Sic v. CSOL

After engaging in what some view as a deliberate effort to undermine its credibility as an institution, Sic Willie was nonetheless welcomed to the campus of the Charleston (S.C.) School of Law yesterday – a highly-anticipated visit that was not without its share of fireworks.

Speaking to roughly thirty members of the Charleston Law Republicans, our founding editor offered a few characteristically blunt remarks on the current status of our state and federal governments as well as his thoughts on the impact “new media” is having on the marketplace of ideas.

“There’s not a damn bit of difference” between Republicans and Democrats in either Washington or Columbia, Sic announced.

Discussing the media, he declared that “WIS-TV in Columbia, for example, is nothing but a government commercial – their anchors read the press releases straight off the teleprompter.”

Mrs. Sic and “Shorty” joined our founding editor on the trip, although at several points during his remarks Sic had to instruct Shorty to don his “earmuffs.”

Of course, Sic quickly found himself on the receiving end of some equally blunt questions, as his methodology and motivations for going after the law school in several stories following 2007’s bar exam fiasco were called into question.

At one point, Sic appeared on the verge of losing his cool, although we’re happy to report none of the future (and very attractive, we might add) female lawyers in attendance were thrown into furniture.

“Don’t be pissed at me,” Sic bellowed at one point in response to a question. “Be pissed at the Supreme Court of South Carolina.”

“I’m not the one who threw out a whole section of the bar exam,” Sic continued. “Seriously, if you’re going to throw a softball like that right down the middle of the plate … well, I’m not Barry Bonds, but I can hit that.”

Sic repeatedly called into question the integrity of S.C. Chief Justice Jean Toal, saying that the judicial branch of government in South Carolina was even more corrupt than the state legislature, which he added “is saying a lot.”

He also told one questioner that in spite of his previous barbs at CSOL, “you want me doing what I’m doing.”

Still, we have to give Sic’s interrogators some credit – a lot of credit, actually.

The questions they asked were tough, but fair, and they made a lot of good points that are certainly deserving of future consideration.

They came prepared, and if yesterday’s discussion is any indication, each and every one of them are going to be damn fine litigators.

Seriously, we were impressed – and we look forward to following CSOL’s gradual emergence as a competitive, non-taxpayer funded alternative to the University of South Carolina’s School of Law.

Of course, the fact that this discussion even took place is revealing.

CSOL – or at least this particular group – deserves tremendous credit for its willingness to bring a polarizing figure like Sic to campus for a free-ranging discussion of this kind.

It’s the kind of back-and-forth South Carolina needs more – not less of.

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