Leatherman, McConnell Move Against Sanford
The two most powerful lawmakers in South Carolina are working to undercut Gov. Mark Sanford with a new TV ad, sources tell FITS, the latest drama in an ongoing GOP power struggle that has exploded onto the national stage given Sanford’s high-profile refusal to accept a certain portion of federal “bureaucratic bailout” funds unless they go toward debt repayment.
Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman is allegedly the mastermind behind the project, which sources say will launch its first TV ad against Sanford in the Florence-Myrtle Beach market this coming Monday (April 24).
Little is known about the content of the ad except that it will reportedly attack Sanford for his stance on the “stimulus” funds.
A small intitial ad buy – no more than $20,000 according to those familiar with the purchase – the point of the ad is apparently to generate earned media that will enable Sen. Leatherman to raise money for a much bigger statewide buy.
If so, mission accomplished.
“They’re buying cable in the state’s smallest market,” one of our sources said. “That’s an investment in earned media to give them bigger exposure for larger contributions.”
Sanford has already been targeted on television by President Barack Obama for his position on the federal “stimulus” funds, although that Democratic National Committee ad ran statewide on both cable and network television.
Sanford was forced to respond to the DNC ad with one of his own.
Sen. McConnell’s role in the campaign is thought to be less involved, although he has reportedly been briefed by Leatherman regarding the campaign and has pledged to help solicit contributions for the ads.
So … who is writing and producing the ad?
That’s a good question.
Sources tell us it is none other than veteran GOP consultant Bob McAlister – one of Sic Willie’s regular sparring partners in the Palmetto political blogosphere and a former Chief-of-Staff to S.C. Gov. Carroll Campbell.
McAlister’s involvement in the project would certainly signal that the hit on Sanford will be professionally-administered, unlike previous legislative efforts to inflict damage on the governor.
Meanwhile, the larger question concerns the prevailing winds behind this ad – and the whole “stimulus” debate in general.
Is Leatherman’s effort an acknowledgement that the public perception on this issue is shifting in Sanford’s favor? Or is the crafty lawmaker looking to deal a knockout punch at a critical moment in budget deliberations.
Sanford has acknowleged that his position is a “loser” politically, but a recent spate of pro-taxpayer rallies across the state seems to have buoyed the conservative cause.
Needless to say, “to be continued …”
Comments
By HeyMaker on April 24th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Hugh Leatherman is interested in one thing – and one thing only. Consolidating his personal power and putting special interests above our state’s interests.
Just Google -> Green Bean Museum, booting conservative judges, Coastal Carolina arena, gloom and doom budgeting, etc.
It’s really despicable. What benefit is there from attacking a lame duck governor (and fellow Republican) on TV? The answer, of course, is that in the King of Pork’s mind, no one should be more powerful or influential than he – despite the fact that he represents 1/46th of the state’s population. Above all, Leatherman believes he can personally derail the governor’s growing national stature. Tea parties? Who cares! They’re not your tax dollars – they’re Hugh Leatherman’s.
Leatherman and the remaining obstructionists in the SC Senate (Knotts, Hayes, O’Dell, Alexander, and Rankin) refuse to go down without a fight – they don’t really care if my small business is taxed to death or if politicians meddle with the economy. They truly believe government is the answer to all our problems – regardless of cost, results, or efficiency.
I just hope their supposedly Republican voters will one day wake up.
By craig on April 24th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Will, you worried about the Gov’s poor on camera performance in his ad, heck, compared to those two losers, Sanford is going to look like Cary Grant on TV.
By P Branton on April 24th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Sic,
THAT’s not all…….
The wagons are being circled at the Post and Courier too…..
The bombshell fiasco that is NOT being reported is the CLAMPDOWN in the MEDIA…!!!! Case in point is the coverage of the Myrtle BEACH wildfire…!!!
Lonnie Carter and Santee should be taking this on the CHIN on a number of FRONTS. Along with Henry Brown, James Clyburn, Robert Ford, Harrell, McConnell, Utility CEOs and BOARD Memberz, ……. When taxpayerz wakeup to the POWER of our COASTAL wind that is NOT Being harnessed and is FANNING the wild fire FLAMES….!?!?! Holy….COW..!!!
You mean GE workers right here in our STATE will work to build TURBINES for foreign countries but NOT ..FOR ..SOUTH…CAROLINA..!!!!!??
The Post and Courier stopped all comments from being ENTERED once LONNIE CARTER was educated about our COASTAL WIND…by readers !?!?!
We wonder who is funding this MEDIA blitz……hmm ??
WELL, it does NOT take a Sherlock to know that it leads back to OIL and DIESEL and COAL and RAIL…!?!?!?!
Will Andre BAUER stand UP for GE Workers……????
Will Andre Bauer stand UP to McConnell and Harrell and Leatherman..!?!?!
If Andre does NOT stand by SANFORD on this…!?!? Is it hard to conclude that HE WILL NOT STAND BY ….TAXPAYERz..!?!?! ….AT ..ALL ???
My Backside…..?!?!
By Just Checking on April 24th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
P Branton,
Are all the problems of the state/world tied back to Santee Cooper? Or are you a disgruntled employee that got canned for spending to much time complaining on blogs versus working?
By CUAlum85 on April 24th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
If there is any question on where these folks stand check out the following attempt to allow common sense government that failed due to the Republican voting:
Amendment No. 1
Senator ROSE proposed the following Amendment No. 1 (3581R001.MTR), which was tabled:
Amend the joint resolution as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered new SECTION to read:
/ SECTION ___. For fiscal year 2009-2010, if the actual amount appropriated to the Local Government Fund is less than the amount appropriated for fiscal year 2008-2009, a political subdivision receiving aid from the fund may reduce its support to any state mandated program or requirement by up to a percentage equal to the percentage reduction in the actual amount appropriated to the Local Government Fund. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Senator ROSE explained the amendment.
Senator LEATHERMAN moved to lay the amendment on the table.
PRESIDENT PRESIDES
At 12:22 P.M., the PRESIDENT assumed the Chair.
The “ayes” and “nays” were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Ayes 22; Nays 20
AYES
Alexander Anderson Coleman
Courson Cromer Elliott
Hayes Jackson Knotts
Land Leatherman Leventis
Lourie Malloy Matthews
McConnell Nicholson Peeler
Rankin Reese Scott
Setzler
Total–22
NAYS
Bright Bryant Campbell
Campsen Cleary Davis
Fair Grooms Martin, L.
Massey McGill Mulvaney
O’Dell Rose Ryberg
Sheheen Shoopman Thomas
Verdin Williams
By Ron on April 24th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
“The two most powerful lawmakers in South Carolina are working to undercut Gov. Mark Sanford with a new TV ad, sources tell FITS, the latest drama in an ongoing GOP power struggle”
Will, Bobby H. isn’t going to appreciate your not crediting him with being among the two most powerful a holes in the general assembly. Shame,Will, Shame,Shame!! Also Annette won’t like this a little bit.
LOL
By BC on April 24th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Both the General Assembly and the governor are missing the mark with this one. Everyone can say what they please but the reality is, the money is available and needs to be used for what it is intended for. Gov. Sanford has compared the State Stabilization Funds to an average citizen winning the lottery. The reality is simple, this is not the lottery and the State of South Carolina is not an average citizen. These are specific funds intended for a specific purpose to allot time for state officials to actively work in correcting their budgets for the near future. That’s it! Gov. Sanford needs to take this opportunity to actually lead the freak’n state of South Carolina. He needs to work with the General Assembly in addressing the immediate issues on the table. As it currently stands, a few hundred teachers losing their jobs in a state at the bottom of most academic/educational standard rankings is to many. The numbers don’t lie and even several school districts have spoken up about using carryforward funds to lighten the blow and push through the rest of the fiscal year. Even with the stimulus money, school districts are going to have to make cuts but at least they will not be as severe without it.
I am not preaching larger government totally, this is actually one area I agree with Gov. Sanford on. Yet, how he is trying to get his message across will put several hundred if not a few thousand state and school district employees in unemployment lines across the state. This I do not agree with especially if someone has thrown you a lifeline to temporary stay the damage. My proposal is simple, either reverse those tax cuts initiated prior to this fiscal year or systematically start reducing government over a two year period. That’s it! These are the only two directions both the governor’s office or the general assembly needs to consider. Lastly, I present one point and that is this; if Gov. Sanford is so strong on fiscal responsibility why hasn’t anyone in his office been furloughed? State agencies (including the General Assembly) have experienced reductions in staff or furloughs to save money. Yet, no one in the governor’s office has been affected nor has any plans been done to perform this action. Thanks Gov. Sanford, apparently its ok for other state employees to be laid off but its not ok for anyone on your staff.
By mark g on April 25th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Leatherman, McConnell and Sanford = the Three Stooges.
South Carolina has become a sink hole thanks to their collective “leadership.”
By lou on April 25th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Sanfraud should be undercut and soon.
Who does Marky Mark want to cut a check to anyway?
Who does the state of SC need to pay?
Are we being blackmailed in any way?
Quick, someone google FMR, LLC. FMR owned: Countrywide, significant shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Discover, Unum Provident, Fidelity Investments, GM, Chrysler, Circuit City….
does any of this sound familiar????
By Richard on April 25th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
There are no two bigger fools in SC politics than McConnell and Leatherman. They are the detriment of SC’s growth and prosperity! Add Harrell to the mix and we are pig sweat in the heat of the summer swamp.
By Mab on April 26th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Listen to this scaled-down, kindergarten-friendly explanation of what this ’stimulus’ spending really is:
“like taking water from the deep end of a pool, pouring it into the shallow end, and expecting the water level to rise.”
“Meltdown” by Thomas E. Woods, Jr., p. 78 – Regnery Publishing, 2009
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The Democrat Socialists…even the leprechaun should be able to internalize that.