Signs Of Desperation

In many ways, the race for South Carolina Senate District 16 presents us with a microcosm of a much bigger battle – one between change and the status quo, and one that seems destined to continue raging in a state that can’t seem to fully commit to either notion.

On the one hand is GOP State Rep. Mick Mulvaney, an intelligent (albeit occasionally abrasive) fiscal and social conservative who just so happens to boast the best pro-taxpayer record in the entire legislature.

On the other hand is Democrat Mandy Powers-Norrell, and articulate (and remarkably attractive) liberal who has not surprisingly been on the attack since she first announced her candidacy in this increasingly Republican district.

Starting off behind the 8-ball, Powers-Norrell has effectively used negative attacks and the politics of misinformation (oh, and her legs) to become competitive in this race.

In the process, she’s also benefited from the mainstream media’s complete and total lack of interest in the issues … well, unless the “issue” is attacking New York School Choice advocate Howie Rich for legal campaign contributions in an effort to deflect attention from our failed public schools.

Anyway, Powers-Norrell supporters have thrown everything but the kitchen sink at Mulvaney, including dozens of Rich-themed assaults delivered via mail, phone, e-mail, television and even on yard signs … all in spite of the fact Mulvaney didn’t even take money from Rich this election cycle.

All of which leads us to our question … how long can the liberal education establishment continue to divert attention from its own failure to educate our kids by relying exclusively on attacks against Howie Rich?

That plan obviously didn’t work so well this summer, as conservative forces picked up a number of key victories in the primary elections. And obviously McClatchy Newspapers – the one media conglomeration in the state that has decided to give these anti-Rich attacks a full-throated public airing – is going under fast.

And while the circulation numbers for these public school apologists continue to drop, South Carolina’s academic achievement ratings are dropping, too – meaning that with each passing year, it becomes more difficult for left-wing educrats to successfully execute “Operation Blame Everything On That Yankee Jew From Manhattan.”

Incidentally, we’ll be exploring this dynamic in our post mortem following Tuesday’s state elections … so stay tuned to FITS for more on this as the results from District 16 and around the state start coming in …

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