By FITSNews || In news that should come as a shock to absolutely no one, South Carolina has been listed as one of the seven most “sleazy” states in America by Newsweek Magazine.
“One of?”
Please … we got off easy, people.
Also on the list? Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Rhode Island. In an interesting journalistic exercise, the magazine selected editorial staffers who hailed from each state do the writing.
In addition to roasting S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford, Rep. Joe Wilson, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and others, here’s an excerpt from South Carolina native Carl Sullivan’s “Palmetto Politics …”
South Carolina, it seems, is never too far from the seedier side of national political conversation. In the first presidential election for which I was eligible to vote, 1988, political consultant and native son Lee Atwater was working his magic against Michael Dukakis. Remember the infamous Willie Horton ad that played on racially tinged fear of crime? Atwater atoned for his political sins before dying of a brain tumor in 1991. But his take-no-prisoners style of campaigning lived on in his colleague Karl Rove. Just this week, Rove denied having anything to do with a nasty whisper campaign in South Carolina’s 2000 Republican presidential primary. Someone was spreading the false rumor that Sen. John McCain had fathered an illegitimate black child, which helped McCain lose to George W. Bush. (Why doesn’t any of this stuff ever happen in North Carolina?!)
Hmmmm … who was that “someone?”
We know now, don’t we …
WEB EXTRA
Whose State? My State! (Newsweek)
Does South Carolina Have The Most Embarrassing Government? (Newsweek)
By Recovering Lobbyist March 12, 2010 at 5:29 pm
From the sleaziest news magazine. Takes one to know one.
By Katherine Jenerette March 12, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Please tell me it ain’t so. They have just gone a bit too far this time.
We might have a colorful political history and such and we might talk kind of funny and drive pick-up trucks with Carolina Girl stickers and I might have said something about doing a bit more than whistling Dixie to Nancy Pelosi in a Congressional elevator…
But this? Please tell me it ain’t so.
Come to think of it, I do feel right at home.
By K. Eisenberg March 12, 2010 at 7:39 pm
I nominate Robert V. Royall, described by Fritz Hollings as “the most powerful politician in South Carolina” to the sleeze list.
Royall’s hand is invisible but always on the roulette wheel.
What a low-life.
By Todd March 12, 2010 at 8:49 pm
And the article doesn’t even mention, Tom Ravenel, Eckstroms, that department of education lady who was home-schooling and writing internet porn, Richland School Dist 1, Fairfield County School District, the DSS guy Paul Moore, Jean Toal, Jakie Knotts, Operation Lost Trust, about ten magistrates – Brad Hutto and his do-boy magistrate, E.W.Cromartie, Jean Toal (again – the Greenville lawyers she let walk in the Homegold case), Nelson Motors in toto, Glenn McConnell and the Hunley,,,,,, Whew!!!! And that’s just off the top of my head having a drink and watching MSU stomp Florida.
By Neverendingsaga March 12, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Let’s not forget Clemson administrators giving themselves 30% pay increases while telling faculty and staff that no money existed for raises — then forcing everyone to take five-day furloughs. Let us also not forget those same individuals altering personnel files in retaliation for whistle-blowing.
By BIN News Editorial Staff March 12, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Kombat Katherine is becoming a regular on this porn blog. She’d be better off polishing her boots and trying to find a few votes.
She’s going to need them.
sic(k) willie, why didn’t you have a pic of Kombat Katherine on your Spring Break post? Just wondering.
By southernmapart March 13, 2010 at 12:08 am
Spreading rumors against McCain was not the only thing “someone” did to get a favorable vote for Bush.
The state was having party controlled primaries at that time, Reps had theirs and another date, Dems had theirs.
During the Republican primary, in the northern part of the state in precincts where McCain was favored, the precincts were closed. The precincts that favored Bush were open for voters.
Now that would tilt the outcome just a little, doncha think?
By Earl Capps March 13, 2010 at 12:16 am
Every time I hear the “Willie Horton” crap, it makes me sick. Dukakis’ people were the ones who had the dossier on Joe Biden’s plagiarism and leaked it to the press (http://articles.latimes.com/1987-10-02/local/me-7478_1).
They played hardball, and someone else played hardball with them. They railroaded Biden, and in turn got railroaded. Then Bush got beat four years later. What comes around, goes around.
By me March 13, 2010 at 12:48 am
dont worry, if jenerette gets elected we can add another notch to our sleaze belt!
By MOHANNA March 13, 2010 at 3:57 am
The problem (among many to choose from) the Sleazy wear this prouncement as a badge of honor. SC is the Ickiest state.
By Old Bike Dude March 13, 2010 at 6:40 am
Hey KomWom, the more you slap yourself on the back the more I believe Pelosi gives you an elevator bitch smackdown. Do yourself a favor and stfu about your dumbass elevator comment. And you should feel right at home.
By The Colonel March 13, 2010 at 7:00 am
Newsweek’s a rag, this stuff (and more) happens in North Carolina, and Georgia, and Washington State and…
What makes it fun to pick on us is that we take it genteelly. Let’s look at some of our sister states:
Sanford – small potatoes, at least he had the decency to go somewhere to have his assignation. Let’s look at the Luv Gov of New Jersey, who not only had an extramarital (homosexual) affair but the story is that he did it in his office – oh yeah, he tried to keep it covered up with political favors. Nobody in their right mind insults somebody “FROM JOISY, WHAT ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THAT I’LL KICK YOUR F…….” but we’re not in their league.
Even Pitchfork Tillman doesn’t rise to the level of Huey P “Kingfish” Long of Louisiana – we’re nowhere near their class of sleaze.
New York – Two governors in a row, nope, not in their class at all.
Ohio – really, what “gang” have we ever had on the national political scene? The “Ohio Gang” came to power with Harding – think Teapot Dome. Nowhere near that level of sleaze
Illinois – if you can’t think of one on your own, you need to go back to reading the funny papers – we are definitely not at the Daley machine sleaze level.
Rhode Island? Last two chief justices have stepped down, state bank scandal, nope we’re not in their class either.
Mark’s a ‘ho, Wilson was rude (but right), Poor Little Lauren was confused but sleaziest in the nation – I think not? After some consideration, we are to sleaze what we are to education 49th at best…
By Ynotfirst March 13, 2010 at 7:13 am
nor does it mention “helicopter ben” bernanke and Congressional Budget office overseer John Spratt.
Yes SC has sleazy politicans and people, it’s time for that to change.
VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBANTS!
By sunnyvaiboy March 13, 2010 at 11:32 am
Why would anyone be surprised or upset with the Newsweek list? The good people @ FITSNews keep us updated daily on our politician scum bags and their handlers.
By No Name March 13, 2010 at 11:43 am
Todd take some time and make this list more formal…I think you have about 25% of the juiciest.
Or Fits should run a poll of a contest and then list it….we had the 100 most powerful….the best looking….why not the 100 sleaziest people or events of the last 30 years.
By Katherine Jenerette March 13, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Okay, just because it’s Saturday night live in South Carolina politics.
Situation: Four people get on an elevator and it gets stuck between floors. They are named BIN, Old Bike Dude, Katherine and Pelosi. Which one gets out first?
a. The one who wants to draft off the tri-chick and is not FOP or BOP but yells Semper Fi?
b. The one who has a female boss that doesn’t exist but is really ‘Hooked on FITS’?
c. The tight lipped one who uses the time to compose a press release that there will not be a public elevator insurance option included in any future bill before the U.S. House?
d. The one who whistles Dixie and says ‘Vote for me or go to hell – I’ll go to Afghanistan’?
Stay tuned…
By SnakeMD March 14, 2010 at 8:31 am
When I was producing slogans for politicos, prom themes, and bar mitzvah’s Lee Atwater bought one of my slogans: “A Hundred Points of Illumination” and he twisted it around and sold it to the speech writer for G.H.W. Bush. “A Thousand Points of Light” actually originated in a bar in 5-Points on St. Patrick’s Day. And now you know the rest of the sleazy story…
By Recovering Lobbyist March 14, 2010 at 10:40 am
Ok, Wil, now BIN is attacking other posters, not just you. I am sure you don’t want to do this, but I think it is time that you block BIN from commenting on your blog. Clearly BIN has nothing constructive to contribute to this or any other forum.
By BIN News Eidtorial Staff March 14, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Kombat Katherine’s elevator has never gone all the way up. OldBikeDude will likely want to know if her elevator has ever gone all the way down, but he can ask her that question himself.
Until then she needs to spend less time on sic(k) willie’s porn site and more time finding votes. She’s going to need them in her futile attempt to get her elevator going up.
Still wondering why sic(k) willie didn’t feature a pic of Kombat Katherine on his Spring Break post:
http://www.jenerette.com/photos4a/content/DSC07998_Edit_2_large.html
By me March 14, 2010 at 7:26 pm
probably because kombat katherine is the joke of this election and he doesnt want to hurt her feelings? She’ll be lucky to get 5% in the primary
By Todd March 14, 2010 at 7:44 pm
sunnyvaiboy: And thank goodness Sic Willie does try to keep us informed or we would really become a more of a state of archarchy.
By baker March 14, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Will, I think I interviewed you once about the “Swift-boating” in 2004 as it related to SC and John McCain’s comments that what Team Bush was doing to John Kerry was the same stuff they did to him. You were with the Governor’s office then.
By fastmouth March 14, 2010 at 8:24 pm
All of these politicians are a nothing but a bunch of self-servers. They are there to suit themselves and reap the benefits. The perks and power far beat the salary. I firmly believe in term limits and think that they should be implemented immediately – not a chance!
By General Washington March 14, 2010 at 9:07 pm
While I dont agree with BIN, ever, it does seem desperate of Jenrette to have such a constant presence on this site. Glad we are not facebook friends……..
I am trying to think of any other candidate or politician that has ever commented on this site, can anyone help me with this game?
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By Cooter Brown March 15, 2010 at 6:48 am
Colonel– yer rite on da damn monie!
By BV March 15, 2010 at 9:20 am
GW,
I’m not convinced KJ wrote many of her comments. They’re just so peculiar, clumsy and immature. And that “come hither” picture she uses. Has she no friends who can honestly advise her?
I suspect her husband is writing at least some of these comments. Maybe he’s deliberately undermining her campaign or maybe he’s drunk. He must be terrified out of his mind as his trial looms and he needs a distraction.
By Darth March 15, 2010 at 11:47 am
Y’all do know we’re not talking about John “the Stairmaster” Jenrette, right? Though the only real Swift Boat IS in Mt Pleasant and the cloaca maximus might allow downtwon Chuck to claim it.
By CNChapin March 15, 2010 at 11:52 am
Glad to see that the editorial staff over at BIN news finally figured out how to spell “editorial.” I guess even a blind squirrel eventually finds a nut.
By CNChapin March 15, 2010 at 11:54 am
Oops! I spoke too soon, looks like there is still one brain surgeon over at BIN news that still can’t spell “editorial.” First post, spelled correctly. Second post, EPIC fail.
Damn, even when you tell them they’re stupid they just keep doing the same thing!
By Greg Walton March 16, 2010 at 7:25 am
Katherine Jenerette got 19%, most of the votes challenging incumbent Rep. Brown in the last primary, whos not in the race this year.
She was the only one with cojones to declare the run for Brown’s seat, probably making him see the writing on the wall and decide to retire, and for that alone we should be grateful to her. Only after Brown got out all the Punxatawny Phils came out from their holes in the ground, saw their shadows and thought it was a good time to run for an open seat.
And why should anybody worry about Nifongate lawsuit? Remember how the original worked out? Crystal Gail Mangum is still playing out one of the final acts of that, she is being held on one million dollars bail for attempted first degree murder, arson, identity theft child abuse, communicating threats… http://law.rightpundits.com/?p=1243