The Opinion Blog

More Publicity Than Public Concern

 

AP photo

Is there any purpose left to Lindsey Graham’s continued and now-obstructive alarm calls about Benghazi other than energizing his base and raising his profile ahead of next year’s election? We don’t think so:

 

Dead horse, meet S.C. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Clearly, a number of things went horribly wrong at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012. Four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were killed in a pair of terrorist attacks on U.S. compounds.

Nullify the Nullification Talk

Sunday’s editorial takes on the tried and true topic of nullification. Remember that from your high school history textbooks?

South Carolina has a proud tradition of obstinacy. In the federal family, we’re the child who automatically responds to every suggestion with an emphatic “nuh-uh” or “make me.” Ingrained over centuries, stubborn refusal has become our gut feeling, our knee-jerk reaction. The federal government says po-tay-to and we say po-tah-to. Of course, if the feds at any point changed course and started saying po-tah-to, we’d immediately insist that real Americans say po-tay-to.

This disdain for and distrust of authority has led us into confrontations of all sizes, from bloody wars to congressmen who publicly call the president a liar during a State of the Union address. The recent calls by state legislators for reviving nullification only adds to this long tradition of digging in our heels.

Tinubu in the Democratic Primary

Today, our thoughts on the Democratic side of the congressional race:

If Preston Brittain is trying to cast himself as the “new generation” of politics, he’s doing a pretty good job of looking like the old generation.

Brittain, the presumptive Democratic front-runner in the 7th Congressional District race – at least since Rep. Ted Vick’s campaign imploded last month – has racked up an impressive stack of endorsements. Congressmen, state leaders and local Democratic movers and shakers have all lined up behind him. Perhaps they know something we don’t, but we just can’t bring ourselves to do the same.

After interviewing three of the four candidates remaining in the race – Harry Pavilack did not respond to requests for an interview – The Sun News was most impressed with the candidacy of CCU professor Gloria Bromell Tinubu.

Funny Numbers on the Trail



Some of those fundraising totals in the race for Congress aren’t quite as impressive as you might think, as Friday’s editorial explains:

Before the 2010 primary election, eventual U.S. Rep. Tim Scott had raised about $416,000 in his bid to represent our district. By the time the general election rolled around five months later, he had nearly tripled that fundraising total, to more than $1.2 million.

As the primary nears this year, some of the local congressional campaigns are already on pace to best those totals. But should we care who has the biggest war chest? And is all of that money even real? The answer to both questions: Perhaps not.

A Tax Cut That Bites Back



Sunday’s editorial takes issue with the idea that cutting revenue out of local governments’ budgets is the way to improve our state’s tax system:

“The bottom line is, if you want to cripple local government – cities, counties, schools – pass this idea.”

– Mark Kruea, Myrtle Beach spokesman

“A primary solution is obvious – after making whatever staff and services cuts they can, cities and towns will have to increase their millage rates in order to close the gap.”

– Pat Dowling, North Myrtle Beach spokesman

“Yikes!”

– Teal Britton, Horry County Schools spokeswoman

Local governments will be breathing a sigh of relief this summer if Rep. Tracy Edge’s prediction for S.C. House Republicans’ tax reform plan comes true. Edge, who sits on the Ways and Means committee that will consider the package of bills, predicted Thursday that the bills will eventually pass the House but then run out of time in the Senate.

A Lenten Plea: Cut the Fluff



Thursday’s editorial offers a Lent-themed plea that we stop wasting so much time in the state legislature:

Lent is here, that time of reflection when many observant Christians give up a precious luxury for 40 days, an exercise in penitence and self-denial that echoes the 40 days of fasting undertaken by Jesus before he began his ministry.

What do we wish S.C. legislators would give up for Lent this year? There are plenty of behaviors and practices we could do without. Grandstanding, knee-jerk reactions, publicity stunts and false outrage come to mind. When we asked the question on Twitter, we received back suggestions that the legislature give up filibusters and executive sessions. But the purpose of Lent is to give up a cherished indulgence or treat, something that will be achingly missed for 40 days and that will offer a daily reminder of the reason for going without, a real sacrificial penance that will strike deep in the heart. In that vein, our legislators could do no better than to give up the self-indulgent time wasting they seem to hold so dear.

What Really Matters in the Race



How should we start comparing candidates in the wide open race to represent the 7^th District? That’s the topic Sunday’s editorial attempts to address:

Counting candidates in the race to represent the Grand Strand’s new 7th Congressional District has become like trying to track rabbit generations. As soon as you count them all, another one is born.

Four months before filing officially begins, the roster of hopefuls seemingly grows each week, with a number of familiar names testing the waters. In the past two weeks we’ve seen Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice and Myrtle Beach City Councilman Randal Wallace toss their hats into the ring, among others. Local attorney Andrew Preston Brittain and Florence attorney Jay Jordan have also raised their hands.

Norquist's No-Tax Pledge is a Plague



Saturday’s editorial, courtesy the Orlando Sentinel, address the no-tax pledge of Americans for Tax Reform. Our local take on the issue is below.

When the political autopsy on Congress’ supercommittee is complete, a contributing cause of death must include the no-tax pledge that’s infecting elected officials across the nation.

All six of the Republican senators and House members on the 12-member committee went into negotiations having taken an oath that they would never raise income tax rates on individuals or corporations. Nor would they ever eliminate tax deductions or credits unless matched by other tax reductions, so help them Grover.

Naming Rights and Wrongs



Saturday’s editorial, via The (Columbia) State:

Freshman Rep. Kevin Ryan was heading home to Pawleys Island on U.S. 521 at the end of another legislative week this spring when he noticed he was driving on the John C. Land Highway, named in 2007 for the Clarendon County senator. When Mr. Ryan crossed into Williamsburg County, 521 became the Kenneth “Ken” Kennedy Highway, named in 2005 for the then-House member.

Cue the Orchestra Music



Thursday’s first editorial wishes our state’s leaders would stop beating a dead duck, in this case the Boeing-NLRB fight.

Pardon us, but we’re getting a bit weary of all the hot air being dedicated to Boeing’s fight with the National Labor Relations Board. Do our politicians not have other things to dedicate their time to?

Don’t get us wrong, the complaint is certainly spurious and worth opposing. As others have pointed out, if the suit against Boeing is upheld, companies will be loath to relocate to South Carolina and other right-to-work states for fear of being sued by their unions, and companies will be loath to relocate to union states for fear of never being able to leave.