S.C. Lt. Governor Ken Ard – who is currently the subject of a grand jury investigation into numerous campaign finance irregularities (as well as several admitted ethics violations) – endorsed former U.S. Speaker Newt Gingrich’s presidential bid on Wednesday.
Even more bizarrely, Ard made the announcement from his taxpayer-funded office at the S.C. State House.
“South Carolina voters have a marked independent spirit that cannot be swayed by other’s opinions; thus, I have never been a fan of political endorsements, and I did not plan on making any formal announcements,” Ard said in a disjointed statement released by his taxpayer-funded spokeswoman.
“This morning, however, I was asked whom I would support in the upcoming primary,” Ard’s statement continued. “Though there is an exemplary field of candidates, I am certain that one, more than the rest, has the attributes necessary to become the next President of the United States and to lead our country out of this crippling economic crisis. It is crucial for our nation’s prosperity that we elect the toughest, smartest, and boldest candidate possible. That is why I will cast my vote for Newt Gingrich on Saturday.”
Ard’s release came in response to questions from CNN’s Shawna Shepherd. Shepherd’s story, however, delved but briefly into the controversy that has hung over Ard’s office almost from the day he was sworn in as lieutenant governor.
Six months ago, S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson referred Ard’s ethics case to a statewide grand jury.
Wilson reached his decision after an ethics report revealed that Ard spent tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash on football tickets, iPods, a Playstation, a flat-screen TV and clothing for himself and his wife – and then lied about those expenses on his state ethics forms.
More seriously, sources tell FITS that Ard’s campaign illegally traded cash for contributions early on during his candidacy in an effort to make it appear as though he was receiving more financial support than his GOP rivals. According to these sources, this “cash for contributions” scheme was devised in early 2009 by S.C. political consultant Robert Cahaly– an advisor to Ard (and S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley).
A notoriously unethical advisor, Cahaly was indicted last November for illegal campaign activity on behalf of S.C. Speaker Bobby Harrell.
FITS has spoken with several sources close to the Ard grand jury, and we’ve been reliably informed that an indictment in the case is “imminent.” A resolution couldn’t come soon enough for South Carolina Democrats, who on Wednesday blasted Wilson for stalling.
“When will Attorney General Alan Wilson stop playing political games and start acting like a prosecutor?” S.C. Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian said in a statement. “It has been over six months since many, including the Democratic Party, brought to light Ard’s practices during the 2010 campaign which raised serious questions about whether or not he violated the law.”
Harpootlian accused Wilson of acting “in slow motion in either clearing or charging Ard with these alleged criminal violations.”
Frankly, we’re shocked that Ard thought it was a good idea for him to weigh in on the 2012 race. It’s also equally baffling that he chose to use taxpayer resources to do so.
While Ard’s backing may not be the kiss of death that The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper’s endorsement of Jon Huntsman wound up being, it’s hard to imagine it producing anything but bad press for the Gingrich campaign.
***
By Heal January 17, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Gingrich. The man of three wives and three religions. The lobbyist who now condemns his own lobbying clients. A man in moral motion.
By HAHAHAHA January 17, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Obama sure doesn’t have any real morals. And neither does Romney. HAHAHHAAHA!
By debbie January 17, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Mitt Romney the man of “The Sins of Brother Curtis”, by Davis.
By ? January 17, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Haha! The perfect endorsement for Newt!
The ethically challenged standing up for another of his kind.
That takes some balls.
By keeping 'em honest January 17, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Damn,,,and I was leaning toward Newt.
I guess we know why Ard is not endorsing Romney since Romney said last night that he believed that Felons should never regain the right to vote.
Ken Ard should not be endorsing anyone as he should be hiding in shame and that not out there in public.
When’s that Grand Jury going to release its indictments.
By Denny January 17, 2012 at 2:43 pm
I thought Newt Gingrich won the debate with an extremely strong, sound and intelligent argument FOR the continuation of the Reagan Revolution, which was derailed by the Establishment Republican folks, like “read my lips no new taxes” Mr. Bush Sr. Newt Gingrich schooled Juan Williams in the debate, went and exposed himself to a hostile black congregation, is going to follow President Obama around as our nominee until he agrees to 7 Lincoln-style debates, and will school Obama in those debates and win the election, in my opinion. Newt has done great things FOR America, like Welfare Reform and balancing her budgets, along with helping create an environment that created over 20 million jobs through the Reagan and Clinton presidencies. He has worked across the aisle to get great things done FOR America, and if given the chance, he will do it again, restoring America to its exceptionalism once more. Go Newt!
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By The Whore of Babylon January 17, 2012 at 3:00 pm
I can’t wait until Callista is the First Adulteress.
Ken Ard has some balls. Why let an “imminent” criminal indictment bother you, particularly if prosecuted by Alan “Two Bars” Wilson?
By cash January 17, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Newt was at the Flight Deck restaurant in Lexington earlier today. When the owner’s wife extended her hand to greet him, he walked away. What a jerk.
By Bogart January 17, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Hard to imagine that anyone would want to touch Newt’s hand,God only knows where it’s been….YUCK.
By Correction January 17, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Newt was not at Flight Deck today. Rick Santorum was.
By nerve January 17, 2012 at 3:41 pm
If I were Ard I’d keep a low profile. I bet Wilson is like shut up shut up go hide. Remember Ard we are hiding and sweeping this crap under the table! Both losers!
By Andy January 17, 2012 at 3:57 pm
What does a lieutenant governor do?
By Dr. (Well I'll Be) M.D. January 17, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Obviously he’s been paid to try and fuck up Newts win…ain’t gonna happen! Go put your fucking head back in the sand Ard!
By Cid January 17, 2012 at 4:26 pm
The question is
Who paid Ard to endorse Gingrich?
By Dr. (Well I'll Be) M.D. January 17, 2012 at 5:01 pm
I’m guessing….Mitt Haley/Nikki Romney!
By CarpetMuncher January 17, 2012 at 4:31 pm
And in other news, Herman Cain endorsed Nikki Hailey’s husband.
By proudofsc January 17, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Now, I am sure we all want to know who Ard endorses. Pathetic.
By Smirks January 17, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Birds of a feather…
Haley endorses Romney, Ard endorses Gingrich… You really can’t make this crap up. I bet both of them will be the top two candidates voted for in the primary, too. We all know it will happen because SC never learns its lessons when it trusts slimeball after slimeball. Willful ignorance.
By oldman January 17, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Queen Haley is going to cut his balls for not endorsing Romney the monkey on acid. But hey her boy Wilson is going to indite him anyway.
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By Ezekiel January 17, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Ard probably figures his best chance of scoring a pardon down the road is if Newt wins the White House.
By IMHO January 17, 2012 at 8:33 pm
I would like to think Ard was just making an ironic statement since no one with half a brain cares who any of these bozos endorse, especially the guy that used campaign funds for a part-time job so he could stock up on some consumer goods. Sadly, even this clown thinks we care what he thinks.
By cb January 17, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Eighty-four ethics charges were filed against Speaker Gingrich during his term, including claiming tax-exempt status for a college course run for political purposes. However we say it, Mr. Gingrich is all about the money. In a recent story, “Gingrich was ask to return the estimated $1.6 million he received for providing strategic advice to Freddie Mac, the quasi-government agency (an agency that has lost millions) that guarantees home mortgages. Gingrich has said he acted as a historian, not a lobbyist”. A “historian”, is that the history of greed? He may just sell you a book on it!
By ? January 17, 2012 at 9:59 pm
One has to wonder how many banks in recorded history have ever hired a historian to “consult” for their business.
We know it was just payback for some favor he did in office. The idea Newt floats he was a “consultant” is completely ridiculous.
If it even had one shred of truth to it the least he could do is return the money on the basis he “consulted” them into financial catastrophe.
I seriously can’t understand how this corrupt man, completely deviod of all sense of ethics in almost all aspects of his life- political,career and personal, can be polling like he is in SC.
By disgusted January 18, 2012 at 2:05 pm
He’s white, male, southern and “Republican.” What else does the average South Carolinian need to know?
By Ken E. January 17, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Sarah Palin said tonight that South Carolinians should vote for Newt. Then she went on about the dangers of not properly vetting candidates for higher office like last time. It took me a second to realize that she wasn’t talking about herself.
By James the Foot Soldier January 18, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Decade long props to South Carolina for being the only state in the union that reserves the Lt. Governorship for the mentally retarded.
By Daisy February 9, 2012 at 6:16 am
It figures…Birds of a feather, etc. And these are two really loony birds.
What is it about politicians in and around Florence?
By Andrew February 9, 2012 at 6:17 am
h