By FITSNews || Gay love? Herpes?
No, this isn’t a Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton post, it’s a commentary on the sad state of affairs that has befallen the race for State Treasurer in South Carolina, where bare-knuckled political brawling is the norm and no attack is considered too low.
The front-runner in the race is incumbent Converse Chellis, a legislatively-appointed RINO whose shady past was ignored by lawmakers when he was chosen to replace Thomas Ravenel, who resigned from office in 2007 after pleading guilty to federal drug charges. Challenging Chellis is philanthropist and former Comptroller and Lt. Governor’s aide Curtis Loftis, who according to the Palmetto political blogosphere has a few skeletons in his own closet.
In fact one local blog, Wolfe Reports, has published a story discussing whether or not Loftis is gay … and has genital herpes.
Meanwhile, Loftis has been using his blog, SC Hotline, to lob grenades at Chellis over an “accounting error” that has deprived lawmakers of $60 million in the upcoming state budget (like that’s a bad thing). Sources at the Treasurer’s Office are now privately admitting to FITS that their office was responsible for the error, although Chellis’ Chief of Staff Scott Malyerck has continued to place the blame for the error on the S.C. Department of Revenue.
A recent FITS poll (conducted this week) shows Loftis ahead of Chellis by a 57-43 percent margin (out of 1,300 total votes), but those results are hardly scientific and we’ve seen polling data showing that most South Carolinians haven’t heard of either candidate.
Looks like that could be about to change … and not necessarily in a good way.
By BV April 21, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Eww! Thanks a lot will! I grew up going to church with many of the people named. TMI!
By Frank April 21, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Curtis fell in love and married a bat shit crazy woman that vowed to ruin him because he would not give her a multi-million dollar divorce settlement for being married for less than 2 years.
For 20 years she has harassed him and now her crazy stories are being published all over the internet. This is the lowest thing I have ever seen in politics, and Converse Chellis and his staff are behind this 100%.
By south mauldin April 21, 2010 at 4:35 pm
I thought you had posted a picture of a fat Leo DeCaprio.
By DRE April 21, 2010 at 4:45 pm
It is widely known that the Chellis people are bragging about this “hit”. Lots of money has changed hands and the slime sent against Curtis is incredible.
The most disgusting part of this is that Chellis does not want Curtis defeated, he wants him destroyed, as a person. The one side recitations of a divorce proceeding is not a fact based article or attack. It is a killer torpedo without moral qualifications.
The people behind this are not fit for public office, yet they are in charge of the State’s Treasury. Can a state be more corrupt?
By Lenny April 21, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Will,
How much did you get paid to post this crap?
By fitsnews April 21, 2010 at 5:10 pm
“Paid to post this crap?” Good Lord, dude. This is one of the most vanilla things we’ve ever written.
In case you’re wondering, the pay-to-play action is over at Wolfe Reports, Palmetto Scoop and SC Hotline.
-FITS
By Willie April 21, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Curtis’s only crime here is that he is trying to fight fraud waste and abuse in state government. For his trouble people with HUGE FINANCIAL interests are paying to crucify him. This is truly evil and I hope honorable people will see it for what this is, a paid political and personal assassination.
By Ynotfirst April 21, 2010 at 5:18 pm
too much information ( a first for Sic! )
By william April 21, 2010 at 5:19 pm
I have known Curtis for 25 years and he stood strong 20 years ago when this crazy woman made all these charges and he will stand strong now. The woman has more pills in her closet than a pharmacy.
Curtis is a man of integrity and this is exactly why he is running. The incumbent has finally met a politcal challenger for the first time in his political career (yes, he views it as a craeer not public service….he is just another piglet sucking off the mama pig – the taxpayers) and he is stressing.
Converse considers himself a Christian, well, Mr. Chellis, perhaps you should study more on the sins of the tongue. “Before you speak of the speck in the other Man’s eye, you must first remove the plank from your own”
Go Curt!
ps….thanks Mr. Chellis for the lost $60 million.
By Felix April 21, 2010 at 5:40 pm
What do we know for sure?
Loftis was given herpes by his wife.
His wife has been undergoing therapy since she was 16.
She made wild and unsubstantiated charges in divorce court.
She had him arrested and a judge dropped all charges and acquitted him completely.
This story is so bogus. Why am I reading this crap on the internet?
By Robert April 21, 2010 at 5:57 pm
As a divorce lawyer I can tell you NO savvy person would believe a thing put into a divorce pleading. There is rarely, if ever, a penalty for perjury. People say the most horrible things possible in hopes of harming the other party or getting more money in the settlement.
In the late 80’s and 90’s the “big thing” was gay lovers. In the late 90’s and till about 2004 it was pedophilia. Now it is financial abuses by one partner against the others. Times change but the heart break and vindictiveness of the people involved does now. This should never have been printed.
By hakeem April 21, 2010 at 6:05 pm
This was pretty a vanilla piece–I don’t see the big deal with it minus a few things:
1) Converse a “front runner”–does anyone even know who he is in this state other than state legislators?
2) Why would you send traffic towards Wolfe’s site?
3) Does it matter if he has herpes or had a bat-shit crazy wife who from those postings made crazy ass comments about him to like damage him?
Other than those minor points you are right on point. Converse is a horrible “CPA” and a RINO and people like you, Will, need to help get him out the office.
By Robert April 21, 2010 at 6:10 pm
I know Curt and help him some on his campaign. He is running a fact based campaign, and documents on his web site everything he says about the treasury office and Converse Chellis. The Chellis people refuse to talk facts and only call him names and now they have financed this over the top attack. This is my first time in politics and it is hard to believe how vicious this is. It makes me sick at my stomach.
I am a Christian and I know the devil is in all of this.
By LuckyDog April 21, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Factoid about “Maybank Money,”Converse Chellis and “conflict of interest”:
While State Treasurer under Gov. Beasley, Bernie Maybank decided, wisely, to attempt to collect tens of millions of dollars in delinquent tax bills but did not have the staff to do such a thing.
Solution: Farm this out to the CPA firm of which Converse Chellis was a partner. Granted, Bernie and the state got/found/recovered $95 million in what is called “Maybank Money,” which was excellent.
However, it was done with no competitive bidding. No other CPA firm got to make money on this “contract.”
How much moolah did Chellis get that Christmas as a bonus?
All dirty money.
No competition.
Incidentally, Chellis’s CPA firm has been “eaten” by a much larger CPA firm and he certainly is not welcome back.
Kick him out!
Loftis is a good guy, wants transparency, has no hidden agenda, no conflicts of interest.
Even if Loftis is gay, who gives a damn?
– LuckyDog
By Brandon April 21, 2010 at 6:29 pm
If it’s not true Curtis should be fine. It seems like he is just divorced and he doesn’t seem like he’s gay to me. I’ve met him and talked with him. He is also pretty involved in Christian Ministry and he uses language when he speaks like a Baptist preacher. Calling the way the these politicians spend money sinful. I hope he wins and I will vote for him. Nikki Haley Haley, Bill Connor and Curtis Loftis are the candidates I am very happy to vote for in June.
By Susan Smith April 21, 2010 at 6:41 pm
I used to be a huge fan of Curtis Loftis, even prepared a place for his sign in my yard until I heard he was gay…not that there is anything wrong with that! But come out of the closet already. John Catanno already blew your cover. Doesn’t appear the married life has done well for you so you might as well suck it up (no pun intended) and come clean with your voters. Have some integrity afterall we need to trust you with our money!!
By Dell April 21, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Rumors. More rumors and a little tiny bit of fact. We need new media that adds to our life and not debases it. You guys can do better than this.
I don’t see that the Treasurer’s race is getting nasty. I see Converse Chellis is slinging mud in a way never seen before. That is not politics, that is his low character manifesting itself in a anything to win” practice.
By grandstrand April 21, 2010 at 7:33 pm
if we want to play rumors, lets talk about Chellis going to an all boys, dress up military school. How many times did Chellis voluntarily bend over per his commander’s instructions to pick up the soap in the shower? Exactly……just a verbal harpoon that serves no purpose.
I support Mr.Loftis. He is a good man and I have seen him speak at our local Republican Party meeting.
Chellis needs to be challengewd as he is nothing more thsan an opportunist.
By Vido April 21, 2010 at 8:01 pm
It looks to me like the people that control the state treasury, ie “the good old boys” are going to get Loftis one way or the other. These people are not going to turn loose of billions of tax dollars unless they have too. If I were Loftis I would not stand close to any open window. People have been shot for a whole lot less money than this. I suppose Converse, the Don Chellis, only has to give the word.
By Insider April 21, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Converse Chellis is another pawn for the Harrellites and Leatherman’s. It is bad business for the state, and one more stick in the mud that needs removing. The company you keep is very telling.
By What?????????? April 21, 2010 at 9:05 pm
LuckyDog:
Your factoid is not correct. You need to check your facts before posting. First, Maybank has never been a state treasurer!Chellis did not have an ownership position in the firm you are talking about. The firm he worked for did get bought but Chellis had no ownership interest in the acquired firm. It appears that Chellis is the only candidate that has held a real for profit job and has earned his revenue the old fashion way, not begging for money through contibutions.It appears that Loftis has run a piss poor campaign. I have yet to see a single sign or bumper sticker for him. Worse still, I have yet to hear one single person mention his name in my county. If I were him I would fire the folks running my campaign. Chellis will win this hands down. As for polls, Fits’ poll results are way off base!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By R April 21, 2010 at 10:27 pm
“Susan Smith” you ought to be ASHAMED of yourself. What kind of stupid, backwards-assed, moron would take a horrid rumor, without any proof what so ever, and decide not only do you not like him but won’t put a sign up in their yard. Ohhh, I use to e a big fan of “Susan Smith” but I heard she was a nasty sleazy skank-whore, not that there is anything wrong with that. Just come clean Susan and admit you’ve received numerous shots and sleep around like a drunken sorority girl. Come clean and have some integrity.
By Ms R April 22, 2010 at 7:22 am
Message to: By What????
You have told a bold face lie.
The Saluda Charitable Foundation, the Christian outreach group that Curtis Loftis founded, does not solicit funds from the public. It is a private foundation and 99% of the money has been donated by Loftis (he has accepted a few small contributions from close friends. 100% of those dollars were spent on designated programs directly impacting clients). Loftis does not accept a salary, or any perks such as a car or office or insurance, etc. He has spent much more than a million dollars of his money in the last few years doing his Christian mission work. It has been a full time job without pay or other financial consideration.
This lie you have told is like the others being passed around. It is pure evil. You Chellis people have attacked him as a person, as a man and now seek to attack his Christian work. You will pay for it when you meet the Lord.
PS. I know it to be a lie because I work in the Charity office and regularly see the books.
By Kyle April 22, 2010 at 7:43 am
Bernie Maybank was head of the Department of Revenue. The contract was sole sourse (no competition, how nice for Chellis!). The firm made millions, and Chellis pocketed a 6 figure bonus. How sweet it is to be a good ole boy in Columbia.
By Joseph Reynolds April 22, 2010 at 8:43 am
Well SC..we are reaping more of what we have sowed. A good guy that would probably be the best Treatsurer we have ever had is suddenly being attacked….and losing votes…
because he *might* be gay….
The radical right has created such a screwed up state of affairs in SC that now it no longer matters about the interests of the taxpayers. The best candidates are judged by their private lives now.
We truly do deserve all the bad government we get in SC. Curtis is a great candidate and deserves to office..why??
Because he will actually do the job with our interests in mind..and not the interests of the party elite and their financial backers.
By Jimmy April 22, 2010 at 8:46 am
The dude filed a lawsuit advertising that he has VD and is now running for public office. Yes, shocking that this tidbit would surface.
By Aron April 22, 2010 at 8:52 am
The lawsuit was in a sealed document, filed in the courthouse. He got it from his wife. Hardly advertising. Smearing someone is old news. A smear this bad is shocking.
By JAF April 22, 2010 at 9:33 am
Why can we not get people without all this garbage attached to them to run for these positions. I guess garbage always has the money attched to it.
By Lenny April 22, 2010 at 9:43 am
Throw out the insiders, it is time for true conservative change.
By Southernmapart April 22, 2010 at 9:55 am
I agree with ‘Insider’ that Converse Chellis is another pawn for the Harrellites and Leatherman’s and I won’t vote for Chellis for any public office. I’ll work against this guy staying in the Treasurer’s office.
In the Upstate Converse Chellis is on the crap list for voting for special source revenue bonds to a private developer to bail out the developer from financial losses. That’s right, Converse Chellis, party to the state Budget and Control Board, voted in February to have the people of Oconee County put up tax dollars to pay $5.5 million in bonds to bail out Neal Workman and Tom Winkopp from their failing development on the shores of Lake Hartwell.
The State of South Carolina does NOT need, or want, Converse Chellis as state Treasurer. I don’t really care what Leatherman wants. He too, voted for our tax dollars to bail out failing developers.
By Jimmy April 22, 2010 at 10:35 am
Aron,
It really doesn’t matter if the document was under seal. If that dude has no more common sense than to voluntarily discuss his VD in a court document of any sort, than he lacks the judgment needed to serve in a statewide office. Smart people just don’t do that.
Jimmy
By Todd April 22, 2010 at 10:50 am
From what I can tell, the warts have cleared up.
By Chanzz April 22, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Only Southernmapar has mentioned that the State Treasurer is also one of the five members of the State Budget and Control Board, where HUGE discretionary decisions are made on spending and overseeing BILLIONS of state funds.
Consequently, this odd “entity” called the B&CB (which does not exist in other states) is the biggest whorehouse in the state.
The State Ethics Commission is the second biggest whorehouse in the state.
As Southernmapar suggests, the B&CB votes Chellis has cast are “sleights of the hand” — mostly unpublished — to help his friends.
Loftis is wise to Chellis’s “whorehouse behavior” and will vote against these “sweetheart deals” that Leatherman and Harrell order up.
By Cable April 22, 2010 at 1:13 pm
I have peronsally worked for Mr. Loftis for many years. Big deal if he has herpes, it does not change his is morales or ethics! Rumors he is gay, that is all they are! He is not gay!
People want to attack him because he stands up for what he believes and does not sugar coat it.
People need to really look at why they vote for a candiate!
By donttreadonme April 22, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I just saw Mr. Loftis speak at the Greenville Womens Republican Club meeting. It was refreshing to hear a candidate call for transparency of an incumbent. I wish there were more honorable people out there that could leave the private sector for a higher calling the way the Mr. Loftis has. He is truly honorable and I am proud to support him!
I even took a sign for my yard. Go Curt!
By FunkyChicken April 22, 2010 at 3:37 pm
It’s time for Con Chellis to go. Mr. Loftis, herpes or no herpes, you have my support.
By michael April 22, 2010 at 5:13 pm
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/35929.html
Rep. Eric Massa has paid off his chief of staff with hush money and is now under investigation.
Looks like Rep. Gresham Barrett did the same thing with his former Chief of Staff Lance Williams. Why did he get paid off? What does he know?
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/expendetail.php?cid=N00013837&cycle=2008&name=Williams,%20Lance
By Jimmy April 22, 2010 at 6:49 pm
He tried to use our court system to weaponize the warts on his dick. He’s a moron.
By McKay April 22, 2010 at 9:07 pm
OH NASTY POLITICS!!!
I will promise you one thing, I will call everyone I know and tell them to vote for Loftis.
By Mike April 23, 2010 at 7:34 am
Can we go after the scumbags in SC and leave the gays alone? Seriously, Scumbags = Harrell, Leatherman and McConnell. Everyone talks about all these rumored gay Republicans. Let’s focus our attention on Republican scumbags pissing our money away. Hell they aren’t even closeted scumbags. These guys are out in the open wasting our money. Lets kick out the scumbags in the Republican Party.
By WorkingTommyC May 7, 2010 at 12:49 pm
And Scott Malyerck is still a jerk:
http://www.atgpress.com/wtc/wtc_056.htm