PAY-FOR-PLAY ACCUSATIONS SURROUNDING PORT DEAL AT HEART OF PROPOSED INQUIRY
FITSNews – February 28, 2008 – S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford is facing a Senate investigation for attempting to steer a development deal to one of his campaign contributors,  the Associated Press is reporting today. Based in part upon information uncovered over the weekend by The Palmetto Scoop, Sanford received nearly $9,000 in campaign contributions from Jim and Betsy Chaffin of Beaufort, S.C. Chaffin’s company, Chaffin-Light, was the development firm that Sanford aggressively lobbied for in a recent multi-million dollar state land deal.
Frankly, we think the governor deserves some heat for this boneheaded move, and we’d commend both the AP and The Scoop for their investigative work on this story. Sanford has always had a “blind spot” when it comes to deals affecting his adopted home of Beaufort County, but given his connections with this developer he should have immediately recognized the necessity of recusing himself from any involvement in this deal. If there were valid pro-taxpayer points to be made – which the governor’s office assures us there were – Sanford should have found another way to make them. Believe it or not, Mark, it’s okay to let somebody else get the credit for ”standing up for the taxpayer” every once in awhile.
Having said that, the Senate couldn’t have picked a more ethically-bankrupt lawmaker to call for these hearings. Except for maybe this guy. Well, and this guy, too.
Let’s face it, people, Brad Hutto‘s virtue is about as negotiable as the going rate at an Amsterdam head shop. He’s constantly abusing his office to pad his own wallet (here and here, for example), and asking him to lead an ethics investigation is like asking Barry Bonds to look into the use of steroids in professional baseball.
We think it’s clear by now that Sanford should be investigated for this thing – and face the consequences of his stupidity – but putting Hutto in the role of chief prosecutor automatically removes any legitimacy from what we believe is an entirely justified inquiry.
By Believe It Not (a.k.a. Sic Willie's Stalker) February 28, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Caption for this photo:
“I’ll stick this pen so far up Will’s arse, that the “Boys from Charlotte” will need a team of mules or “Pork and Barrel” to pull it out………”
By anonymous February 28, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Oh! The Gov-de-vel-op-nor…..no wait…Gov-develop-nor…. NO… NO… NO…
it’s Govdevelopnor Mark Sanford…I think I got it…Whew!
By anonymous February 29, 2008 at 1:18 am
CHECK THIS OUT, THIS IS AMAZING!
Mark Sanford avoiding the topic of illegal immigration
VIDEO LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHJohB8htGk
and here’s another one…
Senator Jake Knotts on Governor Sanford’s State of the State
VIDEO LINK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBa2xU54Nng
By anonymous February 29, 2008 at 2:39 am
MORE AMAZING VIDEO:
RE: Mark Sanford
John Land on Workers’ Comp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgkySCB5pSM
Workers’ Compensation | Sanford must tell judge his side
Governor directed to explain to federal justice why he tried to influence workers’ comp board
But during a Jan. 14 hearing, U.S. District Judge Ross Anderson said the case against Sanford and the commission raises “very serious federal constitutional issues.â€
Anderson the next day extended a restraining order preventing the Workers’ Compensation Commission from obeying the governor’s orders on how to judge cases and whether to release certain case information. The federal restraining order is in place until Feb. 15.
Anderson also added Sanford as a defendant so the commissioners won’t be put in a position of having to defend Sanford’s actions.
The seven-member commission is appointed by the governor to hear disputes between people who claim they were injured on the job and their employers. While appointed by the governor, the commission is a judicial board that is supposed to issue orders without outside influence. The governor can fire members for cause.
http://www.thestate.com/politics/story/305476.html
By truthseeker February 29, 2008 at 1:00 pm
This Sanford port investigation is child’s play- it’s peanuts.
How about when Warren Lasch, the Hunley developer. used his legislative influence to lease a Charleston SPA port facility for FREE?? Then to get out of the deal, we, the dumb taxpayers, had to pay off Warren Lasch close to 5 million bucks .Why doesn’t the Legislature investigate that deal if they are so concerned about ethical foul play????
http://www.containtheport.com/grantham%20timeline.htm
By anonymous March 4, 2008 at 11:50 pm
SCDP Chair Says Sanford Should Be Investigated
Columbia, SC- South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler released the following statement in response to the call for an investigation into Gov. Mark Sanford’s role in the Port Royal deal.
“There should be an investigation into Mark Sanford’s shady deal. South Carolina residents don’t need politicians who use their power and influence for their own and their friends’ personal interests.
This type of cash-for-favors politics is better suited for mafia movies and crime dramas than real life. It hurts our state more than it helps,†said Fowler. “From John McCain’s ties to corporate lobbyists to Mark Sanford’s cash-for-favors scheme, Democrats are ready to change how business is done in Washington and Columbia.â€
http://blogs.thestate.com/bradwarthensblog/files/fowler_release.htm
South Carolina Democratic Party
1529 Hampton St. Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone 803-799-7798
info@scdp.org
The operative words are MAFIA and CRIME………….â€cash-for-favors politics is better suited for MAFIA movies and CRIME dramasâ€