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by JOE WHITE
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In 1952, I was in the second grade. My teacher took a “Presidential Preference Poll” of our class. I lived in a middle-class neighborhood–mainly blue-collar workers. Almost everyone was “Democrat.”
I was the only one who said, “I like Ike!”
As a college student, in 1964, after reading “Conscience of a Conservative,” I campaigned for Barry Goldwater. I voted for Richard Nixon twice, Ronald Reagan twice, George H.W. Bush twice, Bob Dole, George W. Bush twice, John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Donald Trump three times. Naturally, after being elected to the South Carolina Statehouse in 2022, I was going to caucus with the Republicans.
The problem is called Rule 16B. It’s a rule of the South Carolina House Republican Caucus – the group that decides who gets the best committee assignments, who gets campaign money, who gets friendly access to leadership. To be a member of that caucus, you must sign an agreement. That agreement says you will not campaign against an incumbent Republican representative “in good standing” seeking reelection.
Let that sink in! To be in the Caucus, you must pledge not to campaign “in any way” against an incumbent “in good standing.”
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The five Republican legislators who had to resign after a recent grand jury investigation were all members “in good standing.” I asked this question that day, “if my son who lives in Greenville decided to run against an incumbent in his district, does this mean I could not campaign against the incumbent and for my son?”
The answer given by leadership?
“That is correct.”
So, here’s the deal: If you are a part of the South Carolina House Republican Caucus, you are silenced by your oath not to tell the citizens of South Carolina if there is a bad apple in the House. You certainly cannot try to recruit someone to run against that bad apple. You can’t help a new conservative who wants to challenge an establishment incumbent. You can’t even stand beside your own son or daughter if they choose to run against one of those protected incumbents.
That’s not Unity! That is Tyranny!
When I was asked to sign this agreement, I said no! I told them that my First Amendment right to free speech did not end when I was elected. I was told that I could not be part of their caucus.
So be it! I will NEVER surrender TRUTH for club membership.
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RELATED | SC FREEDOM CAUCUS SWEEPS STATE HOUSE RUNOFF RACES
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Rule 16B, along with the other caucus rules make sure that “You the People” get more fluff than fact from some of your representatives. Here’s the frustration: when legislators can’t speak freely, the truth never reaches the voters who own the government. One day, during debate on the House floor, a representative said to another representative, “so you actually trust your constituents more than you trust the ‘experts?'”
That Freedom Caucus representative responded, “I could not have said it better myself. Yes! every single time.”
The people I represent may not have a lobbyist, but they have common sense. They know when they are being misled – and lied to. They know when a politician starts talking like a bureaucrat.
The Bible says, “let your yes be yes and your no be no.” That’s honesty. That’s transparency. That’s accountability.
If you cannot tell your voters the truth about what’s going on in Columbia then you don’t represent them – you represent the political machine.
Rule 16B may silence some, but it will not silence me, and it should not silence “We the People.” Ask your representatives if they signed that agreement. Ask them what they have agreed to keep silent. Ask them why “the people’s business” isn’t being done in public.
This is your government. Your money. Your future. And no caucus, no club, and no rule should ever come between you and the truth. If you believe the people deserve honesty more than politicians deserve comfort, share with your friends and neighbors. The only thing more dangerous than corruption is silence.
Share this with your friends and neighbors. It’s time! To bring sunlight back to South Carolina.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Joe White represents the people of House District 40 in the S.C. General Assembly.
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5 comments
I don’t think you really want sunlight. If people saw how insane all the hardcore MAGA Republicans in this state are you know that would probably end the supermajority right? Better keep your voters in the dark.
You are definitely quoting House Rules because Members of the S.C. Senate have their own PAC and spend money to lie about fellow incumbents. Some are Registered Agents of Non profits that their main goal is to put the Freedom Caucus in Power so as much as You say it’s the Government of the people it’s run by a few with a handful of far right concerns.
Hey Joe how about you get your “Freedom” buddies to cooperate with the RJ May investigation? From an Oct 15th article in The State “May, who is being held at the Edgefield County Detention Center pending sentencing, in jailhouse discussions made public because they were recorded, said some clients owed him money. As part of the investigation, attorneys for Maynard Nexsen also sought to speak to five House members, all members of the hard-line conservative S.C. House Freedom Caucus, which May helped create. Two of them, state Reps. Ryan McCabe and Joe White, were “fully cooperative,” Moore said. Three of them, state Reps. Stephen Frank, Jay Kilmartin and Jordan Pace did not cooperate, Moore said. Frank initially agreed to speak to investigators, but then reversed course and refused to set up a meeting. Kilmartin never agreed to a meeting. Pace, who also is the Freedom Caucus chairman, scheduled a meeting and then didn’t show up, Moore said Tuesday.” What rule is preventing Frank, Kilmartin and Jordan with cooperating with the RJ May investigation?
Since the Freedom Caucus believes that because it is “diverse” in its views from mainstream Republicans, is not being “included” in their caucus because of their beliefs, and desires only “equality” with fellow Republicans, perhaps they should get off of their obsession with “D.E. I.” I can’t help but enjoy the irony.
Same Old Corruption with a New Name! Truth is Democrats do this Also!!