Emails paint image of dysfunctional state Dems

Good morning. Welcome to O-pinion. I'm associate editor Fannie Flono, your host today.

The Observer's story this morning on the resignation of Jay Parmley, executive director of the N.C. Democratic Party, over sexual harassment claims and an alleged settlement to make them go away paints a picture of party leadership in disarray. But the chaos becomes more evident when you read some of the emails that prompted or at least led up to the resignation.

Amazingly, it wasn't even the sexual harassment allegations that got this thing started (at least from the emails we read) but a dustup over how the party was promoting (or providing news feeds to the media about) Democratic candidates for governor. In emails from nearly a month ago, Watt Jones, a state executive committee member, questioned the party's communications arm's "fairness in disseminating information concerning all Democratic candidates." Jones emailed the NC Democratic Party executive council about being "disrespected" by a staffer when the questions were raised and that the staffer, later identified as Walton Robinson, might need "anger management."

Things devolved from there with the two exchanging heated emails and party chairman David Parker getting involved to try to smooth things over, taking responsibility for any problems and calling both Jones and Robinson good people. In one email, he tried to bring them both together with the rallying cry, "Let's get on with whipping Republicans and setting our beloved state right again!"

But then came the bombshell. The matter wasn't just about fair news treatment of candidates. (By the way, it was Democrat Bill Faison who allegedly wasn't getting the fair treatment, according to the emails.) There were sexual harassment allegations and a payoff that reportedly had been covered up. "If this hits the media," Jones wrote, "the Democratic Party, our candidates and our credibility will be doomed in this election. You need to clean this mess up before it gets worse."

In resigning, Parmley blamed right-wing political enemies for "spreading a false and misleading story." If the story is false and misleading, that needs to be exposed. But the emails paint a picture more of dysfunctional state Democratic leadership, and that needs to be addressed too.