By FITSNews || Republican Attorney General candidate Leighton Lord is facing criticism for something that most politicians would typically consider to be a “plus” – the leadership role he played in an economic development deal that is bringing thousands of new jobs to the Palmetto State.
Such is the new political landscape we’re operating in, people … where any government-funded “economic development” effort is automatically viewed with a large (and healthy) dose of skepticism.
Lord is being criticized by a group called the American Future Fund (a.k.a. these guys) for his role as the corporate attorney who negotiated the deal that brought Boeing to South Carolina. In fact, an entire series of ads is being planned to target the massive taxpayer-funded incentives package that the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer received in exchange for agreeing to locate its second 787 Dreamliner facility in North Charleston.
Since Boeing’s decision was first announced last October, the size of the company’s incentives deal – which AFF is calling a “bailout” – has mushroomed to more than twice the original amount approved by lawmakers.
Ultimately, it could cost taxpayers as much as $900 million.
“With businesses across South Carolina struggling, the power brokers in Columbia gave a sweetheart deal to one company,” AFF charges. “(They) billed it as ‘economic development’ for Charleston but it’s really massive new debt and taxpayers are on the hook — with no real accountability for Boeing to keep its end of the deal.”
To check out AFF’s “Boeing Bailout” site for yourself, click here.
Lord told WYFF TV 4 (NBC – Greenville, S.C.) that the attack against him was an attempt to pit one region of the state against another.
“I think someone out there is trying to play against regions,” Lord told the station. “They want people in the Upstate to be against people in Charleston. The ad is only being played in the Upstate not Charleston. Go figure.”
Also running for Attorney General as Republicans are former prosecutor Robert Bolchoz and Alan Wilson, son of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson. Columbia attorney Matthew Richardson is running as a Democrat.
By Groundball April 6, 2010 at 7:53 am
I’ve not made up my mind in this race, nor do I know that much about Lord. However, once again people are criticized for doing something by those who have never done anything.
By oh My April 6, 2010 at 8:29 am
American Future Fund failed to mention in their “ad” that the General Contracting firm building the Boeing plant is from the Upstate and employs more than 2,000 people.
By JWilliams April 6, 2010 at 8:46 am
In this economy I feel like South Carolinians should be graciously accepting any company like Boeing to locate in our state. BMW has provided so many jobs in the upstate, all the organizations that have come to Florence have done wonders for that area so its about time we had a strong company like Boeing in the lowcountry. It’s not an easy feat to get a company like that in SC, but we need it!
By Ynotfirst April 6, 2010 at 8:49 am
vote Democrat this year folks.
By Joseph Reynolds April 6, 2010 at 8:56 am
You say such deals are “automatically viewed with a large does of skepticism”, implying that the majority of South Carolinians are against bringing Boeing, or BMW, or any other “game changer” to the state.
I challenge you to find more than a handful who feel that BMW was a bad investment, even though the same claims were made about it.
And (again) the numbers being thrown out are skewed, dubious and meaningless when taken out of context. $900,000,000 is thrown out there in an effort to scare folk, yet no where is mentioned how much will be paid by 3800 workers making about $50,000 a year in property, income and sale taxes. Over $300,000,000 of the “cost” is a 30 year figure of exempting them from property taxes. How much do you think we will MAKE in other taxes over the same 30 year period?
Furthermore, of the $900,000,000…it appears that $100,000,000 is the assumed cost of exempting 2 airplanes that are not even in SC, and would NEVER be in SC without this deal. So how can you count as a “cost” something that does not even exist? Besides, what would stop Boeing from just basing them in Delaware, like every other plane owner does in SC already?
Your basic premise that we should always view such deals with a fine and close attention is valid, and pertinent. The whole Sembler fiasco is evidence of what the General Assembly is capable of doing if left unchallenged.
But, a deal such as this should not be fodder the political septic tank that defines South Carolina politics, and I find it sad that we have politicians that will do so in their ego driven efforts to get themselves elected.
By Matt April 6, 2010 at 9:08 am
Looking at all these AG candidates make me wish someone like Tommy Pope was running for this thing–instead of going for small potatoes and trying to win a State House seat by knocking off the one Democrat who happens to be more fiscally conservative than like half the House GOP Caucus (Herb Kirsh).
By uptown downtown April 6, 2010 at 9:13 am
Like they say, if you are catching heat, you are on target. I don’t know much about Mr. Lord either, but it seems these attack ads are made by people who have jobs- not the thousands of people in South Carolina without jobs. Not to mention what these high skilled jobs will do for our economy and education systems.
By Cliff Seegars April 6, 2010 at 9:19 am
Lord spearheaded this effort to bring jobs to South Carolina. Instead of criticizing those who are trying to bolster our economy, why don’t we work to get people like Lord elected to office so that we can continue to prosper the way our great state should.
By Mallory April 6, 2010 at 9:31 am
Sembler got stripped in the Senate, but is it truly dead? Sic, are you keeping tabs on that deal in the House? Odds are that, in the end, Ryberg and Davis will get rolled.
By Scott April 6, 2010 at 9:33 am
Something smells about this….frankly, I think that Robert Cahaly [Lord's consultant] is behind this sophomoric attack.
By Error April 6, 2010 at 9:34 am
Matthew Richardson lives and works in Columbia, not Greeenville.
By R April 6, 2010 at 9:59 am
Nice Onion headline.
By 20gage4life April 6, 2010 at 10:01 am
Leighton Lord is an outstanding candidate for AG. He exudes leadership and has the experience SC needs to be our state’s chief prosecutor. Bringing Boeing to South Carolina was a wonderful thing and I applaud his efforts. Boeing brings jobs, economic development and increases revenue for our state. Vote for Leighton on June 8th!
By southernmapart April 6, 2010 at 10:13 am
The whole “Boeing Bailout” claim is difficult to comprehend without some better explanation of the terms of the deal and confirmation of the ultimate cost to taxpayers.
The claim that the deal is exploiting “regionalism” in the state does not hold water. GE Turbines in Greenville is peeling off a new division for contracts with Boeing and here in the upstate, we have a lot of small subs dealing with contractors for GE, which is contracting with Boeing.
By S.C. Prosecutor April 6, 2010 at 12:10 pm
The Boeing deal will likely be a positive for the SC, although as FITS has pointed out, we may have to wait and see whether the $900 million in sweetheart provisions given by the General Assembly are worth the boost to the job market in the Lowcountry.
Aside from arguing the merits of the Boeing deal, the more relevant question here is how any of this makes Leighton Lord qualified to be the next AG of our State? If brokering commercial development deals is his specialty, shouldn’t he be angling to be the next department head over at Commerce or run for a Legislative seat?
We need an Attorney General who is a proven crime fighter and who understands the needs of both law enforcement and the court system, so that they can effectively do what is the #1 job of government: protect its citizens and maintain order in society. Alan Wilson is the only candidate in the field that fits that description. Half of the SC Sheriffs have already endorsed Alan because they know that he has walked into courtrooms around the state over the past several years and put criminals behind bars. Alan is clearly the best candidate for the job and Leighton Lord knows it, hence the playing of the Boeing card because it is politically expedient for him to do so.
By Rylyn April 6, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Lord is the most qualified and best candidate for the position as Attorney General not because of something he did or didn’t do to get Boeing to SC. This actually doesn’t have anything to do with who is the best candidate. He was doing his job as an attorney which is what he will do when elected – He will do the job he is elected to do. Now as for the Boeing Deal – it’s just like BMW you have to give something to get something. We fought to get the Boeing Deal in SC and not let it go to Washington State. In a state with 13% unemployment you would think these “folks” would be happy to have new job opportunities…You just can’t make some people happy
By Parker April 6, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Leighton Lord is clearly proud of his role in the Boeing deal. Seems to me he wants to be Governor, not AG. He’s a nice man — but he’s running for the wrong office.
By JD April 6, 2010 at 2:21 pm
To Rylyn: “Lord is the most qualified and best candidate for the position as Attorney General . . .” What experience does Lord have as a prosecutor? The AG is the chief prosecuting officer of the State. I do not think Lord has ever prosecuted a criminal case.
To S.C. Prosecutor: “We need an Attorney General who is a proven crime fighter . . . Alan Wilson is the only candidate in the field that fits that description” I beg to differ. Robert Bolchoz has much more experience than either Wilson or Lord. Bolchoz has served as an Assistant Solicitor, Deputy Solicitor, Special Assistant United States Attorney and Chief Deputy Attorney General. He has prosecuted hundreds of cases. He also has great experience in the private sector, both in law and in business. He is the most qualified to be the next AG.
By John Steinberger April 6, 2010 at 6:17 pm
While Boeing is a great company and a great addition to South Carolina’s corporate community, we need to stop our system of letting the government pick winners and losers in the economy. Eliminating the state income tax will put up the “Welcome” sign for all businesses, large and small!
By Jeffy April 6, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Bolchoz is the clear choice.
By Huhhh??? April 6, 2010 at 8:42 pm
A good defense attorney does not make a good prosecuting attorney, and vice versa.
A good, experienced prosecuter is what we need to start taking more corruption cases to the State Grand Jury, not some back room, deal cutting business lawyer.
By drgenesis April 14, 2010 at 3:22 pm
The AFF ad running on the local radio station is infuriating and not for the reason you may think. It is obviously written by an idiot. In one of the parting lines the ad states that “the next time you are driving south on I 26…” Since when can you drive south on I 26? The entire premise of the ad is a farce.