hear you tell it) is disingenuous to this community. Your insinuation of Jim Hunt as the 'savior of this local Democratic party per your comment ...Enter Jim Hunt, (halo and all) is infuriating, insulting and inexcusable.
Read Dewitt's article
7 comments:
Well, I think that you have covered all the points that needed to be made and I thank you for that. If one did not know the truth, then one might actually believe Mr. DeWitt. We need to make sure that he gets this information straight and that NPR also knows of his error. I have already contacted him and will be expecting a response. Who steered him in the wrong direction? He reported, we decided that he needs to get the truth and then report.
Totalitarian? According to Thesaurus.com, "Totalitarian" = "Dictatorial, Nazi, absolute, authoritarian, autocratic, communist, despotic, fascistic, monolithic, one-party, oppressive, total, totalistic, tyrannical, undemocratic." So, as you can see, to be fair, Wilson has not been under "totalitarian dominance in the history of the Wilson County Sheriff's Department and the Wilson County Democratic Party." Sure, we've had misguided, selfish, corrupt leadership but totalitarian? No way. Let's be careful in the words we use.
The good thing is that Calvin Woodard, our "Conservative Candidate," will bring common sense conservative values to Wilson NC.
There is always somebody who just wants to have something to say - as if they would or could have said what you guys have said better. Thanks for all you do.Let them be careful what they say..Y'all keep writing and we'll keep reading. And here's a little something extra from Wikipedia on the subject. Y'all are doing it your way...Keep on truckin...
And we can you use it in a sentence for the anonymous writer who wants to correct you guys. Let us help out.
Wayne Gay's reign of totalitarian rule in the Wilson County Sherrif's dept is over. (tee hee)
Wikipedia states that Totalitarianism (or totalitarian rule) is a political system where the state, usually under the control of a single political person, faction, or class, recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible.
AND [2] Totalitarianism is generally characterized by the coincidence of authoritarianism (where ordinary citizens have less significant share in state decision-making) and ideology (a pervasive scheme of values promulgated by institutional means to direct most if not all aspects of public and private life).
Damn...somebody missed the point didn't they. Watch what you say but they don't even comment on the point of the story. Y'all know where that came from - freak them. Do yo' thang...We got you.
Yeah sound like some teaparty bs to me talking about Nazis and whatever else they said, now they trying to tell us what we can't say like they always try to do. Screw em.
The Thesaurus anonymous writer wrote: Sure, we've had misguided, selfish, corrupt leadership but totalitarian? No way. Let's be careful in the words we use.
Your Answer: The word used fits the bill. With 28 years of TOTAL WAYNE GAY REIGN & LEADERSHIP in the Sheriff's Dept.and we use the term loosely which gave him TOTAL CONTROL OVER THE COUNTY OF WILSON,NC. That speaks for itself.
The Thesaurus anonymous wrote:
The good thing is that Calvin Woodard, our "Conservative Candidate," will bring common sense conservative values to Wilson NC.
Your Answer: Agreed, But this story isn't about Calvin Woodard, so what was your point in complaining about a word used - just to have something to say?
Hey Mr or Mrs Theasurus question for you. Where was your "Let's be careful in the words we use" ass when these folks were writing a letter to get Boykin out that seat? Home eating your bon bons?
lmao,,,you need tobe careful what you write. Ain't nobody trying to hear that crap.some folks always got something to say like they know it all
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