By FITSNews || Since our founding editor has uncharacteristically shut his pie hole in the wake of this morning’s seismic revelations regarding his prior “inappropriate physical relationship” with S.C. Rep. Nikki Haley (and kept it shut, as promised, in the wake of Haley’s denial), it’s time to begin assessing the reaction that his post has generated among the state and national media.
Here’s a smattering of headlines from the initial wave of stories …
Washington Post – Haley Denies Affair Allegation
Washington Post – Nikki Haley, tea party favorite, denies extramarital affair
CBS – Nikki Haley, Palin-Backed Candidate, Denies Affair With Blogger
Huffington Post – Will Folks, SC Blogger: I Had Affair With Nikki Haley, Republican Candidate For Governor
The Politico – The Haley Story
The Politico – Haley Accuser Was On Payroll
Time – Could South Carolina Be Facing The Love Guv 2.0?
CNN – Rising GOP star in SC denies affair allegations
MSNBC – Another sex scandal in S.C.?
The Hill – S.C. GOP gubernatorial candidate denies affair allegation
The New Ledger – The Latest Attack On Nikki Haley
TPM – I Did Not Have Sexual Relations With That Man!
National Review – Has Nikki Haley Been Hanging Out With The Wrong Kind Of Folks?
Red State – It’s a Rule of Nature: Hot Women Don’t Have Affairs With Ugly Poor Guys
Wonkette – Rumor: Political Blogger Had Sex With Lady?
The Associated Press – SC governor hopeful denies blogger claim of affair
The Free Times – Source: Folks Admitted To Haley Affair A Year Ago
The (Columbia, S.C.) State Newspaper – Haley Denies Affair With Blogger
WACH – Haley denies affair with former Sanford aide
WIS – Nikki Haley Denies Claim of Affair With Blogger, Fmr Sanford Aide
WYFF – Haley Denies Inappropriate Relationship With Blogger
WSPA – Nikki Haley Denies Relationship With Political Blogger
WCBD – Former Sanford Aide Claims Affair With Nikki Haley
The Digitel – S.C. political blogger claims affair with Rep Nikki Haley
Charleston City Paper – Claim: Haley Had “Inappropriate Physical Relationship”
Charleston City Paper – A Few Notes On FITS V. Haley
Wowzas …
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' May 24, 2010 at 2:03 pm
It’s definitely a big story. Will getting laid by anyone is a big story. The fact that it happened with another hypocritical RINO/LIF (Republican In Name Only/Liberatrian In Fact) who for a few minutes held the lead in the GOP primary for governor makes it national story.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' May 24, 2010 at 2:04 pm
And by another I mean “in addition to Sanford”. I’m not calling Will a hypocrite.
By SC Politics May 24, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Manufacturing political “incidents” is acceptable if it achieves a worthy goal.
By ashley May 24, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Leviticus 19:16 Do not go about spreading slander among people.
“Stop. Think. Do the right thing.” (a quote from my 4yr old)
Mister, please do not lie. And do what is right.
By Philip Branton May 24, 2010 at 2:06 pm
This is nothing compared to the 84K in “thong funds” from Horry County to Gresham Barrett….!!!
By James May 24, 2010 at 2:15 pm
I believe Haley, not the douche-bag who intentionally inflicted emotional harm on her family and her children. Will Folks is clearly a sleaze-bag by offering up zero evidence to support his accusation. Besides, why does Mr. Folks think the people want and need to know the intimite lurid details of Mr. Folks’ sexual conquests? WHO CARES!!!!
Having an affair is considered a positive in South Carolina, which is why Mark Sanford was not impeached. Trying to smear Haley by turning a positive into a negative makes no sense. There is no doubt Will Folks’ accusations are politically motivated because there is no other logical explanation.
By Bill Simpson May 24, 2010 at 2:23 pm
The timing…the salaciousness…..particularly the timing. How could this be anything other than last minute B/S. Remember how nasty teh Bush team was against McCain way back in the 2000 race? Same thing. Smear them hard at the last minute when they don’t have time to respond.
Plus…does anyone actually believe Nikki would touch Bill.??? Maybe if a roofy were involved.
By Max The Dog May 24, 2010 at 2:23 pm
I am somewhat suprise that Folks didn’t admit his affair with Nikki Cat….Only in South Carolina!
By Joe Michaels May 24, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Naturally there will be questions raised by Haley’s past. I don’t like quesitoning her Character. She seems like a person of high integrety. But I do believe her Ads are misleading. “My husband puts on a uniform everyday” ad is ridiculous! The man at the good young age of 40 decided he had to get away from his wife and young kids to join the military? My wife (if I still had one) would kill me! And I don’t think its political meandering. I think the guy honestly wanted to get away. I don’t know exactly how long ago Mike Haley decided his Patriotism outweighed his duties as a husband and father, but I would bet it was not long after Will’s fondling.
By Robert Hagwood May 24, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Alleging the unchastity of a woman is defemation per se. Look at SC Code 15-75-10 “Imputation of want of chastity to female”
If any person shall utter and publish, either by writing or verbally, any words of and concerning any female imputing to her a want of chastity, the person so uttering and publishing such words shall be liable for damages in a civil action brought by the female of whom the words may be uttered and published, without proving any special damage, subject, nevertheless, to the rules of evidence.
If allegations like this are made, and then proven to be false, there could be serious civil liability. The publishers of this website know that – and went ahead with the story anyway. What does that say about the veracity of the allegations?
By Joe May 24, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Will Folks has been called out by Haley !! Will he respond?
By Andy May 24, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Professor, shouldn’t you get back to work? Not Sayin’, Just Sayin.
By Crooner May 24, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Good props from CNN. Though they’re a bunch of out of touch MSMers.
By proudof sc May 24, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Uh, James, here is another logical explanation: the TRUTH.
By Greg Nelson May 24, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Will’s more than likely to have some lies published about him really soon. Perhaps that will teach him a lesson.
By Greg Nelson May 24, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Look at Will. No one would have sex with a guy that ugly. He must have been dreaming.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' May 24, 2010 at 2:55 pm
No evidence? How about a statement from one of the party’s involved? Himself? The losses to FITS that are caused by this story are infinitely greater than any possible benefit. His credibility as a news source has been tainted now that we know he once tapped the ass of the candidate for governor that he has strongly supported. But like any good communications expert would do, he shrewdly “got in front of the story” once he knew it was going to break, and was able to define the terms of the story rather than let someone else do it. That was his only motivation for posting this story: damage control. The damage was coming, but from some other media outlet.
I appreciate Will’s work, although I often disagree with him. I would never have supported Haley because she would have been as ineffective as Sanford because, like him, she has no ability to work with the general assembly. If she did, she wouldn’t have been demoted by Harrell last year. I’m glad her campaign is over, but nobody who blames that on Will’s decision to put the story of their affair here first can be taken seriously.
By Slinky May 24, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I believe Will – he has nothing to gain and everything to lose. When Nikki eventually confesses (give it a couple of days), all you right-wing nutjobs will have to eat your words.
By Allen Olson May 24, 2010 at 2:57 pm
This accusation from a man who pleaded guilty to domestic violence. You need to decide who to believe, I believe Nikki. Nikki has made enemies since she has been elected because she has principles and was willing to stand up to the good ole boys. South Carolina republican consulting firms are probably the lowest forms of life on earth, next to the likes of Will Folks that is. You have to question the timing of this and the motivation behind it. The reason Will Folks doesn’t want to explain details is because there aren’t any.
By Response to Bill May 24, 2010 at 3:08 pm
“Remember how nasty the Bush team was against McCain way back in the 2000 race?”
The same slimy consultants are running Gresham Barrett’s Campaign – It does not take much to wonder if they had anything to do with this…
What do you think Bill?
By Honest abe May 24, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Your just another bullshitter making shit, what did someone challenge you being the scumbag sucking bottom feeder that you are.?
By Byl May 24, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Looks like this “story” has been good for national exposure of this website. How convenient it comes on the heels of joining the Washington Post blog elite. WP ain’t exactly conservative. I have to wonder if that has played a role in this.
I’m still trying to figure out how someone can throw out such a charge, not back it up with any facts, refuse to comment further, and expect to retain credibility.
At Least Mrs. Haley hasn’t made any attempt to hide from this, and she flat out called Mr. Folks a liar.
If you’re going to make such a charge, you should at least be able to back it up if you expect people to continue coming here for “news”. I was just starting to like this site because they actually seemed concerned with confirmation of the truth.
Instead of continuing in that tradition it seems they’ve jumped the shark and headed down the path towards MSNBC. As a follow-up, Mr. Folks should claim Mrs. Haley is a racist, and then refuse to base that on anything other than “his word” and refuse to comment any further.
By Wills Ajoke May 24, 2010 at 3:22 pm
July 2008 Will Folks doesn’t rest until an elementary principal is made to resign for an inappropriate relationship with a superintendent. Now two years later it’s him in a relationship . But it’s fine, he can sleep at night knowing he’s a hypocrite.
By william May 24, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Foa another SC political scandal see the article on the SC Treasurer…where he lies to the paper and they bust him!
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20100520/COLUMNISTS/5201003
By Hermione May 24, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Not Sayin’, are you kidding? “The losses to FITS that are caused by this story are infinitely greater than any possible benefit.” WHAT losses to Fits? It hasn’t been a credible news source for years. It’s a source of gossip, celebrity pics, and the occasional speculative bit of commentary. It is well-known that Folks is for sale, and will turn on friends and colleagues if the price is right. Anybody coming here for “serious news” needs to find a new website. Folks, the perennial playboy, has nothing to lose by confessing to an “inappropriate physical relationship” before his marriage. What he has to gain is HUGE media attention (i.e. increased traffic to his site) and the cash that someone must have offered him to turn on Haley.
By Mike B May 24, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Hey! Wil just made an unfactual statement to discredit a viable candidate. How much were you paid to stab Nikki in the back, Will? Or did you just do it for the fun of it to see how much attention your warped sense of humor can generate.
There is no truth in allegations. And Will Folks will fall victim to his own jealousies.
By jeffy May 24, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Its like a SNL skit gone wrong
By turkeyfoot May 24, 2010 at 3:47 pm
UNFAIR
IMBALANCED
How in the world could either of the two parties claim to have proof or not of an affair.
Objective people everywhere need to look at the espoused values and platform of the candidate and make an informed political opinion NOT waste time on innuendo and smear.
By No Name May 24, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Well who ever is advising her is making the point of a strong denial is an approach in this storm.
Having heard her radio denials she is pretty ballsy.
Sitting back I have not heard the interviewer ask her to respond unequivically to the charge…..”Did you have any type of sexual relations with Will Folks”….no one is saying that and she is pointing to the press release without saying it over and over …this did not happen…instead she just kept saying messages and crying about poor sportmanship from the boys.
I just do not understand why Will does this if it were not true……I am cynic…I get the hard ball….not sure what type of money you get for this that prompts you.
Who really gives a shit who is Gov…..the person can not do anything anyway as we saw by Sanford…..so why would Will give a shit to get paid like this.
I am not sure it is not even better for the V and C mafia is they have an outsider like a Nikki….just can not see the angles.
By Thatguywhodoesstuff May 24, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Well she is denying it, but not suing for libel.
Rather telling don’t ya think?
By jed May 24, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Not much in the article but the Discust had the best headline: “Folks screws Haley, also alleges sex” http://thediscust.com/?p=2074
By Pete May 24, 2010 at 4:45 pm
So what was inappropriate about it? I mean was it like weird or something? I don’t see anything inappropriate about having sex with a good-looking woman. As for Sarah Palin throwing in her two cents, heck I’d do her too.
By eric provencher May 24, 2010 at 6:41 pm
THIS TRASH FROM THAT SOURCE HAS FIRMED MY RESOLVE TO VOTE FOR NIKKI. I DON’T BELIVE THAT SHE, WOULD HAVE EVER LOWERED HER SELF TO EVEN BE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH THAT ODD LOOKING MAN. HE REMINDES ME OF SOME OF THE PHOTOS OF SEVERLY DISTURBED MENTAL PATIENTS THAT ARE USED IN THE TEXT BOOKS…………
By Susan May 24, 2010 at 6:57 pm
You must be real proud of yourself Will. I heard you had a small penis.
By Susan May 24, 2010 at 7:00 pm
“So what was inappropriate about it?”
It was inappropriate because Nikki bitch slapped him after he tried to grope her when he had too much Mad Dog while riding in his stolen red corvette delivering favors to his favorite car dealer.
Rumor mill says WIll has a brain tumor no FBI or SLED Agent can fix. Not even a Perry boy.
By Susan May 24, 2010 at 7:03 pm
WILL,
I just have to ask you to clarify, your clear as mud claims.
Why did you need to come out with this before the election? Why didn’t you wait until after the election, only one week away. Couldn’t your wife wait a little longer for the “Truth”. AND….what MSM was going to release this report before the election?
PLEASE, answer.
By Susan May 24, 2010 at 7:06 pm
One more…
WHO IS THREATENING YOU? I WANT NAMES…
I KNOW SLED AGENTS AND FBI AGENTS THAT WILL PROTECT YOU, WILL. BE A HERO, AND TELL WHO WAS THREATENING YOU?
By James May 24, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Not sayin’, were you tooled on as a kid? Could you get any gayer?
By Susan May 24, 2010 at 7:12 pm
You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
Will, I hope you come clean before it is too late for you and I mean criminally and legally. Your conduct has been disgraceful.
By Steven May 24, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Will,
Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame, because they are almost up. Your infamy will last a lot longer, and most likely be worse, than your ill gotten fame.
There’s always Chicago…you would fit right in.
By Jim May 24, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Will Folks is absolutely despicable! How does he live with himself? Oh, I forgot, HE’S IN POLITICS. McMaster, Barret. and Bauer all need to come out and say they do not endorse this kind of political trash otherwise they will simply have it thrown back at them. I know Andre’ didn’t/hasn’t appreciated LIES being told about him being GAY! Why would HE NOT say something to STOP this kind of crap. I was not voting for Haley when this started. However, she’ll now get my sympathy vote because she had to put up with this worthless, unsubstantiated claim! Shame on you Will Folks.
By james May 24, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Since you won’t approve any of my comments linking the Gresham Campaign to this. It confirms my suspicions beyond a doubt. Hope you like the taste of Terry’s come…
By FITS Gals May 24, 2010 at 7:37 pm
james,
You’ve posted 4-5x already today. There are a lot of comments, go back and check.
xoxo,
FITS Gals
By Ron May 24, 2010 at 7:41 pm
So what Rex is saying is that you need to be drunk in order to vote for him.
I’ll drink to that.
But even drunk I’ll still have the good sense to vote for any one other than Rex. Just look at what he did to the education Dept.. Do we really want him to screw up and bankrupt the whole state?
By Susan May 24, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Will, let me lay it on the line. The Voters of SC are so tired of this. Slap wore out. You made a big mistake. Unless you tell the truth now, those voters are more powerful than whomever pulled your string. You will learn the full meaning of investigation because this kind of trash is just too desperate and too entrenched to ignore to the point it smells criminal.
By Laura May 24, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Look at him….look at her….who really believes she would sleep with him?
I am more determined than ever to vote for her.
By David May 24, 2010 at 8:43 pm
And Breck Shampoo spokesman John Edwards told the truth when he said that he did not father a love child. Damn that National Inquirer!!!
By Upstate Voter May 24, 2010 at 9:10 pm
There are only so many possibilities:
1) Folks is telling the truth
2) Folks is being paid to lie
3) Folks is being blackmailed into lying
4) This is the best promotion in the history of Adwords.
By Leoj Nosnera May 24, 2010 at 9:24 pm
The scum bag that is making the allegations about Ms Haley should be made to take a lie detector test, even if Ms Haley has to pay for it. Assuming the scum bag is a lier, she should sue him for defamation of character and take him to the cleaners. If it turns out that he is telling the truth, he is still a scum bag but we would all have to reconsider what Ms Haley has been promising voters since she made the committment to run for Governor.
By Doris May 24, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Will, remind me to beat your ass when this is over. Sheesh. You were doing so good. Growing up and looking better. Several of us old gals up on the capitol block thought you were worth a try back in the day and you wouldn’t even look our direction. Over 50 and we couldn’t get your attention. Who would have ever thought it? We didn’t and don’t. We love you anyway.
By Dick F.Cheney May 24, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Anyone who has been paying attention to this site without political affilations (like me) the last week has surely noticed the plethora of pro-Haley pieces. I don’t doubt Folks on his stated history of events.
Can we move on? Care to make an endorsement, Folks? I vote on June 8. Iffn’ you still think Haley deserves my vote, pls explain why. I’m still open.
Thanx.
By Mel Ericson May 24, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Andrew Jackson would have just shot the bastard. Isn’t that the good ole boy answer?
By Whippersnapper May 24, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Not Sayin’, Just Sayin’ said above (on May 24th, 2010 at 2:55 pm)
“…..But like any good communications expert would do, he shrewdly “got in front of the story” once he knew it was going to break, and was able to define the terms of the story rather than let someone else do it. That was his only motivation for posting this story: damage control. The damage was coming, but from some other media outlet…..”
Hey Sayin’, if your statement accurately reflects Will’s motivation, the dude is not only fat and unattractive, he’s also stone cold DUMB! In less than a day’s time he’s managed to damage himself irreparably. I’m not a resident of South Carolina and have never heard of Will before, but I clearly recognize him as a sleazebag lacking class, character and manliness – his “tactics” today have defined him thus. And I’m sure a LOT of folks in South Carolina are coming to the same conclusion and I’m sure those folks will have very long memories.
So I’ll make a note for myself — NEVER hire Will Folks as a damage control guy; he’ll blunder and miscalculate repeatedly and destroy you if you’re foolish enough to have him take on that chore!
By Nofurrythings May 25, 2010 at 12:34 am
It really should not be anyones business what goes on between two consenting adults. The only reason these things become fodder is if the participants are hypocrites. Are they? Are they family values creeps who judge others? Do they feel confident to legislate and write about taking others freedoms away under the guise of Christianity or family values ?
And for all of you that think that sex is overwhelmingly predicated on physical attraction–did you get a look at Souder and his “friend”?
The only people who knew what went on were the particpants-yeh or nay. We have become harsh judges of human frailty.
By Bill May 25, 2010 at 8:05 am
Let me make one thing perfectly clear. He did not have sexual relations with that woman.
By Bonefisher May 25, 2010 at 8:38 am
Anyone who has met and spoken with Nikki knows that if she says this is a lie, it is DAMN WELL A LIE.
I just doubled my contribution to her campaign via her website. All of you who are still supporting Nikki – please join me in giving her our help to overcome this ridiculous accusation and put this lying bastard back in the bag he crawled out of…. http://www.nikkihaley.com
By Dave May 25, 2010 at 9:10 am
Isn’t this the same Will Folks that abused his wife? And he levels these accusations without offering himself up to questioning or scrutiny? Looks like this website is living up to it’s motto of “Unfair and Imbalanced.” Folks succeeded in getting the publicity he wanted for his website by riding the coat-tails of Nikki Haley since he’s obviously unable to offer up any substance of his own, but also lost any shred of credibility. I hope his time in the spotlight is short-lived so that the state can get on with more important things like electing a capable governor.
By huh? May 25, 2010 at 9:32 am
I will say one thing for NH. She has some rabid, and I mean RABID, supporters. Mercy. Many poeple are going to feel like idiots as this story continues to unfold.
By Marie May 25, 2010 at 9:43 am
What is the matter, y’all afraid that a women will get elected, which
I hope she does and get the job done that you men can’t do.
You go girl!!!!!
Haley for Governor.
By Nivensbill May 25, 2010 at 10:20 am
Time for Will to put up or shut up. Let us see the so called evidence, otherwise it’s all a bunch of crap!
By A.M. Mallett May 25, 2010 at 11:12 am
Is this the same wife beating hypocrite who slammed the Gov for his affair? Whether or not he has the morals of an allycat is not even in question but what possible gain could the slime ball ever accomplish out of this other than a few moments of irrelevant juice?
By Klum's man May 25, 2010 at 11:13 am
I have a statement to make. There will be no questions following this statement. I had inappropriate relations with Heidi Klum. I am not ashamed nor will I apologize. We all make mistakes. I am blessed.
By huh? May 25, 2010 at 11:46 am
So, Marie, it does not matter to you if you can not count on someone for the truth? I still can not get over the “can’t remember” whether I flew to China on first class or coach. Now, this?
By A.M. Mallett May 25, 2010 at 12:53 pm
On second thought I could understand Nikki’s lack of recall if that is what it is here given Will’s inadequacies.
By MM May 25, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Hmmm…
It’s very curious that Barrett is getting crushed, then complains to the Courts about a Haley campaign ad. Nothing comes of it in day to day polling…he’s still running solid 3rd (or 4th, if you count ‘not sure’).
Suddenly, a fat, shapeless, not altogether intelligent, former campaign worker makes claims against Haley. Hey Gresham, who’s running your campaign?
Oh, that’s right, the same low-brow team that ran Sanford’s campaign and was involved in the 2000 election where McCain was screwed by his own party.
BTW, they are running Leighton Lord’s run for AG. Wait for the crap to start flying there too! They’ve already lied about his ‘law enforcement’ experience!
If it smells like crap, and sticks to your shoe like crap, it’s crap!
Oh, and a bit of advice, next time you have the Haley dream Will, just towel off and go back to bed, because it wasn’t real. A tall, attractive, successful woman just doesn’t get the thigh sweats for a lowly, fat, dumpy campaign worker.
By LovelyRita May 25, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Poor Nikki. She lost her shot at appearing legitimate and as her OWN PERSON. Nope. She’s like so many who act one way and live another. Check out her SC ethics donation page and ask why so many out of state people want her in. Double life. Split personality. Oughtta fit right in if her supporters forgive her for this like they didnt forgive Sanford. Hippocrits.
I think i saw Nikki on the Blue Ridge trail.
By MBAcapitalist May 25, 2010 at 8:22 pm
To everyone who continues to post that Nikki is tall slender and attractive (duh) and that Folks is balding, has a pot belly, etc….its not about the looks. It was probably the fact that they both have something in common, conservative politics. My guess is that Nikki hit the 10 yr mark in her marriage, is married to a guy who probably can’t coverse about issues or understand her and her position of power and isn’t paying attention to her, then comes along Folks who understands politics and gets her, understands her…thats how it happens. Its rarely about looks. The way this story is continuing to unfold, its only going to get deeper. I do hope that she wins her parties nomination. However, I have no problem with her being taken to the cleaners over this since she vehemently claims that she’s so big into family values. She made her bed, now its time to lie in it. This is all assuming that Folks has something legitimate to release in the next 36 hours, which would keep the story going.
By thesushi May 25, 2010 at 9:30 pm
MBAcap, did you see the WYFF screen image of the interview? Talk about a “caption this photo” moment: http://www.wyff4.com/image/23666450/detail.html
By . May 26, 2010 at 7:09 pm
HA! Republicans. Not too bright, but horny as hell!
By ceilidh10 May 30, 2010 at 9:31 pm
So far I am with Folks
By rose coolnan June 4, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Palin endorsement is a kiss of death. Who let the dogsled dogs out???