Chris Sullivan – a veteran political consultant and the former editor a pro-Confederate magazine – will seek the South Carolina Senate seat currently held by fiscal liberal Mike Fair (RINO-Greenville).
Sullivan will kick off his campaign next Monday at a barbecue at Tommy’s Ham House in Greenville, S.C.
What are Sullivan’s views on the pressing issues of the day (you know … as opposed to the pressing issues of 1861, which he addressed extensively during his career as editor of Southern Partisan)?
Well, here’s his issues page … although we skimmed it and found very little in the way of specific policy. And while that doesn’t necessarily disqualify Sullivan in our eyes, it does present us with an opportunity to make an important point regarding the upcoming “Republican” primary elections.
As we’ve noted previously, there are at least a dozen “Republican in Name Only” State Senators who consistently vote with Democrats to grow government while preserving our dysfunctional public school system and anti-competitive tax code.
Of those dozen or so “Republican in Name Only” State Senators, Fair is unquestionably one of the worst … as numerous legislative scorecards have proven. And while we have no doubt that Sullivan would be a preferable choice on fiscal matters, then again so would anyone with a pulse.
Which brings us to our point: We can’t afford to replace RINOs with … well, RINOs. And while we’re not accusing Sullivan of being a RINO, his lack of specificity regarding which reforms he would support (and which ones he wouldn’t) is troubling. Now more than ever, South Carolina needs challengers (especially in Fair’s district) who are willing to commit to the specific reforms that are required if this state ever hopes to turn things around.
Which specific reforms are we talking about?
Well these … for starters.
We grilled Sullivan about whether or not he’s on board with parental choice, for example, and here’s what he said:
I am for free enterprise wherever possible. Clearly, the government school monopoly has failed miserably. The solution is a system that allows parents to have the definitive voice in every detail of their children’s education. Distant bureaucrats are the last group that should have a say in any child’s education. It is a shame that between the bloated bureaucracy in Columbia.
We also asked him about whether he would support individual income tax relief (which S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley championed as a House member but then abandoned as the GOP gubernatorial nominee). Here’s what he had to say about that:
I’m for as much tax reform as we can get. If Florida and (Tennessee) can live without an income tax why can’t we?
Finally, we asked Sullivan whether he would back a “spending cap tied to population growth that includes a taxpayer rebate fund.” Here’s his response:
I fully support a spending cap as essential to control the growth of goverment and using excess funds for tax relief.
Those are decent answers – especially the last one – although once again Sullivan leaves himself plenty of wiggle room to accommodate the powers-that-be in Columbia (many of whom he’s had a hand in electing).
And we all know about politicians and wiggle room …
Our hope is that the 2012 filing period in South Carolina will result in numerous “Republican” incumbents facing legitimate primary challengers. We also hope that each one of these challengers commits to specific policy as opposed to rhetorical fluff.
Policy like …
1) Individual Income Tax Relief
2) Universal Parental Choice
3) A Cap on Government Growth (With Surplus Money Rebated To Taxpayers)
4) Comprehensive Government Restructuring
5) Incentives accountability and transparency
We’re more committed than ever to defeating status quo politicians at the S.C. State House. That’s why we spend every day exposing these bastards for the frauds they are.
It’s just critical that we replace these RINOs with true free market conservatives as opposed to slightly less offensive versions of the incumbents.
***
By ? February 14, 2012 at 10:08 am
That looks like a camel back he’s wearing, if he’s a hiker he can’t be all bad….just as long as he doesn’t disappear on the Appalachian trail and wind up in Argentina that is…
lol….I just said he’s “ok” cause he’s a “hiker”…funny thing is I’m sure many people will vote for him for far more stupid reasons.
By johnb February 14, 2012 at 10:14 am
anybody is better than Fair
By Tim February 14, 2012 at 10:36 am
Chris told me ’08 that he’d support Jakie Knotts “no matter what” on all issues across the board because Knotts was one of the “Magnificent Seven” who voted against taking down the Confederate battle flag. He said, “He’s the only friend we’ve got.” He calls himself a “Lindsay fan”—which is even more troublesome for anyone who watches him flirt with his roommate and “compatriot” Gene Hogan at Sons of Confederate Veterans conventions. I noticed from the quotes above that his literary skills haven’t improved, either. Geez.
By ? February 14, 2012 at 10:39 am
Wow, that’s not good-thanks for the info!
By D.P. Lucas February 14, 2012 at 11:54 am
Sullivan has been on the Hunley Submarine Commission since the get-go, and carries well water for Sen. McConnell, Chairman of that austere Commission. Evidently McConnell quietly supports Sullivan’s plans. So do you want poison #1 (Mike Fair) or Poison #2 (Chris Sullivan)?
By ? February 14, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Good point, I also somehow missed that he was a “political consultant”.
Great, fantastic, we’re relegated to shuffling turds in and out and hoping one doesn’t smell worse than the other.
By Paul Hayward February 14, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I guess as a NC resident, I don’t have enough sleazy politics to keep me entertained, so I check on my native state and y’all never disappoint. Today was different, though — I look on FITS and see that my friend Chris Sullivan is offering for the Senate. Chris is a fine Christian gentlemen of the highest order, as is my other friend that was so viciously attacked, Gene Hogan.
These attacks were leveled by Tim Manning, Jr., a frustrated young man with, quite possibly, some mental illness issues. Tim should be dedicating his time to higher pursuits. Despite his high-powered intellect, varying accounts have him either slinging mustard-based roadkill or pedding half-baked books on theology.
In short, I be careful about consuming anything he dishes up. This includes BBQ, theology, history or inside political “scoop.”
By Wes February 15, 2012 at 6:57 am
Richard Quinn is a child molester. I wonder if he gets off to watching Rick with his boyfriends through 2-way mirrors.
By The Badge February 14, 2012 at 10:48 am
Tim is a fool with a personal agenda. Take everything he writes with a grain of salt. He was turned down for the job Sullivan had with the Partisan.
By Joe February 14, 2012 at 10:58 am
“If Florida and (Tennessee) can live without an income tax why can’t we?” Mr. Backpacker, Alaska has no state sales tax, no income tax and gives each and every citizen that has lived in the state for at least one year a check (and not an itty bitty check like a SC tax refund would if there was one). Why can’t SC do that too?
By Huh? February 14, 2012 at 11:07 am
because there’s no oil in SC.
By ? February 14, 2012 at 11:30 am
Haha! True! I’ve hiked in the Alaskan outback and have a friend living in Haines. The whole state is sucking hard on federal teat.
They are getting oil subisidy checks and some get frontier style homesteading checks from Uncle Sam.
Lot’s of military stuff too.
All that being said, if SC was determined it could find a way to make do easily without income tax. The pols would never let it happen though, it’s their very power source.
It’d be like taking the blue lightning away from Palpatine. You can’t preach “unlimited power” without having a way to gain it.
:)
By moedog February 14, 2012 at 11:20 am
Just another embarassment for the state of South Carolina. Geez, there just no hope for this place.
By truthteller February 14, 2012 at 12:35 pm
I hope that the state of SC is beyond voting for someone who is clearly a racist. I mean be a racist if you want to, that’s your call. But when you step up and want to represent the people of the state and you are a “son of the confederacy” (we all know what that means) how can you be trusted to be a fair and impartial steward of ALL the people in your district?
Or maybe, is that why he’ll win because he won’t be like it’s the 1950s all over again.
This sucks…I know he’ll win and win big.
By The Badge February 14, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Truthteller, you must not be from around here. Please study up on your history before making such a narrow minded statement or better yet, go back to where you came from.
By ceilidh10 February 14, 2012 at 3:01 pm
are you joking? the entire GOP has more or less racist tones and undertones depending upon whom u are talking to.
By Tim February 14, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Aren’t politicians and politician-wannabe’s the ones with “personal agendas”?
By Frank February 14, 2012 at 1:50 pm
I know this guy and the first word that comes to mind is redneck.
By Old Bike Dude February 14, 2012 at 2:17 pm
White Alvin.
By Andrew February 14, 2012 at 2:43 pm
The choice between Fair and Rebel flag waving guy is hardly a good choice.
SC political campaigns seem to attract lots of nuts.
By ceilidh10 February 14, 2012 at 2:54 pm
# 6 Tax free blow jobs by unregulated fellatrices and no caps on tips.
By ceilidh10 February 14, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Between the RINO’s and the conservative GOPers you like, Sic, THERE AINT NO ONE ELSE YA HEAR ?? You have 2 choices, 2 types of Republicans. And it’s all the same bullshit for SC which sinks deeper and deeper in GOP horseshit every year. Nothing changes, and this guy is no different from any other GOPer in the state. None of them has a single original thought.
Maybe someone can be original and come up with a 3rd party instead of the same boring crap on this board. Wait a sec…go porno, Sic. You could do quite well.
By ceilidh10 February 14, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Happy Valentine’s day, Sic, we luv ya…..keep telling the truth, that is why I tune in. For being incredibly unbalanced, you have a lot of balance in your opinions.
By David February 14, 2012 at 5:09 pm
He will have the constant worry of having a “male bimbo” eruption during the campaign, and then there is the problem with him promising subscribers to his magazine 6 issues a year and only printing one or two and not tracking people subscriptions so that they would get all the issues they paid for even if the issues were not mailed for a yeaar or two. He should be charged for fraud by the SC State Attorney’s office rather than running for office.
By Soft Sigh from Hell February 15, 2012 at 7:52 pm
“Bubba bimbo eruptions” amongst the scions and relicts of the Confederacy? T’is a New South indeed. Klanners bulging from the closet.
By joebob February 16, 2012 at 7:35 pm
He is a prick…I’ve known him for years.
By joebob February 16, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Instead of “Confederates in the Attic” it’s “Confederates in the Closet.”
By Tim March 19, 2012 at 7:05 am
This story just broke a few days ago—see link below. There are rumors flying among the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) that Chris Sullivan is implicated and was deeply involved. Chris was Wilson’s successor in the SCV hierarchy. …$70 million???
“Secret Service Raids Upstate Business: Atlantic Bullion And Coin Inc. Accused In Alleged Ponzi Scheme”
http://www.wyff4.com/news/30689956/detail.html