NC House Speaker backs GOP Superintendent nominee, calls execution comments ‘not appropriate’
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — State House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said Wednesday he will vote for Michele Morrow, his party’s nominee for Superintendent of Public Instruction Michele Morrow while calling her comments regarding the execution of prominent Democrats “not appropriate.”
Morrow has gained national attention since CNN reported last month on her social media posts.
In May 2020, Morrow told another social media user who said Obama should be in Guantanamo Bay, that she “prefer[s] a Pay Per View of him in front of the firing squad,” and she doesn’t “want to waste another dime on supporting his life. We could make some money back from televising his death.”
North Carolina GOP schools nominee previously called for executions of Biden, Obama: Report
In that same year, when then President-elect Biden said he would have all Americans wear masks, Morrow wrote “Never. We need to follow the Constitution’s advice and KILL all TRAITORS!!! #JusticeforAmerica.”
For the last few weeks, the state Republican Party has not commented on the matter, including as to whether the party stands by her as its nominee.
When asked whether he’ll support Morrow, Speaker Moore said, “I certainly think any comments, the ones I’ve seen are not appropriate comments at all. And, I’m not going to condone comments like that. I know she has explained some of those. My plan is to support all the Republican nominees for office and voters have to make up their minds on that.”
During the primary, Moore and many other Republican legislative leaders backed current Republican Superintendent Catherine Truitt. Morrow defeated Truitt by a margin of 52-48.
Morrow faces Democrat Mo Green, former superintendent of Guilford County schools, in the November general election.
“I certainly wouldn’t have made those comments. And, I’ll stand by my comments and comment on mine and not delve into other folks races,” said Moore. “But, I’m a good loyal fellow Republican. I’m gonna vote for the Republican nominee for office.”
Some Republicans are distancing themselves from Morrow.
After her comments surfaced last month, Daniel Keylin, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) said it’s “highly unlikely he’d support her.”
“Spewing terrorist propaganda and calling for public executions of elected officials you disagree with are things we usually hear from radical fundamentalists in places like Iran, Afghanistan, and Russia, not candidates running for office in North Carolina,” he added.
CBS17 contacted a spokesperson for Morrow’s campaign but has not heard back.
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