Voucher Week, pt. V: The One-Man Voucher Lobby

So far this week, we’ve seen how a handful of libertarians from around the country have bankrolled candidates for our legislature. But just candidates. That’s an important word because, of the tens of thousands of dollars poured into the Palmetto State in support of the voucher agenda, not one red cent has had any influence on our legislature. Right?

Not exactly.

Turns out, assembling a State House that will pass a voucher bill happens just a few seats at a time.

There’s Rep. Mick Mulvaney, who got 49% of his campaign funds in 2006 from out-of-state, including $18,000 from the voucher enthusiasts. Mulvaney’s out-of-state money exceeded his November opponent’s total contributions, and Mulvaney won a seat in our State House by 209 votes (51% to 49%).

There’s Rep. Kit Spires, who got 52% of his campaign funds in 2006 from these guys. Spires’ out-of-state voucher money also exceeded his GOP primary opponent’s total contributions, and Spires won that race by 267 votes.

And last, but certainly not least, there’s Rep. Curtis Brantley, who puts the other two to shame. Brantley got nearly 84% of his campaign funds in 2006 from the out-of-state voucher lobby, and captured a seat in the June Primary by only 170 votes.

Could they have done it without New York libertarian Howard Rich, and the grotesque amount of funding that comes with supporting his vouchers? Would they be legislators if not for this out of state mega-donor who scoffs at SC’s $1000 contribution limit? I don’t know for sure, but I think not.

Because Howard Rich is indeed a “one-man voucher lobby.”

I’ll wrap up voucher week by exposing a fact that the voucher groups, with all their grass roots, Palmetto Tree masquerading, don’t want you to know. It’s a fact that’s buried in numerous campaign disclosures and hidden behind countless LLC’s, but it’s a fact all the same. And this is it:

New York voucher advocate Howard Rich is the single biggest contributor to political campaigns in South Carolina.

Let that sink in for a second. Does that sound right?

Here are the top contributing entities (excluding the candidates who self-financed) to SC political candidates in 2006, according to the National Institute for Money in State Politics:

1. SC Trucking Association: $111,750
2. SC Automobile Dealers Association: $89,741
3. SC Optometric Association: $83,550
4. Senate Republican Caucus: $83,211
5. Palmetto Leadership Council: $80,500
6. BellSouth: $72,900
7. Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina: $67,500

As you can see, Rich ain’t on the list. They’re all, as you would expect, South Carolina entities (or, in BellSouth’s case, southeastern entity) with a legitimate business interest in the Palmetto State.

But Rich’s name isn’t missing from the list because he’s stingy. Quite the contrary. It’s missing because the Institute didn’t go through the intense bother of adding up all the contributions from Rich’s myriad shell companies last year. Gervais, however, did:

Bradford Management of NY: $26,000
405 49 Associates: $23,500
Ashborough Investors: $19,000
Ashborough LLC: $1,000
123 LaSalle, Inc: $16,000
123 LaSalle Associates: $5,000
123 LaSalle Avenue: $1,000
Spinksville LLC: $15,000
Howard Rich/Spinksville LLC: $3,000
West 14 & 18 LLC: $12,500
14-18 West LLC: $1,000
Spooner LLC: $12,500
538-14 Realty LLC: $12,500
Silver & Silver Properties, LLC: $10,500
Bayrich LLC: $5,500
Howard Rich/Bayrich LLC: $1,000
Dayrich LLC: $1,000

Unless my calculator fails me, that’s a total of $166,000. Howard Rich is #1 by far - head and shoulders above any other contributor. In other words, no one is trying to exert as much influence on South Carolina’s government as Howard Rich.

Make of that what you will, folks. That’s it for Voucher Week.

Voucher Week, pt. IV: 10% Inspiration, 99% Out of State Fund-ation

I know what you’re thinking: “It can’t get any worse.”

First, an SCRG-backed candidate in House District 7 gets 87% of his funding from out-of-state. Then, an SCRG-backed candidate in House District 79 gets 56% of her funding from the same handful of folks. Then, just a couple months later, an SCRG-backed candidate in the same House District gets 96% of his funds from out-of-state…

I mean, even the most bogus of grass roots groups has to say “enough is enough” eventually, right?

I’ll give everyone a head’s up: if you want to suppose that it can’t get any worse than 96%, read no further. If you still want to imagine that these SC outfits are a homespun effort, not controlled from out-of-state, scroll no more. Hit “Ctrl-Alt-Del,” pour your Frappucino into your hard drive, throw your new iPhone in the nearest creek – whatever it takes not to read another word.

But for those of you who choose to remain waist deep in Voucher Week, let’s take a trip back in time… to just over a year ago, in "SC's Golden Corner": Oconee County. There, in the House District 1 GOP primary, SCRG-backed candidate Brad Cain is losing his race against a retired educator, Rep. Bill Whitmire, by about 600 votes. A sound margin, considering Cain was able to solicit $22,250 in this bid for the State House.

Of that $22,250, how much was from Sandlappers?

Not even enough to replace that iPhone. According to the National Institute for Money in State Politics, an unbelievable 99.2% ($22,000) was from out-of-state.

From whose wallets did these legislative campaign funds originate?

Howard Rich of NY
Ashborough Investors: $1,000
Spinksville LLC: $1,000
West 14 & 18 LLC: $1,000

Alex Cranberg of CO
Walnut Software, LLC: $1,000
Azimuth Energy, LLC: $1,000
Aspect Energy, LLC: $1,000

Other Voucher Enthusiasts
Eric Brooks (PA): $1,000
Donna Brooks (PA): $1,000
Jeff Yass (PA): $1,000
Joe Stilwell (NY): $1,000
Arthur Dantchik (PA): $1,000
Joseph Rich (NY): $1,000

And a few others. Just imagine if someone found this financial disclosure lying on the ground in, say, Omaha, Nebraska. Do you think they’d know what state it came from?

But as disconcerting as 99.2% is, it gets even worse.

Across the state, in House District 117 (Chas. and Berkeley Cos.) SCRG backed a legislative candidate named Rosalie “Roz” Mir. Ms. Mir raised a total of $13,021 in her bid for the seat of Republican Tom Dantzler in the same June GOP primary.

Who funded this campaign, in the lowcountry of South Carolina?

Howard Rich of NY
Ashborough Investors: $1,000
Spinksville LLC: $1,000
West 14 & 18 LLC: $1,000
538-14 Realty LLC: $1000

Other Voucher Enthusiasts
Eric Brooks (PA): $1,000
Jeff Yass (PA): $1,000
Joe Stilwell (NY): $1,000
Arthur Dantchik (PA): $1,000
Joseph Rich (NY): $1,000

And four other $1,000 checks from outside SC. It's getting kinda repetitive, isn't it? $13,000 of Mir’s $13,021 was from out-of-state, while $21 came from her own pocketbook.

That’s – let’s see, carry the two – 99.8% out-of-state funding. (Rep. Dantzler won the race, although several confused Russian cosmonauts turned out to vote for Mir.)

Now, if you grew up in the age of chicken-bog, pancake-breakfast, people-driven politics, this sort of thing might make you want to take a shower. I enthusiastically endorse this impulse. But when you do, please note that the Ivory Soap you’re using isn’t as pure (only 99.44%) as Ms. Mir’s out-of-state school voucher funding.

Maybe I’m missing something, but it seems to me that all the candidates we’ve looked at this week, and the others we’ve passed over, are being bankrolled by the same guy: one-man voucher lobby Howard Rich -- and a dozen or so of his libertarian comrades around the country.

But then again, “one man voucher lobby” sounds like more hyperbole, the kind Gervais is known to use so recklessly. Perhaps I exaggerate the extent of Mr. Rich’s involvement in SC politics. Surely his financial contributions to candidates don’t rival that of actual, big-time lobbyists like Blue Cross Blue Shield or BellSouth, companies that have a considerable business interests in the Palmetto State.

Right?

Don’t bet your “Alliance for the Separation of School and State” membership card on it, my friend. Come back tomorrow, when Voucher Week concludes at the same place the South Carolina voucher campaign began… 73 Spring Street, NY, NY. (Go to Part Five)

Voucher Week, pt. III: Gunning for Bill Cotty

Okay, so a legislative candidate named Dan Harvell up in Anderson County was almost entirely (86%) funded from out-of-state voucher ideologues. But is 86% really that bad? After all, almost thirty actual South Carolinians, including the “SC” Club for Growth PAC, also contributed to the campaign.

I’m being tongue in cheek. Of course it’s bad. It’s a mockery of the system, and to the extent that many of the "maximum" allowed contributions came from the same individual, of our law. But it could be even worse.

To wit, check out last year’s race(s) for House District 79 in Kershaw and Richland Counties (mentioned by Earl in yesterday's comments). As you may recall, Republican Bill Cotty faced competition in the GOP primary. His opponent was Sheri Few, who had the backing of voucher group SCRG. I don’t have Few’s disclosures, but according to the National Institute for Money in State Politics, over 56% of her contributions were from out-of-state.

Whose deep, lint-filled pockets did this dirty voucher cash come from? Here’s the breakdown:

Howard Rich of NY
123 LaSalle Associates: $1,000
123 LaSalle Inc.: $1,000
Bayrich LLC: $1,000
Dayrich LLC: $1,000
Ashborough Investors: $1,000
Spinksville LLC: $1,000
Spooner LLC: $1000
405 49 Associates: $1000
Bradford Management of NY: $1,000
Silver & Silver Properties LLC: $1,000
West 14 & 18 LLC: $1,000
538-14 Realty, LLC: $1,000

Alex Cranberg of CO
Long Canyon, LLC: $1,000
Walnut Software, LLC: $1,000
Azimuth Energy, LLC: $1,000
Aspect Energy, LLC: $1,000

Other Voucher Enthusiasts
Eric Brooks (PA): $1,000
Donna Brooks (PA): $1,000
Paul Farago (OR): $1,000
Jeff Yass (PA): $1,000
Kermit Waters (NV): $1,000
Joe Stilwell (NY): $1,000
Arthur Dantchik (PA): $1,000
Joseph Rich (NY): $1,000

If all those names sound familiar, it’s pretty much the same handful of out-of-staters who bankrolled 86% of Dan Harvell’s campaign in House District 7. (Few also got $1000 checks from Joshua Gross’s "SC Club for Growth" and from Chad Walldorf, chair of "Reform SC").

But that’s not the real story. Hell, 44% funding from in-state is downright “grass roots” as far as these voucher groups go. And besides, Cotty dispensed with Ms. Few by almost 300 votes, so no big deal.

The general election is when the real fun began in District 79.

SCRG again targeted Cotty, who evidently supports public schools, for defeat in November. The group petitioned a third-party candidate onto the ballot to try to siphon away enough votes to give the election to Democrat challenger Anton Gunn.

Sleazy? Yes. Despicable? Sure. Funded almost entirely from out-of-state? You bet.

Petition candidate Michael Letts’ disclosure, seen here, is nothing short of a voucher lobby masterpiece.

Of the $21,850 reported on this filing, $850 was from within South Carolina. The other 96%? Cash from the out-of-state voucher lobby:

Howard Rich of NY
Howard Rich: $1000
123 LaSalle Associates: $1,000
Ashborough Investors: $1,000
Spinksville LLC: $1,000
405 49 Associates: $1000
Bradford Management of NY: $1,000
Silver & Silver Properties LLC: $1,000
West 14 & 18 LLC: $1,000

Other Voucher Enthusiasts
Eric Brooks (PA): $1,000
Donna Brooks (PA): $1,000
Paul Farago (OR): $1,000
Jeff Yass (PA): $1,000
Joe Stilwell (NY): $1,000
Arthur Dantchik (PA): $1,000

And a couple others. Same handful of out-of-state contributors, same House district, different candidate.

But votes in District 79 don’t come as cheap as some folks think: Letts earned a thousand fewer votes than he did petition signatures, and Cotty edged out his Democratic opposition just under 300 votes.

96% of an SC legislative campaign funded by the out-of-state voucher lobby... For a little perspective, there is more actual fruit juice in a box of Hi-C fruit drink than there was actual SC funding for Mr. Letts.

Can it possibly get any worse than that?

Come back tomorrow and find out. And since Gervais is on his soap box, do me a favor and check out your own "soap box." We're going to see if the "South Carolina" voucher lobby can field a candidate whose out-of-state funding is purer than the coveted yardstick of purity: Ivory Soap. (Go to Part Four)

Voucher Week, pt. II: Undue Out-of-State Influence

So what does Gervais mean when he says that South Carolinians for Responsible Government's legislative candidates are funded “almost entirely” by the “out-of-state” voucher lobby? Is it just rhetoric? A little embellishment? Or is it fact?

I’ll let you decide.

A good place to start would be last year’s GOP primary in House District 7, in Abbeville & Anderson Counties. In that contest, now-Representative Mike Gambrell defeated a SCRG-backed candidate named Dan Harvell by about 200 votes.

Who is Dan Harvell? I have no idea, other than almost a legislator. But a quick look at Mr. Harvell’s campaign disclosure shows that something was amiss over in House District 7 last year. From April to July, a span which included the June primary, Mr. Harvell raked in $29,025 in campaign contributions.

Of that $29,025, how much was from out-of-state supporters of the Put Parents in Charge voucher bill?

$25,000. Out of $29,025. That’s 86%. Take a gander at the disclosures if you don’t believe it:

Four maximum contributions from the 73 Spring Street, NY, NY address of millionaire libertarian Howard Rich:

Howard Rich: $1,000
Ashborough Investors: $1,000
Spooner LLC: $1000
West 14 & 18 LLC: $1,000

Four more maximum contributions from a Denver, Colorado address:

Alex Cranberg $1000
Long Canyon, LLC: $1,000
Azimuth Energy, LLC: $1,000
Aspect Energy, LLC: $1,000

And $1000 checks from the following voucher enthusiasts, among others:

Eric Brooks of Pennsylvania
Donna Brooks of Pennsylvania
Paul Farago of Oregon
Janine Yass of Pennsylvania
Kermit Waters of Nevada
Joe Stilwell of New York
Arthur Dantchik of Pennsylvania
Joseph Rich of New York

Take note of these names - chances are you'll see them again soon.

In all, Harvell for House cashed twenty-five $1000 checks from out-of-state - or about $20 for each voter who ultimately pulled the lever for Mr. Harvell.

Where were SCRG’s alleged 200,000 grass roots supporters during this influx of out-of-state cash? MIA? AWOL? Some other military acronym?

I don’t know. But this is what Gervais means when he says a candidate is funded almost entirely from the out-of-state voucher lobby. 86%. I’d be worried if these folks provided even a third of a candidate’s funding, but 86% is just ridiculous.

Bogus grass-roots groups, duplicitous donations, and undue out-of-state influence. Folks, this ain't how our political system is supposed to operate.

But if you think 86% is bad, well - to quote Bob Dylan - "Now ain't the time for your tears." It gets worse.

Find out how much worse tomorrow, when Shark - er, Voucher - Week continues. (Go to Part Three)

Voucher Week at Barbecue & Politics

The Discovery Channel has Shark Week. The Grand Strand has Bike Week. And the Jewish faith has Hanukkah. All these roughly week-long events are action-packed, informative, and likely to make you gain 5-10 pounds.

Here at Barbecue & Politics, we have something we like to call "Voucher Week," and it starts today.

If you're a regular, you may sometimes wonder what my major beef is with the out-of-state voucher lobby. You may think, “Man, Gervais sure is rough on the out-of-state voucher lobby. He should be more nicer.” (You should use better grammar, even in your head.)

Or you may ask yourself, “Why does Gervais always say ‘out-of-state’ when he talks about the out-of-state voucher lobby? Gervais is the greatest.”

You may even lie awake at night and query, “Why does Gervais hate non-South Carolinians such as the people behind the out-of-state voucher lobby? And why is he peering in my window?”

The answer to all these questions is “yes,” even though none of them was even a yes/no question.

But my unadulterated disdain for non-Sandlappers is more of a “minor personality flaw” than it is my reason for exposing the sham groups trying to unload vouchers on the Palmetto State.

I’ll admit that the anti-public school blood oaths give me the heebie-jeebies something fierce. However, even without the "no more government involvement in education" mantra, or the "public education is welfare" nonsense, I’d still be all over these guys.

Why? Because even worse than the damage these outsiders would gladly do to SC schools is the damage they are already doing to the integrity of our political system.

Of course, there’s the famously unsuccessful efforts to obscure the origin of the funding for the groups themselves. But that’s become kinda funny by now. What we'll look at this week is another aspect of the voucher lobby’s plot: the bankrolling of hand-picked legislative candidates almost entirely from out-of-state ideologues.

I know, I know... “almost entirely” sounds like overblown rhetoric, right? How much am I really talking about here? A “little nudge?” A “shot in the arm?” 30%? 40%? 50%?

I mean, these voucher groups use the palmetto tree in their logos, so their handpicked candidates probably have gobs of SC support, perhaps supplemented by a smidgen of cash from afar. Right?

Come back tomorrow (and all week) to find out. And bring a box of tissues if you're a sucker for good old-fashioned, people-driven democracy. We’ll look at some actual financial disclosures from actual candidates during SC's last election cycle, to see what it looks like when a contender for a seat in our State House is almost entirely funded by the out-of-state voucher lobby.

Crowd the kids around the computer and put some popcorn in the microwave. Voucher Week is underway! (Go to Part Two)

Tommy Moore resigns

The Aiken Standard apparently has the exclusive story.

Shealy's Bar-B-Que: peachy keen

The Bridges family officially "got its Shealy's on" for the Fourth of July holiday. Hannah Jane, Petunia, Gervais Jr. (with ten teeth in his whole head) and yours truly filled up the tank Wednesday morning and headed west to the bustling metropolis of Gilbert for the annual Lexington County Peach Festival.

Fresh peaches, southern gospel music, peach slushees & ice cream, and good patriotic folks were the order of the day. Politics was also in the air - from sheriff candidates and the Lexington GOP tent to the Sam Brownback parade float and Obama stickers.

Oh, and there was Shealy's barbecue. Shealy's intensely flavorful, positively mouthwatering, "hot town, summer in the city" barbecue.

Gervais says, nobody can hold a Roman candle to Shealy's. It's like an Independence Day parade for your tastebuds.

Of course, opinions will differ, and spirited debate on the matter is the stuff democracy is made of. But whoever happens to serve up your favorite 'cue, one thing is undebatable: the Fourth is a great day to live in this little corner of the USA we call the Palmetto State. Can I get an "Amen" to that?

Happy Fourth from Barbecue & Politics

Chavis Barbecue in Oak Grove- all decked out in patriotic colors and open from 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM on Independence Day.

Wherever you and yours spend the holiday, have a good one and enjoy the blessings of liberty!

Gervais S. Bridges
Barbecue & Politics

Other 'cue joints open on the 4th:

Little Pigs - 9AM carryout, 11AM dine-in "until they decide to close"

Maurice's - normal business hours

Hudson's Smokehouse - 9AM "until we run out of food"

New Top Ten

Mark Sanford (pictured, after being forcibly subdued by state officials) vetoed 243 items in the SC budget yesterday. Vetoed line items included $20 million in “fatty fatty pork pork” to expand Medicaid programs for children; $500,000 in “pork-covered pork with pork filling” for the Dept. of Disabilities and Special Needs' disabled-friendly campground; and $1.2 million in “wee wee wee all the way home, not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin, th-th-th-that's all folks!” pork-a-rama for a dropout prevention program for at-risk students.

Some may call him “heartless,” but Gervais thinks he’s more Scarecrow than Tin Man, if you know what I’m saying. At any rate, Barbecue & Politics asks the question, what are the...

Top Ten other items Sanford vetoed from the state budget:

10) $25 for fire extinguisher, Colleton Home for Abandoned Orphans and Fireworks Depot

9) $300 for drinking straws, Palmetto Center for Armless Veterans

8) $500,000 security detail for persons threatened with sexual assault by Rep. Thad Viers

7) The Sex and the City episode where Carrie breaks up with Big – oops, that’s one of the top ten items Sanford has TiVo’d

6) Unintelligible string of “emoticons” bobtailed onto budget via text message from Sen. Glenn McConnell

5) $.75 for USC researchers to conclusively determine number of licks required to reach Tootsie Roll center of Tootsie Pop

4) $5,000 for novacaine, Kershaw Dental Clinic for Homeless Puppies

3) Throw Momma From the Train – oops, that’s one of Sanford’s top ten favorite movies featuring Danny DeVito

2) $3,000,000, electricity, South Carolina public schools

1) $800,000, construction, Mark Sanford Gubernatorial Museum and Library, Fairbanks, Alaska

Doc’s Barbeque: a Front Page Meal

Have you ever seen newspaper editor Brad Warthen put a biker in a headlock for a cup of banana pudding? Or semi-retired columnist Lee Bandy arm-wrestle an Eagle Scout for a piece of fried okra? Or writer John Monk shoot a man for ‘eyein’ his catfish fritters?’

Well, neither have I. (Except for the John Monk part. Long story.) But if you’re ever gonna see those things, it’ll probably be at Doc’s Barbeque & Southern Buffet. Out on Shop Road, just beyond The State newspaper's headquarters, Doc’s serves up one mean lunch buffet.

This buffet bar has the goods – “sweet blend” mustard-based pulled pork, pepper-vinegar pulled pork, mac and cheese, potato salad, collard greens, and cole slaw – along with a ton of extras you might not find at just any old ‘cue joint: like Doc’s spicy, mouthwatering fried catfish nuggets and its famous “chocolate cobbler.” Or, as a co-worker calls it, “chocolate meatloaf.”

Trae McCarthy (pictured) and his crew serve up the goods from 10:30- 3:00 PM on weekdays, and on days of games at nearby Williams-Brice Stadium. And from what I’ve seen, Doc’s always packs the house.

It’s worth mentioning that Doc’s also has Diet Dr. Pepper on their soda fountain. Which is good, because they serve what may be the spiciest hash in town. What’s the secret ingredient? Sources say it’s either Cindi Ross Scoppe’s latest editorial ground into a fine powder, or the ashes of N.G. Gonzales.

Either way, next time you get a weekday (or gameday) craving for good barbecue, great sides and a whole slew of cole slaw, cruise on down to Shop Road by the 3:00 deadline. Gervais says, you’ll be glad you did.

Wagener councilman insists he's not part of 'Cartel Ravenel'

Wagener Ravenel supporter and town councilman Mike Miller says he's not the same Michael Miller involved in the cocaine distribution conspiracy allegations against Thomas Ravenel. From the Aiken Standard:

"It was kind of cute to begin with but now it's bothersome," he said. "It's gone on all day for two days now. I sure would like to clear my name."

I bet you would, Mr. Miller. I bet you would. Why don't you start by describing in detail where you were during, let's say, 2005?

UPDATE: B&P has learned that the actual alleged drug dealer, Michael L. Miller, has responded by emphatically denying any involvement whatsoever with the Wagener town council. Said Miller from a Charleston detention center, "I, too, wanted to clear my name of such unsavory insinuations."

Nice

Check out the photo accompanying the Ravenel story on Charleston's ABC affiliate's website. If that's "less than 500 grams," then I need to recalibrate my triple-beam.

Voucher Voice, pt. III: the sad, predictable finale

So where were we? Oh yeah, trying to figure out if the Voucher Voice is a genuine SC blogger with an axe to grind or just another libertarian outsider pushing the voucher scheme here in the Palmetto State.

So far, all we know is that the Voucher Voice is a man named Herbert. "Herbert1820." He likes to “blog it, nee-ga!” and advertise his site on SCHotline. That’s good stuff, but it tells us little about Herbert’s motives here in South Carolina.

As an added bonus, while doing my figgerin', Gervais also happened to learn that the philosopher Herbert Spencer (father of Social Darwinism) was born in 1820. That’s probably just a coincidence, though. What does Social Darwinism have to do with vouchers?

Turns out, Herbert1820 isn’t really named "Herbert." I lied about that, but you folks seem to like a dramatic build-up for these sorts of things. As a point of fact, if you plug the Voice for School Choice's username into the LookSmart database, you’ll find that the “herbert1820 education archive” belongs to a fella named Chaim “Chuck” Karczag.

Who is Chuck Karczag? Yeah, he's a blogger who says “Inez is a total slut." But who is he and what is he doing in our state?

a) a “notable libertarian” and one-time “leader of the … College Libertarians at Rutgers University -- a campus so anti-freedom that he dubs it ‘Moscow on the Raritan [River]?’”

b) West Orange, NJ signatory of the anti-public school pledge, "I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education?”

c) apparent aficionado of Herbert Spencer

d) the “PR director for a grassroots organisation in South Carolina?”

e) all of the above.

I don’t want to give away the answer, other than to say that it’s a vowel. Like I said before, the Voucher Voice may be a soccer mom from Irmo, a farmer out in Gilbert, or a pastor from the Pee Dee. But then again, he may be just another shill for 'South Carolinians' for Responsible Government.

Gervais says, reach your own conclusions about Chuck Karczag. Personally, I don’t think “ending government involvement in education” is an SC value. People who sign pledges like that typically don't want other South Carolinians to know about it. I think the average Sandlapper – conservative, moderate or liberal, public or private school parent - values our public schools and wants to improve them. And I think that’s why the libertarian fringe behind Put Parents In Charge/SCRG has been so unsuccessful here. (next Voucher Voice post)

Ravenel coverage in the SC blogosphere

Below: Thomas "Escobar" Ravenel smuggles coke across the border

NotVeryBright:
Ravenel's Alleged Co-Conspirator
The Indictment

Palmetto Scoop:
Giuliani Statement on Ravenel Indictment
New perspective means new questions

Brad Warthen:
Looks like Lindsey is safe
Rudy not having a good day
What does Ravenel cocaine bust mean?

The Shot/Chaser:
Ravenel Stings Rudy
The best video ever!
Dems take a whack at Ravenel

SC08:
A MAJOR hit for Giuliani

FITSNews:
T-Rav indicted on drug charges

Voucher Voice pt. II: "Blog it nee-ga!"

So who is the Voucher Voice: an anonymous Sandlapper blogging his or her SC heart out, or just another paid shill for the out-of-state voucher lobby? It’s a fair question, considering the blog advertises itself on SCHotline. Not many bloggers use their hard-earned money to promote their blogs.

Turns out, the Voucher Voice isn’t as anonymous as it seems at first blush. A quick Google blogsearch reveals that the Voice goes by the handle "Herbert1820."

So the Voucher Voice is a guy. Named Herbert. Makes sense, because guys named Herbert are 39% more likely to get beat up in school than non-Herberts; ergo, they are more likely harbor a deep-seated resentment for the rest of their lives.

Herbert1820 has another website, too. Really, he just uses another website to store info about vouchers. It’s called LookSmart FURL, “Your personal web file.” Pretty neat idea. There, at the Herbert1820 Education Archive, he likes to keep a list of voucher articles written by various newspapers and libertarian think-tanks. And that’s not all – Herbert also adds comments about the articles he finds.

Some of these comments are mundane, like "Bush the big spender" and "For Christ's sakes."

Others can be downright entertaining, like “Inez is a total slut” and “Blog it nee-ga!”

I think “Inez” might refer to the former Supt. of Education, but I have no idea what “nee-ga” means. Sounds Native American.

If there are any Native American studies majors out there who know what the Voucher Voice means by “blog it, nee-ga!” shoot me an email. We can discuss that tomorrow, when we try to finally figure out whether the Voice has the best interests of SC at heart, or simply has an ideological aversion to public schools. (Go to Part Three)

The Voice for School Choice: vocal local or shillin' villain?

Some of you may have seen a new blog called the Voice for School Choice, which often has a banner advertisement over on SCHotline. I dunno why a blog would advertise itself like that, but I admit I like to look at it every now and then.

There’s no question the voucher lobby here in SC is funded and operated by out-of-state libertarians. I think I’ve noted once or twice how the voucher prop-up group “South Carolinians for Responsible Government” once sent bogus letters to the editor to The State newspaper under a pseudonym, even though they supposedly have legions of grass roots supporters. And maybe I’ve pointed out here or there that SCRG is funded by an out-of-state millionaire who has similarly named organizations in several states. Or perhaps I’ve mentioned in passing how SCRG’s radio ads mispronounce the word “Carolinians.” Oops.

De-legitimizing the "grass roots" voucher lobby, you might say, is my bread and butter here at Barbecue & Politics.

But this blog, the Voice for School Choice, is totally different. According the the website, the Voice "is committed to advancing expanded education opportunities and options right here in South Carolina." It’s probably written by an actual South Carolinian who cares about what's best for the Palmetto State, not just some ideologue here to lobby for a libertarian voucher agenda. Perhaps she’s a soccer mom with two kids in Irmo. Or maybe he’s a black minister from the Pee Dee. Maybe the Voice is a farmer out in Gilbert, I don't know.

There’s no telling where this down-home blogger resides, because he or she blogs anonymously -- possibly to protect himself from the nefarious “Education Establishment” when he or she posts things like this:

"I’d hate to be an anti-school choice Republican around the next election. I have a feeling that a few of them are going to meet with the wrath of some angry, unforgiving, and politically-engaged parents."

That's not a cool breeze you feel: that's the refreshingness of having someone with authentic South Carolina values blogging for vouchers.

[pause for effect]

Okay, I’m just messing with you. I may have just fallen off the turnip truck, but I was wearing my turnip truck helmet when it happened. If vouchers were an SC idea, or were even good for SC schoolchildren, I’d play along. But y'all know I’ve always been leery of the folks who came here a couple years ago to assail our schools. So Gervais decided to pose the question:

Voucher Voice: Lone citizen gunman taking aim at public schools, or another libertarian outsider shilling for the SC voucher lobby?

We'll see... (Go to Part Two)

Rep. Thad Viers: sic, sic, sic

They say crime doesn't pay, but I don't know about that. Some crimes, if I had to guess, pay pretty well. Embezzlement. Fraud. Counterfeiting money. Those crimes will probably buy you a nice house in Shandon, or at least a flat-screen TV.

No, I have to think that whoever coined the phrase "crime doesn't pay" was thinking of stupid crimes, like threatening to sexually assault another man and his parents over the phone. State Rep. Thad Viers pleaded no contest to charges of phone threats yesterday morning. He released a statement, too, which is pasted below, verbatim, from the WLTX News site:

Rep. Viers released a statement to News19 Thursday:

"Todays events mark the conclusion of a sad chapter in my life [sic]. What started as a very promising day last Fall in an attempt to reconcile with my wife, went horribly wrong when she told me she had been seeing someone during the course of our separation. I and those around me lost our tempers and exercised poor judgment. In a world where public officials all to often seem to have no shame, I admit to being very ashamed [sic]. The words left by me and others on Mr. Ziegler's machine were wrong and hurtful. At the same time the some of those emotional words were mine, and were the words of a man still very much in love with his wife [sic]. In most of our lives, we can point to a time where as it relates to matters of the heart our emotions override our good sense. These events represent that for me and I look forward to moving on with my life."

I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone get sic'd so thoroughly by a news outlet before. And I know what you're thinking, so I asked a friend of mine: yes, the Citadel does require students to take English. And yes, a cursory familiarity with the language is an asset at USC Law. And the SC House -- well, I saw a representative spitting tobacco juice into a Starbucks cup last week on the House floor, so I don't want to jump to any conclusions about that.

If I'm being totally honest, Gervais didn't hear any violins as I read this release. I even put on one of Hannah Jane's Indigo Girls albums and re-read it, but still no tears. Maybe I'm jaded, but I don't buy the whole love-struck Romeo line. I doubt Viers and his buddies were sipping Merlot and watching Ghost when they decided to call up this guy and threaten to sodomize him.

In fact, this behavior isn't an entirely new experience for Viers at all. Back in 2003, in another moment of weakness, Viers apparently puffed out his chest at a circuit court judge who ultimately didn't rule his way:

On Friday, when Viers learned the clinic was asking a judge to rule, Representative Viers said, "They forget in this state that I get to vote on the judges." [in South Carolina judges are selected by the legislature] He later said the comment was not serious and prompted by anger.

Before the hearing began, Breeden warned that "intimidation and veiled threats cannot be allowed," and he promised to "rule without fear or favor."

Threats seem to be this kid's modus operandi if you ask me.

New Top Ten

One of SC’s bestest and brightest, Rep. Thad Viers (R-Horry), will be in court this morning facing charges of unlawful communication, for allegedly threatening the boyfriend of his estranged wife. Columbia resident John Zeigler says that last September, Viers called him six times and threatened to physically and sexually assault Ziegler and his parents.

Gervais says, I believe in the tenet of "innocent until proven guilty," but I also believe in its lesser-known corollary: “unless there is a recording.” We’ll see. Regardless, here are the…

Top Ten other allegations in the “unlawful communications” complaint against Rep. Thad Viers

10. Refused to silence cell phone during Mission: Impossible III, despite clear admonition during previews

9. Profanity-laden phone calls were made “collect,” without saving money by “dialing down the center”

8. When describing sexual acts allegedly performed on victim’s girlfriend, paused to ask “Can you hear me now? Good.”

7. Menacing communications rudely placed during Super Nanny season finale

6. Caller threatened to “get to second base” with victim’s truck

5. Failed to properly credit Stevie Wonder as inspiration for phrase “I just called to say I’m going to beat up your parents”

4. Contrary to Telephone Consumer Protection Act, called a member of the national “Do Not Call and Threaten to Rape” registry

3. Deftly disguised voice as “idiot legislator with hand cupped over phone”

2. Neglected to phrase all threats in form of a question, contrary to explicit Jeopardy rules

1. Ended every vulgar missive with an enthusiastic “all in favor say ‘aye’”

Great news

Rumor has it that Hudson’s BBQ, on Sunset Boulevard in Lexington, is opening up shop where the Po’ Pigs Bo-B-Q used to be on Knox Abbott Rd. in West Columbia. This is great news. Driving past the vacant, lifeless Po’ Pigs building on the way home from work each day is like watching your childhood home burn to the ground with your dog inside.

Only more emotional.

Weekend Trimmings

Here's Gervais' trimmings from the MSM over the weekend... enjoy!

The Dixie Stampede must be booked:

Thousands could be flocking to the Palace Theater in Myrtle Beach. Not for a broadway production or a big stage play but to be broadcast, around the world, the final Democratic presidential debate before South Carolinians vote next January.

City prepares for possible debate, WPDE TV Florence

This just sounded nice:

Congaree National Park is seeking volunteer "citizen scientists" of all ages to help with the park's annual Butterfly Count. The 2007 Congaree National Park Butterfly Count will be held on Saturday, June 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center.

Butterfly counters needed at Congaree National Park, Gaffney Ledger

“Queen” of all trades:

Laurin Manning is taking a break from law school to work as Democratic Senator Barack Obama's jack-of-all trades in South Carolina, earning about $2,300 a month. Her office walls are bare and her title not yet settled. The 26-year-old Manning says she's doing a little bit of everything, politics, communications and policy liaison. She had worked on Virginia Senator Jim Webb's successful campaign one week last year.

Presidential campaigns create jobs for college grads, WIS-TV

Cobb-Hunter sounds off on the budget:

“I believe that (the Senate version) is more fair to a greater number of working people. The House version would have given money back to the top 2 percent as opposed to the Senate version, which is bottom-up… I have always favored relief for working people,” [Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter] said.

Cobb-Hunter: Budget ‘hostage’ to DOT reform, tax cuts, Times & Democrat

Ryan's Bill becomes law

This Thursday, South Carolina became the 18th state to require that health insurance includes coverage of autism therapy for children. Doctor-prescribed ABA therapy is an intensive, and therefore expensive, autism therapy - but it's so effective that about half of the children who receive it are able to enter 1st grade on time.

Gervais says, great job Autism Angels and legislators!

From the Spartanburg Herald-Journal:

The Legislature also overrode Sanford's veto of a bill that would require insurance companies to provide coverage for children with autism. After the House overturned the veto by a 114-0 vote, Rep. Jimmy Bales, D-Eastover, looked at the tally board and with a grin said, "Now that's an override."

From the Greenville News:

"How often has there been a unanimous override in the House and the Senate?" said Dr. Desmond Kelly, medical director of developmental-behavioral pediatrics at Greenville Hospital System's Children's Hospital. "The legislators were clear in their support, and that's great."

Overridden

"The average bus in the state is 14 years old, with some 1984 models still on the road, according to the agency."

Legislature overturns bus veto, The State

"If there's a silver lining in this veto - and admittedly it's hard to find - it's how the support for replacing these old school buses was solidified in both the House and the Senate," said state education Superintendent Jim Rex. "What's frustrating, though, is to see how long it can take sometimes to do things that most South Carolinians want done."

-News from around the Statehouse on Thursday , AP

New Top Ten

On Sunday, the Dem presidential candidates had their second debate, and pretty much out-of-nowhere decided to break the long-standing tradition of boring-ass Democratic debates. The highlight was undoubtedly Barack Obama’s response to John Edwards’ attack on his leadership on Iraq. Replied Obama to Edwards (who voted to authorize the war in Iraq), “You are about four and a half years late on leadership on this issue." Ouch.

Now Barbecue & Politics asks, what were the…

Top Ten other times John Edwards has been four and half years too late

10. 1991: Edwards learns to “Walk like an Egyptian,” long after the Bangles have faded into obscurity

9. 1953: Edwards born in Seneca, SC after unprecedented five-year pregnancy

8. 1987: Edwards calls for Royals slugger George Brett to use less pine tar on bat

7. 1990-present: still occasionally makes “Macaulay Culkin face” when reporter catches him off guard

6. 1989: Edwards contracts the last known case of “Pac Man Fever”

5. 1496: Edwards sails the ocean blue

4. 2007: FEC disclosures show Edwards spent $400 in campaign funds for hairstylist to give him “The Rachel”

3. 1986: realizes Coke actually is it

2. 1974: upon wine request, Edwards informed, “We haven’t had that spirit here since 1969”

1. 2011: During 2012 presidential bid, calls for downgrade of Pluto to “dwarf planet”

Weekend Trimmings

A healthy skepticism:

[State Sen. Kay] Patterson said he questioned the motives of groups pushing the vouchers - such as South Carolinians for Responsible Government … "Last week these groups are railing against having a black judge on the Supreme Court, and this week they're speaking out in the best interests of poor black children," Patterson said. "I get suspicious of that."

School voucher concept finds few friends in state Senate – Spartanburg Herald-Journal

Different building, ergo different funding:

Some people think CEO does the bidding of SCRG, a voucher-lobbying group widely believed to be bankrolled by out-of-state interests. That’s hardly the case, they said. CEO isn’t funded by SCRG, and purposely located its offices away from that group to make sure people know the difference, the Rev. Davis said.

Black school choice advocates say goal is to save poor black kids, The State

Now I'm just piling on:

Does all of this debate indicate a true concern that our state provide equal opportunity for a quality education or simply the anticipation of successfully establishing a voucher system in South Carolina, a campaign backed in part by out-of-state interests? (What their interest is, no one seems to know. Or, at least, they’re not telling.)

Keep voting vouchers down: Everybody wins with strong public schools, Anderson Independent-Mail

Let’s get this party started:

Cory Burnell, leader of the Christian Exodus, said he is ready to move his family and operations to Anderson…Another two dozen families, he said, anticipate being here by 2008.

Christian Exodus leader to call Anderson home by July, Anderson Independent-Mail

Added to my "places not to go while taking LSD" list:

Hay bales and a 1936 farm truck decorate the lobby, along with an animatronic cow named Bessie that talks about Billy Graham as a young boy. Critics dubbed the animal the "Golden Calf," saying it wasn't appropriate for honoring the evangelist. But Franklin Graham said it was critical to include displays appealing to kids.

Graham's museum, library is dedicated, AP

As long as we’re coming clean, I never read Ethan Frome:

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards misspoke when he said he read a National Intelligence Report before authorizing the war in Iraq, his campaign said…. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, acknowledged this week that she also did not read the full report before voting to authorize the war.

Edwards' campaign says he misspoke about reading Iraq report, AP

Friday Re-Hash: Scowl Scowlson

The big news in the blogosphere this week is undoubtedly the official entry of Frown - er, Fred - Thompson into the GOP presidential contest. Visit the fine SC blog coverage here:

Brad Warthen's Blog: Playing Hard to Get
SC '08: Fred Frenzy
The Chaser: Thompson begins courting SCGOP
The Palmetto Scoop: SC legislators urge Thompson to run
FITS NEWS: Right Said Fred

In honor of Thompson's official big splash into the race for the GOP nod, Gervais has a little game: The Faces of Fred. It's pretty easy ... just match the expression in the photos to the event which elicited such a tender, emotional response. Here goes:

1. Just watched YouTube video of baby panda bear sneezing.

2. Found twenty dollar bill in pants pocket.

3. Hears his Weird Al Yankovic ring-tone.

4. Sees elderly couple holding hands in park.

5. Dog just farted out loud.

6. Just "huffed" a nitrous oxide balloon.

7. Feet being tickled by nuzzling baby bunny.

8. Narrowly escapes fiery automobile crash.

9. USA defeats Soviet Union in hockey, 1980.


Answers: (1)C ( 2)G (3)I (4)A (5)F (6)H (7)B (8)E (9)D

Have a great weekend!