McMaster’s Proximity, Stupidity Problems Collide

We knew that S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster would be setting new land speed records when it came to sucking up to trial lawyers (and sucking in their cash) during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

We also knew he was dumb as a box of rocks … which when you stop and think about it is an insult to boxes of rocks everywhere.

Anyway, those two worlds have officially collided in the form of McMaster’s refusal to return $7,000 in campaign contributions … from a pair of lawyers he hired to represent the state.

As Attorney General, McMaster gets to hire outside counsel to represent the state on various cases – which is probably a good thing given his legendary ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, legally-speaking.

Well it turns out that two attorneys McMaster hired in 2006 – on a no-bid basis – turned around and donated big bucks to his campaign account over the next few years.  According to the 1991 ethics reforms, that’s a big “no-no,” although McMaster is apparently too dumb to see it that way.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with those contributions,” McMaster spokesman Mark Plowden told the Associated Press last week.

Really?  Okay …

McMaster – who has been raking in the trial lawyer money in his gubernatorial campaign – must have other contributions that fit this description, otherwise why would he make such a stink over a measly $7,000?

Or maybe it’s a future tense thing – like he’s hoping in the months ahead to rake in some major bank from attorneys he’s hired in the past.

Either way, it’s wrong – which is why there’s a law against it.

Meanwhile, the combination of McMaster’s “proximity (to trial lawyers)” and “stupidity” issues is a clear “lose-lose” for his front-running campaign.

Comments