SC Gubernatorial Campaign

Comments on the South Carolina Gubernatorial race from Ed Giobbe

 
In a time of extraordinary economic and financial stress, the race for Governor of our State is extremely important.  The new Governor will set the agenda and direction of South Carolina for years. At the recent Aiken Republican Club debate with four candidates it was obvious that three of them were simply more of the same. 
 

Gresham Barrett missed 30% of the votes in the House of Representatives in 2009 and has already missed a number of votes so far this year.  His excuse for being absent is that he is running for Governor. Will he continue to be an absentee Representative in 2010?  That's not what we hired him for and not what he gets paid for.  He told us that he was for God, the Second Amendment, and Right to Life, none of which are issues in the race.  He failed to address the crucial issues that face SC. Platitudes and no substance.

Henry McMaster and Andre Bauer were poster children for the status quo.  They also failed to speak to the issues.  Amazingly, both of them, in response to a question by Dick Dewar, concerning the leadership of Bobby Harrell and Glen McConnell, emphatically stated that they always received full cooperation from the Legislature and always got what they asked for!  These two are simply more of the same and business as usual.  It is the good old boy game of get along go along that has characterized the Legislature for decades. What you see is what you get, a wink and a nod. In addition, Andre Bauer recently equated helping the poor with feeding stray dogs.  What is he running for, dog catcher?

Nikki Haley is the proverbial breath of fresh air. She introduced and passed legislation requiring recorded votes over the objections of the leadership and was punished for it.  She favors raising the cigarette tax, governmental restructuring, eliminating the Budget and Control Board, tax reform and eliminating the hundreds of millions of $ of special interest sales tax exemptions.  She addressed the three major issues that are absolutely crucial to our state- restructuring, taxes and education.

South Carolina can no longer afford to be hampered by a state government dominated by a legislature motivated by special interests and self preservation.  The legislature has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th Century and continues to be the Enfant Terrible in the 21st. If we really want a better state government, then let's ask the hard questions and demand specific answers.  The usual platitudes and trite phrases of smaller, more efficient government and lower taxes have been uttered by politicians since the first caveman ran for office.  It's time to hold their feet to the fire and demand some answers.   l