THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 26, 1994 TAG: 9411260078
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: Betty Gray
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Strange as it may seem for us Democrats, the Grand Old Party is in control of the state House for the first time this century and is making a run at seizing control of the Senate.
And for many of the Democrats who have been on the sending end of political jokes all of their lives at the expense of the Republicans in our state, a victorious GOP, cracking jokes at the expense of the Democrats must have been an unusual event to witness or read about.
Many Republicans at the party's caucus in Salisbury last weekend had labored long and hard from the back benches of state government. Some had left government before they could experience the fruits of their labors.
After spending their political lifetimes on the back rows in both chambers of the legislature - the political equivalent of exile to Siberia - the feisty Republican majority and party faithful could not resist more than a few jabs and jokes aimed at the Democrats.
Here's a look at some of the best jokes and gibes aimed at the Democrats:
From Rep. John M. Nichols, R-Craven, unsuccessful candidate for majority whip last weekend: `` `Majority,' I'm still getting used to saying that word.
``It's been tough getting used to over the last two weeks.''
From Rep. Stephen W. ``Steve'' Wood, R-Guilford, unsuccessful candidate for House speaker pro tem, last weekend on newly nominated House Speaker Harold J. Brubaker of Randolph County who will succeed Daniel T. Blue of Wake County: ``Speaker Bru is going to sound a lot better than Speaker Blue.''
``Your election - it's going to serve them right,'' said former Gov. James G. Martin.
Frances Cummings, Democrat-turned-Republican from Robeson County, talked about her reasons for switching to the GOP.
Her remarks set up a jocular but pointed response from Sen. Paul S. Smith of Rowan County, outgoing leader of the joint House-Senate caucus, aimed at Senate leader Marc Basnight of Manteo, whose control of the Senate hangs on a two-vote margin.
Said Cummings: ``I want you to know I am right at home. There's a spirit of victory here.
``The Republican Party is a winner. The leaders of the Republican Party are winners. I want to be a winner.''
Said Smith: ``If anybody in this room knows of somebody in the Senate who would like to do the same thing, I have a contract right here that they can sign.''
But probably the best joke of the day came from Rep. Michael P. Decker, R-Forsyth, who withdrew from the race for House speaker before the caucus.
Said Decker: ``I was in a meeting earlier this week with a Democratic member of the House who said their caucus is going to be Dec. 8.
``I asked him `What phone booth are you going to use?' It was a good joke to be able to return.''
Based on the jokes and jabs flying around the caucus room, Democrats can expect little sympathy in 1995 from the Republicans after the GOP was freed from oblivion by the state's voters.
And Democrats can probably expect more of the same as the GOP relishes its newfound leadership role.
A few words of advice to the Democratic Party faithful distressed at being on the receiving end of so much caustic humor: It's going to be a long two years.
Get used to it. by CNB