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Democratic Congresswoman to speak at stump

A high-ranking Democratic Congresswoman from Florida will be the keynote speaker honoring South Carolina's two congressmen at Monday's Galivants Ferry Stump Speaking, organizers said.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is chief deputy whip to U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., whose role in the party is to maintain unity within House Democrats.

This year's stump, which starts at 4:30 p.m. Monday at the general store on U.S. 501, is intended to honor Clyburn and his colleague, U.S. Rep. John Spratt.

Stump to honor Clyburn, Spratt

The historic Galivants Ferry Stump will be held May 12 in honor of U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn and U.S. Rep. John Spratt, organizers announced today.

The Galivants Ferry Stump Speaking, founded in 1876 by the Holliday family, brings politicians and residents together every two years.

The 2008 stump will be held at Pee Dee Farms, the century-old general store in Galivants Ferry, on U.S. 501 where it crosses the Little Pee Dee River.

Bluegrass music and clogging will begin at 4:30 p.m. and local, state and national Democratic candidates will begin speaking at 6 p.m., according to a release from the families of Joseph Holliday and John Monroe Holliday.

Clyburn honored by Children's Fund, NAACP

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-Columbia) received two awards over the last two weeks for his voting record and political achievement.

The Children’s Defense Fund Action Council named Clyburn one of the "Best Representatives for Children" on Feb. 28. The ranking comes as part of the council's 2007 Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard, which ranks every member of Congress based on votes on children's health and safety issues.

Clyburn's votes were seen favorably 100 percent of the time by supporting the minimum-wage increase, Head Start improvements, and additional money for student loans, according to the council.

Clyburn was also named a "Barrier Breaker" for becoming the highest-ranking black member of Congress by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People at its annual Freedom Fund dinner Thursday night.

Clyburn represents the Sixth Congressional District in South Carolina, which includes parts of Georgetown County, and serves as the House Majority Whip.

         

Post-debate boogie down: Club Clyburn

Froggy Bottomz at Broadway at the beach was, for one night, turned into Club Clyburn - patronage for the role U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, had in bringing the debate to Myrtle Beach.

Musicians and dancers entertained politicians and supporters, including Clyburn himself, singing Drop It Like It's Hot and Girls Just Want To Have Fun.

Meanwhile, city and county councilmen mingled in their business suits - not the typical Broadway attire.

Celebrity Square - party central in Myrtle Beach - was closed off to the general public.

Jan. 17 for sure?

The full story about the Jan. 17 debate in today's paper raises a question: What if the S.C. Democratic primary is held before Jan. 17, the date selected for the debate?

CNN and Congressman Jim Clyburn - who is on the board of the sponsoring Congressional Black Caucus Institute - have different views.

CNN's take is it makes no sense to have a S.C. debate after the S.C. primary. Clyburn says yes it does - there are many other primaries that will be held and this will be broadcast nationally.

CNN's political director Sam Feist said they would cross that bridge when they get there. In other words, wait and see what happens with the primary date, but for now operate as if everything is on target for Jan. 17.

Debate gets MB moving

Now that Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., has finally come out and confirmed that the Congressional Black Caucus Institute chose Myrtle Beach as the host city for its January debate, Myrtle Beach businesses and officials are still trying to figure out how it will all work.

The problem is there isn't a date set for the debate yet. Tenative dates Jan. 24 and Jan 12-15 have been thrown out there, but the date probably won't be announced until the primary schedule is all settled.

S.C. Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean told The Sun News they're not looking to move the date at all. Dean said, "There's no need to."

The state Republican Party is still looking at Myrtle Beach for its debate site.

The Myrtle Beach City Council agreed to give the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce up to $250,000 to pay for incidentals surrounding the debates.