Fowler: Sanford Needs to Find Political Fame Another Way

Columbia, SC – South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler issued the following statement today in response to Governor Mark Sanford's decision to request a portion of funds allocated to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment, while postponing a final decision on $700,000 meant to prevent the layoff of teachers and public safety officers.

"Mark Sanford certainly doesn't mind being the center of drama, even at the expense of South Carolina's school children. Maybe he thinks what he did today will divert attention and relieve some of the unprecedented public pressure he's getting. It's important to realize that he still hasn't agreed to use the funds as they were intended to be used. The governor needs to stop trying to extend his 15 minutes of fame and accept the fact that this money was designated for education and law enforcement; not for pushing his own political agenda," said Fowler. "South Carolinians who care about keeping teachers and public safety officials on the job need to keep reminding the governor and the legislature of the state's responsibilities to provide education and police protection."

Liz Patterson and Barbara Nielsen to be honored

On Friday, May 1, the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics will be honoring former Congresswoman, Liz Patterson, and former State Superintendent of Education, Barbara Nielsen, at the 2009 Leading Women Dinner. Ms. Patterson and Dr. Nielsen will be receiving the organization's first annual Leading Woman Awards to recognize strong women in the state's political history. The cost to attend is $100, $150/couple.

The Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics is the only 501(c)(3) certified in the southeast by the IRS whose mission is to encourage and train women to run for political office. The money raised at this event will support the Institute's mission to increase the participation of women in politics in South Carolina.

Liz Patterson is the only female ever elected to the US Congress from South Carolina and she and served from 1987-1993. Ms. Patterson began her political career as staff assistant for US Representative James R. Mann from 1969-1970. She served on the Spartanburg County Council from 1975-1976 and in the South Carolina Senate from 1979-1986.

Barbara Nielsen is the first woman ever elected statewide in South Carolina and served as State Superintendent of Education from 1990-1998. Dr. Nielsen served our state as a teacher and administrator for 45 years and continues to serve as an Advisory Board Member for the SC Association of Charter Schools and as a Consultant. Dr. Nielsen has received numerous awards, including Distinguished Alumni Fellow from the University of Louisville, the Elected State Official Award from the White House Commission on Library and Information Services, and the Nation's "Eminent Educator" award from the Network for Effective Schools.

The dinner will be held on the eve of the Institute's spring Campaign Training School, an all-day workshop intended for prospective candidates and people who want to become more effectively involved in politics. Tickets for the Campaign School are $100. A combination ticket for both the Dinner and the Campaign School can be purchased for $150. Some scholarships are available.

The Institute achieves its objectives by working to increase the pool of female candidates, providing education and training, increasing the visibility of current female candidates and striving to change the public perception of women in political roles. Currently, less than 10% of the elected representatives in South Carolina are women, yet women represent 51% of the state's population.

The deadline for reservations is Saturday, April 26. Tickets and full event details are available through our events page or by contacting Nicki Wilson, Executive Director, at nicki@scelectswomen.com or 803-260-0047. 50% of the cost of the tickets are tax deductible, and proceeds go to support the mission of the Institute. High and low resolution images of the 2009 Leading Women Award recipients are available on our media page along with the Institute logo.

Harrell Comments on Recent DNC Political Attack Ad

House Speaker Bobby Harrell commented on the recent political attack ad launched by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The commercial is in response to criticisms that Republican leaders have had for much of the wasteful and irresponsible spending included in the stimulus bill passed by Congress without a single Republican vote in the House.

Speaker Harrell commented:

“I did not give the DNC permission to use my picture, and I am requesting that they remove my picture from their political attack commercial immediately. Just weeks ago, the South Carolina Democratic Party was sending out press releases condemning me and other South Carolina Republican leaders for our criticisms of the irresponsible spending included in the so-called stimulus bill passed by Congress. These inconsistent actions should show the public the steps Democrats are willing to take in order to protect their pork projects included in this spending package.

“I believe that all of the stimulus spending except the infrastructure money is a terrible mistake, and I fully supported South Carolina’s entire Republican Congressional Delegation in their decision to vote against this so-called stimulus bill. I agree that if Washington would allow it, eliminating debt would be a good use of these funds, but if they will not, we should not send our taxpayers' money to other states and cause our taxpayers, and more importantly our children and grandchildren, to pay the bill for other states.”

DNC Ad Calls on Mark Sanford to Stop “Playing Politics”

The Democratic National Committee today released a new television ad entitled “Playing Politics” that calls on South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford to stop playing politics with federal job creation and economic recovery funds. The ad, which will begin airing in Columbia on Monday, outlines the deepening economic challenges facing South Carolina’s working families. Despite record unemployment and soaring foreclosures, Governor Sanford is kowtowing to the Rush Limbaugh-led obstructionist wing of his political party by rejecting $700 million in money to create jobs, improve our health care system and improve our schools.

As the ad notes, a bipartisan group of South Carolina leaders – including Democratic Congressman James Clyburn, Republican Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer, and Republican State House Speaker Bobby Harrell – have criticized Governor Sanford for putting political posturing ahead of job creation in South Carolina. The ad can be viewed here.

“Mark Sanford needs to stop playing politics with economic recovery and job creation in South Carolina,” said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Brad Woodhouse. “At a time when his state is suffering from crippling unemployment and more and more families are losing their homes, South Carolina’s working families cannot afford for their governor to be distracted by empty political posturing. If Mark Sanford is worried about his political future, all he needs to do is focus on working with leaders from both parties who want to use the economic recovery funds to help create jobs, fix our schools, reform our health care system, make America energy independent, and lay the foundation for long-term growth in the 21st Century.”

History of Modern SC Maps State's Changing Cultural and Political Landscape

Two-time South Carolina Journalist of Year Jack Bass and his fellow award-winning historian W. Scott Poole have authored a new concise history of South Carolina with a strong emphasis on the social, economic and political transformations from the late twentieth century to the present day. The Palmetto State: The Making of Modern South Carolina (hardcover, $24.95) will be published on March 12 and will be available through local booksellers and directly from the publisher, the University of South Carolina Press (800-768-2500).

The Palmetto State chronicles the legacies of luminary figures like Strom Thurmond, Ernest F. Hollings, James F. Byrnes, Robert McNair, Matthew J. Perry Jr., I. DeQuincey Newman, Harvey Gantt, Modjeska Monieth Simkins and others in a briskly paced narrative as Bass and Poole survey the roots of the defining moments of recent decades. The impact of two world wars, the Great Depression, the civil rights era and other major historical moments are all deftly explored. Throughout the volume, the authors discuss how tensions of race, religion and economics are always central to any major shift in our history.

An insightful reminder of our complex recent past and an inviting perspective on the promising moment in history on which we are now poised, The Palmetto State is a welcome addition to any South Carolina bookshelf and makes for ideal reading for newcomers and natives eager to learn more about their home and its heritage.

Presidential Inauguration

Tell us what the inauguration means to you here in the comments.
You can also discuss it here at the News & Press Message Board.

America's Largest Third Party Turns 37

The Libertarian Party, America's third-largest political party, is celebrating its 37th birthday.

"Since we began in 1971, we've elected hundreds of Libertarians to public office across the country," says Libertarian Party National Chairman William Redpath. "These Libertarians make a significant impact on their community, and serve as a testament to the values of the Libertarian Party. As more and more Americans look for an alternative to Republicans and Democrats, our numbers continue to grow. Until Republicans and Democrats significantly reduce the size and power of government, the Libertarian Party will be there fighting for smaller government, lower taxes and more individual freedom."

The party was founded Dec. 11, 1971 in Colorado Springs, CO as an alternative to Republicans and Democrats. The Libertarian Party seeks to restore the vision of government held by our Founding Fathers, and divest government of the powers not granted to it by the Constitution.

The platform of the Libertarian Party can be found here.

Are guns the Answer?

Kerri Houston of Regular Folks United suggests in her article that the terrorist attacks in Mumbai would not have occurred or been as deadly had citizens been armed.

Here's a snippet:

Last spring, while preparing for their murderous attack on Mumbai, ten terrorists dutifully took their driver's licenses and proofs of residency to their nearest gun licensing office to ensure that their rifles and handguns were legally registered with the appropriate authorities.

Seriously? Of course not - its ludicrous. Criminals don't stand in line to register weapons, and neither do terrorists. Only the law abiding do, unless - as in the case of India - they can't.

Although private gun ownership in India is allowable by law, bewildering licensing restrictions, bureaucratic red tape, and government policy that makes guns and ammunition prohibitively expensive renders gun ownership unattainable for most people- and provided the Mumbai terrorists unfettered access to their victims.

In fact, gun licensing is so difficult in India that even security guards don't have guns. When the terrorists entered the Mumbai train station and the Taj and Oberoi-Trident hotels, none of the guards were armed. Instead, they are issued bamboo sticks, a traditional Indian defense tool called a "lathi."

Read the full article here. What do you think? Could armed citizens have countered the terrorist? Could it have created more causalties?

95% Chance Campbell will Run

Mike Campbell is strongly considering another run for Lt. Governor of South Carolina in 2010.

In an exclusive interview with TPS, Campbell said, “the number of people from around the state that have approached me to encourage me to run again has been tremendous, many of which were supporters of my former opponents. It’s been both flattering and humbling to say the least.”

- From The Palmetto Scoop

Chain E-mails

Like anyone with an e-mail address, I get my share of chain e-mails, especially political ones. FactCheck.Org, a great Web site that debunks and unwinds the spin of both campaigns, has a report about theses emails everyone should take to heart.
Please take a few minutes to read it.

Tax Proposals Effect

From the Washington Post, here is a chart of how John McCain and Barack Obama's tax policies would change what you pay Uncle Sam.

If you make more than $160,973 per year, McCain's tax plan is better for you.
If you are part of the other 70% of Americans who make less than $160,000 per year, Obama's tax plan would benefit you more.

Playing with the Presidential Race

A section devoted to the presidential election on YouTube sounds like a good idea. However, there are only two candidates listed: Barack Obama and John McCain.

Here are the rest of the candidates.

Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party Web site
Bob Barr, Libertarian Party Web site
Cynthia McKinney Green Party Web site
Ralph Nader, Independent Web site

Please consider every candidate's stance on ALL the issues.

Also, contact YouTube, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and let them know you want complete coverage of the election – and that there are more than two parties in this country.

Don't let big corporate media take your right to know or to make this choice for you. For democracy to work, citizens must be informed.

If you want to share your thoughts with the News and Press or with the Darlington County community, post comments here or send us an email.

Presidential Election Politics

You may have noticed that a presidential election is coming up this year.
However, what you may not know is all the candidates. Sure, there's Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, but who else will be on the ballot in November?

Every year, countless voters are surprised to see a lengthy list of candidates when they go to cast their ballots. So-called third party candidates are almost completely ignored by the main-stream-media (MSM) unless the point is to get a comment about the GOP or Democrat running.

America is about freedom and choice. The people decide who to elect, and we should not stand for subpar coverage of our election.

In South Carolina, the deadline to get names on the ballot is July 15, so until then here are the "other" candidates running for president that you may see in the voting booth.

Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party Web site
Bob Barr, Libertarian Party Web site
Cynthia McKinney Green Party Web site
Ralph Nader, Independent Web site

Exercise all your rights this election.
Learn about and consider all the candidates running for office.