Listen to Kelly below. Teacher-of-the-Century Kelly Payne and the “It” kids discuss how their class became the state’s top political forum.

South Carolina high school teacher Kelly Payne has figured out the best way to shut down our founding editor’s notorious penchant for inappropriateness – bring a posse.

Payne arrived at our radio studios last night with – get this – three of her students, two parents, a gun-toting lawman (who happens to be her fiance) and her mom.

No really.

Sic Willie never had a chance, people.

In spite of this overwhelming display of force, our favorite bad boy did manage to call Payne “hot” at least a half-dozen times during their interview, although she graciously deflected his overtures and kept the conversation focused on her amazing students – three of whom (Sarah, Rebecca and Bobby) also participated in the interview.

We’re still working on getting the audio files loaded (check back for updates on our radio page), but Payne and her students were as impressive on the airwaves as they are in their Dutch Fork High School classroom, which has quickly become South Carolina’s hottest political forum.

Seriously, this “it” audience has heard from practically all of South Carolina’s heavy political hitters, including Attorney General Henry McMaster, House Speaker Bobby Harrell and former House Minority Leader Gilda Cobb-Hunter, just to name a few.

And unlike South Carolina’s “softball tossing” MSM, they don’t hold back either when it comes to giving their guests a good grilling.

Payne’s kids said their favorite guests (other than Sic Willie, obviously) were S.C. Policy Council President Ashley Landess and State Rep. Nikki Haley.

Landess and Haley were “down to earth” and “honest with us,” two of Payne’s students wrote in their reviews.

Payne said her goal was teaching her kids “how to think,” not what to think.

Prior to achieving fame with her current issues class, Payne led the fight to create a defensive driving pilot program for teens known as “Alive @ 25,” which is taught by off-duty law enforcement officers.

In fact, two of the parents accompanying Payne on the radio show last night lost their child in automobile accident, which Payne says was one of the reasons she pushed so hard to get the program implemented.

Thanks to Kelly and the “It” kids for stopping by! We look forward to having them on again real soon!

Listen to Bedingfield’s interview below. State Rep. Eric Bedingfield and Sic Willie discuss unions, parental
choice and which one of them wore the cooler football jersey.

S.C. Rep. Eric Bedingfield is impossible to pigeonhole – he’s a good ole’ boy, but he’s never voted like one.

He’s “down home,” but has a keen grasp on global competitiveness.

He’s perceived as a “Sanfordite” – or a loyal supporter of Gov. Mark Sanford – but he certainly wasn’t afraid to direct some criticism the governor’s way during our inaugural “Face Off w/ FITS” radio show.

One of the few Republicans in South Carolina who has earned the right to wear the “lower taxes, less government” label, Bedingfield spoke at length with us about economic development, fighting unions, parental choice, personalities at the S.C. State House, the GOP’s “big tent” and, of course, Clemson football.

He was an awesome first guest – as we knew he would be.

Check back for a link to the interview and some additional commentary tomorrow … and stay tuned for more “Face Off w/ FITS” program information this week.