Viewer’s Voice

By From the Archives

Published: November 7, 2008

Earlier we told you about the coffin controversy: Bill Harper’s coffin display during the election campaign. Some of you rushed to his defense, in this edition of viewer’s voice.
 
“I think you guys missed the real story about Bill Harper & his casket display in New Bern. Instead of taking the liberal point-of-view and believing the accusations of the NAACP and their whining why not do a story and investigation of the illegal confiscation of Harper’s property by the Craven County Sheriff’s Department? The Craven County election board said he’d broken no laws but yet the law enforcement in Craven County took it upon themselves to take his personal property,” Merle Gaskins said.

“I saw your report on Bill Harper at a Craven County polling station displaying a coffin. I don’t understand why people see this as a racists ‘intimidation or threat.’ Clearly Mr. Harper had signs posted ‘here lies Joe the plumber, he was taxed to death,’ that was his statement, referring to Obama’s political strategies,” Mark Roach said.

For days we’ve asked Harper for his side of the story, and only heard from him directly today, as you saw earlier in this newscast. We reported local officers removed the coffin over concerns of disorderly conduct. And the NAACP filed a complaint, claiming the display intended to intimidate black voters.

“Why is North Carolina the only state in the nation that has not declared a winner in the presidential election? I’m sure other states have the same amount of provisional ballots that we do.  This makes us look pretty ridiculous to the rest of the nation,” Charles Kasai said.

North Carolina was not the last state to declare a winner. Our presidential race was one of the closest: separated by less than 14,000 votes. And with 40,000 provisional ballots, there were enough to change the outcome. Thanks to those of you who wrote and called us for viewer’s voice.