Reading Is …
Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat …
S.C. lawmakers aren’t celebrities – and anybody who says they are is no doubt getting paid a pretty penny (of your money) to say so.
They are legends in their own minds, people, and the fact that anyone familiar with their legendary incompetence when it comes to educating the public would portray them as spokespersons for reading … well, let’s just say that’s what a South Carolina public education will get you.
Come to think of it, we’re amazed some of these lawmakers can read themselves!
Nonetheless, as part of its efforts to support reading, the S.C. Association of Public Library Administrators decided it would be a good idea to print up a bunch of posters of these “celebrity” lawmakers.
From the Florence Library homepage:
The South Carolina Association of Public Library Administrators began the South Carolina Celebrities Read poster campaign to highlight celebrities throughout our state who are avid readers and supporters of public libraries. Librarians approached state senators, representatives, authors, and television & radio personalities to pose for a READ poster with their favorite books. These photos were then digitally converted to posters, printed by the State Printer and given to legislators.
As word spread about the popularity of the posters and publicity came about, several speakers and authors who have appeared at our library for Friends programs decided to contribute their photos and now many South Carolina public libraries display S.C. Celebrities READ posters that promote an interest in reading throughout the state.
So let’s get this straight … we’re going to teach our state’s illiterate kids to read by printing promotional posters for state lawmakers (most of which are serving a vanity purpose on the walls of their taxpayer-funded offices)?
Yeah … that oughta do it!
Assuming you hate yourself … and we mean really, really, really hate yourself, you can sample the entire “SC Celebrities Read” gallery by clicking here.
We’ve included a select collection of these inbreds (well, minus the lovely Nikki Haley, of course) below.
WEB EXTRA
ENTIRE “SC CELEBRITIES READ” GALLERY
(click on each thumbnail for a larger image)
Gresham Barrett
Keeeny Bingham
Danny Cooper
Nikki Haley
Brad Hutto
Doug Jennings
Hugh Leatherman
Glenn McConnell
Billy O'Dell
Harvey Peeler
Rex Rice
Rita Allison
Comments
By FITS not Represented? on December 10th, 2009 at 10:03 am
So, you don’t read?
I think it is a shameless way for these politicians to get ‘free’ publicity. Does this mean that during an election/campaign that the challenger gets a poster hung in each of these libraries too?
By PasserBy on December 10th, 2009 at 10:20 am
FITS:
Holy crap! With everything going wrong in this state & country, we have to look at this too? I couldn’t help but note on the list: No governor (so much for being the “leader” of the state), and no superintendent of education (why would we want the “chief educator” to encourage kids to read, anyhow?).
By sclawboy on December 10th, 2009 at 10:24 am
So Glenn McConnell is holding up a book with an evil Sith lord on the cover. How fitting…
Oh, and I’ll be much more impressed if Peeler can actually read the book he is holding.
By Reality Check on December 10th, 2009 at 10:40 am
At this point, any attempt to improve our state’s literacy rate is a step in the right direction. While these politicians may not be legitimate “celebrities”, there is no doubt that they are public figures sending a positive message to our school children. Though it would be more accurate for the posters to say, “Leaders Read” or something along that line, I support their efforts.
By Unbelievable on December 10th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Isn’t this just using our tax dollars to build their name ID? Where is the outrage? If Bard “Green Teeth” Hutto wants to get his face on 1000 posters, why isn’t he paying for it himself?
Maybe we could name a road after him..wait..taht’s already been done, too, right?
By philip branton on December 10th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Yes …that’s the one thing that has been accomplished by Anne Petersen Hutto ….!?! Right there in the Folly Beach Library…!!!
It is a great point being made about having the opposition represented as well with their own POSTER..!!
The least that these officials could do would be to at least promote books for citizens and kids to LEARN about Boeing AIRPLANE manufacturing or GE Wind Turbine LOCATION all over our STATE..!?!
OUR state SUCKS….!!! (But I will die to protect it..)
By Brian on December 10th, 2009 at 11:54 am
At least Haley had the good sense to pose with her kids. The rest of these… AWKWARD! Oh, the LULZ!
By Joseph Reynolds on December 10th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I am suprised no one had a book by ann coulter in their hands.
By philip branton on December 10th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
ROFL…..LOL
Joe “Piscopo” Reynolds…..!!!!
Well…at least Anne has a “GREEN” backdrop….!!!!
LOL…
By tammy on December 10th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
LOL. Thanks for sharing that. Too funny. Our elected officials reading ‘green eggs and ham.’ And…that’s about where we are in SC. I like the ones pretending to read Walter Edgar’s history book. That’s probably the BIGGEST book some of them have ever seen.
By Todd on December 10th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I was at AC Flora today with time to kill – the teacher forgot she had a meeting with me – and saw that one of the assistant principals had one of these posters also. Where do we line up to get them?
By Overruled on December 10th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Most of the kids that they are pointing this to can’t vote people. If it helps the literacy rates, then all for it. Rather them, than Michael “Bong” Phelps or Sic “Domestic Violence” Willie, or Mark “Adulterer” Sanford….
By Swampfox on December 10th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Where does this go on the campaign finance report? What does the FEC have to say. I assume they will posting their book reprts on their websites for all to see(if you have proper security clearance.
How about a REAL celebrity like C.J. Spiller.
By Brandon on December 10th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
What, no Bible readers?
By Toyota Kawaski on December 10th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
At Least Mr. Hutto picked a good book to read.
By really???? on December 10th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Am I the only one who thinks they should all be holding “An Idiots Guide To Politics”.
By Pat Hendrix on December 10th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
The McConnell one is precious. The alien-like creature sitting on his head looks like it might soar off into space.
By Alec on December 10th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Only in South Carolina would a bunch of crooked rednecks be called “celebrities” because they dole out money to bankroll a bunch of local government hicks. None of these people could ever get a job in the real world. Which is why we have so few “real world” jobs in our state.
Seriously, Will – even though this is disturbing on some level, it is still the funniest damn thing I’ve seen in a loooong time. Nice catch, dude!
By Huhhh??? on December 10th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Rex Rice has a Bible.
By Huhhh??? on December 10th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Brad Hutto is the scuzziest looking politician I’ve ever seen. Green teeth and stubble…uuuuuuuuhhh.
By Heidi on December 10th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Alec – it is funny. It’s so funny it makes me want to roll it all into a ‘Literate SC Citizens Who Want to Kill Themselves’ fond memory.
By Jack Mehoff on December 10th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
The perpetual Susan Smith moment… for the love of God… Pete Oh FWE…
By Scooter on June 17th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Ha! But let me be serious for a minute. I do not care to see Haley with her pitiful husband, or clueless children. Major gag response happens. I only hope that she will slink away into the night.