SC-1

SC-1 https://www.dailykos.com/news/SC-1 News Community Action Copyright 2005 - Steal what you want Mon, 27 Jan 2020 14:43:38 +0000 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 14:43:38 +0000 Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day: Nancy Mace- 2019 Update https://www.dailykos.com/story/2019/12/31/1908706/-Crazy-Stupid-Republican-of-the-Day-Nancy-Mace-2019-Update On this date in 2016, “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” profiled <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/155210617968/nancy-mace">Nancy Mace</a>, a challenger in the 2014 U.S. Senate Primary in South Carolina to Senator Lindsey Graham for his seat in Washington, D.C, choosing to be the first candidate in that race to attack Lindsay Graham for admitting climate change exists, and tried claiming that a “recent freeze” disproves the phenomenon. Factor in also, that Nancy Mace’s background in South Carolina politics comes from being the co-owner of FITSNews, a “news” outlet in South Carolina best known perhaps for, while under Mace’s Leadership, leading a smear campaign in 2010 against gubernatorial candidate (and future South Carolina Governor) Nikki Haley, insisting that she had taken part in a series of extramarital affairs. Of course, that sort of tactic wouldn’t work against a lifetime bachelor like Lindsey Graham, so we were spared a repeat of that sort of seedy attack from Mace. No, instead she was one of a pair of primary candidates who decided to gay-bait Graham. While Mace reblogged a post from a supporter that called the Senator a “nancy boy”, at least she didn’t go as far as Dave Feliciano, who said that Graham is “ambigiously gay“. It had been awhile since we checked in on Nancy Mace, and she opted to run for an office slightly less elevated than the U.S. Senate, <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fballotpedia.org%2FNancy_Mace&t=Yzk1NDU2N2E5ZWVkZjUwNWI3ZWQ1ZjkyMDcyZDgzYjljOWQ1YTk1MSwzQ1ZtV3V3bw%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F189975845573%2Fnancy-mace-2019-update&m=1" title="">winning a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2018</a>, to represent District 99 in that body. In that year, the Blue Wave actually helped Democrat Joe Cunningham flip South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in Congress, after he defeated <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/181974549043/katie-arrington">Katie Arrington</a> in the general election for the right to replace “the Love Gov” <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/188618446003/mark-sanford-2019-update">Mark Sanford</a>. As such, SC-1 is one of the seats that Republicans are most determined to flip back red, what with its partisan lean supposedly being +10 Republican. And, of course Nancy Mace isn’t content to simply remain a state legislator and build up her credibility… <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fballotpedia.org%2FSouth_Carolina%2527s_1st_Congressional_District&t=OTQwYmFhMzQyZjZhNjFhZDJhZDg0ZTQ0ZTk3NDIyNDk0ZmRmYmZmYywzQ1ZtV3V3bw%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F189975845573%2Fnancy-mace-2019-update&m=1" title="">she’s running for that seat in the U.S. House instead, jumping into a GOP Primary field with 3 other Republicans for the chance at it</a>. She’s <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestate.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics-government%2Farticle230258089.html&t=YzNjYjc1MWQ3OWViZTkxZGYxNTEyZTg5ZWM2ZjljMmViZjRmMjQ0MCwzQ1ZtV3V3bw%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F189975845573%2Fnancy-mace-2019-update&m=1">currently leading in fundraising</a>, and other than perhaps a primary challenger trying to score points against her because she’s not completely opposed to abortion in all cases, she’s currently the front-runner. This would be a great time for us to share a link to a spot for folks to donate to <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joecunninghamforcongress.com%2F&t=MGY5MjAwYjVmOWI4NTM3NTMyN2Q1MjYyYmVlYTVhNDVjOGIwYWU5ZSwzQ1ZtV3V3bw%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F189975845573%2Fnancy-mace-2019-update&m=1">Joe Cunningham’s campaign</a> if they want to, because Nancy Mace’s Libertarian/Republican viewpoint is the last thing our country needs right now. <h2><a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/181617536473/crazystupid-republican-of-the-day-archive-vol" title="">Click Here for Full CSGOPOTD Archive</a></h2> One Year Ago, December 31st, 2018: <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/181585934728/ed-gillespie" title="">Ed Gillespie (VA)</a> Two Years Ago, December 31st, 2017: <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/169144817538/david-brumbaugh" title="">David Brumbaugh (OK)</a> Three Years Ago, December 31st, 2016: <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/155210617968/nancy-mace" title="">Nancy Mace (SC)</a>… Original Profile Four Years Ago, December 31st, 2015: <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/136320154913/dean-young-2015-update">Dean Young (AL)</a>… 2015 Update Five Years Ago, December 31st, 2014: <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/106715650288/dean-young">Dean Young (AL)</a>… Original Profile rss@dailykos.com (republicinsanity) 2020 2020elections ClimateChange ClimateChangeDenial CrazyRepublicans CSGOPOTD Elections Homophobia JoeCunningham NancyMace SC-1 StupidRepublicans _1908706 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 13:24:20 +0000 Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day: Katie Arrington https://www.dailykos.com/story/2019/1/13/1825834/-Crazy-Stupid-Republican-of-the-Day-Katie-Arrington Welcome to the 722nd original “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” profile, where today we’ll be discussing Kate Arrington, <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fballotpedia.org%2FKatie_Arrington&t=NzgxNjlkZjA1NTliMDg1Mzk5NGNlZmQ3MmYxN2I4ZDkzOWRkNGMxOCxWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">a failed candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in the 2018 elections</a>, after serving a single term in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Arrington was decidedly a candidate to watch, since from the point she announced she was running for Congress, <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpg%2FVoteKatieArrington%2Fabout%2F%3Fref%3Dpage_internal&t=Yzk1NjdjNDEzYzc1YzRkNzM5ZmYzY2MwOWY1ZDIyMzFiZWIxYjU1NSxWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">she made it clear she was doing so to “support Donald Trump’s bold, conservative agenda”</a>, which was evident in her lack of understanding about border security and <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fvotesmart.org%2Fcandidate%2Fpolitical-courage-test%2F169001%2Fkatie-arrington%2F%23.XCNSfaoUmUk&t=YWU5M2M5N2NjN2E1M2FjYTU4OTgzNjBhNGZkZmM1ZGI3MzgwOWRlZixWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">desire to build a wall along the U.S./Mexico border</a>. The incumbent Republican that Arrington was challenging was CSGOPOTD Alumni <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/179444645348/mark-sanford-2018-update">Mark Sanford</a>, who may have several bizarre incidents that we’ve documented against him, but still was willing to criticize Donald Trump for some of his s***tier moments in the spotlight. That’s why it came as little surprise when <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fcard%2Ftrump-slams-sanford-sc-1-backs-arrington-n882506&t=NzU1MjQ5YmMzYTc1NDRjMjAzZGU5NGNlZmZjNDJiYmM3MjA1MTMyNyxWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">Donald Trump endorsed Katie Arrington over Mark Sanford</a>, and why he thought it would help her cause by calling out Sanford for “hiking the Tallahassee Trail”,which isn’t an actual thing, nor is it the correct reference to the extramarital affair that Sanford had back in 2009. And with a traditionally conservative district filled with Republicans who had grown tired of Sanford after years and were starting to buy into Arrington and Trump’s white nationalist rhetoric… Arrington managed to win the GOP Primary, and Trump was crowing about f***ing over Mark Sanford on Twitter. Arrington practically declared herself a member of Congress, promising that “<a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Finsider.foxnews.com%2F2018%2F06%2F19%2Fkatie-arrington-south-carolina-primary-win-midterm-elections-president-trump-agenda&t=NDNkOTMwM2IxNjUxNjA2ZThjMGMxMzJkMDkzNWE0ZWE3Mjk3NmZhZixWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">There’s no Blue Wave crashing on the shores of South Carolina</a>”. Only a few days after that, it wasn’t a Blue Wave that crashed into Katie Arrington (yet), it was an apparent drunk driver who veered into her own lane, and crashed into her head on. <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2018%2F06%2F23%2Fkatie-arrington-mark-sanford-gop-primary-crash%2F727924002%2F&t=ZDRmNGFlOGVmM2U3ZWY3YmQ2YjI3MzRiMWY0ZGEyMTM1MTljZmM2MyxWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">While she spent a few weeks recovering in the hospital, her Democratic opponent, Joe Cunningham, ceased to campaign out of respect</a>, and Mark Sanford offered her his prayers while she recovered, both classy decisions. Arrington, upon returning to the campaign trail, seemed to not acknowledge their kindness, and went right back to slandering Sanford, who she had beaten, and her Cunningham, who she hoped to beat. At her debate in October against Joe Cunningham, Arrington tried <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlestoncitypaper.com%2Fcharleston%2Fkatie-arrington-called-for-joe-cunningham-to-denounce-a-racist-portrayal-of-her-supporters-but-few-seem-to-have-seen-it%2FContent%3Foid%3D23876038&t=ZjBkZDBkNDNjZGViMWZlNzE1NmI0YjFhZWM2MWVhNWQ1NmEzNDE1ZixWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">attacking him for not denouncing “memes” about her that said she “faked her breast cancer” or others that were overtly racist and depicted African Americans who supported her “being lynched”</a>. These “memes” were either created online by conservatives who supported Mark Sanford in the primary and had barely been viewed on the internet, at all, let alone been viewed by Cunningham. But sixteen minutes into the debate, it was Arrington’s own campaign that used her Twitter account to complain about them for the first time. Cunningham denounced the images immediately after learning they existed when Arrington mentioned it for the first time, much like the rest of the public. So… botched attempt at creating a non-scandal? In the final weeks of the campaign in October, there were signs that Katie Arrington maybe didn’t have as comfortable of a lead as she was projecting in June, after she <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.postandcourier.com%2Fpolitics%2Fsc-mayor-says-phone-call-was-a-threat-katie-arrington%2Farticle_f5c06f7e-d6ef-11e8-a2f9-73b6b04661ca.html&t=Njg2OWU2YmY1OTgwMTEwNjFmZjc2NDVjYjQ1NjkzMzMwZmU5ODVjYSxWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">made veiled threats towards the mayor of the Isle of Palms, Jimmy Carroll, telling him he “lost his seat at the table”</a> for endorsing Cunningham, and a real sign of trouble was that <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcclatchydc.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics-government%2Fcongress%2Farticle220797500.html&t=MTAzM2UwMmI2NjI4OTcwNzEwNTY1M2EwNjM3ZGFiM2IzZDU5YzI5MixWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">the NRCC had to dump almost a quarter of a million dollars into the race to aid her at the last minute</a> in what was supposed to be a “safe” Republican district. <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlestoncitypaper.com%2FTheBattery%2Farchives%2F2018%2F11%2F01%2Fmark-sanford-isnt-endorsing-but-he-pretty-much-called-katie-arrington-a-liar&t=ZWU2MThhMzdhMjUyZjUyYzE3M2Q2NWU4M2NlZTljN2Y0YzEwOTc4OSxWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">Mark Sanford refused to endorse her, at all, and outright talked about her willingness to brazenly lie</a> just a week before the election. And so it was that as Donald Trump’s fortunes turned worse and worse, and Katie Arrington’s campaign techniques got more and more stupid, that Joe Cunningham upset her by seeming rather sane and moderate. Arrington took the loss well in her concession sp- HA! Gotcha. Arrington flipped out during her concession speech and went on a tirade against Mark Sanford, while <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnews4.com%2Fnews%2Felection%2Fkatie-arrington-speaks-to-supporters-after-election-loss-to-joe-cunningham&t=YWM1Yzc2MDU0YWFiYTNlMTk0ZTU1ZDMyM2VhZGRkNWNjYTE0NWE2YyxWQWRGd09sMg%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F181974549043%2Fkatie-arrington&m=1">promising she’d be back to run for the seat again in 2020</a>, and stopping just short of writing that promise in the sky in smoke like the Wicked Witch of the West at the end of the Wizard of Oz. Based on how Donald Trump’s fortunes are doing by the day, having Arrington handcuffed to someone who could be in handcuffs, legitimately, might not make her the best option Republicans could have in the primary in a year and a half. <h2><a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/181617536473/crazystupid-republican-of-the-day-archive-vol">Click Here Full CSGOPOTD Archive</a></h2> One Year Ago: January 13th, 2018: <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/169653628033/richard-snow">Richard Snow (ME)</a> Two Years Ago: January 13th, 2017: <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/155808399918/katherine-prudhomme-obrien-2017-update">Katherine Prudhomme-O’Brien (NH)</a>… 2017 Update Three Years Ago:January 13th, 2016: <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/137215375073/katherine-prudhomme-obrien" title="">Katherine Prudhomme-O’Brien (NH)</a>… Original Profile Four Years Ago:January 13th, 2015: <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/108039103568/anthony-culler">Anthony Culler (SC)</a> rss@dailykos.com (republicinsanity) 2018 2018Elections Anti-Immigrant BlueWave BorderWall CrazyRepublicans CSGOPOTD Elections JoeCunningham KatieArrington RacistRepublicans SC-01 SC-1 StupidRepublicans _1825834 Sun, 13 Jan 2019 11:21:42 +0000 Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day: Mark Sanford- 2018 Update https://www.dailykos.com/story/2018/10/26/1807335/-Crazy-Stupid-Republican-of-the-Day-Mark-Sanford-2018-Update On this date in <a href="http://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/101015513763/mark-sanford">2014</a>, <a href="http://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/131944132198/mark-sanford-2015-update">2015</a>, <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/152332344803/mark-sanford-2016-update">2016</a>, as well as <a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/166819200073/mark-sanford-2017-update">2017</a>, “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day posted profiles of the U.S. House Representative from South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, Mark Sanford, a man who while Governor of South Carolina, was once considered a possible future president. That, of course, came to a screeching halt after he went “hiking the Appalachian Trail”. And by that, we mean that he said he was hiking when he actually was taking personal trips to see his Argentinian mistress. This led to Sanford leaving office in disgrace, and of course, an ugly divorce from his wife with a settlement agreement that Sanford has repeatedly been accused of violating, including letting himself over to her place while she wasn’t home to watch the Super Bowl without her knowledge. The last time we checked, <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Flaurin-manning-%2Fmark-sanford-divorce_b_3170174.html&t=NWQyNGQ3YWU4MDg1OTRjMGIyYWNjNzQ1YzQxMjAzMzZiNWExNDhiNixyVnNYZEJJag%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F179444645348%2Fmark-sanford-2018-update&m=1">Jenny Sanford had forced him to undergo a psychiatric exam for some of his bizarre behavior, like digging holes with a tractor on his property</a>. In typical hypocritical GOP fashion, the adulterer Sanford also was a self-professed champion of “the sanctity of marriage” who wanted to protect the institution from all those gay folks who might threaten it while he was busy sneaking off to see his mistress and shirking his duties as governor. He returned to the Congressional seat he vacated while serving as Governor by winning a public debate he held between himself and a cardboard cutout of Nancy Pelosi (really), and then made the classy move of breaking up with the mistress who he nearly ruined his career for over Facebook while she was in Paris. Mark Sanford survived a decent scare in the 2016 GOP Primary for his Congressional seat <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fballotpedia.org%2FMark_Sanford_%28South_Carolina%29&t=ZDA0ZTM0YThiYjlhNjkwYmFjNDFiMjQ4OWVmYjI3YjhhYzBjMDZlNixyVnNYZEJJag%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F179444645348%2Fmark-sanford-2018-update&m=1">with 55% of the vote</a>, before going on to win another term in his highly conservative district in the general election with 59%. Thus, he’s been participating in one of the most exhaustingly stupid terms of Congress in recent memory (and that’s saying something): As far as Mark Sanford’s 2018 prospects go… the close primary he saw in 2016 was partially by his own hand… Sanford bizarrely spent almost no money on his campaign in that race, befuddling South Carolina Republicans, who know that just invites others to take a shot at knocking him off in 2018. That likelihood is even greater given reports that the Congressman’s fundraising efforts were abysmal. Remember, Sanford’s ex-wife Jenny’s family fortune and connections had a lot to do with his political success prior to his affair. He parlayed what he had into a political comeback in 2012, faced no challenger in 2014, and seems like he was just going through the motions in 2016. As money was looking scarce, he was <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fmagazine%2Fstory%2F2017%2F02%2Fmark-sanford-profile-214791&t=ZmMyYzE3N2FjZmY0OGI2ZjIzMDJhYWZmN2FmN2EwMDhkNDBjZmU5MCxyVnNYZEJJag%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F179444645348%2Fmark-sanford-2018-update&m=1">joking about himself as a “dead man walking”</a>, who <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcclatchydc.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics-government%2Farticle179158046.html&t=ZjY2MmM4ZTMxMWI2MDE1ZWNkZjc5MTQ4MzZkOGNjZDk0MmMxMGE5MixyVnNYZEJJag%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F179444645348%2Fmark-sanford-2018-update&m=1">was openly critical of Donald Trump and his insane policy ideas</a>, like trying to undo NAFTA. That made Trump endorse Sanford’s challenger, <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.postandcourier.com%2Fpolitics%2Fmark-sanford-concedes-to-katie-arrington-in-sc-district-race%2Farticle_f2087f8e-6cc8-11e8-baa2-9fcd285d9c08.html&t=MWZjNThkOWFhNzlkN2YwZGE3Njg3Y2NhYjg4YjZjMzc4YjMxODkxZCxyVnNYZEJJag%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&p=https%3A%2F%2Frepublicinsanity.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F179444645348%2Fmark-sanford-2018-update&m=1">Katie Arrington</a>, and she ended up beating Sanford in the 2018 Primary. It looks like Mark Sanford’s about to have free time to go digging holes in the yard again here in January. <h2><a href="https://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/169195656528/crazystupid-republican-of-the-day-archive-vol-v">Click Here Full CSGOPOTD Archive</a></h2> rss@dailykos.com (republicinsanity) 2018 2018Elections AffordableCareAct CrazyRepublicans CSGOPOTD Elections hikingtheappalachiantrail Hypocrisy MarkSanford SC-1 SexScandal StupidRepublicans Trumpcare _1807335 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 08:04:30 +0000 CSGOPOTD: Mark Sanford- 2016 Update https://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/26/1587011/-CSGOPOTD-Mark-Sanford-2016-Update On this day in both <a href="http://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/101015513763/mark-sanford">2014</a>, and in <a href="http://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/131944132198/mark-sanford-2015-update">2015</a>, “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” posted its first two profiles of Mark Sanford, the sitting U.S. House Representative for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, and a man who while Governor of South Carolina, was once considered a possible future president. That, of course, came to a screeching halt after he went “hiking the Appalachian Trail”. And by that, we mean that he said he was hiking when he actually was taking personal trips to see his Argentinian mistress. This led to Sanford leaving office in disgrace, and of course, an ugly divorce from his wife with a settlement agreement that Sanford has repeatedly been accused of violating, including letting himself over to her place while she wasn’t home to watch the Super Bowl without her knowledge. The last time we checked, <a href="http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Flaurin-manning-%2Fmark-sanford-divorce_b_3170174.html&t=MGMxZTRhOTAzY2FjMWNmNDE4NjQ4YmMwZGU4NjY5MDVjZmMzMTgzNSw1bmFTeWt1NQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&m=1">Jenny Sanford had forced him to undergo a psychiatric exam for some of his bizarre behavior</a>, like digging holes with a tractor on his property. In typical hypocritical GOP fashion, the adulterer Sanford also was a self-professed champion of “the sanctity of marriage” who wanted to protect the institution from all those gay folks who might threaten it while he was busy sneaking off to see his mistress and shirking his duties as governor. He returned to the Congressional seat he vacated while serving as Governor by winning a public debate he held between himself and a cardboard cutout of Nancy Pelosi (really), and then made the classy move of breaking up with the mistress who he nearly ruined his career for over Facebook while she was in Paris. He won re-election in 2014 because.. no one bothered to run against him. We’ve covered Sanford’s highly conservative voting record previously, and 2016 has shown more of the same: <ul> <li>November 19th, 2015: Sanford <a href="http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.govtrack.us%2Fcongress%2Fvotes%2F114-2015%2Fh643&t=YTUwY2JiMTkzZGQzMDIwZjJiNjlhODRkNGE2YzAxYTk1NWVkYTc0ZSw1bmFTeWt1NQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&m=1">votes for the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act</a>, reacting to the terror attacks in Paris by <a href="http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Fworldviews%2Fwp%2F2015%2F11%2F17%2Fwere-syrian-refugees-involved-in-the-paris-attacks-what-we-know-and-dont-know%2F&t=NjBkZWM3MGExNjUxMzgwMzc3NmM3YzNmOTBmMWQwZThmOTFjZTZiYSw1bmFTeWt1NQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&m=1">jihadists from France and Belgium</a> by trying to create greater restrictions to keep out Syrian refugees, of whom exactly zero were involved in those attacks.</li> <li>February 2nd, 2016: Mark Sanford <a href="http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.govtrack.us%2Fcongress%2Fvotes%2F114-2016%2Fh53&t=ZDNiM2E4MDZhZjA3ZTU3ZWRjMDViYzkwM2JjZDRkNThhNGY4NDUxOCw1bmFTeWt1NQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&m=1">votes for HR 3762</a>, the 61st attempt by Congressional Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (which is still working better than was predicted).</li> <li>May 19th, 2016: Rep. Sanford <a href="http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.govtrack.us%2Fcongress%2Fvotes%2F114-2016%2Fh226&t=NWIyYzZmYWE0MzNjNDAwMDcyNWQzNWJlZTQ4MTMxZTQyOGExMmIyZSw1bmFTeWt1NQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&m=1">votes against House Amendment 1079</a>, which would have prohibited the use of federal funds for discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. So if you were wondering, yes, he’s pro-discrimination, apparently.</li> <li>September 28th, 2016: Months after funding was requested to prevent Zika Virus, and after several cases have begun to be diagnosed in the United States, Mark Sanford still <a href="http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.govtrack.us%2Fcongress%2Fvotes%2F114-2016%2Fh573&t=ODQ1YTdhZmE2NTAwMmY3NTI0MjVjODE1M2QxN2FlNTRlY2FmZjM2OCw1bmFTeWt1NQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&m=1">votes against HR 5325</a>, which would provide funding towards preventing its spread. (Remember, this is from a hard core Pro-Lifer determined to defund Planned Parenthood.)</li> </ul> <a href="http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCook_partisan_voting_index&t=MmU3NTY2Nzc0MTZlYjExZjNiZWM1MDA1NmQ2MDQwNWExMzVjYjUzOSw1bmFTeWt1NQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&m=1">South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District has a +11 Republican lean in the Cook Partisan Voting Index</a>, and normally, that’s more than enough in any electon year to guarantee Rep. Sanford is safe, if he gets past the GOP Primary. Well, he got a scare in that primary against fellow Republican Jenny Horne, <a href="http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fballotpedia.org%2FSouth_Carolina%2527s_1st_Congressional_District_election%2C_2016&t=YTUyNDA4Zjg3NWEyNWZkN2FlZjgwMzU3YTAxYWM0ZDQzY2IyYTBhOSw1bmFTeWt1NQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&m=1">only winning with 56% of the vote</a>. Now, Sanford moves on to the general election where he will face Democrat DImitri Cherny, a truck driver who’s running on an aggressively progressive platform in red South Carolina. Just how progressive of a guy is Cherny? Let’s put it this way… during the 2016 primary season… <a href="http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Fijr.com%2F2016%2F02%2F543527-dem-candidate-gets-a-sweet-bernie-sanders-tattoo-and-twitter-cant-stop-laughing-at-him%2F&t=YzdkZmIzYWVmNjBjOGMxNWJhMDJhMTE0ZGM3Njg1YzI1ZTBkZmI4ZCw1bmFTeWt1NQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A6vX5aFaAc0cmRb2YGJ6q4g&m=1">he got a Bernie Sanders tattoo</a>. While embracing a platform of economic justice is admirable, Cherny might be too far to the left for a conservative district to rally behind. A lot is possible for Democrats in 2016, but this might be a bridge too far for an upset. Which means… two more years of the most famous Appalachian trail hiker… <h2><a href="http://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/137215545068/crazystupid-republican-of-the-day-archive-vol" title="">Click Here for Full CSGOPOTD Archive</a></h2> rss@dailykos.com (republicinsanity) CrazyRepublicans CSGOPOTD DimitriCherny Elections MarkSanford SC-01 SC-1 StupidRepublicans _1587011 Wed, 26 Oct 2016 11:24:36 +0000 CSGOPOTD: Mark Sanford- 2015 Update https://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/26/1439272/-CSGOPOTD-Mark-Sanford-2015-Update <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://images.dailykos.com/images/172443/large/Sanford-Mark.jpg?1445857350" alt="" width="480" height="320" /></div> One year ago on this date, CSGOPOTD <a href="http://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/101015513763/mark-sanford">first profiled the U.S. House Representative from South Carolina’s 1st District, Mark Sanford</a>, a man who once was considered a possible future president, but whose career came crashing to a halt after he went “hiking the Appalachian Trail”. And by that, we mean that he said he was hiking when he actually was taking personal trips to see his Argentinian mistress. This led to Sanford leaving office in disgrace, and of course, an ugly divorce from his wife with a settlement agreement that Sanford has repeatedly been accused of violating, including letting himself over to their place to watch the Super Bowl without her knowledge. In typical hypocritical GOP fashion, the adulterer Sanford also was a self-professed champion of “the sanctity of marriage” who wanted to protect the institution from all those gay folks who might threaten it. He returned to the Congressional seat he vacated while serving as Governor by winning a public debate he held between himself and a cardboard cutout of Nancy Pelosi (really), and then made the classy move of breaking up with the mistress who he nearly ruined his career for over Facebook while she was in Paris. Rep. Sanford won re-election in 2014 when he <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Sanford_(South_Carolina)">ran unopposed</a>, but perhaps a sign that he doesn’t have a good hold on the seat is that 8,423 people in his District bothered to use the “Write-In” option rather than cast their vote for him. His more recent history: -July 10th, 2014: Rep. Sanford <a href="http://votesmart.org/bill/18705/49367/21991/prohibits-implementation-of-certain-climate-assessments#.Vid99qrosdU">votes for House Amendment 1040</a>, to prevent the implementation of the dreaded United Nations Agenda 21 Treaty, that in spite of just being recommended climate change guidelines, have <a href="http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Agenda_21">many conspiracy theorists within the extreme right convinced it’s a plot for global domination</a>. -September 15th, 2014: Mark Sanford agrees to go to mediation with his wife in their divorce settlement, where <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/15/mark-jenny-sanford_n_5823662.html?utm_hp_ref=mark-sanford">she cites he must undergo a psychiatric exam</a>, and attend both parenting classes and anger management classes. -December 16th, 2014: Sanford is under hard scrutiny for <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/16/mark-sanford-payout_n_6336448.html?utm_hp_ref=mark-sanford">controversial six-figure payouts from Tree.com</a>, a company that regulators say deceived their customers, and Sanford was one of their directors who owned stock for while campaigning to get back into Congress. -January 22nd, 2015: an anti-abortion bill, <a href="%20http://votesmart.org/bill/19398/50973/21991/no-taxpayer-funding-for-abortion-and-abortion-insurance-full-disclosure-act-of-2015#.Vid91qrosdU">HR 7</a>, was moving through the House, and was halted because even some members of the GOP were put off by the language in the bill regarding its definition of rape. Mark Sanford, however, had no problem with that, and voted for it anyway.   -February 3rd, 2015: Rep. Sanford <a href="http://votesmart.org/bill/19507/51284/21991/repeal-of-the-patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-and-health-care-related-provisions-in-the-health-care-and-education-reconciliation-act-of-2010#.Vid9yKrosdU">co-sponsors and votes for the latest Republican attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act</a>. This in spite of the fact that the law is not just working, but better than experts predicted.   -March 3rd, 2015: Sanford <a href="http://votesmart.org/bill/19425/51302/21991/department-of-homeland-security-appropriations-act-of-2015#.Vid9uarosdU">votes against funding the Department of Homeland Security</a> as part of a Republican protest of President Obama’s executive orders on immigration.   -May 13th, 2015: Mark Sanford <a href="http://votesmart.org/bill/20278/53364/21991/pain-capable-unborn-child-protection-act#.Vid9rqrosdU">voted for HR 36</a>, a ban on abortion at 20 weeks, which he also co-sponsored.   -September 11th, 2015: Sanford <a href="http://votesmart.org/bill/20438/53880/21991/to-approve-the-joint-comprehensive-plan-of-action-signed-at-vienna-on-july-14-2015-relating-to-the-nuclear-program-of-iran#.Vid9m6rosdU">votes against the United States' nuclear treaty with Iran</a>. -September 18th, 2015: Rep. Sanford <a href="http://votesmart.org/bill/20434/53875/21991/defund-planned-parenthood-act-of-2015#.Vid9gqrosdU">votes with most House Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood</a>, based on highly edited “sting” videos submitted by a Pro-Life advocacy group that have been <a href="http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/08/31/a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-deceptively-edited/205264">repeatedly debunked by investigators</a>. As of right now, no Democrat has registered to challenge Mark Sanford for his seat in 2016. Considering how close Elizabeth Colbert-Busch was in 2013, in the special election for the seat, if she were to jump back into the race this year, she might be able to clear the hurdle. If his divorce records from five years ago ever get unsealed, it could only add to the amount of embarrassing details of Sanford’s private life hindering his political career and make this a potential swing for Democrats. Jenny Sanford was decidedly a woman scorned, and what little information that has been made public shows that where there's smoke, there could be fire. <a href="http://republicinsanity.tumblr.com/post/105766820683/csgopotd-archive-vol-ii">Click Here for Full CSGOPOTD Archive</a> rss@dailykos.com (republicinsanity) 2016Elections CSGOPOTD Elections Mark Sanford MarkSanford Planned Parenthood PlannedParenthood SavePlannedParenthood SC-01 SC-1 War on Women WarOnWomen _1439272 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:13:42 +0000 The Republican Party has officially embraced adultery, corruption, and hypocrisy https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/5/7/1207617/-The-Republican-Party-has-officially-embraced-adultery-corruption-and-hypocrisy In the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina, where a Republican nominee can lose some usual Republican voters and still get elected, if there's one clear message that can interpreted from the results from tonight's special election, it's that Republicans have fully embraced adultery and corruption. Mark Sanford fits both the "adulterer" and "crook" label, yet Republicans in the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina elected him to the U.S. House of Representatives anyways. He disappeared for nearly a week during his second term as Governor of South Carolina and, when he returned to the United States, revealed that he had been unfaithful to his then-wife Jenny Sanford. It was later revealed that he had flown to Argentina and had an affair with the woman that he is now engaged to. Sanford settled 37 ethics charges that stemmed from his affair and he paid the largest ethics fine in South Carolina history after settling the charges. Democrats, with the exceptions of Charlie Rangel, Alcee Hastings, and some others, tend to disown those who tarnish the Democratic brand...Jesse Jackson Jr., John Edwards, William Jefferson, Herman Talamadge, Rod Blagojevich, Dan Rostenkowski, Chuck Chvala, and others who have tarnished the Democratic brand for adultery and/or corruption are regarded as persona non grata in the Democratic Party these days, or, in the case of Talamadge, would be persona non grata in the Democratic Party if he were alive today. Republicans, with some exceptions, tend to admire those who tarnish their brand...Newt Gingrich, David Vitter, Spencer Bachus, and now Mark Sanford, just to name a few. As a matter of fact, Howie Klein of Down With Tyranny <a href="https://twitter.com/downwithtyranny/status/331930316304445441">is reporting that Mark Foley is considering a redemption run for public office of his own</a>, although I'm not sure if that's merely a joke by Klein or if Foley is actually considering a return to politics. For another observation I've made from tonight's special election in the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina, look below the orange squiggle. rss@dailykos.com (DownstateDemocrat) adulterer Adultery Campaign Finance CampaignFinance Citizens United CitizensUnited Corruption Elections ElizabethColbert-Busch ethicscharges ethicsfine extramaritalaffair Mark Sanford MarkSanford observations outsidespending Recommended Rescued RescuedtoRecommended SC-1 SouthCarolina SuperPac _1207617 Wed, 08 May 2013 01:44:36 +0000 Mark Sanford supporter Larry Flynt asked for $5 billion bailout for the porn industry back in 2009 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/5/2/1206470/-Mark-Sanford-supporter-Larry-Flynt-asked-for-5-billion-bailout-for-the-porn-industry-back-in-2009 You may have heard that Larry Flynt, the CEO of Hustler Magazine, has endorsed embattled Republican candidate Mark Sanford in the special election in the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina. I'd figure that I'd mention that, back in 2009, Flynt, along with Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/07/porn-bailout-larry-flynt_n_155878.html">asked for a $5 billion bailout for the porn industry</a> from the federal government back in January of 2009, and Flynt was quoted by TMZ as saying this about the proposed bailout of the American porn industry: <blockquote>With all this economic misery and people losing all that money, sex is the farthest thing from their mind. It's time for Congress to rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America.</blockquote> Here's how Keith Olbermann, then the host of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, reported that story: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yeU_pDkHqAs" frameborder="0" defang_allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Public Policy Polling noted via Twitter that their upcoming poll of the race between Sanford and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Colbert-Busch that <a href="https://twitter.com/ppppolls/status/330053221441732608">it will be the first time, at least to their knowledge, that Larry Flynt has popped up in a PPP poll</a>. I'm guessing they're going to poll Flynt's approval rating in SC-1, but I'm not 100% sure of that. Mark Sanford's campaign has been nothing but one public relations nightmare after another, and this is the latest public relations nightmare for the Sanford campaign. rss@dailykos.com (DownstateDemocrat) Bailout ElizabethColbert-Busch JoeFrancis LarryFlynt Mark Sanford MarkSanford pornindustry SC-1 _1206470 Thu, 02 May 2013 20:48:30 +0000 Will the people of SC-1 'remember' Mark Sanford? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/4/17/1202490/-Will-the-people-of-SC-1-remember-Mark-Sanford The May 7th special election to fill SC-1 is getting closer, but will the people "remember" Mark Sanford in time before it's too late? rss@dailykos.com (Jamie Sanderson) Elections Mark Sanford MarkSanford Republican SC-1 SouthCarolina SouthForward _1202490 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:29:01 +0000 SC-1: How a congressional candidate should NOT conduct himself https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/4/16/1202416/-SC-1-How-a-congressional-candidate-should-NOT-conduct-himself Republican Mark Sanford, the disgraced former Governor of South Carolina who is now running in the special congressional election in the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/mark-sanford-jenny-sanford_n_3096176.html">allegedly trespassed at the home of ex-wife Jenny Sanford</a>: <blockquote>Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford must appear in court two days after running for a vacant congressional seat to answer a complaint that he trespassed at his ex-wife's home, according to court documents acquired by The Associated Press on Tuesday. The complaint says Jenny Sanford confronted Sanford leaving her Sullivans Island home on Feb. 3 by a rear door, using his cell phone for a flashlight. Her attorney filed the complaint the next day and Jenny Sanford confirmed Tuesday the documents are authentic. The couple's 2010 divorce settlement says neither may enter the other's home without permission. Mark Sanford lives about a 20-minute drive away in downtown Charleston. </blockquote> As you may know, back in June 2009, Mark Sanford disappeared for nearly a week, and Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer told the media that Sanford was hiking the Appalachian Trail. Several hours after Sanford returned to the United States, he admitted to being unfaithful to his then-wife and having a romantic relationship with an Argentine woman. Sanford's wife subsequently filed for divorce, and the divorce was settled in 2010. Now, Sanford, for reasons that are at this time unknown, allegedly trespassed his ex-wife's home in violation of the divorce settlement, which states that neither Mark nor Jenny may enter the other's home without permission. Sanford must now appear in court two days after the May 7 special congressional election in the 1st District of South Carolina. This is NOT how a congressional candidate should conduct himself. Normally, the Republican nominee should be able to win the 1st District of South Carolina without much difficulty, but the fact that Mark Sanford is untrustworthy and downright creepy is one of several reasons why Democratic nominee <a href="http://colbertbuschforcongress.com/welcome/">Elizabeth Colbert-Busch</a> can win. rss@dailykos.com (DownstateDemocrat) Congress Courtorder divorcesettlement Elections ElizabethColbert-Busch JennySanford Mark Sanford MarkSanford SC-1 SouthCarolina SpecialElection Trespassing _1202416 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 03:11:41 +0000 SC-1 'Values' include orgies, debauchery, being unfaithful? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/4/4/1199152/-SC-1-Values-include-orgies-debotury-being-unfaithful Cenk Uygur descriptively breaks down the second coming of Mark Sanford in SC-1 - and the twisted "values" the district embraces. rss@dailykos.com (Jamie Sanderson) CenkUygur Congress Elections ElizabethColbertBusch Mark Sanford MarkSanford Recommended Republicans SC-1 SouthCarolina _1199152 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:22:46 +0000 SC-01: PPP, The Special Election Is A Toss Up! Lets Send A Colbert To Congress! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/3/26/1197075/-SC-01-PPP-The-Special-Election-Is-A-Toss-Up-Lets-Send-A-Colbert-To-Congress <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/25328/large/south-carolina-politics-just-got-interesting.jpg?1364312336" alt="" /></div> PPP came out with their poll on the 2013 Special Election to succeed Senator Tim Scott's (R. SC) old seat in South Carolina's first district and the numbers have me very excited: <a href="http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/03/ppps-first-look-at-the-special-election-in-south-carolinas-1st-congressional-district-finds-a-toss-up-race-democrat-elizabet.html">http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/25334/large/130219_colbert_busch_sanford_605_ap.jpg?1364314127" alt="" /></div> PPP's first look at the special election in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District finds a toss up race. Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch leads Republican Mark Sanford 47-45 and ties Curtis Bostic at 43. This is a Republican leaning district and Barack Obama's approval rating in it is only 41% with 57% of voters disapproving of him. But Democrats are far more unified than the Republicans are. Busch is winning 87-89% of the Democratic vote while Sanford (76%) and Bostic (72%) are both earning less than 80% of the GOP vote. Busch is also up by 16-18 points with independent voters. Sanford remains a strong favorite for the Republican nomination heading into next week's runoff. He leads Bostic 53/40. The horse race numbers closely mirror his favorability with GOP voters- 55% see him positively to 40% with a negative opinion. If there's a silver lining for Bostic it's that he still has a name recognition deficit- 77% of voters have heard of him to 95% for Sanford- and among voters who are familiar with him he trails Sanford only 49/46. That suggests some possibility of closing as voters focus in on the choice between the two in the final weeks, but Bostic may just not have enough time. Focusing in on the potential race between Busch and Sanford it's surprisingly close for one simple reason- voters like Busch and they continue to strongly dislike Sanford. 45% of voters see Busch favorably to only 31% with a negative opinion. On the other hand Sanford is still stuck with a 34% favorability rating and 58% of voters seeing him in a negative light. - PPP, 3/26/13 </blockquote> PPP notes that the Republican voters who greatly dislike Sanford are more likely to vote for Colbert-Busch than just stay home.  This is a district Mitt Romney easily won in the 2012 election, 77/12.  Sanford would need to get 85% of the Republican vote in order to help him secure victory.  If the Colbert-Busch wins the special election, that could mean serious trouble for incumbent Governor Nikki Haley (R. SC) in her chances for re-election.  She's unpopular in Charleston, 41/45.  Senator Lindsey Graham (R. SC) is also unpopular there, 40/44.  Sanford's wife, Jenny, is the most popular political figure in the First District,  55/18.  Scott comes in second, 53/26.  Guess who's slightly more popular than the disgraced former Governor?  This guy: <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/25336/large/Stephen_Colbert_Stephen_Colbert_Visits_Late_8WSUIieh56kl.jpg?1364314671" alt="" /></div> Colbert-Busch's brother, Stephen Colbert's approvals are at 36% whereas Sanford's are at 34%.  I am very excited about this race because we have an excellent candidate in Colbert-Busch who excites the base whereas the GOP is very close to making fools of themselves and nominate a disgraced Governor.  It's pretty pathetic and nuts that he's the favorite to win his primary.  Also the fact that Colbert-Busch ties with Bostic shows that we have a real chance. I can't emphasize how important this race is.  There's nothing sweeter than seeing Democrats, especially great ones like Colbert-Busch, beat Republicans on their home turf.  Having Colbert-Busch in Congress gives us another seat and could indicate Nikki Haley's chances of being re-elected in 2014.  Especially is her 2010 rival, Sate Senator Vincent Sheheen (D. SC) decides to go for a rematch and there's a good chance he will.  Just look at PPP's poll back in December: <a href="http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/12/haley-vulnerable-in-south-carolina-.html">http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/25338/large/20100721-sheheen.jpg?1364315197" alt="" /></div> Republican Nikki Haley is losing to former Gubernatorial challenger Vincent Sheheen in PPP’s latest poll of South Carolina. Sheheen tops Haley 46-44 with 10% undecided.  Sheheen leads despite being somewhat unknown – 55% of voters have neither a favorable or unfavorable opinion of him (24% fav/21% unfav). <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/25337/large/111215_nikki_haley9_ap_328.jpg?1364315169" alt="" /></div> Haley has middling job approval ratings for an incumbent - just 42% of voters say they approve of her job performance compared to 49% who disapprove. Democrats (15/78) and Republicans (70/22) break out mostly along Party lines but the Governor suffers from the most from lack of approval among independent voters (28/57). Looking at potential matchups if Haley were to lose a primary or not to run, Sheheen leads Republican Treasurer Curtis Loftis 46-37 and leads Lieutenant Governor Glenn McConnell 44-41. “Nikki Haley won by an underwhelming margin in 2010 given the strong year for Republicans nationally,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Since then she’s proven to be an unpopular Governor, and the political climate has gotten better for Democrats. Put those things together and she’s looking very vulnerable for 2014.” - PPP, 12/11/12 </blockquote> Not to mention, I'm looking forward to who the Club For Growth can come up with to challenge Graham in his primary: <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/287483-conservatives-threaten-run-against-incumbent-graham">http://thehill.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/25339/large/110501_lindsey_graham_ap_605.jpg?1364315471" alt="" /></div> Two South Carolina conservatives are preparing for possible primary challenges against Sen. Lindsey Graham (R), accusing him of being insufficiently conservative for the state. Nancy Mace, the first female graduate of The Citadel and a conservative blogger, told The Hill on Monday that she’s taking steps toward a possible run against the two-term senator. Bruce Carroll, a co-founder of the gay conservative group GOProud, is also examining the viability of a primary campaign. - The Hill, 3/11/13 </blockquote> Yes, you read that correctly.  One of Graham's potential challengers might be a gay Republican who actually defended DOMA: <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/gay-patriot-to-decide-by-mid-april-whether-to-challenge-lind">http://www.buzzfeed.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/25341/large/enhanced-buzz-716-1363288487-10.jpg?1364316049" alt="" /></div> As for what that means for the Defense of Marriage Act's federal definition of 'marriage,' which is being challenged in a case to be heard by the Supreme Court later this month, Carroll said, "I still fundamentally believe the word 'marriage' is a religious term used by a church of a covenant between a man, a woman and God, so I actually support DOMA as it is on the books because I think it helps move the topic now more cohesively to the states and allow the states to do flexibility." Asked if that meant he supports a married same-sex couple in New Hampshire being treated differently than a married opposite-sex couple, he paused and said: "As you can tell, I'm struggling with this. I have my beliefs, I have my principles on the issue. I don't agree with the gay community on marriage. It's a tough call, but I would say right now that there are just so many layers of this that I think DOMA is practical in the type of environment we're in. In five years from now, I might have a different perspective. But, as we're here today, I think it's practical to keep DOMA in place while other things are playing out in the states." - BuzzFeed, 3/14/13 </blockquote> Carroll will be making his decision to challenge Graham middle of next month.   South Carolina is a political hot spot this year and next year.  To see Republicans idiotically devour themselves and handing over both a congressional seat and Governor's seat would be a great treat for Democrats.  Plus like I said a while back, we may never see a Colbert in the White House but we can send one to Congress: <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/05/1190109/-SC-1-We-May-Never-See-A-Colbert-In-The-White-House-But-We-Can-Send-One-To-Congress">http://www.dailykos.com/...</a> The Special Election is May 7th.  If you're a South Carolina resident or want to see this seat go blue, please donate or get involved with the Colbert-Busch campaign here: <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/25340/large/home_page_head_shot.jpg?1364316023" alt="" /></div> <a href="http://colbertbuschforcongress.com/">http://colbertbuschforcongress.com/</a> rss@dailykos.com (poopdogcomedy) 2013SouthCarolinaSpecialElection 2013SpecialElection 2014midterms BruceCarroll ClubForGrowth Democrats Election 2014 Election2013 Election2014 ElizabethColbert-Busch GOP GOPROUD JennySanford LindseyGraham Mark Sanford MarkSanford NikkiHaley Republicans SC-01 SC-1 SouthCarolina StephenColbert TimScott VincentSheheen Vote Vote 2014 Vote2013 Vote2014 _1197075 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:44:39 +0000 SC-01: We May Never See A Colbert In The White House But We Can Send One To Congress https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/3/5/1190109/-SC-1-We-May-Never-See-A-Colbert-In-The-White-House-But-We-Can-Send-One-To-Congress <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/20913/large/130217_colbert_busch_ap_605.jpg?1361931189" alt="" /></div> Ok, I know I spent yesterday talking about how the Daily Kos should endorse the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act of 2013: <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/04/1191509/-AK-Sen-The-Daily-Kos-Should-Endorse-The-Protecting-Preserving-Social-Security-Act-of-2013">http://www.dailykos.com/...</a> Today, I am going to urge the Daily Kos community to endorse Congressional candidate, Elizabeth Colbert-Busch (A.K.A. Lulu) who is running as a Democrat in South Carolina's 1st District.  This is is the seat Rep. Tim Scott (R. SC-1) vacated to fill Senator Jim DeMint's (R. SC) seat in the U.S. Senate and is running for the Senate in 2014 Senate Special Election.  Elizabeth Colbert-Busch, as you may or may not know, is the sister of Dr. Stephen T. Colbert of The Colbert Report.  I'll let Stephen introduce her:   <iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TrUMvz5AszY" frameborder="0" defang_allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Colbert's endorsement of his sister is pretty amazing.  Of course he was funny but he made a terrific argument for his sister.  We do need more smart, practical women who will pass common sense legislation like the Violence Against Women Act and Colbert-Busch's experience with wind energy business would give her the opportunity to draft legislation that would not only help battle climate change but also create green jobs.  But the main reason why I am excited about Colbert-Busch's campaign is because she has excited a sleepy South Carolina Democratic Party:   <a href="http://standrews.patch.com/articles/colbert-busch-supporters-swell-with-optimism#video-13453072">http://standrews.patch.com/...</a> <object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://standrews.patch.com:/swf/external_video_player.swf" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> <param name="flashvars" value="flv_url=http://o1.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/patch/e808e2d5d750dcc553c1248cc6a1647b/video.flv&video_url=http://standrews.patch.com/articles/colbert-busch-supporters-swell-with-optimism#video-13453072&publication_url=http://standrews.patch.com&twitter_status=http://going.com/A-2mT7~v-d9CtC&auto_play=true&full_screen=true" /> <embed src="http://standrews.patch.com:/swf/external_video_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="flv_url=http://o1.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/patch/e808e2d5d750dcc553c1248cc6a1647b/video.flv&video_url=http://standrews.patch.com/articles/colbert-busch-supporters-swell-with-optimism#video-13453072&publication_url=http://standrews.patch.com&twitter_status=http://going.com/A-2mT7~v-d9CtC&auto_play=true&full_screen=true" width="400" height="300" /></object> Colbert-Busch has received several endorsements for her campaign.  First there's the Young Democrats of South Carolina: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/125043929/YDSC-Endorses-Elizabeth-Colbert-Busch">http://www.scribd.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-r"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/21880/small/130216_elizabeth_colbert_busch_605_ap.jpg?1362521799" alt="" /></div> Colbert Busch, the Director of Business Development at Clemson University’s Restoration Institute, is aseasoned negotiator. Having worked previously for the South Carolina Ports Authority and major shipping companies AMI and Orient Overseas Container Line (USA) before taking her current job at Clemson, she has experienced firsthand how business and government can cooperate for the greater good of all. Since starting at Clemson’s Restoration Institute, she has opened the door to thousands of new energy jobs and the largest wind turbine testing facility on Earth. Colbert Busch will be a strong voice not just for the people of the First and for South Carolina as a whole,but also to strengthen American trade influence and the clean energy economy all of which can stand to gain the jobs South Carolina’s young professionals are studying for. We offer our endorsement independent of the state Democratic Party, which continues to host a primary for the First Congressional District on March 19. We strongly urge Young Democrats in the First to vote for Elizabeth Colbert Busch on March 19 (and again on May 7). Young and College Democrats are already on the ground working the Colbert Busch campaign, and we are just getting started. - Young Democrats of South Carolina </blockquote> Both former civil rights leader, Rep. John Lewis (D. GA-5) and Assistant Democratic Party Leader, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D. SC-6) have thrown their support behind Colbert-Busch: <a href="http://mountpleasant-sc.patch.com/articles/civil-rights-hero-to-endorse-elizabeth-colbert-busch">http://mountpleasant-sc.patch.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/21882/large/john_lewis_020911-thumb-640xauto-2217.jpg?1362522032" alt="" /></div> Elizabeth Colbert Busch is my friend and my sister. I am endorsing her in the Special Election for South Carolina’s First District. The Colbert family has always been a strong advocate for all the people of South Carolina. I have visited the First District and know they need a powerful voice in Washington; Elizabeth can be that voice. I know she will be a hard working and dedicated Member of Congress who speaks up and speaks out for the people she serves. She has never been afraid to get in the way. Elizabeth Colbert Busch deserves the help and support of all the people of the Lowcountry.” - Mount Pleasant Patch, 2/27/13</blockquote> <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20100206/ARCHIVES/302069959">http://www.postandcourier.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/21883/large/101116_james_clyburn_ap_328.jpg?1362522127" alt="" /></div> On Saturday, the leading Democrat in the state of South Carolina, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-6) endorsed fellow Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch to represent the First Congressional District. And Clyburn did so forcefully. “We’re in it to win it.” Clyburn issued a message to potential rivals of Colbert Busch who will look to attack her: “I don’t usually get involved in primaries like this. I want Elizabeth to be tough. I’m going to be tough. And I’m telling everybody involved in this race, ‘Don’t bring it if you can’t take it.’” Earlier on Saturday, Clyburn appeared with Colbert Busch at a union event in Hanahan. The event was called "Stand Up for Good Jobs in Charleston: T-Mobile Workers Speak Out" and it featured political speakers, union speakers and current and former employees of T-Mobile's German and USA call centers. The Charleston T-Mobile workers are not fully unionized but some employees are part of the CWA Local. Clyburn said Colbert Busch in Congress would be the key vote needed to protect workers' rights. “She has the background, experience and sensitivity that’s needed in this district,” Clyburn said. - West Ashley Patch, 2/16/13 </blockquote> Colbert-Busch has also received the endorsement of the AFL-CIO and Charleston Mayor Joe Riley (D. SC).  Cobert-Busch has also stated her support for comprehensive immigration reform, universal background checks, abortion rights and same-sex marriage which differ from her primary opponent, conservative Democrat Ben Frasier: <a href="http://www.blufftontoday.com/bluffton-news/2013-02-12/democratic-congressional-hopefuls-differ-core-party-positions-forum#.UTYmhoXpYrx">http://www.blufftontoday.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-l"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/21881/small/bilde-1.jpeg?1362521879" alt="" /></div> On immigration, Busch suggested finding a way to legalize the estimated 12 million undocumented workers in the U.S. Frasier said that, while he sympathizes with immigrants working in the U.S. illegally, any sort of “amnesty” is not an answer.    “Somehow we have to find a way to get them back across the border,” he said. “They are a threat to the American way of life.” Busch noted the difficulty of further gun control measures in light of Second Amendment protections but said “we have to start with the low-hanging fruit” such as universal background checks. Frasier said he supports background checks and “there’s a difference” between an assault weapon and a weapon for basic protection, but “if you want one for pleasure, you should be able to buy one.” While Busch is pro-choice and supports same-sex marriage, Frasier opposes abortion in most cases and doesn’t approve of recognizing LGBT couples, though he adopted the more traditional Democratic stances against privatizing Social Security and adopting a so-called “voucher” program for Medicare first proposed by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan. - Bluffton News, 2/12/13 </blockquote> The Republicans are so scared of losing this race that Ben Frazier may have been suspected of being their plant to throw this race their way: <a href="http://standrews.patch.com/articles/sc1-candidate-arousing-suspicion-among-some-dems">http://standrews.patch.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-r"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/21884/small/BenFrasier2.jpg?1362522206" alt="" /></div> Could it be Alvin Greene, Part 2? Ben Frasier, who filed today to run as a Democratic candidate in the Special Election for the First Congressional District, has already aroused suspicion among some Democrats. Frasier is a frequent candidate and was the nominee of the Democrats in SC1 in 2010. During the race, Rep. James Clyburn (D-6) wondered if Frasier, along with Greene, was part of “shenanigans” on the part of Republicans to confuse African-American voters. In 2008, the Charleston City Paper reported that Frasier was a former to aide to segregationist era Congressman Mendel Rivers. Frasier has also been accused of living in Maryland, which would make him ineligible for the seat. But in 2010, the Charleston County Board of Elections determined that he met the residency requirements and Frasier ran again. When Patch spoke with Frasier on Monday he said he lived in South Carolina. But Frasier had difficulty explaining his motivation for running and seemed to suggest it wasn’t even his idea. He said “they” told him to run, but did not specify who the “they” was when asked. Frasier said that “they told me to stand down” when asked why he did not run in Nov. 2012, when the seat was up for grabs. He again declined to identify to whom he was referring. - St. Andrews Patch, 1/28/13 </blockquote> The Republicans are being super cautious about their hopes of winning this race that even vulnerable Governor, Nikki Haley (R. SC), is sitting out the crowded GOP primary: <a href="http://standrews.patch.com/articles/endorsements-gov-haley-staying-out-of-sc1">http://standrews.patch.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/21885/large/121101101210_nikki-haley.jpg?1362522285" alt="" /></div> The next most influential endorsement would be from Gov. Nikki Haley. In the last week, multiple sources have told Patch that Sen. Larry Grooms is actively seeking the governor's support. But sources close to Haley told Patch that it won't be coming, and furthermore, Grooms hasn't even formally asked for it. The District is an important one for Haley's re-election prospects in 2014. It's in her interest, of course, that the seat stay Republican. But it does not make sense to endorse a candidate in the primary who may not win the nomination, which could potentially alienate the eventual nominee. The risk doesn't equal the reward. - St. Andrews Patch, 2/22/13 </blockquote> If Colbert-Busch wins this district, it's bad news for Haley who PPP showed would trail her 2010 opponent, State Senator Vincent Sheheen (D. SC), in a hypothetical rematch: <a href="http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/12/haley-trails-sheheen-graham-getting-stronger.html">http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/21886/large/111215_nikki_haley9_ap_328.jpg?1362522337" alt="" /></div> In 2010 Nikki Haley was elected Governor of South Carolina by a 51/47 margin, an uninspiring performance given the red hue of the state and what a strong year it was for Republicans nationally. Since then Haley has proven to be an unpopular Governor, and the national political climate has gotten far better for Democrats. As a result Haley now trails her 2010 Democratic opponent, Vincent Sheheen, 46/44 in a hypothetical rematch. <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/21888/large/say-vincent-sheheen-nikki-haley.jpg?1362522393" alt="Vincent Sheheen, Democratic candidate for Governor 2010" /></div> Sheheen is able to overcome South Carolina's GOP lean for two key reasons. He has a 51/35 advantage over Haley with independents, and he's picking up 15% of the Republican vote while losing only 10% of Democrats. Sheheen leads Haley despite having relatively low name recognition- only 45% of voters are familiar enough with him to have an opinion, suggesting some of the profile he built up in 2010 has already receded. - PPP, 12/11/12</blockquote> South Carolina is going to be a political hot spot this year and next year.  You have Colbert-Busch who is energizing the base and could be going up against disgraced former Governor, Mark Sanford (R. SC), in the special election.  You have the Club For Growth looking to take out Senator Lindsey Graham (R. SC), a special election for Senator Jim DeMint's (R. SC) seat and a highly vulnerable governor facing a rematch against a well-renowned candidate with name recognition who also excites the Democratic base: <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/22/1180985/-SC-Gov-South-Carolina-Democrats-Are-Getting-Energized-About-A-Vincent-Sheheen-D-Comeback">http://www.dailykos.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-l"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/16511/small/Sheheen-crop-for-news-2.jpg?1358820354" alt="" /></div> The back room at Zorba’s in Irmo was packed. The staff had to retrieve extra chairs from an adjoining room to make sure everyone had a seat. While the food at Zorba’s is delicious, it probably wasn’t the main reason for the crowd.  The monthly meeting of Irmo Democrats was bigger than usual because Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D- Kershaw) was the guest speaker. Sheheen challenged Nikki Haley for governor in 2010 and was narrowly defeated. It’s widely assumed that he will again challenge Haley in 2014. His appearance at Zorba’s did little to refute that assumption. After dinner, Sheheen spoke briefly in a manner that sounded a lot like a stump speech. - Irmo-Serve Oaks Patch, 1/18/13 </blockquote> I for one am really excited both about Colbert-Busch's candidacy and the political hot bed South Carolina will be.  Like I've said before in my previous diaries, there is nothing sweeter than beating Republicans on their home turf.  Picking up this seat will make Nikki Haley's worst nightmare come true and could lead to her defeat in 2014.  Candidates like Colbert-Busch and Sheheen have woken up the party and clowns like Sanford and Haley have tarnished their party's credibility in a southern state like South Carolina.  Now I don't doubt that Tim Scott will hold onto to DeMint's seat but I can't wait to see who the Club For Growth comes up with to go after Lindsey "Campaign Off of Benghazi" Graham.  That race alone will be hilarious to watch. We here at the Daily Kos community owe it to Stephen Colbert to get behind his sister.  Colbert has provided us years of laughter and Elizabeth Colbert-Busch not only offers us another pick up opportunity but another step forward in turning a red state like South Carolina into the purple category.  If you're still on the ropes about Colbert-Busch, you should give this interview a read: <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20100206/ARCHIVES/302069959">http://www.postandcourier.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-l"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/21876/small/AR-302069959.jpg_maxw_640_q_100.jpeg?1362521321" alt="" /></div> As director of business development for Clemson University's Restoration Institute, Colbert-Busch is, for lack of a better term, the school's corporate matchmaker. She finds companies that could benefit from the kind of advanced environmentally conscious research the university is doing -- wind turbine testing, water studies, different kinds of renewable energy -- and partners with them. More to the point, she asks them for money. In return, the corporations get the kind of cutting-edge information to help them stay one step ahead of the competition. Colbert-Busch used to think she was defined by her career. It's easy to understand, after all. Her job was something she loved dearly. So when the opportunity to work for Clemson came knocking in 2008, she initially balked at the idea. "I just wasn't sure because I thought I had it all," she says. "I was about to say no, but I thought about something my dad used to always tell me: 'Take every legitimate adventure and don't be afraid.' " So she took the ultimate leap of faith and accepted the job, something she's thankful she did every single day. It turned out to be the perfect fit. She helps companies see the value of being green, something she believes wholeheartedly is the future of all successful business. In turn, the money these companies invest in the university helps the state of South Carolina. "It used to be that economy and ecology clashed. That is not the case anymore. Now, the environment and economy go hand in hand. My job is a testament to that," she says. "And, my God, do I love it." - The Post and Courier, 2/6/13 </blockquote> How can you not love her?  I believe in her, South Carolina Democrats believe in her, the DCCC believes in her, we should believe in her.  So what do you say guys?  We may never see a Colbert in the White House but we sure as hell can send one to Congress.  The Special Primary is March 19th and the Special Election is April 2nd.  Let's help Elizabeth Colbert-Busch become the next congresswoman from South Carolina's First District!  You can donate to her campaign and get involved here: <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/21879/large/home_page_head_shot.jpg?1362521679" alt="" /></div> <a href="http://colbertbuschforcongress.com/">http://colbertbuschforcongress.com/</a> rss@dailykos.com (poopdogcomedy) 2013SouthCarolinaSpecialElection 2014midterms AFL-CIO Civil Rights CivilRights Climate Change ClimateChange ClubForGrowth DCCC Election 2014 Election2014 ElizabethColbert-Busch GOP Immigration Reform ImmigrationReform JimClyburn JimdeMint JohnLewis LindseyGraham Mark Sanford MarkSanford Marriage Equality MarriageEquality NikkiHaley OrganizedLabor Recommended Republicans RighttoChoose SC-1 SouthCarolina StephenColbert Tea Party TeaParty TimScott Unions VincentSheheen Vote Vote 2014 Vote2013 Vote2014 Wind Energy WindEnergy WomensReproductiveRights _1190109 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:32:06 +0000 Weakening worker protections is a top priority for South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott https://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/17/1171104/-Weakening-worker-protections-is-a-top-priority-for-South-Carolina-Sen-Tim-Scott <div class="dkimg-r"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/12846/small/398px-Tim_Scott_official_photo.jpg?1355764145" alt="Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC)" /></div> Tim Scott, appointed Monday by Gov. Nikki Haley as <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/17/1171076/-Nikki-Haley-selects-Rep-Tim-Scott-to-replace-Jim-DeMint?detail=hide">South Carolina's new senator</a>, really does not like unions. Any Haley appointee was going to hate unions, of course—Haley elevated her standing among Republicans nationally by attacking the National Labor Relations Board—but Scott really goes the extra mile, having <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/03/23/152559/buried-provision-food-stamps/">attempted to prevent the families of striking workers from getting food stamps</a>, and having authored legislation to <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/13/1016527/-Outsourcers-Bill-of-Rights-to-come-to-a-vote-on-Thursday">take away the NLRB's ability to penalize law-breaking employers</a>. Along with notables such as Louie Gohmert, Scott backed a bill intended to make it harder to get food stamps and cap federal spending on means-tested welfare programs. Under an anti-strike provision in the bill, families already on food stamps when a member went on strike would continue to receive the same level of assistance, but no family's assistance—not even assistance for children—could increase because of a strike. Workers, in other words, would face the choice between taking whatever concessions their bosses demanded and watching their families struggle financially for years to come, or fighting for decent pay and benefits at the cost of watching their families go hungry in the immediate future. Scott also <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/26/999022/-House-Republicans-push-bill-Democrats-dub-Outsourcer-s-Bill-of-Rights">authored a bill</a> that would have stripped the National Labor Relations Board of its ability to penalize companies that illegally move jobs in retaliation for workers exercising their legal rights. That bill was in response to the NLRB's complaint against Boeing, for moving jobs to South Carolina <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/26/987961/-Republicans-continue-to-flip-out-over-NLRB-doing-its-job">in retaliation</a> for a strike in Washington state. Scott's bill wouldn't have made it legal for companies to move jobs in retaliation for workers engaging in protected activity. It just would have prevented the government from doing anything about it when companies did break the law—and because of that, make workers think twice or three times about fighting anything their bosses did. Both bills seek to make it more difficult and more dangerous for workers to take action for better wages, benefits, or working conditions. America's labor laws are already tilted toward employers. Scott wants to turn that tilt into a vertical plane, with business at the top and workers at the bottom. And now he's a senator! rss@dailykos.com (Laura Clawson) Boeing Food Stamps FoodStamps GeorgetownCounty Labor NationalLaborRelationsBoard NLRB Recommended SC-1 SC-Sen SouthCarolina SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram TimScott _1171104 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:55:37 +0000