A recent letter to the Anderson Independent, again, was supposed to criticize Jeff Duncan, our Republican candidate for Congress (SC-3). It also mentions another fine conservative, Tim Scott, the Republican candidate for SC’s coastal Congressional seat (SC-1):

Jeff Duncan owes his soul to his company store: the Club for Growth (CFG).

As a “527” organization, CFG can collect unlimited individual contributions. Dominated by Wall Street financiers and executives, CFG finds candidates it can control.

Founder Stephen Moore publicly said that CFG “let candidates know that if they ever voted for a tax increase, we’ll never support them, and in fact, we’ll work to defeat them.”

Even though he states he’s against the use of earmarks in Congress, Duncan received more than $189,000 earmarked to him from out-of-state donors through CFG.

Duncan and District I candidate Tim Scott also received more than $300,000 for primary TV ads and mailers. Duncan has already received an election TV ad from CFG. On his website, Duncan denies being “beholden to any group.” How can he be so naïve? Does he really think that if he voted against CFG that it would not turn on him?

He has been bought and paid for, and now owes his soul to the company store.

In other words Duncan and Scott have “sold their souls” to the taxpayer, promising never to raise their taxes. Shame on them! Again, often times a liberal’s criticisms come across as being complimentary to the electorate.

September 2010

Alvin Greene, Candidate for the U. S. Senate and Ben Frazier, Candidate for the U. S. House representing the First Congressional District of South Carolina were duly elected by the voters in the June 8, 2010 Democratic Primary. Under the Democratic Party Rules dating back from the Modern Democratic Party in the 1830’s, when you won the Primary the Democratic Party was obligated to support the candidate. The Democratic Party has never elected their candidate by convention they are elected by the Primary. In the past, most of the time the Primary was honest and fair to every candidate. But recently in America, Democrats and Republican officials with their elitist and self-serving ambitions have decided to circumvent the democratic process. Dictated by bigotry and their prejudiced attitudes they have the illusion that they should choose the nominee. Their recent behavior demonstrates they will do anything in their power to do just that. At least when the Republican Party attempts to choose their nominees they often yield to external public pressure nor do they yield to divisive internal party pressure. Officials in the Democratic Party always take a negative position and do everything in their power to promote their self-serving agenda.

I would like to advise and warn the Democratic Party and their official body it is imperative that you publicly support Alvin Greene and Ben Frazier. If you do not you are essentially delivering a fatal blow to the future of the Democratic Party. In America, we vote by secret ballot and who you vote for is private matter. No one can force you to vote for anyone. But for the party to send out correspondence and deliberately not include the names of the two Democratic Primary elected candidates is bigotry at its best. The two main reasons why it is hard for Democrats to win in South Carolina is one, the attitude of the Democratic Party and second the idea that the party has the right to select the nominee. A majority of the people that have contacted me regarding this incident perceive the actions as racist because Alvin Greene and Ben Fraizer are both African-Americans. But to categorize the act as racism is far too easy — it’s simply plain old prejudice and the attitude that you are better than others.

The Democratic Party is not a closed social club. It is a political party whose main function is to elect people to public office. When you choose a candidate and discriminate against another candidate – we lose more than we have gained. Have you not observed that South Carolina has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the United States? In the last Presidential Election Democrats had a 90% voter turnout nationwide, South Carolina only recorded a 71% turnout?

In closing, my advice is to work with all people who are Democrats or be prepared to continue to lose all of our elected seats. Any Democrat in South Carolina can tell you that the party is making a catastrophic mistake. You might be wondering why no one else is speaking out on this issue. I’m speaking out because I am the longest serving African-American elected Democrat in the state. I have been elected to office since 1974, elected to two public offices as a Democrat. Prior to my being elected, I worked in thirty-seven states performing massive voter registration as a Democrat on campaigns sponsored by labor organizations and the Civil Rights Movement. Well, and last but not least you don’t have any strong White or Black men with the courage to buck the system; they are simply afraid of the party as a whole and the contribution you provide. Overall, many of these people are not interested in serving the citizens who elected them anyway; they are only interested in serving themselves and their family members and friends.

State Senator Robert Ford, Senate District 42

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ben Fox 803-734-2100

Governor Announces Logistics for Higher Ed Summit

SEPT. 28 SUMMIT TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED DIALOGUE ON HIGHER ED REFORM

Columbia, S.C. – September 16, 2010 – Governor Sanford today announced that the upcoming Higher Education Summit will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 28, in the Academic Center Auditorium (Room 116) at Midlands Technical College, Airport Campus (1260 Lexington Drive, West Columbia). In the weeks leading up to this Summit, the Governor plans to help clear away several misperceptions about higher education, student body composition, and college affordability – the first of which can be found here: http://scgovernor.com/news/releases/8-14-2010.htm.

“While there are certainly passionate arguments to be made from several fronts on the question of higher ed accessibility and affordability, we believe a statewide discussion must begin in earnest if necessary changes are to be made in the coming legislative session,” Gov. Mark Sanford said. “We think this Summit could well provide the open and indeed Socratic environment needed to foster a frank debate about how best to address recent burdensome tuition hikes, as well as explore ways to better protect the taxpayer while keeping the dream of college within reach for hard-working South Carolina families. I look forward to hearing from the many parties involved, and would urge those students and their parents who feel strongly on this issue to join us on September 28.”

Speakers, expert panelists and invitees include: State Senators John Courson and Kevin Bryant, and State Representative Ralph Norman; Dr. Michael Poliakoff, Policy Director of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni; Presidents of various state colleges and universities; Members of the Boards of Trustees for state colleges and universities; State Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom; State Treasurer Converse Chellis; incoming State Treasurer Curtis Loftis; Ken Wingate, Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education Board; Dr. Garrison Walters, Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education; Darrel Staat, President of the SC Technical College System; Montez Martin, Chair of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education; Dr. Rebecca Gunnlaugsson, South Carolina Department of Commerce; and students and parents from across South Carolina, among others.

All interested South Carolinians, college students, parents, community leaders, legislators, stakeholders, and members of the media are invited to attend. Given the number of RSVPs already received, please call or email Leigh LeMoine (803-734-0067; llemoine@gov.sc.gov) with any questions and to confirm your attendance.

###

My constituents send me to Columbia to fight for lower taxes, less spending and to make government more transparent and accountable to the people. That’s what I’ve done.

Just as important as my fight for limited, accountable government has been my fight to protect innocent human life. It’s been my passion. And I hope, in this election year, that the issue of life will bear upon the decision of the electorate in November.

Only one candidate for governor has stood with me fighting to protect life: Nikki Haley. And that’s why I’m proud to support her for governor.

A mother of two, Nikki believes every life is precious. As a leader in her community and legislator, she has fought to create a culture that respects the sanctity of life. But don’t take my word for it.

Look at Nikki’s pro-life record.

Nikki voted in 2005 for the “Right to Life Act” which would have given the unborn child full constitutional rights from the moment of conception.

In 2006, Nikki voted for legislation to require that an abortion doctor perform an ultrasound prior to the abortion for the mother to view. She also voted for “The Unborn Victims of Violence Act,” which further vested rights of children by declaring an unborn child a separate victim of attack on the mother if her child is harmed.

Her Democrat opponent made no indication of his position on either of these bills.

Nikki stepped up her advocacy for the unborn child in 2007 when she authored legislation to add “unborn” to the definition of the child in current law that covers harm done to children by parents on drugs. Later that year, she cast her vote in favor of adding “unborn child” to the definition of “person” in the existing statute covering who may bring a civil lawsuit.

Unfortunately, the Democrat nominee for governor has never sponsored any pro-life legislation in his service in the Senate.

In 2009, Nikki Haley co-sponsored legislation that requires a twenty-four hour waiting period between an ultrasound and an abortion. This bill became law in 2010, and I am proud to have led the effort for its passage in the Senate.

Also in 2009, Nikki voted for the “Born Alive Act” which would mandate that medical personnel take all steps necessary to preserve the life of a child who manages by the grace of God to survive an attempted abortion.

Earlier this year, Nikki Haley took a bold step for innocent life when she voted to prohibit all taxpayer-funded abortions. This initiative consumed hours of debate during the middle of the night,

but Nikki stood firm and cast her vote in favor of life. When the roll was called in the Senate, I was proud to vote in favor of the prohibition. Sadly, the Democrat nominee left the room.

It’s not surprising to hear Nikki’s Democrat opponent claim he “supports life.” I cannot know his heart, and I see no evidence that he actively supports abortion. However, I have seen no evidence that he actively fights for unborn children. The Democrat nominee, moreover, presumably voted for Barack Obama, a pro-abortion president who nominates pro-abortion judges to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In November, voters will have zeal for reform. I hope they will not leave behind their concerns for unborn children. Voters can trust Nikki Haley to stand up for life, and that is one of the important reasons that I will vote for her on November 2.