By FITSNews || With less than five weeks to go before their primary election, South Carolina’s three “establishment” GOP gubernatorial candidates are all running television ads in heavy rotation across the Palmetto State.
S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster, Lt. Governor Andre Bauer and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett are each blanketing the airwaves with commercials that seek to establish themes about their respective candidacies – and in Barrett’s case, to continue the process of introducing himself to South Carolina voters.
The goal is convince Republicans to pick them first on June 8 – or at the very least to make them their second choice, which is critically important given the likelihood that no candidate will receive more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary, thus necessitating a runoff election between the top two vote-getters on June 22.
But do any of these ads do the trick? Will any of them “move the numbers” by swaying undecided Republican voters?
We think not. In fact, these ads pretty much confirm what we’ve been saying all along about the GOP’s big three – that there’s a whole lot of hot air without much (if anything) in the way of substance behind any of these candidates.
“At a time when our state desperately needs to keep a fiscal conservative reformer in the Governor’s Office, the Republican Party has put up three status quo, social conservative panderers,” we wrote over a year ago.
Nothing we see in these initial ads changes that perception.
McMaster’s ad, entitled “That’s My Job,” is probably the worst of the bunch. It’s a blatant pander that focuses almost exclusively on the Attorney General’s fight against “Obamacare.”
Obviously, we support his efforts (and hate socialized medicine), but McMaster has demonstrated on multiple occasions that he’s more about self-promotion than achieving substantive results. Also, McMaster’s ad misses a golden opportunity to frame his battle against “Obamacare” in terms that are relevant to S.C. voters (i.e. your taxes, your health care, your children’s debt), and instead chooses to talk in esoteric terms about how the bill is “unconstitutional” and infringes on “South Carolina’s sovereignty.”
Those are pretty obtuse concepts to get into in a thirty-second spot, although in fairness it’s probably smart of McMaster’s handlers to throw some “big words” for their candidate considering his “gravitas problem.”
Anyway, here’s McMaster’s ad:
Seriously, Henry … “protecting freedom?”
When you get right down to it, McMaster can no more “protect freedom” as governor of South Carolina than your trash collector. Also, if the people paying for McMaster’s ads have anything to say about it, the only freedoms he’ll be protecting are those of a bunch of rich trial lawyers.
Meanwhile, Lt. Governor Bauer is also running an ad (“Break the Cycle“) that goes overboard, promising to “end generational welfare in South Carolina.”
Really? Because we’d love to see the specifics on that plan …
Here’s Bauer’s spot:
Bauer’s ad is clearly seeking to capitalize on the controversy that erupted this January when he compared welfare recipients to stray animals – softening his remarks and turning them into a commentary on the welfare state.
And while those comments represented another national embarrassment for South Carolina at the time, Bauer’s advisors clearly believe they can make some hay over the scandal with GOP primary voters. Also, it’s not like Bauer’s negatives can get much higher, so there’s little risk to exploiting this strategy.
Also, credit where credit is due, Bauer is clearly the most natural of the bunch “on camera,” which could help with those negatives as the TV blitz wears on …
Finally we have Barrett’s ad, entitled “Number One Job,” which easily features the best “production value” of the bunch (i.e. film quality, sound, editing). Unfortunately for the Barrett campaign, those positive attributes are tragically wasted on a complete doofus of a candidate, who comes off on camera as a thick-accented bumpkin who can’t stop playing with his hands …
Seriously, Gresham … what’s up with that last shot? Are you showing those construction workers your recipe for porridge?
Barrett’s ad also raises a fundamental problem that we have with all of these GOP candidates. Each one of them will talk generically about lower taxes on TV, but none of them are proposing tax cuts.
“When taxes are low, when people are allowed to keep more of their hard-earned money, the economy grows,” Barrett says in his spot.
Really? Then why does Barrett’s so-called “jobs plan” include no tax relief?
Of course the same can be said of Bauer’s plan. And McMaster’s, too.
All three of these candidates are running on lower taxes … but that’s the extent of the intellectual energy they’ve expended on the issue.
Noticeably absent from this story? S.C. Rep. Nikki Haley.
Unlike the “establishment three,” Haley actually has a record of protecting the taxpayers to run on. The only problem? She’s got less than a third of the available resources that Barrett, Bauer and McMaster have on hand, which means she’s at a decided disadvantage in terms of getting her message out to voters.
When it comes to TV, Haley will have to wait …
She’s also failed at this point to articulate a specific tax plan that would result in relief (not tax swaps) for all South Carolinians, although we remain hopeful that her campaign will eventually something resembling a comprehensive plan.
Anyway, of the three GOP candidates that are up and running on your TV, which one do you think has the best spot?
Vote in our poll below, and as always we look forward to the sparks flying in our comments section!
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“That’s My Job” (McMaster’s Ad)
“Break The Cycle” (Bauer Ad)
“Number One Job” (Barrett Ad)
By Genomic Repairman May 6, 2010 at 11:20 am
What a dogass bunch of candidates! Seriously if I still lived in SC, I think I’d rather vote for a cardboard box. It can do no worse than any of these “candidates.” I mean our choices are the pandering lawyer, the light in the loafers (not that I give shit about it) who constantly is putting his foot in his mouth, and the coon ass bible thumper from the upstate who can’t even bother to show up to vote. SC is fucked!
By Recovering Lobbyist May 6, 2010 at 11:21 am
My job is to vote for Nikki Haley.
By EasleyJack May 6, 2010 at 11:47 am
The question is who can win in the fall? As bad as these folks may be, it will be worse with Democrat candidate.
By SC Native May 6, 2010 at 12:20 pm
If Nikki doesn’t get the Repub nomination (which she probably won’t), I’ll probably be voting for Sheheen. And I’m a lifelong Republican. If Henry McMaster was my governor, I would be ashamed. And this is coming from somebody with a lot of pride.
By Philip Branton May 6, 2010 at 12:27 pm
WHAT…….???
Henry says he is protecting the sovereignty of South Carolina..??
Well, he sure has done a good job on CLOSING down our landfills with the NEW technology be used in IRAQ to protect ARAB soil…!?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8290130.stm
Henry, you can kiss our cold GRITz…!!!
You sure are looking our for our homeland security by getting these machines installed by local towns to decentralize our state’s energy production…!?!!
You want another example HENRY…!? How about the ALGAE Bio-Diesel Jet Fuel technology that BOEING is sitting on that should be produced by our state’s local…FARMERS..!?! Are you for ENERGY slavery …Henry.?!
And what our GE wind turbines being used in OUR very state to harness the WIND energy that the GOOD LORD blessed both Democrats and Republicans and Tea-baggers with…!?!
Henry……we are taxed up, prayed up…and FED up…!!!
By Philip Branton May 6, 2010 at 12:36 pm
BAUER……????
“Break the Cycle…!?”??
Well, what have you done since you have been Lt. Govy BOY…????
Have you called ANYONE out in this state for doing SQUAT…!?!
Thanks so much for the SCE-TV bandwidth….fiesta….!!!
Bauer…..the fight started before the CIVIL WAR….!!! Where have you been…!?!? Don’t tell US that you have been hangin’ at “Diane’s on Devine” with a tube of lipstick for democrats…???
Bauer, you need to get with Gilda Cobb-Hunter because she earned a LEADERSHIP award from Furman for something….???? What she’s done to lead is beyond US ……???
BAUER…….remember the scene in BRAVEHEART where the men raised their KILTS…!?!?
You have been real vivid…..!!!
GET in SOMEONE’s ….FACE…!!!!
Today… in front of a camera…!!!
By Philip Branton May 6, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Gresham…we have to do WHAT …!?!?
Did you not know how to take a hint from “who” when he screamed “YOU LIE”….!?! What did you scream to Nancy Pelosi…professor Barrett..!?!
Gresham, how many Wind Turbines does California have up to harness free WIND…!?!
Do we have one UP anywhere in South Carolina as a SALES model for the Arabs coming in here to purchase them…!?!
Does our wind cost more than theirs does…!?!
So where do you stand Gresham on the SCE&G rate hikes…!?!?
We have not seen you on the tube in anyone’s FACE at SCE&G…!?!
Gresham……Its the ENERGY…..amigo..!!
By Nathan Earle May 6, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Of course, those of you who like Nikki Haley and haven’t yet donated to her campaign could go over to her website and do that.
By Matt May 6, 2010 at 12:58 pm
I still think the best ad in SC so far is that Eleanor Kitzman one where she plays off of her former role as the TV pitchwoman for her car insurance company.
By Skidmarks May 6, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I hope Barrett gets over his sudden case of the spastics before going back to moving furniture at his store in Westminster. Poor fellow could drop a recliner on his toe moving his hands around like that.
By Exaggerated Evil Chucky May 6, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Barrett is gonna keep our taxes LOW dammit.
By Bottom Line..... May 6, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Whoa, Sic. This post seems to have fired your readers up! Screw all the candidates. They are all a bunch of ass clowns. We need a redo.
By Carpe Jugulum May 6, 2010 at 2:49 pm
It is difficult to imagine how three more plebeian individuals could decide, at the same time, that they are suited to be the Governor of South Carolina. Admittedly, we are last in just about everything except sexually transmitted diseases and school drop out rates, but surely South Carolinians will see through these vacuous numb skulls. These advertisements simply confirm the criticisms that have been leveled against these buffoons all over this board.
Henry McMaster seriously believes that he can convince us that he has been the “chief law enforcement officer” of the state and is battling all kinds of assaults on the constitution and the sovereignty of South Carolina. While court dockets are bogged down all over the place, various crime problems fester (gangs, drug syndicates, cyber and white collar crime…you name it) this moron charges off to fight “Obamacare.” With all of our problems right here in South Carolina, this goober can find nothing better to do than go after a federal plan in court. What’s more, is that he is making his “courageous” political statement on our dime. With the money he has blown on half baked legal maneuvers, this d***head could buy a plane, hire a pilot, and fly to China and back and never worry about which class to sit in because he could have the whole damn thing to himself. Every time he “thinks” he’s going to make points that will benefit him politically, we wind up paying for it. His term as Attorney General is littered with disasters that he thought were good ideas. Like prosecuting the dungeon kidnapper in Kershaw, the Craig’ List debacle, and even his latest pantload of legal excrement, the “ain’t nothin’ been done wrong by Sanford” finding. There is a very good reason that the trail lawyers love (in the very physical sense of the word) old Henry. Simply put, he is an absolute chump that bends over front ways for them at each and every opportunity. I will absolutely vomit if I see those photos of Henry with Ronald Reagan one more time. I have probably spent more time typing this paragraph than he spent in the presence of President Reagan. He was probably there about as long as it took to snap the photos and have some staffer show him the door. The very idea that he wants to imply that he imparted words of wisdom, or shared deep thoughts with Reagan is just plain insulting to anyone’s intelligence. Elect this doofus to be Governor and the trial lawyers will be delivering the K-Y jelly to the statehouse by the truckload.
Andre Bauer is simply clueless. This state has spent a lot of time and effort trying to improve our image to attract businesses (jobs), bolster tourism and better compete with Florida, North Carolina and Georgia. Now, all any one of these states has to do is show anybody who is interested in this region of the country one of Andre’s campaign ads. It’s hard to argue that South Carolina is a great place to locate when the Lt. Governor says the residents are “lazy.” This dumbass is worse than Howdy Doody on psychedelic drugs. If you superglued his balls to an artillery shell and fired him out of the statehouse you couldn’t get him out of state government fast enough. The idea that anybody would actually support this immature goof to be Governor is a little scary.
As for Gresham “I was the Coal Bucket Boy” Barrett, all I can say is “go figure.” He obviously thinks that if he could show up for work 2/3 of the time and get elected to Congress then the Governor’s office was made for him. It would be fun to criticize anything that his tiny mind could put forward on South Carolina’s issues, but he hasn’t done so. It’s like trying to make fun of a potted plant. Think I’m kidding? Watch the last Republican debate on the ETV website. He was lost. All he could say was “me, too.” The last time we elected an unknown quantity (Mark Sanford) it did not work out to well. We can’t afford this simpleton.
I’m voting for the girl. She is the only informed adult in the race.
By Philip Branton May 6, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Hey…Henry, Bauer, Gresham, Haley, Ford and SHE-heen…!!
All of you…..
READ this article….
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/05/04/vbs.toxic.napoli/index.html?hpt=C2
…then go and watch this 2 part show…
..yes, we know it looks like work…!!
But, it is exactly how our Trash scamming is working…
http://www.vbs.tv/newsroom/toxic-napoli-1-of-2–4
http://www.vbs.tv/newsroom/toxic-napoli-2-of-2–4
By south mauldin May 6, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Carpe jugulum, I enjoyed that very much.
By Danny May 6, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Haley’s either uninformed and wrong or informed and lying. Can’t have it both ways.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/government/elections/2010-05-06/fact-check-haleys-value-added-tax-charge-wrong
By SubZeroIQ May 6, 2010 at 5:08 pm
FITS: Please let me put this comment on all your stories today.
Why did you drop the ball on the Benjamin collision?
It has now become something much bigger and the most serious in South Carolina history. Why? Because Chief of Police Carter refused to appear before the City of Columbia Council, which called him on Wednesday to report on why the investigation was so secret and taking so long.
Now Carter has forced the City Council to cancel its Friday morning meeting meant to require an outside agency to investigate this one and in the future. Carter refused and defied the Council.
One thing cannot happen in America: those armed by the people cannot refuse to answer to the civilian authority elected by the people.
If that happens, we no longer have a democracy but a military or police dictatorship.
This is not funny. Please take it seriously. Thanks and God bless.
By 803andy May 6, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Bauer is like a rich antagonist from an 80′s sitcom, you just want to choke the little bastard.
By Fred May 7, 2010 at 12:12 am
Jesus Christ!
This is the online version of a push poll. I will tell you negative shitty things about three candidates (with small peckers), then follow up with happy positive things about the wacko hindu-indian chick (Did I mention the has tits).
Now, which one do you prefer (one has tits)?????
Lets start a new poll: Which one is paying Will Folks?
Fred