Thoughts On The Rick Quinn Candidacy

We bash the consulting firm of Richard Quinn and Associates almost every day around here – deservedly so, we might add.

They’re RINOs, they represent RINOs and their “at-the-hip” affiliation with sacred establishment cows (like the S.C. trial lawyer lobby, Clemson University, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley and the State Ports Authority, just to name a few) indisputably proves this firm’s unswerving allegiance to our state’s failed status quo.

Or the almighty dollar, one of the two.

The “Quinndom” has also gotten quite a bit nastier in their status quo subservience in recent years, mirroring the tactics of state’s other full-fledged RINO brigade, run by the infinitely less scrupulous J. Warren Tompkins.

Additionally, we have plenty of fun around here beating up on the firm’s paid political mouthpiece, The Palmetto Pooper Scooper, which relentlessly shills for Quinn candidates like “Kneejerk” Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham, Glenn McConnell, John Courson and literally dozens of other RINOs who are represented by the firm.

Accordingly, you’d think we would be unilaterally opposed to the rumored “re-candidacy” of Rick Quinn, the former House Majority leader who was defeated in 2004 by conservative champion Nathan Ballentine.

Quinn is reportedly eyeing a run at the House seat currently held by Rep. Ted Pitts, who is running for Lt. Governor.

So what are our initial thoughts on Quinn’s “re-foray” into the political speculation game?

Honestly? We don’t have much of a problem with it – and that’s not because Quinn was one of our founding editor’s bestest Golden Tee video golf buddies back in the day.

As always, we’re moved by the numbers. And people’s records.

For example, take a look at the record of the S.C. House of Representatives when it was ruled by former Speaker David Wilkins and Quinn – and then compare that to the record of current Speaker Bobby Harrell and his RINOcrat army of big government “fluffers,” led by completely worthless big government sycophants like Jimmy Merrill and Kenny Bingham.

We’re not saying Quinn and Wilkins were perfect fiscal conservatives – far from it, in fact – but the indisputable fact is that they were miles ahead of the current crop of “Republican” leaders during their time at the helm.

In fact, under Wilkins and Quinn, huge chunks of Gov. Mark Sanford’s conservative agenda were passed by the S.C. House. Amazing by today’s standards, we know.

Sure, Senate President Glenn McConnell and his RINOcrat brigade conspired to kill all of those reforms, but Wilkins and Quinn – despite having many other faults – did shepherd significant reforms through their chamber.

Now don’t get us wrong, Rep. Ballentine has been an agent for real change in a way that Quinn has never been – and may never be – but it’s hard to argue that Quinn is a 100% status quo supporter given his prior record.

Also, as the current Chairman of the S.C. Policy Council Board of Directors, Quinn has been unwavering in his defense of the increasingly-effective work of this decidely “anti-status quo” organization.

In addition to publicly supporting the organization’s policy directives, Quinn also backed Policy Council President Ashley Landess as she withstood a furious, full-fledged assault from Speaker Harrell during last year’s government transparency debate.

Clearly, a 100% status quo supporter would have shown Landess the door given such an aggressive campaign by the most powerful lawmaker in Columbia, but Quinn stood his ground.

So yeah … we’re not sure what to make of Quinn’s candidacy.

Based on his affiliation with his father’s political consulting firm, it’s impossible to endorse him.

But based on his previous record and strong support for one of the most vocal, influential conservative advocates in South Carolina politics, it’s also impossible to pour too much cold water on his prospective bid.