There have been some interesting things going on recently with the S.C. Republican Party, not the least of which is former party treasurer John Cattano ripping on the party from the child’s blog. But, if you believe all of what he wrote, you aren’t getting the full story. It’s a little more interesting than that.
Sources within the SCGOP told us over the weekend that Cattano was ousted for “bringing drama to the
job,” and that the move wasn’t as amicable as party staffers first indicated. Those sources tell us that Cattano bumped heads with party chairwoman Karen Floyd after he indicated that he and friend Curtis Loftis would run against incumbents Converse Chellis and Richard Eckstrom. While one part of the duo’s plan worked, sources say that Cattano could not acquire a personal loan to finance his campaign due to the failure of his past businesses.
“Cattano didn’t agree with the direction of the party. He believes the party should work in primaries. He was going to run against Eckstrom, but he’s flat broke and unable to secure a loan after he ran his company into the ground,” a source close to the situation told us.
We’re told that Cattano and Floyd had a heated exchange after Cattano demanded that she support him for comptroller. The exchange came just days after Cattano tried strong-arming Kershaw County Republican Party chairman Chris Oviatt into clearing the field for HD-79 candidate Sheri Few. Cattano reportedly used Floyd’s name without her permission, saying that he was speaking on her behalf. Floyd is said to have become very upset with the situation.
“Cattano and Floyd just have different beliefs when it comes to playing in primaries. The drama became so intense that she had to let him go,” a source said. We were also told that Cattano is “making it his mission” to go after Floyd.
The whole situation seems crazy. After all, if you’re the guy drafting the budget, wouldn’t you do something about it then? And if the money being spent for work isn’t going out to firms in the state, it would have to be spent to hire people to do it in-house, which would also mean shelling out cash for benefits and the like, in addition to a salary.
For the second consecutive day, action in the Senate ground to a halt while Democrats filibustered an amendment to S. 424, the 10th Amendment bill. The resolution was to originally constructed to express the General Assembly’s discontent with general actions taken by Congress as of late. The amendment would strike and replace language to show the General Assembly’s rejection of the Democratic health care bill, however it makes it out of the negotiations between Congressional Democrats. It also discusses bailouts and the like.
Whereas, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights established a federal government limited in scope and guarantee of personal liberty so that our citizens will be free to pursue their inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as recognized in the Declaration of Independence; and
Whereas, the Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people”; and
Whereas, pursuant to the Ninth Amendment, the people are guaranteed the right to privacy as a basic human right; and
Whereas, the delivery, administration and receipt of medical care affects personal privacy and involves the most intimate and personal of choices; and
Whereas, the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”; and
Whereas, the Tenth Amendment defines the limited scope of federal power as being that specifically granted by the United States Constitution; and
Whereas, pursuant to the Tenth Amendment, by limiting the scope of federal power to only those specifically enumerated in the United States Constitution, the states retain plenary power to govern; and
Whereas, despite the clear limitations placed upon it by the United States Constitution, the federal government has steadily expanded its reach into the lives of our citizens and, in so doing, violates the very principles upon which this nation was founded; and
Whereas, the United States Supreme Court has said that states have great latitude in regulating medical care and standards, which have historically and constitutionally been primary state responsibilities and affect areas of core state responsibility, yet Congress and the President are reaching agreement over legislation that will result in the federal government absorbing the regulation of medical care, stripping the states of most responsibility, and taking away the free choice of the citizens of the states; and
Whereas, the federal government has spent trillions of dollars of borrowed money to run deficits, to bail out financial institutions, to prop-up auto makers, and to keep afloat other private enterprises that were mismanaged, took unnecessary risks, or were unresponsive to market demands, thus amassing a debt that will loom over and burden our country for generations to come; and
Whereas, the federal government habitually responds to its annual budget shortfalls by burdening the states with unfunded mandates, shifting costs for programs to the states, limiting state flexibility, and interfering with state revenue systems, undermining the constitutionally created balance between federal and state government; and
Whereas, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that Congress may not simply commandeer the legislative and regulatory processes of the states, and that states may provide their citizens with protections that exceed the protections by the federal government; and
Whereas, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that the United States Constitution allows states to grant rights to their citizens in their state constitutions, beyond rights granted in the federal Constitution; and
Whereas, the United States Supreme Court has recognized that federal law restricting certain rights may be ineffective in denying those rights protected in state Constitutions; and
Whereas, the federal government is considering legislation that may, among other things, obligate residents in South Carolina and other states to purchase health insurance; and
Whereas, the federal government is considering legislation that may, among other things, mandate that this State and other states increase its spending for Medicaid; and
Whereas, it is vitally important for the future of our nation that the states stand against the relentless expansion of the federal government and restore the proper balance to our federal system. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, claims for the State of South Carolina sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the United States Constitution.
Be it further resolved that it is the policy of the State of South Carolina that:
No law shall interfere with the right of a person to be treated by or receive services from a health care provider of that person’s choice;
No law shall restrict a person’s freedom of choice of private health care systems or private health care plans of any type;
No law shall interfere with a person’s or an entity’s right to pay directly for lawful medical services; and
No law shall impose a tax, penalty, or fine, of any type, for choosing a health care provider, to obtain or decline health care coverage or for participation in any particular health care system or plan.
Be it further resolved that it is the policy of the State of South Carolina that the Attorney General will challenge the constitutionality of any provision enacted by the United States Congress that would violate any of the policies established by this resolution and join with other states that are like-minded to make such a challenge.
Be it further resolved that no state agency, agent, department, instrumentality, or subdivision shall cooperate or participate in any way with any mandate passed by Congress upon notification by the Attorney General that the mandate has been successfully challenged in a court of competent jurisdiction, and further provided that there is not an order to the contrary by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and each member of South Carolina’s Congressional Delegation, all at Washington, D.C., and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate of the legislatures of the other forty-nine states.
The talking, it went on for a long time.
For a while, it appeared that Sen. Mick Mulvaney, a cosponsor of the legislation, was filibustering his own bill by going on at length to convince his fellow legislators to pass it. Following an impromptu Senate Republican Caucus meeting, there was a bit of theater as Sens. Mulvaney, Glenn McConnell and John Courson discussed Barry Goldwater. Then, the inevitable — the talking started from the Democratic side.
Sen. Phil Leventis ceded to Sen. Brad Hutto, who stepped to the podium and didn’t stop, getting into an entertaining “flim-flam” call-and-response, saying that the bill as would be amended would have no power and if it did have power, would be a disaster to the state in the event of the state losing Federal health care funding. Sen. Robert Ford suggested a strike-and-replace amendment with the Ordinance of Secession. Sen. Dick Elliott asked about getting cots so that the senators could make it through the night.
However, it didn’t go all night, though the Wednesday session went a lot longer than it would have otherwise. Several senators, appearing to have had enough of the affair, asked for a leave of absence and took off. One thing is for certain, though — hackles are raised among the faithful. As good a Democrats v. Republicans fight is rare in South Carolina, when it happens, it’s solid.
Republicans, in general, are fed up. In a statement released about the debate, Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler said:
Like our founding fathers, we too will stand strong against an overreaching government because we do have a choice and with this resolution, we ask the Attorney General of South Carolina to fight any attempt to force a socialized health care plan on our state and its taxpayers. We will stand today, not just against the Democrats, but against a government that intrudes on our rights and our freedoms. We demand action today because by remaining silent, we signal our surrender.
The Democrats say our resolution is pointless. They say it has no effect of law. We don’t need a new law to stand up for our rights and to send a signal to Washington that we will not, under any circumstances, accept a takeover of our nation’s health care system. And we will take all legal actions necessary to ensure that our rights are protected.
S.C. Republican Party chairwoman Karen Floyd also voiced opposition to what Senate Democrats have been up to.
Rather than acting to protect South Carolina patients and taxpayers, state Democrats are already up to their old obstructionist tricks, and trying their best to import the Washington liberals’ fiscal irresponsibility here to our state. We’re proud of our Republican Senators who are standing strong in this fight to protect our rights to set policies and choose our own healthcare. The Democrats need to end their filibuster and act in the best interest of South Carolinians.
Democrats fired back, saying:
It’s ridiculous that our state’s Republican leaders are wasting time and money with this kind of grandstanding so early in the new legislative session. South Carolina citizens are counting on our leaders to pass legislation that will give their families access to quality, affordable healthcare, not strip them of their rights to Medicare and other services. Senators have a moral obligation not to waste time and taxpayer money on bills like this.
Something’s going to have to give in this tug-of-war. A cloture motion failed by two votes Wednesday, so the Senate will be taking up the measure again on Thursday. It stands to reason that Republicans are going to find those two votes and shut down the filibuster pretty soon.
It just doesn’t end with this guy. Gov. Mark Sanford will be called upon to resign by S.C. Republican Party chair Karen Floyd today, per CNN. As usual, it will go nationwide, and as usual, Sanford will mount some bullshit defense like his ridiculous 2,800-plus-word statement that went live late Wednesday.
According to the story:
Floyd is expected to make the request on on a conference call Thursday afternoon with members of the state GOP executive committee. The call is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
The South Carolina Republican Party convened a similar conference call in July, which resulted in a vote to censure Sanford for “repeated failures to act in accordance” with the party’s core principles and beliefs — but the party did not ask for Sanford to step down. At the time, Floyd issued a statement saying, “Now is the time for healing for our great state.”
Yes, Sanford toadies Reps. Nikki Haley and Joey Millwood aren’t asking for him to leave, but when Floyd is knocking on the door, it’s a pretty good idea for the Governor to swallow his extensive pride and take off.
To those who have been following us, it should come as so surprise that we think the S.C. Democratic Party leadership is the most incompetent group of people since, well, maybe the idiots in France that pushed for the Maginot Line. Hell, if current S.C. Republican Party chair wasn’t such a shit candidate for superintendent of education, Dems would be totally shut out of statewide-elected offices.
The latest example of how toothless, nail-less and generally useless the SCDP leadership has been comes courtesy of a survey by respected polling organization Gallup, which ran party identification calls through a number of states. According to the information, the only Southern states with more self-identified Republicans than Democrats were Alabama and Mississippi. When you analyze the situation in the states that made up the Confederacy, that makes sense.
Except for South Carolina.
Here, anybody but John Spratt would be gone from SC-05. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn has a ridiculously safe district for such a red state (this didn’t happen by accident, and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson and the ghost of former U.S. Rep. Floyd Spence thanks that deal). Supt. of Ed. Jim Rex was elected by less than 500 votes. Everybody else outside of the General Assembly are Republicans.
So, it’s a little strange that Gallup trots out with a poll that shows there are more self-identifying Democrats in the Palmetto State than Republicans. According to the poll, South Carolina is +2 Democratic. OH HO HO (holding in belly as it shakes like a bowl of jelly). That’s hysterical.
If that poll number is anywhere close to true, everybody in a position of power in the SCDP should be canned, and everybody in a position of power in the SCGOP should get raises and complimentary sexual gratification of their choice. We don’t think our eyes have rolled so outrageously since we saw the Auburn athletic administrators say that hiring Gene Chizik was a good idea.
The S.C. Republican Party state executive committee talked for three hours on June 6, and ended up voting to censure Gov. Mark Sanford for disappearing for six days and having an affair with international businesswoman Maria Belén Chapur.
Karen Floyd, the SCGOP chair, said following the vote, “The events of the past two weeks have been as divisive as they have been disappointing for Republicans. But today has brought a large measure of resolution to a sad chapter in our state party’s history. Republicans came together to speak with a unified voice, and now is the time for healing. Now is the time for healing for the Sanford family. We must pray for them – Mark, Jenny and their four beautiful boys. Now is the time for healing for the Republican Party. We must hold true to our core beliefs and re-commit to being Republican now more than ever before. And now is the time for healing for our great state. The task ahead of us is tall. But as Ronald Reagan said, the best days are ahead of us. We are now united and we pledge to focus our energy and efforts on finding conservative solutions to the challenges facing South Carolina.”
The censure resolution said:
Whereas, the South Carolina Republican Party adopts this Resolution of Censure as a unified expression of the Party’s opinion in the recent matter relating to Governor Marshall Clement Sanford, Jr.; and
Whereas, the South Carolina Republican Party adheres to a set of core principles and beliefs, primarily but not exclusively expressed in our Platform; and
Whereas, the revelations regarding Governor Sanford’s private and public conduct demonstrate repeated failures to act in accordance with these core principles and beliefs; and
Whereas, Governor Sanford’s conduct, in addition to falling below the standards expected of Republican elected officials, has breached the public’s trust and confidence in his ability to effectively perform the duties of his office; and
Whereas, a formal admonishment by the South Carolina Republican Party is appropriate and necessary and, barring further revelations, will be the Party’s last word on the matter;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the South Carolina Republican Party does, with great regret, censure Governor Mark Sanford for his recent conduct.
Finally, and thank God for this, it looks like the SCGOP has finally decided that Sanford is a horrible representation of the state party. However, it doesn’t look like Sanford is going to take any clues from the vote.
The cheese, and Gov. Mark Sanford, stands alone. Wednesday brought more statements from S.C. Republicans, with the sentiment going from obliquely asking him to resign to outright demanding it. According to a top state Republican in Politico, “His support has collapsed. … He was made aware that his support is getting to be dang-near nonexistent.”
That response was in reference to phone calls to Sanford made by U.S. Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham, and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett. DeMint made an appearance on “Fox & Friends” this morning, saying that the Governor should “make the right decision about what needs to be done,” but didn’t want to elaborate beyond that. If DeMint stepped away from Sanford, which is what it looks like, it would be a body blow to to the Governor’s credibility. Both largely share the same policy positions and political constituencies. DeMint is quoted in South Carolina Radio News all but advocating for Sanford to go.
“I’m concerned that he’s no longer in a position to lead the state,” DeMint said. “A number of us are talking to him quietly and we hope it can be resolved.”
State Republican Party chair Karen Floyd echoed the sentiment, saying, “For the past two days, I have been speaking with Republican leaders across South Carolina. There is clearly a growing view that the time may have come for Governor Sanford to remove himself and his family from the limelight, so that he can devote his efforts full-time to repairing the damage in his personal life.”
Rep. Dan Hamilton went a step further, encouraging Sanford to take a serious look at leaving office and letting the state move on from the mess he’s taken from his private life and put in the public eye.
“Unfortunately, in light of recent less than candid and contradictory statements, it has become clear that Gov. Sanford has lost the ability to effectively govern at this time,” he said. “I regretfully ask the Governor to consider resigning his position and take the time to focus on his personal well being and his responsibility as a husband and father. The job of Governor is temporary in nature and can be passed on to other people. The role of husband and father is permanent and cannot be done by anyone else.”
Rep. Nikki Haley, who is seen as Sanford’s heir in her run for governor, broke her week-long silence by saying, “What we do need to hear from the governor is an explanation as to how he can lead our state going forward. He has a responsibility to outline what he wants to accomplish over the next 18 months and how he intends to accomplish it. I remain willing to listen to that case, but if he cannot make it convincingly, then he must move on.”
And, it seems that Sanford has totally lost the Republicans in the Senate. Last night, a number of powerful GOP senators signed a letter asking the Governor to resign. As the hours have moved on, four more Republican senators (Sens. Danny Verdin, Ronnie Cromer, Shane Martin and Wes Hayes) have come out publicly for resignation, representing over half of the caucus. Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, highest-ranking senator, has come just short of advocating Sanford’s resignation, instead leading with the fact that the Governor has lost any support he once had.
“Neither I nor my colleagues in the General Assembly can require that the Governor resign,” McConnell said in a statement. “That decision is his alone. I do believe, however, that the Governor has lost the support of the people that is needed to govern. Therefore, I would ask the Governor to look in his heart and decide whether with his family situation and the public uproar over what he has done and said locally and nationally whether he can lead our state for the remainder of his term.”
Now, even Sanford pal and former chief of staff, Sen. Tom Davis, put out a statement saying that he has yet to make up his mind on the matter. When you can’t even get your boy to back you up, it’s probably time to pack it up and hit the dusty trail.
The word among people in the know is that Karen Floyd, the presumptive next chairman of the S.C. Republican Party, has already selected her chief lieutenant.
Ryan Meerstein, who South Carolinians might remember as the state director of the Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign, has been in Spartanburg helping Floyd recently and is widely assumed to be the SCGOP’s next executive director. Last year, he worked three other places in addition to the Giuliani campaign, including being the Ohio state director for the McCain-Palin ticket, but was suffering the post-cycle unemployment blues before Floyd brought him in.
According to those wonderful kids at George Washington University, Meerstein worked with the RNC on Sen. Bob Corker’s campaign in 2006 and was an RNC field director in Ohio in 2004, after graduating from Allegheny College in 2003.
He was also the star player on his high school basketball team. Playing ball for Allegheny, he started all 28 games his senior year, shooting 48.3 percent from the floor and averaging 14 points a game.
That is about what you would expect. But, in the fall of 2008 he was implicated by liberal groups in Ohio, along with other McCain campaign staffers, of voter fraud.
The Franklin County Board of Elections is probing the complaint of a liberal group is calling for an investigation of operatives for Republican John McCain who’ve registered to vote in Ohio, and in some cases have actually cast a ballot, with no intention of remaining in the state.
Deputy Elections Director Matthew Damschroder told The Dispatch that if the matter merits further investigation, the case “will be forwarded to the prosecutor immediately.”
ProgressOhio.org says the activity is the mirror image of Democratic activity that is the subject of an ongoing probe by Franklin County Proseuctor Ron O’Brien.
ProgressOhio called on the Franklin County Board of Elections to refer the new material to the Franklin County prosecutor.
One example cited by ProgressOhio involves Ryan Meerstein is currently the state director for McCain’s campaign in Ohio. The group says that online biographies indicate he has worked for political campaigns or parties in four different states during the past two years, attended college in a fifth state, and his given hometown is in a sixth state.
The Franklin County Board of Elections reports receiving his completed absentee ballot last Tuesday, even though he current is registered to vote in South Carolina, ProgressOhio says.
Others in much the same situation include McCain’s top Ohio spokesman, Paul Lindsay, and Jason Levine, brought into Ohio to help the state Republican Party.
Needless to say, this does not make a brilliant start for Floyd’s chairmanship.
For six years, Gov. Mark Sanford has done all he can to alienate himself from his own party, poison the political atmosphere (which should have been impossible) and show how not to lead.
He also heralded the front line presence of South Carolinians for Responsible Government, S.C. Club for Growth, S.C. Policy Council and a myriad of Sanford shell groups.
Until former State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel’s cocaine bust, he was the obvious heir apparent for this small, but well-funded and vocal, lobby. Hell, Ravenel was even best buds with Mallory Factor.
But, here we are, with three major candidates for governor, none of which is an easy fit with Howard Rich‘s heimwehren. If last year is any indicator, even with a coordinated attack, these groups had to rely on one man, some mistakes, and pure political skullduggery on one particular race, to get just a few key people elected to the General Assembly.
And, some of those guys might as well make plans to go back to the day job full time as of the next cycle.
Still, this lobby cannot do what they like, the Governor is acting like a spoiled child, and the leadership in the House and the Senate is just a little hostile.
Right now, all Team Sanford has to bet on is Karen Floyd, one of theirs. She will be the next chairman of the S.C. Republican Party. But, as has been said, she was the only statewide Republican to lose in 2006 and still has tens of thousands of dollars in campaign debt to pay off.
Unless Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer‘s involvement with Floyd’s firm is him tipping his cards to Project Mayhem, Sanford’s stormtroopers are going to be even more marginalized than they are already.
Following the November elections, the S.C. Republican Party sported over $100,000 in debt, but, just before S.C. politico Karen Floyd is expected to assume the chairmanship, the party cleared out its remaining obligations, according to the April federal disclosure report.
It also meant a fine month for Starboard Communications, which was owed the lion’s share of the party’s outstanding debt.
The S.C. Democratic Party‘s federal report has yet to show up online, and the same holds true for its state operations account.
SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
Federal account (April 2009)
Contributions: $94,005.82
Expenditures: $144,288.82
Cash on Hand: $58,825.31
Notable contributions
2009.03.16 | Graham for Senate, $33,500
2009.03.16 | Edward Sellers, $5,000
2009.03.24 | Graham for Senate, $10,000
2009.03.24 | Roger Milliken, $5,000
Notable expenditures
Schedule B
2009.03.17 | Starboard Communications (FEA slate mailings), $29,000
2009.03.27 | Starboard Communications (FEA slate mailings), $15,000
2009.03.27 | Starboard Communications (postage and printing), $16,110.20
2009.03.27 | The Philips Group (finance consulting), $2,000
2009.03.31 | Starboard Communications (FEA slate mailings), $40,217.31
Schedule H4
2009.03.17 | Mail Marketing Strategies (copies), $630
Can’t get rid of Howie
Rep. Joey Millwood got another cool grand from a Howard Rich-affiliated corporation, this time from 188 Claremont LLC, and also pulled a few bucks from Chris Sullivan, the RQ&A-affiliated consultant who ran Sen. Lee Bright‘s campaign and who is the editor of Southern Partisan.
Spinnin’ platters
Rep. Grady Brown does not just do his DJing at Rust (you know, R-U-S-T, on Gervais Street, behind the Motor Supply, from 7 to 11…), but spun records at an event for Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster, for which he was paid $450 on Jan. 1. A new era of bipartisan partying?
Got debt?
S.C. Republican Party chairman candidate Karen Floyd, who will most likely have to deal with over $100,000 of debt in the SCGOP’s federal account, still has issues of her own. According to her latest report, she has over $81,000 in debt from her 2006 losing effort, and, according to the last couple reports, does not seem to be very active about getting rid of the loan balance.
The eyes have it
S.C. eye doctors, and their organizations, have been aggressively donating to members of both parties in the past period. They evidently can see how things begin to get done in Columbia.
Where you been?
Just because a candidate lost, as we see with the Floyd account, does not mean that the campaign account is not still active. The last two Democratic candidates for governor, former Gov. Jim Hodges and former Sen. Tommy Moore, have a nickel or two kicking around in their accounts. Hodges sports $2,360.90 (though he has not filed an April 10 report) and Moore has $1,313.07. Moore’s last major outlay was $10,000 to the Senate Democratic Caucus in 2007.
Looking for Sanford
Gov. Mark Sanford has been a little tardy in getting his latest report online, though in the Jan. 10 version he had nearly $1.7 million on hand. What will he do with his money? According to S.C. law, he cannot use it for a Federal campaign, so either he will go all Jerry Brown on us and run for S.C. treasurer, or comptroller general, or give his long green to his assortment of AstroTurf third-party groups. Either way, the Governor’s Office ain’t sayin’ until it finally comes down.
