Groups begin to organize for debates

Come January, supporters of one cause or another from across the country will be pouring into Myrtle Beach for the two presidential primary debates, and they have already begun preparations.

One group, which promotes a tax reform idea called the “fair tax,” held a conference call Thursday evening with supporters from across the Carolinas to discuss the logistics for its rally during the Republican debate on Jan. 10.

A Democratic debate will be held Jan. 21 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Myrtle Beach government and tourism leaders cannot wait until the activists and political junkies – many of whom may have never been to Myrtle Beach – start filling up hotel rooms and eating at restaurants in this the coastal tourist mecca.

The fair tax group wants to get a crowd of 250 people at the Elks Lodge on 27th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach, and they hope to snag pro-fair-tax candidate Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor.

The idea behind the national movement is to do away with taxes such as income tax in exchange for a higher sales tax.

The group's leader in Myrtle Beach, Mickey Lattimore, has tried to make sure that at least three or four faithful wearing “fair tax” T-shirts and hats show up each time a national or state candidate stumps in the area. He also joined fair taxers during the debate in Charleston over the summer, and said he was looking forward to the Myrtle Beach debates.

“You can imagine when all the media comes into town it's going to be crazy,” he said.

They discussed the challenges of running a grass-roots organization and promoting a cause – the difficulties of producing and distributing trifold brochures; whether to drive to Columbia to pick up bumper stickers or ship them; diligence in getting city permits; and attracting important personalities and media coverage.

Karen Heitman, of Sun City Hilton Head, encouraged her fellow fair-taxers to explain the issue to people at all political rallies, no matter which political party they were from.

“We just have to keep educating people, and we almost have to do it one-on-one,” said Heitman, who started a fair tax club in her area. “After I explained [the fair tax] and said would you like to wear a sticker they said yes.”