The corrupt, bigoted republicans of SC state politics have decided to attack the state's most progressive college from every angle. They've installed a neo-confederate president with no academic experience, over massive discontent from the faculty and students, through shady strongarming and manipulation of the Board of Trustees. They've cut funding from our programs for assigning LGBTQ themed books. They've tried ten different ways to turn us into a diploma factory for the Boeing plant up the road. And now one of the major ringleaders of this assault is raising money by attacking our LGBTQ friendly campus as run by "radical, militant, gay leftists".
First some background here:
http://www.msnbc.com/...
and here:
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/...
There's a lot more where that came from, too. Google it. You can also check out my previous two diaries.
Here is the fundraising letter that State Rep. Gary Smith (R) has been sending out to his supporters. It just became public in the last few days, and the students and faculty are pissed off.
The fight for CofC must continue. These people have to be defeated. Maybe it's a long term game getting them out of SC politics, but we can beat them at CofC NOW. For your reading pleasure, I submit the following:
Dear Friend,
Radical leftists constantly try to assert that political conservatives, cultural traditionalists, people of faith — basically anyone who doesn't agree with their agenda — are "intolerant." But let's step back and take a good look at who's being intolerant.
I'm Rep. Garry Smith, and I've recently taken a bold stand that has put me squarely in the crosshairs of some of the most intolerant people in American today — the far-left militant homosexual community...
There is a concerted effort to push anti-American, anti-Christian, and non-traditional values onto our children at their most intellectually vulnerable stages — as they're learning in our public schools and universities. I've been watching this phenomenon unfold for years and, finally, a recent event pushed me to the breaking point.
When the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina-Upstate required that college students read blatantly pro-homosexual and pornographic propaganda without any alternative or counter-balancing view being offered, I said, "Enough is enough!"
As legislators, we have limited power to stop this nation's cultural slide, but one thing we do control are the purse strings of our public schools. That includes our K-12 schools and our public colleges and universities. I will not stand idly by and allow our tax dollars to be used to fund radical leftists' and militant homosexuals' propaganda machine.
I led the charge in the South Carolina legislature to strip funding from the public institutions of learning that are pushing this garbage on our students — and that's what it is, GARBAGE!
You can imagine the reaction that is now sweeping our part of this great nation. For taking a stand and saying, "You'ren not spending my tax dollars and those of my constituents to push this garbage on our children," and now, I'm being threatened and called every name in the book.
It's the usual bullying routine you see whenever someone who holds to traditional values takes a stand against the radical left. The true hatred, bigotry, and intolerance that exists in this country comes out and the individual carrying the flag for traditional values is targeted with vicious verbal attacks, smears, threats, and intimidation.
But I take great courage in knowing that the bullies are not in the majority.
I know — because I'm hearing from thousands of South Carolinians — that most of the voters in this state agree with me that our tax dollars should not be used to push this kind of trash on our kids. The faith community, whose who adhere to traditional values and those who are simply tired of being bullied are waking up and coming to my defense and I so appreciate it.
But I also know that I am now Target #1 for the radical left in this year's elections.
When someone bravely picks up the banner for traditional values, that individual soars to the top of the radical left's "must defeat" list. I have little doubt that big money will pour into the effort to defeat me and silence my voice for Judeo-Christian values in the South Carolina House.
That's why I'm writing to you today. Can I count on you to stand with me in defense of traditional values, common sense, and protecting our kids from garbage? Will you join my campaign today as a financial supporter and send a message back to the militant left that this seat will not be stolen by bullies and liberal propagandists....
-Gary Smith -- (Who in addition to being a disgusting homophobe, is also a liar. He's running unopposed.)
The student organizers feel the best way to fight back against these attacks from our legislature is through stopping their buddy from becoming our next president. Kossacks with a minute to spare can find our petition here:
http://www.change.org/...