Lies, Damn Lies and Rod Shealy’s Illegal Alien
MEET SENATOR CATHERINE CEIPS’ NEWEST CAMPAIGN EMPLOYEE
FITSNews – March 25, 2008 – Imagine you’re a consultant working for a politician who is trailing in the polls … a politician who is vulnerable on multiple issues important to the citizens of her district … a politician whose status as a paramour in an adulterous relationship (with another politician) is about to become front-page fodder once again after a lawsuit on improperly-sealed public records is filed later this week …
Imagine all that … now imagine that your name is Rod Shealy, and that little things like committing election fraud don’t matter to you because you’ve already been convicted of that once before – back when you hired an unemployed black fisherman to run against your own sister in an admitted effort to frighten white voters.
Add all that up … and you’d still never be able to imagine what went down in Beaufort County, S.C. over the last forty-eight hours …
The fun started this Saturday afternoon, when a mystery man supposedly named ”Josias Mirales Ayala” showed up unannounced and uninvited at the home of Tom Davis, the former chief of staff to Gov. Mark Sanford.
Davis, who hasn’t officially announced but is widely presumed to be running against State Sen. Catherine Ceips in a Republican primary this summer, is having his house painted in anticipation of his family’s return to Beaufort. In fact, Davis’ wife paid big bucks to hire a company that uses only documented, insured workers – facts which were all verified in today’s breaking coverage of this latest Shealy scam in the Beaufort Gazette.
Neither Davis, his family, nor the three legal workers assigned to the project were at the home when the man alleged to be Ayala gained entry for what appears to be the sole purpose of inviting Ceips’ Chief of Staff, Randy Bates (who apparently just happened to be in the neighborhood – with a translator), into Davis’ home.
At that point, the man alleged to be Ayala did what you would naturally expect any illegal alien to do when confronted with a white man carrying a camera and accompanied by a translator - he posed for photographs and promptly confessed to Ceips’ Chief of Staff that he was in the country working illegally and that Davis (whom he has never met) hired him to paint his house.
Within 48 hours, Shealy had sent the photograph taken by Bates to Associated Press reporter Jim Davenport, telling him that the governor’s former chief of staff had an illegal alien working at his residence.
The objective of the botched set-up by Ceips campaign was to take away one of Davis’ strongest issues in the campaign – illegal immigration.
While Ceips was voting to elect a Democratic Supreme Court justice who turned around weeks later and granted workers compensation rights to illegal aliens (i.e. “bad” in a Republican primary), Davis was working with Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner to provide local law enforcement with additional tools for cracking down on them (i.e. “good” in a Republican primary).
Not surprisingly, Davis wasted little time in going on the offensive against the Ceips’ campaign’s unsubstantiated accusations. From the Gazette story:
“These kinds of attacks are what is wrong with politics,” Davis said in a released statement. “What Ms. Ceips and her campaign operatives are doing is reprehensible, Today, I call on Ms. Ceips to fire Rod Shealy and Randy Bates, the two operatives who carried out this dirty trick at her direction.”
Davis said he would file a police report if the conversation between Bates and the painter took place inside the home.
“If Randy Bates was in my house, if Catherine Ceips’ chief of staff was in my house, I’m filing charges. That can’t happen,” he said.  Â
Davis isn’t the only one contemplating legal action against Ceips’ minions. FITSNews spoke today with Henry Tome, manager of Partners Painting Company in Beaufort, who told us his firm was exploring its legal options after the photographers harassed his employees at Davis’ home in another bizarre incident this weekend.
“They were yelling at us and telling us to go home,” Tome told FITSNews. “It was very uncomfortable.
After providing drivers’ licenses, social security numbers and green cards for himself and the two other legal workers authorized to be on Davis’ property, Tome confirmed he had never seen – let alone employed – the man Ceips’ campaign alleges is Ayala.
“There will be legal action,” Tome said. “This is my reputation and they are attacking it.”
Stay tuned, people … this story is far from over.
Comments
By Billy Joe on March 25th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Pot, meet kettle, to a degree. At least Roddy never beat a woman.
By scrappy doo on March 25th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
speaking of illegal aliens, the word on the street is that Shealy is running the reelect campaign of the most ethically challenged Senator in the Senate, Robert Ford. What up with that?
So much for the reform caucus…
By Garcia on March 25th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Rich Republicans using illegal labor. Who would have thought it!
Haha…why the outrage. Rich people exploiting illegals is WHY we have an immigration problem. So Tom Davis should join all the other rich right-winger an enjoy the money he has made, while watching US jobs being shipped overseas!
By anonymous on March 25th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Mark Sanford on Illegal Immigration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHJohB8htGk
By anonymous on March 25th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Tom Davis aka SPIN DOCTOR can dish it out, but he can’t take it very well.
What a wimp.
By Belle on March 25th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Shealy didn’t! OMG!
By Jack on March 25th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Wow, could Rod get convicted of election fraud again over this????
By old bike dude on March 25th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Like you can hire a legal alien! Hey they all have green cards. Is Randy Bates a ‘mo or what? OK here’s some tips on finding an illegal alien.
a. Walk outside
b. Look around
Am I ever glad we elected Shannon Erickson. I knew this guy Bates was suspect. And Shealy, look up smegma, and you find his pic. All the while poor Katy just keeps lookin’ for love in all the wrong places. Sorry Katy but Cock Cheese Inc., just ain’t cuttin’ it as pol-cons, babe.
By Calhoun Fawls on March 25th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Where’s Randy Page and Howie’s lawyers when you need ‘em?
By Betty on March 25th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I read that story and laughed harder than I have in a long time. I mean, are these people serious? It is tough to pick the best line, but I think I have to go with this one. “Shealy said proof of Ayala’s immigration status was based on a conversation Bates had with the man.” Well, of COURSE that’s proof. And the “human trafficking” thing? Well, of COURSE Ceips is an expert in human trafficking — good thing she called up the authorities just to see what she could do to help. I’m guessing the answer was “stay out of this, get your rear end back to Columbia and focus on the out-of-control spending and increasing tax burden you’ve been a part of.” Or something like that. Instead, Ceips and her campaign geniuses came up with a tried and true tactic — the ever-effective “find a kid who speaks spanish, send him into a house he’s never been in, tell him to flip his cap backwards and open the door and tell a weird guy and his translator that you are an illegal immigrant. And smile.” When has that professional tactic ever failed? This story is absolutely hilarious! Read it more than once — you’ll find little gems you missed the first time! Like the neighbor who “reported” the activity. I’m not going to tell you about him…you have to read it for yourself!
In all seriousness (although that’s hard with this story!), Tom Davis deserves to be angry that someone came into his house and took a picture of a guy who doesn’t work for him and then sent it to the press. That was a low thing to do and frankly makes these guys look like kooks. Stay clean, Tom and leave the stunts to the “pros.” They are really quite entertaining!
By Believe It Not (a.k.a. Sic Willie's Stalker) on March 25th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
This smells (actually, stinks) like another “willie scam.” We should all keep in mind Rod hired sic(k) willie for the TRav campaign.
And that really looks great on their resumes: “…got him elected in spite of his nose candy.” Like electing a speeding “…not quite Gub’nator.”
Rod’s capable of this kind of scam, but he’s too clever (not smart, just clever) for sic(k) willie to catch. Unless he wants him to “catch him.”
Stir the mud boys. We all enjoy the stink you create. :)
By Harry on March 26th, 2008 at 5:57 am
I suspect 10 of the 11 comments above are from “interested parties”. Does anyone in the real world know about this story…or is this totaly a polotico/Sanford adminstration affair?
By old bike dude on March 26th, 2008 at 6:10 am
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local/story/230527.html
This is a link to the Gazette story and the story’s associated comments.
I love the part where Shealy kicks Bates under the bus.
Strange thing about this story is that given Ms. Ceips’ history as a femme du jour, and now having her campaign run by Cock Cheese Inc, she may want to consider a run for federal office. She could well become the first Republican on the national level to suffer a smear campaign over alleged immoral or adulterous heterosexuality.
By Lowcountry Boil on March 26th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Rod Shealy’s group is a piss-poor consultancy anyway. He’s as cuthroat as he needs to be for the job, but too ignorant to be cuthroat and not get caught.
Why anyone hires this guy is beyond me. He’s lucky that he has politicians in his stable that handle their own message development and direct their own campaign operations (or have a separate staff that does so). Seriously, did anyone else ever get to take a look at those ineffective campaign newspapers he printed for campaign lit?
By Unemployed Black Fisherman on March 26th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Don’t slander me Sicko! I was the candidate of change in this state long before Barack Hussein Obama came around. Unemployed Black Fisherman hereby announces his bid for governor in 2010.
By truthseeker on March 26th, 2008 at 7:33 am
It would appear as if Catherine likes to play naughty …..
By Gal Leo on March 26th, 2008 at 7:50 am
This is enough to make somebody who ordinarily wouldn’t care get heavily involved in this campaign. Ceips and Bates simply have to go. We cannot tolerate this kind of crap.
The only way to fix the legislature is one seat at a time. This appears to be one of those seats that badly needs fixing.
By Ron on March 26th, 2008 at 7:52 am
fits news,
You made reference to Ceips voting for the Democratic Supreme Court nominee who subsequently voted to give workers comp benes to illegals. Would that nominee have been Judge Beatty? If so, that about finishes off the careers of Annette Young and Randy Scott of Dorchester as well. Again, were you referencing Judge Beatty?
By Palmetto Pulse on March 26th, 2008 at 8:24 am
When I read this post all I could think of is REALLY? The whole story stinks. I am guessing Shealy was thinking of the Princess Bride when they hired Mr. Ayala …that famous line where Inigo Montoya says, “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father prepare to die.” (http://youtube.com/watch?v=i3W5GDkgf2w) except we have Mr. Ayala in the same tone, “Hello, my name is Josias Mirales Ayala and I am an illegal immigrant. Please take my picture so I can be discovered and deported.”
The real victims in this are the immigrants themselves. Whether it be the posed Ayala being used by the Ceips campaign or the painting company, who by all accounts is following the rules, who has now had their name associated with the use of illegals.
The meat of the matter is that Shealy and Co. are dreaming up schemes and tactics to draw the constituency from the real issues. If we are all talking about painters and pictures, no one is discussing Ceips’ record in Columbia or her stand on issues that really matter to her District. I’m with Betty, stay out the ditches Tom and the only one with dirt on them will be Ceips, Bates, Shealy and the rest of those goons.
By Spike on March 26th, 2008 at 8:43 am
If this was a set-up and anyone gets prosecuted for trespassing, anyone, including Shealy, could be nailed for criminal conspiracy. This would require someone involved to admit he was involved. If not, then he’s untouchable on this one, even if he did peddle it on behalf of his client.
But like with the fisherman, the wetback will only be good for a small fine and a slap on the wrist.
Shealy, the Fisherman, and the Wetback. Sounds like a novel to me.
By William on March 26th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Link to the Beaufort Gazette is broken. Get on it Will!
By Low Road Congestion: Cate, Randy, & Rod on March 26th, 2008 at 11:58 am
This is the lowest of the low. Shealy/Ceips/Bates have sealed the fate of 2 ( Ceips and Bates) campaigns before the campaigning even had a chance to get started.
Everyone in Beaufort should thank Ceips, Bates, and Shealy for their stupidity, we will be better off without them. TAKE THE HIGH ROAD, TOM, THE LOW ROAD IS PRETTY FULL RIGHT NOW.
By fitsnews on March 26th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
William,
All fixed … thanks,
-FITSNews
By Mens Rea on March 26th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Dave’s not here, mang!
By Hmmmm.... on March 26th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
This high-road Davis guy, is he the same Tom Davis who tried selling that Tommy Moore was wrapped up in Lost Trust a couple years ago when he was running against Governor Sanford? Is that him?
By Silence Dogood on March 26th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
FITS you noted:
“While Ceips was voting to elect a Democratic Supreme Court justice who turned around weeks later and granted workers compensation rights to illegal aliens (i.e. “bad†in a Republican primary),”
Now I clearly realize what a huge inconvenience you find facts and such when writing about legal topics in particular, but this one goes way over the top, “granting,” workers’ comp. rights to illegals? The court did nothing hear execpt uphold the clear language of the statute (approved by both House and Senate and signed by the governoer) which allows for such recovery by illegals injured on the job?
So maybe it should have read: “While Ceips was voting to elect a Democratic Supreme Court justice who turned around weeks later and [stuck to a strict interpretation of S.C. statutes] which grant workers compensation rights to illegal aliens (i.e. “bad†in a Republican primary),”
Conveniently confusing or abandoning the truth is so unbecoming – and for the record I really don’t care for Senator Cieps.
By q. on March 27th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
good job trying to help mr. davis fight the uphill battle, but i hope this post wasn’t written with any attempt at accuracy.
is your friend henry tome (the owner of the painting company) the same one who was arrested for posing as enrique iglesias to lure a 14 year old girl away from school?
http://dwb.islandpacket.com/news/briefs/story/4606567p-4280664c.html
i’m only asking because i find it repulsive that someone would dare to impersonate enrique iglesias! i hope it wasn’t him (but i know better!).
i saw in the beaufort gazete article that mr. tome is from honduras. that’s interesting, considering that mr. ayala is also from honduras. i’m sure two the hondurans in question, both living in the beaufort area, have never heard of one another. i mean, there must be at least, what, 10 or maybe even 12 hondurans who’ve made that long, illegal trek to our neck of the woods?
~quintus
By west_rhino on March 30th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Wil, have you missed Rod’s running the campaign of Beldar Conehead for Glen McConnell’s seat? Allegedly Stewart Flood was tabbed to run that race if Conehead was running as a Libertarian, but hints that Rebekah Sutherland might be on the Libertarian ticket damped that like a “knarfled garthark” in Beldar’s words.
By Mike Honcho on March 30th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I heard rumors that Coach K is out at Duke and Shealy is going to take over – can you verify Will?
I suspect that this will look like a hand shake by the time this race is over.
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