SC

Lily White Garden Club

Another day, another “whites only” club in Columbia, S.C. – only this one has some prominent members with decidedly liberal roots, including one of U.S. President Barack Obama’s nominees to the federal bench. This website has written extensively in the past on these “legacy” institutions – including the infamous lily…

Another day, another “whites only” club in Columbia, S.C. – only this one has some prominent members with decidedly liberal roots, including one of U.S. President Barack Obama’s nominees to the federal bench.

This website has written extensively in the past on these “legacy” institutions – including the infamous lily white Forest Lake Country Club – but it recently came to our attention that we have neglected to write about the Columbia Garden Club, perhaps the most hoity toity of the city’s “Kracker Konclaves.”

“Founded in 1926, the Columbia Garden Club has promoted a love of gardening among amateurs, encouraged civic beautification by sponsoring plantings in both public and private places, protected our native trees, flowers and birds through conservation efforts, and delighted South Carolina citizens with its decoration projects,” the organization’s website states.

They’ve also decorated the Governor’s Mansion each holiday season for the last thirty-five years.

Among the notable members of the club? Candy Dawson, wife of former SCGOP chairman Katon Dawson – a man whose duplicitous hypocrisy regarding his Forest Lake Country Club membership cost him a shot at being chairman of the National Republican Committee. Chris Hoefer Myers – sister of S.C. Supreme Court justice Jean H. Toal – is also a member, as is Susan DePass, whose husband Rusty DePass once compared U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama to an escaped gorilla at a local zoo.

One of the club’s newest members? Jamie Harpootlian – wife of former two-time S.C. Democratic Party chairman Dick Harpootlian – who was admitted recently at the request of liberal U.S. District Court judge Mary Geiger Lewis, another recent member.

Ironically, Lewis was nominated to the bench by U.S. President Barack Obama – based on the recommendation of U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn.

Yeah …

As we noted in our recent coverage of Jack and Jill – an allegedly discriminatory all-black private club – we have no problem with these groups choosing to accept or reject whomever they wish. But by making those determinations on the basis of race, their members are opening themselves up to legitimate criticism.

UPDATE: For the record “NO,” our criticism has absolutely NOTHING to do with this group repeatedly turning its nose up at our founding editor’s award-winning floral arrangements.

***

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80 comments

Gillon July 26, 2013 at 1:40 pm

So “you have no problem with” all-black or all-white clubs, but you criticize them nonetheless, stating that such a practice opens their members up to “legitimate” criticism. So are we to assume that your criticism is therefore “illegitimate” since you have no problem with them? Never mind, it is after all a slow and lazy summer afternoon.

Reply
Smirks July 26, 2013 at 1:44 pm

Willie “has no problem” with them as in he isn’t going to tell them they can’t do what they are doing. It’s the same notion as freedom of speech. I don’t have to like what someone says, I can’t stop them from saying what they want, but I damn sure can criticize it.

Reply
YallCalmDown July 26, 2013 at 2:00 pm

Exactly. Thank you, Smirks, for continuing to bring reason and logic to the comments section at FITSNews. There is a dearth of it.

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic July 26, 2013 at 2:12 pm

Gillon and CNSYD (whose reflexive anti-me kneejerk is bound to be somewhere on here sooner rather than later) are good for the discussion, I think. Morons being exposed is good for the marketplace of ideas.

Reply
CNSYD July 26, 2013 at 2:30 pm

I agree. Sic Willie’s moronic babble is always good for exposure of libertarians.

Gillon July 26, 2013 at 2:15 pm

Maybe Willie needs to have you proofread his musings for clarity. Incidentally, the picture of the white camellia–was that included because it happened to be available, or has Willie been reading up on the history of Reconstruction? Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic July 26, 2013 at 2:35 pm

That flower is growing in MY garden, bitches.

Reply
Gillon July 26, 2013 at 2:45 pm

Don’t get upset now. Remember all this is “good for the marketplace of ideas” and all that.

Finius Nullis July 26, 2013 at 3:26 pm

And Mrs. Sic looks fabulous wearing it in her hair — that’s two “thumbs up” for you.

Cleveland Steamer July 27, 2013 at 2:08 am

Camellias bloom in winter….gardenias in summer. That pic is not a gardenia of course. Perhaps a white crepe myrtle would have been more appropriate. There is a college near I 85 that can provide insight on SC bloomers.

TontoBubbaGoldstein July 27, 2013 at 9:10 am

Looks like a rose to TBG.

CNSYD July 26, 2013 at 2:37 pm

Particularly the fact that the “Knights” opposed the Republican Party.

Reply
guest July 26, 2013 at 3:15 pm

Looks more like a “Silver Moon” rose, to me – I have one that’s at least 73 years old in my yard.

Reply
Gillon July 26, 2013 at 3:25 pm

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” I guess.

The Colonel July 27, 2013 at 7:18 am

It’s a hybrid white camellia. Apropos of the article’s subject on Race, there was once a Klannish organization called the “Knights of the White Camellia.. Of course there is also an “Order of the White Rose” but I think that’s a Finnish honor sort of like a knighthood – wait, that’s racist…

Doris July 26, 2013 at 4:49 pm

It’s a rose, Gillon. Obviously, you aren’t in any garden club.

Reply
Gillon July 26, 2013 at 1:40 pm

So “you have no problem with” all-black or all-white clubs, but you criticize them nonetheless, stating that such a practice opens their members up to “legitimate” criticism. So are we to assume that your criticism is therefore “illegitimate” since you have no problem with them? Never mind, it is after all a slow and lazy summer afternoon.

Reply
Smirks July 26, 2013 at 1:44 pm

Willie “has no problem” with them as in he isn’t going to tell them they can’t do what they are doing. It’s the same notion as freedom of speech. I don’t have to like what someone says, I can’t stop them from saying what they want, but I damn sure can criticize it.

Reply
YallCalmDown July 26, 2013 at 2:00 pm

Exactly. Thank you, Smirks, for continuing to bring reason and logic to the comments section at FITSNews. There is a dearth of it.

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic July 26, 2013 at 2:12 pm

Gillon and CNSYD (whose reflexive anti-me kneejerk is bound to be somewhere on here sooner rather than later) are good for the discussion, I think. Morons being exposed is good for the marketplace of ideas.

Reply
CNSYD July 26, 2013 at 2:30 pm

I agree. Sic Willie’s moronic babble is always good for exposure of libertarians.

Gillon July 26, 2013 at 2:15 pm

Maybe Willie needs to have you proofread his musings for clarity. Incidentally, the picture of the white camellia–was that included because it happened to be available, or has Willie been reading up on the history of Reconstruction? Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic July 26, 2013 at 2:35 pm

That flower is growing in MY garden, bitches.

Reply
Gillon July 26, 2013 at 2:45 pm

Don’t get upset now. Remember all this is “good for the marketplace of ideas” and all that.

Finius Nullis July 26, 2013 at 3:26 pm

And Mrs. Sic looks fabulous wearing it in her hair — that’s two “thumbs up” for you.

Cleveland Steamer July 27, 2013 at 2:08 am

Camellias bloom in winter….gardenias in summer. That pic is not a gardenia of course. Perhaps a white crepe myrtle would have been more appropriate. There is a college near I 85 that can provide insight on SC bloomers.

TontoBubbaGoldstein July 27, 2013 at 9:10 am

Looks like a rose to TBG.

CNSYD July 26, 2013 at 2:37 pm

Particularly the fact that the “Knights” opposed the Republican Party.

Reply
guest July 26, 2013 at 3:15 pm

Looks more like a “Silver Moon” rose, to me – I have one that’s at least 73 years old in my yard.

Reply
Gillon July 26, 2013 at 3:25 pm

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” I guess.

The Colonel (R) July 27, 2013 at 7:18 am

It’s a hybrid white camellia. Apropos of the article’s subject on Race, there was once a Klannish organization called the “Knights of the White Camellia.. Of course there is also an “Order of the White Rose” but I think that’s a Finnish honor sort of like a knighthood – wait, that’s racist…

Doris July 26, 2013 at 4:49 pm

It’s a rose, Gillon. Obviously, you aren’t in any garden club.

Reply
CNSYD July 26, 2013 at 1:59 pm

Sic Willie would not want to be a member of a club that would have him as a member.

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic July 26, 2013 at 2:15 pm

CNSYD as I live and breathe!

Reply
CNSYD July 26, 2013 at 2:32 pm

I have to give attribution to Groucho Marx.

Reply
lawzoo July 26, 2013 at 3:57 pm

Why? Didn’t Will Rogers say that?

Edit: It was Groucho Marx.

Groucho said that since his daughter was half-Jewish she should
be allowed to go into the pool up to her waist.

Reply
Gregory Geddings July 27, 2013 at 7:29 am

My favorite Grouchoism:
“East is East and West is West and…if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce…it tastes more like prunes than rhubarb does.”

Reply
CNSYD July 26, 2013 at 1:59 pm

Sic Willie would not want to be a member of a club that would have him as a member.

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic July 26, 2013 at 2:15 pm

CNSYD as I live and breathe!

Reply
CNSYD July 26, 2013 at 2:32 pm

I have to give attribution to Groucho Marx.

Reply
lawzoo July 26, 2013 at 3:57 pm

Why? Didn’t Will Rogers say that?

Edit: It was Groucho Marx.

Groucho said that since his daughter was half-Jewish she should
be allowed to go into the pool up to her waist.

Reply
Gregory Geddings July 27, 2013 at 7:29 am

My favorite Grouchoism:
“East is East and West is West and…if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce…it tastes more like prunes than rhubarb does.”

Reply
Colagirl July 26, 2013 at 2:11 pm

I used to work somewhere in Columbia where garden clubs participated in one of our annual events. There is a predominately black garden club downtown which was created because the women could not join Columbia Garden Club. They used to take real pride in the fact that at shows where they both participated, they always beat out the Columbia Garden Club women.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell July 27, 2013 at 10:15 am

They were probably actually interested in gardening.

And I’ll bet black men tended most of the snoot-set’s gardens anyway.

Reply
Colagirl July 26, 2013 at 2:11 pm

I used to work somewhere in Columbia where garden clubs participated in one of our annual events. There is a predominately black garden club downtown which was created because the women could not join Columbia Garden Club. They used to take real pride in the fact that at shows where they both participated, they always beat out the Columbia Garden Club women.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell July 27, 2013 at 10:15 am

They were probably actually interested in gardening.

And I’ll bet black men tended most of the snoot-set’s gardens anyway.

Reply
bogart July 26, 2013 at 2:27 pm

Garden clubs are full of “Blooming Idiots”….having been a member of one I can tell you that who’s planting their stems into someone else’s wife is discussed more than petunias.

Reply
bogart July 26, 2013 at 2:27 pm

Garden clubs are full of “Blooming Idiots”….having been a member of one I can tell you that who’s planting their stems into someone else’s wife is discussed more than petunias.

Reply
xx July 26, 2013 at 2:29 pm

@FITS – I’m not sure The Cola. Garden Club would let you in either. It’s only for women. Sorry dude.

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic July 26, 2013 at 2:36 pm

yeah but I have better taste in women’s shoes than all those bitches

Reply
Finius Nullis July 26, 2013 at 2:39 pm

pics, please?

Reply
9" July 27, 2013 at 4:32 pm

Great lech(I prefer black engineer boots,and nothing else)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qbeIwn5jR8

Reply
xx July 26, 2013 at 2:29 pm

@FITS – I’m not sure The Cola. Garden Club would let you in either. It’s only for women. Sorry dude.

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic July 26, 2013 at 2:36 pm

yeah but I have better taste in women’s shoes than all those bitches

Reply
Finius Nullis July 26, 2013 at 2:39 pm

pics, please?

Reply
9" July 27, 2013 at 4:32 pm

Great lech(I prefer black engineer boots,and nothing else)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qbeIwn5jR8

Reply
Soul Patrol July 26, 2013 at 3:21 pm

That is amazing that Harpootlian and Lewis would be member of such an organization that excludes members of a particular race–particularly Lewis since she is a sitting federal judge.

Reply
demarke July 26, 2013 at 4:27 pm

Why? Because all Republicans are racist and all Democrats are saintly progressives? That’s one of the biggest misconceptions out there and one that Democratic leadership has been remarkably effective harping on until people assumed it was true.

Reply
John Denver July 27, 2013 at 3:10 pm

Probably because people who are in positions of power or in the spotlight tend to exercise better judgment than people who are not.

Reply
Lousie July 26, 2013 at 4:44 pm

And both of Queen Jean Hoefer Toal’s sisters, Chris Myers and Lilla Hackett. The SC Democratic elite are such hypocrites.

Reply
Soul Patrol July 26, 2013 at 3:21 pm

That is amazing that Harpootlian and Lewis would be member of such an organization that excludes members of a particular race–particularly Lewis since she is a sitting federal judge.

Reply
demarke July 26, 2013 at 4:27 pm

Why? Because all Republicans are racist and all Democrats are saintly progressives? That’s one of the biggest misconceptions out there and one that Democratic leadership has been remarkably effective harping on until people assumed it was true.

Reply
John Denver July 27, 2013 at 3:10 pm

Probably because people who are in positions of power or in the spotlight tend to exercise better judgment than people who are not.

Reply
Lousie July 26, 2013 at 4:44 pm

And both of Queen Jean Hoefer Toal’s sisters, Chris Myers and Lilla Hackett. The SC Democratic elite are such hypocrites.

Reply
Maggie Mae July 26, 2013 at 7:26 pm

Is Nikki Haley a member??? I bet she has some whinney tale to tell about how the Garden Club “ladies” couldn’t decide whether to let her join because she was “brown”.

Reply
Maggie Mae July 26, 2013 at 7:26 pm

Is Nikki Haley a member??? I bet she has some whinney tale to tell about how the Garden Club “ladies” couldn’t decide whether to let her join because she was “brown”.

Reply
tomstickler July 26, 2013 at 8:25 pm

Has anyone not “lily white” been rejected for membership in the Columbia Garden Club?

Reply
tomstickler July 26, 2013 at 8:25 pm

Has anyone not “lily white” been rejected for membership in the Columbia Garden Club?

Reply
Nanu08 July 27, 2013 at 7:59 am

Whats the big deal about a white or black garden club? Does everything known to man have to always be about the color of one’s skin? We have all white or all black churches so time to step outside the color box and just be people………

Reply
Nanu08 July 27, 2013 at 7:59 am

Whats the big deal about a white or black garden club? Does everything known to man have to always be about the color of one’s skin? We have all white or all black churches so time to step outside the color box and just be people………

Reply
snickering July 27, 2013 at 9:09 am

Who wants to be in a Garden Club and why is this news?

Reply
snickering July 27, 2013 at 9:09 am

Who wants to be in a Garden Club and why is this news?

Reply
9" July 27, 2013 at 1:37 pm

This is a subject I know well. I’ve done it. The ‘garden clubs’ take credit ,while people who actually know something about horticulture and landscaping,do the work,and that includes ,black guys….You think those bitches are gonna get their hands dirty? Sheeeit!

Fits is defensive because he’s deliberately being racist,and he knows it(I hope).

Reply
9" July 27, 2013 at 1:37 pm

This is a subject I know well. I’ve done it. The ‘garden clubs’ take credit ,while people who actually know something about horticulture and landscaping,do the work,and that includes ,black guys….You think those bitches are gonna get their hands dirty? Sheeeit!

Fits is defensive because he’s deliberately being racist,and he knows it(I hope).

Reply
Dan July 27, 2013 at 10:26 pm

SIC, BS. You justed posted this article to neutralize how bad the Jack and Jill semi-black bitches really are and some of your semi-black supporters have gotten to you. That’s okay. The Benjamins are coming down anyway. Mary Geiger Lewis and Jamie Harpootlian hypercrites? No crap, Sherlock. Ask Rusty Foster, Esq.

Reply
Dan July 27, 2013 at 10:26 pm

SIC, BS. You justed posted this article to neutralize how bad the Jack and Jill semi-black bitches really are and some of your semi-black supporters have gotten to you. That’s okay. The Benjamins are coming down anyway. Mary Geiger Lewis and Jamie Harpootlian hypercrites? No crap, Sherlock. Ask Rusty Foster, Esq.

Reply
Lewis July 28, 2013 at 8:56 am

Sic: Check this out. Seems you went national and Judge Lewis’ involvement here.

http://www.quintonreport.com/2013/07/27/is-obama-appointed-judge-a-member-of-an-all-white-club/

Reply
Lewis July 28, 2013 at 8:56 am

Sic: Check this out. Seems you went national and Judge Lewis’ involvement here.

http://www.quintonreport.com/2013/07/27/is-obama-appointed-judge-a-member-of-an-all-white-club/

Reply
Nanu08 July 29, 2013 at 7:31 am

Why can’t Whites have their own clubs and Blacks the same? We are adults, aren’t we?

Reply
Nanu08 July 29, 2013 at 7:31 am

Why can’t Whites have their own clubs and Blacks the same? We are adults, aren’t we?

Reply

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