The Observer's editorial board interviewed Mecklenburg's would-be sheriff turned newly-elected state lawmaker twice last year during his campaign for the N.C. legislature. We did not endorse him in that bid, and one of the reasons was this: He excused away a number of instances where his actions as a police officer or lawyer had been publicly called into question by either blaming it on others or by simply blowing off the matter as trivial.
Now, as a newly-elected member of the House of Representatives he's doing the same thing with a pending misdeamenor charge and an unrelated professional grievance filed against him.
That distinction gives Mackey a degree of infamy as he takes his seat in the House, notes Laura Leslie in the Raleigh blog Isaac Hunter's Tavern.
How does Mackey respond to that spotlight, and his checkered past?
"It's no big deal," he told an Observer reporter.
Oh, yes it is.
Nick Mackey still just doesn't get it.
- Posted by Mary Schulken
Monday, January 5, 2009
Nick Mackey just doesn't get it
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78 comments:
Please stay on top of this matter. Nick is a disgrace to the bar. His former suite mate is headed to jail on money laundering and mortgage fraud and one of his biggest supporters and a precinct chair during the Sheriff's race is a newly elected District Court Judge. This is an outrage
Mr Mackey's "election" is a great reason to eliminate straight ticket voting. Let's at least make voters give the appearance of thinking their way through a ballot.
It's kind of pathetic that the writers (for lack of a better word) at the observer are pulling their hair out over Nick getting elected to the state legislature. I guarantee he's not losing sleep over anyone at the observer.
Anonymous 3:44, Mackey doesn't get it and neither do you. This guys is doing more damage to African Americans than the Ku Klux Klan!
I wonder if that online law school he stole a degree from is Chicago based??
Is there no end to this dangerous pathetic joke? He should be Jim Black's cellmate!
What a fool, thoses of you that voted for him got what you voted for, another crook.
Anonymous 4:54... I didn't understand the Chicago reference. What does Nick Mackey have to do with Chicago law schools?
It's not just Mackey who doesn't get it, neither do the morons who voted for him knowing what they knew.
Anon 5:03 PM....it's a joke having to do with how crooked Mackey is and how crooked the Chicago political machine is.
Will this IDIOT eve show up for work at the House??? He never did for any of his other jobs.
Anoymous 5:03,
I suspect it has to do with Gov. Blago and the reputation of Chicago politics. My father used to say that when he died, he wanted to be buried in Chicago so that he could continue to vote.
If that isn't clear enough for you, the Daly family in Chicago has a long-standing record of dominating among voters who were DEAD.
Those of you blaming the morons who voted for Mackey, please understand that many (if not most) of them probably didn't even know they were doing so. Straight ticket voting was the Democrat order of the day. It's the only way to explain the speed with which voting took place on Nov 4.
"Checkered past?" Maybe I'm telling on myself, but as far as politicians go, I would consider that quite a stretch. But keep on doing what you have to do to get circulation up...
Republican still mad they lost the election. HA!HA1
No we are not Mad...We are Laughing at You and the Hole You lib`s Dug Yourselves in.... ... the Brainless Mackey style win ~ presidential election...LOL!!
Bottom line,
Mackey was elected for two reasons, and two reasons only... he's black and he's a Democrat, and in his district, you aren't considered to be truly black unless you are also Democrat.
I don't think the observer is the one that "gets it" in this case. Mackey's behavior is a disgrace and to me it is a big deal. However, in the grand scheme of things these matters are indeed trivial because the people that matter (voters) don't think enough of it to vote for someone else. And if they didn't know about his long list of indiscretions well they shouldn't be voting in the first place. We get the government that we as an electorate deserve. So by all means Representative Mackey, keep being an arrogant fool, you are giving your people exactly what they voted for.
I sincerely appreciate the Observer following up on this guy. He deserves the spotlight due to his shady dealings and past. It is disgraceful how this guy ever got elected. Thank God, this shady guy did not get elected Sheriff. He is sneaky, working behind the scenes. He is the type of person who will try to enrich himself in his new position. I hope The Observer does us all a service and keeps track of this guy and his dealings. Clearly the straight ticket Democrats got him elected without knowing or caring about his background. The voters did have a choice, they had the opportunity to vote for Dempsey Miller,Republican, an honest engineer whom I know personally. Thank you Charlotte Observer! While I've disagreed many times with your endorsements, I can not fault your honesty and investigative reporting.
Straight ticket voting is NOT entirely a bad thing. I don't believe that ANY voter knows all the candidates well. In general, given a lack of knowledge of individual candidates, you can reasonably predict that candidates of your chose party are more likely to conform to the majority of your own beliefs than their opponents.
Would it be preferable that you know enough about every candidate that you can make an informed decision on them? Of course, but in reality it doesn't happen. Especially, when the major media tends to control what you know about the candidates and they are overwhelmingly liberal and Democrat.
Common...this guy is a crook and he would have never won in a racially balanced district. 97% of the black vote was for Obama and I guarantee for every other democrat on the ballot. A straight ticket voter is one who shouldn't be allowed to vote.
That's weird, in response to an article that all but calls a Democrat (and sort of a liberal one, I guess) a crook, to say that the media promote liberal Democrats.
And race is not the issue, because hasn't that district in the past voted for a white Democrat vs. a black Republican?
Certainly in 2008 we were ill served by straight-ticket voting, getting Mackey and Perdue. Obviously with Bassknight and Rand running things in Raleigh, it's not going to make that much difference, even without Black.
The Observer didn't endorse Mackey?! You obviously forgot to tell Tanya Jameson that. Maybe you should go back and review her "interviews". Her slant was quite obvious and yet you let her continue to pose as a journalist. Way to backpedal Observer.
I am appalled at some of the idiotic assumptions that all black people would have voted for this man if there was no straight ticket. No where in my wildest dream would I have voted for this pathetic piece of so-called human-being. He not only lies and cheats, but he does it to his own.
Why doesn't the Observer simply back off and allow this guy a chance to do what almost (Jim Black did manage some pork barrel funding) every other Mecklenburg politician has done in Raleigh => NOTHING!!!
Nick Mackey- come on guys, you have to love him. Big bow tie and all! If he states it is no big deal, then it is no big deal. Maybe he can hung up with the director of Social Services and help her order more things for her office.
Black or White, Dem or Rep, this guy is a bad egg! And straight ticket or not, you've got to be living in hole not to have seen or heard about this guy and all the cheating, scheming and bad deads he's done! I was stunned when I saw he had won his race - it never seems to shock me the number of idiots we have in this country.
Maybe the Obsrver does not get it.
The people have spoken!
And if you notice Mackey has got it, and if you notice is in office.
I despise the very idea he is in office and did all I could to support the honest guy, even though I did not live in that district. But hey you get the type of government you deserve.
By the way Observer, your candidate interviews are so predictable as you already have decided who you want to endorse.
In this case you were forced to endorse the, gasp, republican candidate who was not already in office.
It is indeed the case that Mackey doesn't appear to "get it", if "it" is the transparency of his lack of character. Any open minded and objective observer cannot fail to see that. That he won the election does not change the fact that he is of base morals and low character.
As someone who has seen this person in the courtroom attempting to "practice" law, I can honestly say he is a joke and anyone dumb enough to hire him deserves what they get. All he ever does is walk into court, shuffle some shucks at the D.A.'s desk to make it look like he's doing something important and leaves the courtroom. He's a sad excuse for an attorney (insert joke here) who just wants people to notice him because he craves attention. Pathetic and should probably be dis-barred.
Why don't you guys read what your (surely most highly esteemed) colleague wrote about mackey: http://wassupobs.blogspot.com/2008/10/mackey-and-palin-supporters-are-similar.html
What you guys don't get is, this is just another case where the white man is tryin' to keep mackey down. It's just a misunderstanding. The whiteman has been trying to keep mackey down his whole life. Him not paying his bills? That's just a misunderstanding.. Stop trying to hold him down.
THAT'S WASSUP!
You can't blame this on straight ticket voting. You never know if a R or a D is crooked. They all can be. Alaska probably votes straight R more and look at their Senator. This guy needs to face some punishment as well.
I wish you all get a life and worry about your own finance, leave the man alone find out why so many criminals keep getting off with murder of all race. That what wrong with the world now so many people are envy and only worry about money, that why the crime is so bad in Charlotte, every one deserves a chance. Get a life in god and you won’t worry your self about things you don’t have control over.
http://www.ncbar.gov/orders/06g0588.pdf
I know FOR A FACT, that Nick Mackey is a crook. When he was a Sgt for the CMPD, he INDEED DID FALSIFY HIS TIMECARDS and was getting PAID WITH OUR TAX MONEY when he said he was working and wasn't. I know this for a fact because I was there while it was happening. He was arrogant and pissed of so many fellow officers that they turned him in, and you see he got off scott free... He only went to Law School so he could defend himself, should the city continue to pursue him. He's a disgrace and will eventually get what he deserves...and I can't wait.
I see most of you have'nt recovered and probably want from the election results. Don't use Nick Mackey's stupidity and his lack of morals, as an excuse for the election outcome. Especially not for the high turn out for the black voters. With the exception of Mackey's appointment, the election was a success. Straight ticket voting had nothing to do with the outcome of the election. The outcome was people got tired of the current regime and their scheme of things. Essentially known as the "GOOD OLE BOYS"...... The idea of the current government rich gets richer, while the poor got poorer. Look at the state of the country currently, nothing more needs to be said. This thing with Mackey goes beyond politics however, this is "RACIAL WITCH-HUNT"...Too bad this is not 1950's or 60's, he might have had the misfortune of encountering a sniper or lynchmob........
I don't think Nick Tackey matters, he's just another one of many newly elected officals who were swept up in the Obama moment.
But how simliar to our new police chief.
I'm more than a little concerned about Chief Rodney "Dangerfield" Monroe, while he cooks the books, plays musical chairs with officers and police assets, and pretends he knows what he's doing.
All the while acting kind of like Nick Tackey.
Charlotte deserves so much better.
You people need to get a life!!! This is america. A man can make mistakes and come back from them. Some of you seem you won't be happy until the man is locked up and living in the street. Worry about more important things like the economy. And for you people who thinks straight party voters are uninformed, we elected a black man to the white house. We couldn't straight party vote that! Leave mackey alone
Some of you are just as guilty as him you didn’t say any thing then why say something now? It sound like some of the co- worker are envy just let Go and let God. there not to many saint in the world, every one has dirt in there closet once again it all about the money and if the fellow co-worker are cops there is a lot of crime going on in Charlotte work a little harder on finding the real criminals because if he a criminal you had your opportunity to bust him then and you all didn’t, so now he has a position making more money and he a criminal, the truth is that was his past and when some of you took your job you took a oath to tell the truth and you didn’t because you witness a crime and didn’t tell any one or who ever you told did not make a different because he was not arrested for the crime so many say he committed. for the other negative comments don’t hire any one you don’t trust and keep your nose clean and you want need Mackey to serve you, and if some one need his assistant maybe they like his service and attitude better than other, lets all just get along and accept the blessing we all have to day and that life, now to all the law enforcement co worker and attorney you lost this battle so find one you can beat. Please take it personal.
I am sorry I meant ,let not take it personal
Get a life all you GOOD OLD BOYS. Mackey just played the Good OLd Boys game, thats what they all been playing for years, He just got caught, It's been going on for years, but by the Good Old Boys, He tried it got caught, So What, I'm sure he not loosing sleep over it. Power to the People
Beverly Earle is probably his best friend.
Whether you like it or not, the fact is he was elected because he is Black, pure and simple and for NO other reason.
Like most people who vote for a specific candidate they do in uninformed, while one would hope the voter would look at the totality of their choice this is rarely true. One poster to this blog, "he was elected because he is black and a democrat" is probably correct in asserting this.
The problem is IMHO the electorate (you and me) usually vote for the lesser of 2 evils.
In Obama vs McCain if this is the best that America can put up to represent our country, basically we are so screwed, big time.
The reality is Americans are apathetic, lazy and want everything handed to us. In order to correct this what we need to do is simple, fire the ruling class that we have in Washington, (there really is no difference between them anyway).
They can postulate all they want but their arrogance is beyond measure. You may ask for me to provide one instance, thanks I'm glad you did: they just voted themselves a $4700 a year raise while the countries financial world is cratering. and we get to pay for it along with these idiots plan to bail out most if not all of these 19th century companies that haven't done squat to help themselves.
And now the return of Mackey, if he has all these things that he allegedly did why is he not in jail (and not as the police chief). Perhaps we need to recall the judges, better yet lets adhear to the constitution 19th amendment if you are a lawyer you can't hold an elected office, yea that's the ticket! Use the constitution as it was designed not this bastardized version of warm fuzzy feel good crap that is forced down our collective throats.
I agree with alot of the comments made about Rep. Mackey. I am an African American, as well as a democrat and i certainly did not vote for "tricky" Nick Mackey. I only knew of DEmpsey Miller from his campaign ads. The reason Nick Mackey won was because he is black. This is 100% true. Sad as it may be many African Americans would rather have a crook like this represent them with the hopes that he would care what goes on in our community rather that some one that will just turn the other cheek. This has been happening for decades in the "white community", where an un-qualified, less educated person gets the job just because he is white. People do some self evaluation. How many of you have failed to even look at a black applicant just because you are afraid that he/she will turn out to be that thug you saw on the news. I did not vote for the man but just like you i have to live with it, just like i've had to live with Jesse Helms,the foolishness on the school board, Bill James comments. You nor i will change anything. Hopefully our children will have sense enough to stop looking at things in just Black and White
You are correct in the past when I was young and uninformed I would make stupid mistakes, So one of the joys in being old (relatively) hopefully I have learned something.
When I went to vote this last cycle after having returned literally days from Iraq, I was in line with my wife and daughter and we were talking quietly and I told my daughter again I don't care whom you vote for just make an informed choice, don't vote because of anything other that the one who you believe will serve the country best. Not that I think any of them are the best but hopefully, in todays, day and age the one who will do the least harm to the country.
BTW I know there is no way to prove this but in the primaries I voted for Alan Keyes, for I think that he is a far superior candidate to anything either side could put up to run.
I really do fear for the Republic.
So I just reduced my subscription (after 8 years of daily) to just weekend delivery. During this time, I have seen the CO turn from a "lefty-ish" nwespaper into a foaming mouthpiece for liberal agendas and politicians and a celebration of the lowering of societal standards. Their support for the United Way executives, the Kevin Siers cartoons and the Obama Inauguration "column" written by Ms. Jameson was just too much to take. Now the umpteen pictures of "L'il Wayne" scattered throughout the paper this weekend made me think that I will likely be canceling it , very soon. If I wanted to see stuff like that, I would renew my subscription to Rolling Stone.
THAT'S WASSUP!!!!
This is the reason the Charlotte Observer is dying. Real news gets swept under the carpet and all we hear from the Observer is what Nick Mackey is up to this week. Why is that WHITE politicians who are corrupt as anything constantly get a free pass by this paper. Remember when Jesse Helms died and the Observer made him look like a saint. Racism sure is alive and well in the Carolinas. Too bad the paper can't outsource it's racism too, then they wouldn't have to work at all.
Off topic. Why id the Observer not let it's readers comment about the crooked Ford dealer on South Blvd., pleading to a fraud charge?
To all the people that voted for Mackey just because he was black, you are all idiots to the highest degree. Please take your knowlwedge and understanding of what's right from wrong back to where ever you came from. He is a crock and a lier and I am so glad I did not vote for him, not did I do a straight ticket, another idiotic action.
"Why is that WHITE politicians who are corrupt as anything constantly get a free pass by this paper?"...because they are white DEMOCRATS!!!!...that's WASSUP!!!
A checkered past? That is putting it mildly. He should have been elected governor on a write-in. Want a fool to show his stripes? Give him the big job and let him remove all doubt.
QUOTE: "Off topic. Why id the Observer not let it's readers comment about the crooked Ford dealer on South Blvd., pleading to a fraud charge?"
Hmmm.....have you actually READ the paper lately? Have you noticed the car ads that completely infest it on an almost daily basis? I'm impressed they even ran it on the front page.
I'll let you do the math from here.
wow - in reading over these responses it is so very evident who is even too undereducated to really debate anything regarding this. It is the same when a crime occurs in a black neighborhood; too often they will not help "the man" and thusly protect one of their own - the criminal...
And yes, Mackey was elected by virtue of straight party voting and the enormous black voter turn out for Obama AND by virtue that Mackey is black.
It is possible to be well informed about every candidate on the ballot: just get an absentee ballot.
I sat down at the computer and looked up every candidate for every office while I filled out my ballot over a period of two days. There may be flaws to my system but it is superior to the pull & pray that most people employ.... and light years better than the straight ticket.
Demsey Miller is black also.Did people in that district not do any research on who they were choosing.
Sooner or later Tricky Nick will need a buck or two and sell his vote and he will end up jailed, just like the other crooks in Raleigh have been in the past. He will end up in the same boat as Jim Black and Thomas Wright. Just give it time.
Contrary to another comment here, Nick WILL show up for work...just as long as there is a television camera there.
Leave this man alone! This newspaper and it's lynch mob of followers need to get a grip. Nobody is perfect and I'd like to see someone analyze your life everyday to sell a newspaper. YOU DONT'T GET IT! There are a lot worse politicians than him. What a joke. Find some real news because this looks personal and racist. I don't care whether you think so or not, it is racist! You need to quit stirring up racial tension and report on something positive.
How nice, a straight ticket Mackey voter playing the lynch card. AND again, the only reason this moron was voted in was because he is black. Oh and with todays culture in the Democrat Party - the pay to play scandals, does anyone think it would be a wise idea to send this morally bankrupt LIBERAL to Raleigh? Why yes,the straight ticket voter shouts out in ignorance.
ATTACK!ATTACK!ATTACK! The real idiots are the clowns that follow this newspapers lead every time a black face is in the news. This is sickening and tired. You people aren't perfect. And you're crying about Nick Mackey, making up childish names for people, and worrying about him getting a couple of hours of overtime. I guarantee you he's not the only cop that got some extra pay from that deal. That is so petty and goes on at most jobs, if you've ever worked you'll know that. This man pulled himself up and got out of the rank and file and you hate him for it. Don't worry, your comments just make a man like this stronger. As black men we expect this. Try something NEW! This slander does not work.
Better than a racist, republican!
You are right. And I'm proud of it. For hundreds of years white people have been voting for white people and now you're upset? Well, you created this system. Don't whine when you don't win everytime.
Wow, what a child. Again - congrats on voting purely on race. And this proves you are what, not a racist? Once again, it is a GREAT idea to send this clown to Raleigh with a $100,000 in debt. A man that has showed over and over again that he can't even spell the word integrity much less expect to follow the rules of society. This election has blackmail written all over it. Sincerely Dr Vilma Leak.
As a white person I am appalled at the outrage for this man. This all seems to be a bit much, and I feel as though there are many important issues that need our attention in this city and elsewhere. I don't care about Mackey and I say time is the teller of all truths. You have no right to judge someone if you are not perfect. There was only one perfect man that walked this earth.
Hey, Joe the Plumber, names will never hurt me. Who's the child, idiot?
Sure you are. And yes by all means we have the right and SHOULD judge someone who voluntarily steps in the public service job. His actions as a private individual and lack of honor starting years back clearly indicate this individual lack of moral backbone. He is not fit for office and should and can not be trusted.
One thing so many posters here are ignoring is that Mackey's district is NOT majority black. According to the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections (http://www.meckboe.org/VoterDemoAllReturn.aspx?type=pd&id=STATE%20HOUSE%20DISTRICT%2099) Distisct 99 has 31,692 registered white voters, and 28,716 black voters (out of 67,802 total).
For the record, I am African American and do not live in District 99, but would not have voted for Mackey under any circumstances.
28,716 black voters and 99% voted straight ticket.
Way to go Nick. I like your spirit.
i have to disagree with people that feel that this is a racial issue.this is a stupidity issue.if you vote for a lying,thieving cheat you must be stupid.if you think that equates to being prejudicial,you're right.i hate stupid people,no matter what color they are.
It is so funny to see white people get so PO'd at black people. Evolution is crazy! This will never end.
Well stupid. Learn to use capital letters. And for the record, racist never want to admit racism.
That's right. They hung 5000 men because they were disrespectful. The nerve! To think they are men! Lynch mobs still exist.
If all the people complaining is these posting were such great outstanding citizens then please tell me why they didn't run for office....why because we all have spots and wrinkles in our past. Instead of complaining and whinning do something positive to help the community.
I absolutely couldn't believe this guy was elected in the first place. What a joke (and this is coming from a Democrat).
As long as the AA community keep voting for people like Mackey, Dunlap and Leake they will get the government they deserve. All three are stooges and I, as an AA, am ashamed of my people. Our community has other citizens that would do a good job and not be an embarrassment to our people. Wake up, how can we as a people be proud of these 3 idiots? Be your own person when you vote..you don't need the Black Caucus to tell you how to vote.
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