Mark Sanford (R-South Carolina) just captured the
First Congressional District, which straddles the rugged coastline of his home
Palmetto state. Prognosticators on the
right and post-mortem pundits on the left will dish and decide the pertinent
and importune elements of this race.
First Congressional District, which straddles the rugged coastline of his home
Palmetto state. Prognosticators on the
right and post-mortem pundits on the left will dish and decide the pertinent
and importune elements of this race.
First, a little background, or rather, an extended
summary in short of the drama that drove this race into national news.
summary in short of the drama that drove this race into national news.
However South Carolina has often had the
rebel-streak, starting with its dalliance into nullification, when Vice
President then South Carolina’s US Senator John C. Calhoun rebuffed President
Andrew Jackson over the “Tariff of Abominations”. During the “irrepressible
conflict” over slavery, Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner excoriated South
Carolina’s senior counterpart. His nephew publicly bludgeoned Sumner with a
cane, received censure, then reelection. Confederate Carolina seceded firs from the Union,
shortly after “Abolitionist’ Abraham Lincoln’s certified electoral win). In
1877, the Great Compromise following dispute Presidential votes in South
Carolina deconstructed Reconstruction.
rebel-streak, starting with its dalliance into nullification, when Vice
President then South Carolina’s US Senator John C. Calhoun rebuffed President
Andrew Jackson over the “Tariff of Abominations”. During the “irrepressible
conflict” over slavery, Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner excoriated South
Carolina’s senior counterpart. His nephew publicly bludgeoned Sumner with a
cane, received censure, then reelection. Confederate Carolina seceded firs from the Union,
shortly after “Abolitionist’ Abraham Lincoln’s certified electoral win). In
1877, the Great Compromise following dispute Presidential votes in South
Carolina deconstructed Reconstruction.
Today, South Carolina is a conservative, individual
liberty paradise, a ruby red state where one-party Republican rule has forced cuts
in spending and cuts in taxes, while marginalizing negligible pressures from
unions, where minorities thrive at all levels of government. Perhaps “Don’t Mess with Texas!” should be
replaced with “Don’t Press the Palmetto State!”
liberty paradise, a ruby red state where one-party Republican rule has forced cuts
in spending and cuts in taxes, while marginalizing negligible pressures from
unions, where minorities thrive at all levels of government. Perhaps “Don’t Mess with Texas!” should be
replaced with “Don’t Press the Palmetto State!”
South Carolina is a crucial primary state for anyone
running for the White House, or into obscurity. In 2000, while George W. Bush revived
his campaign, then survived to the nomination, McCain never recovered. In 2012,
Newt Gingrich briefly revived his Presidential fortunes, and successfully
reviled the Mainstream Media’s vain preoccupation with President Obama as
Messiah in contrast to Newt’s “messy” private life.
running for the White House, or into obscurity. In 2000, while George W. Bush revived
his campaign, then survived to the nomination, McCain never recovered. In 2012,
Newt Gingrich briefly revived his Presidential fortunes, and successfully
reviled the Mainstream Media’s vain preoccupation with President Obama as
Messiah in contrast to Newt’s “messy” private life.
South Carolina is home to Mick Mulvaney, the
District Five Congressman who trashed Congressman Henry Waxman following his unglib
yet overtly flippant attitude about the
GM bailouts —- “Did GM go bankrupt?” – “I don’t know.” – “Well, it did. I am
surprised that you hadn’t heard about it.” Outrageous.
District Five Congressman who trashed Congressman Henry Waxman following his unglib
yet overtly flippant attitude about the
GM bailouts —- “Did GM go bankrupt?” – “I don’t know.” – “Well, it did. I am
surprised that you hadn’t heard about it.” Outrageous.
South Carolina also spotlighted Mark Sanford, one of
few Republicans governors who refused Obama’s 2009 federal stimulus
kool-aid. Five years prior, Sanford had satirized
his “conservative” colleagues in the state legislature for excessive spending.
To expose his disdain, Sanford usheried into the legislature two pigs, “Pork”
and “Barrel”, for legislators’ profligate ways with the taxpayers’ dollars. (Nearly a decade later, Congressional
candidate Sanford wryly admitted that the two pigs were subsequently barbequed).
Sanford is also on record – with libertarian columnist John Stossel, no less –
for attempting to enact a statewide voucher program in a state which had the
lowest SAT scores. Despite the failure of his effort, Sanford’s heart, at least
in public, was in the right place.
few Republicans governors who refused Obama’s 2009 federal stimulus
kool-aid. Five years prior, Sanford had satirized
his “conservative” colleagues in the state legislature for excessive spending.
To expose his disdain, Sanford usheried into the legislature two pigs, “Pork”
and “Barrel”, for legislators’ profligate ways with the taxpayers’ dollars. (Nearly a decade later, Congressional
candidate Sanford wryly admitted that the two pigs were subsequently barbequed).
Sanford is also on record – with libertarian columnist John Stossel, no less –
for attempting to enact a statewide voucher program in a state which had the
lowest SAT scores. Despite the failure of his effort, Sanford’s heart, at least
in public, was in the right place.
Sanford also had a troubled private life, troubles
of his own making. In 2009, while claiming to be hiking along the Appalachian
trails, he was meeting with a “soul-mate” mistress in Argentina. As soon as the
Latin liason hit front-page news, Sanford came clean, tears and all: “I have
been unfaithful to my wife.” He had also been unfaithful with taxpayer dollars,
which he used to pay for the trip. He paid it back with a hefty, $70,000 fine, the
largest in South Carolina’s storied history. Following the censure of the state
legislature, Sanford finished out his second term in office. His frustrated
wife terminated their marriage. His political career, including a possible
presidential run, was also finished.
of his own making. In 2009, while claiming to be hiking along the Appalachian
trails, he was meeting with a “soul-mate” mistress in Argentina. As soon as the
Latin liason hit front-page news, Sanford came clean, tears and all: “I have
been unfaithful to my wife.” He had also been unfaithful with taxpayer dollars,
which he used to pay for the trip. He paid it back with a hefty, $70,000 fine, the
largest in South Carolina’s storied history. Following the censure of the state
legislature, Sanford finished out his second term in office. His frustrated
wife terminated their marriage. His political career, including a possible
presidential run, was also finished.
Small business owner Nikki Haley, Indian-American of
Sikh ancestry, replaced Sanford, retaining the Republican Party’s position in
state politics, in spite of her predecessor’s impolitic personal life. Following
her lead on limited government and limiting taxes, junior Senator Jim DeMint
ended his legacy in the upper chamber of Congress to lead the Heritage
Foundation. Governor Haley appointed Black Republican Congressman Tim Scott of
the First Congressional district to finish DeMint’s term.
Sikh ancestry, replaced Sanford, retaining the Republican Party’s position in
state politics, in spite of her predecessor’s impolitic personal life. Following
her lead on limited government and limiting taxes, junior Senator Jim DeMint
ended his legacy in the upper chamber of Congress to lead the Heritage
Foundation. Governor Haley appointed Black Republican Congressman Tim Scott of
the First Congressional district to finish DeMint’s term.
With the First District up for grabs, Sanford
stepped up to represent the district which he had represented nearly two
decades ago. Whether out of red-blooded redemption or red-handed arrogance,
Sanford triumphed out of sixteen Republican challengers (including a primary
runoff). The Democratic candidate, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, sister of Daily
Show parodist Stephen Colbert, would challenge him for the May 7 special
election.
stepped up to represent the district which he had represented nearly two
decades ago. Whether out of red-blooded redemption or red-handed arrogance,
Sanford triumphed out of sixteen Republican challengers (including a primary
runoff). The Democratic candidate, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, sister of Daily
Show parodist Stephen Colbert, would challenge him for the May 7 special
election.
Within days, Sanford trespassed on his ex-wife’s property
to see his son, a reminder that personal failings always carry a lingering cost.
The Republican National Committee hedged their funding. Democratic contributors
showered Busch with cash. Brother Stephen stumped for sister on TV. Sanford
campaigned harder, debated cardboard House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The outside
dough plowed the Democrat’s chances. A double-digit Democratic lead shrank to “too
close to call.” The voters final call: Sanford, by nine points.
to see his son, a reminder that personal failings always carry a lingering cost.
The Republican National Committee hedged their funding. Democratic contributors
showered Busch with cash. Brother Stephen stumped for sister on TV. Sanford
campaigned harder, debated cardboard House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The outside
dough plowed the Democrat’s chances. A double-digit Democratic lead shrank to “too
close to call.” The voters final call: Sanford, by nine points.
To summarize the District One special election: Democrats
lost $1.2 million because they could not buy South Carolina voters (so much for
“the race was not a big deal to us”). All local politics is national (a tip
that would tip “Tip” O’Neill off kilter). “Disgraced” Sanford proves that sin
cannot stop God’s grace from standing up a fallen man to run again. Redemption
is real, Republicans are rallying, and political reality trumps rhetoric once
again. Sanford won in South Carolina, and so did we.
lost $1.2 million because they could not buy South Carolina voters (so much for
“the race was not a big deal to us”). All local politics is national (a tip
that would tip “Tip” O’Neill off kilter). “Disgraced” Sanford proves that sin
cannot stop God’s grace from standing up a fallen man to run again. Redemption
is real, Republicans are rallying, and political reality trumps rhetoric once
again. Sanford won in South Carolina, and so did we.