Issue date: 2/13/10 Section: News and Opinion

These days, it's not easy saying you're from South Carolina. Sure, there are always the annoying jokes about education and general "redneck" jabs, but now South Carolinians get to enjoy the latest display of poor judgment by their political leaders. Somehow, it doesn't even feel that out of place, after all this great state has produced a couple of incidents that would make most people question what it is that's actually going on down here. Even back in the 1800's this state was blessed with members of Congress like Preston Brooks, a man who beat a Senator from Massachusetts so badly with a cane he couldn't return to Washington for three years. Even South Carolina's own Ben Tillman (Yes, as in Tillman Hall) felt the need to say, "We have done our level best [to prevent blacks from voting]...we have scratched our heads to find out how we could eliminate the last one of them. We stuffed ballot boxes. We shot them. We are not ashamed of it." Ah yes…what fond memories.

Who can forget perhaps one of the most famous South Carolina politicians? Strom Thurmond himself decided to filibuster the Civil Rights Act, setting the record for going over a day- literally-in nonstop opposition. Now that history has shown that these were embarrassing (though in Butler's case, quite badass) incidents, one can only wonder how our recent news making officials will be viewed. Take last summer, where we had the pleasant surprise of finding out that the governor decided to check out for a few days, grab some sun in Argentina, and let all hell break loose back home. It's cool though, he made sure citizens everywhere realized that he wasn't just cheating on his wife with some random woman, no, this was his soul mate. His wife? Well…she probably fits somewhere in there.

So while our governor and his less than politically wise self were neglecting the State's problems, the jokes pilled on. For weeks the news carried the latest developments, the latest stumble, and the most recent confession. Great to see that once the State gets a lot of TV coverage, it's for something that can make everyone proud. Yet eventually, the State moved on. Finally the news was dying and the coverage waned. Then along came Andre Bauer. The State's Lt. Governor and current GOP Gubernatorial candidate thought it would be wise to compare those receiving welfare assistance to stray animals, and that even his grandmother knew you just don't feed those. Wow, pay attention much? In this day and age, most politicians can try and at least keep stupid comments to themselves. He had to have known that maybe there was someone out there who just might have found that offensive. Yet the headlines ran and the State's image hurt, not to mention the Scrooge-like image of fiscal conservatives was reinforced.

It's unknown just how much fallout either of these two scandals will carry or how long they will persist, but what is known is that South Carolina's image is hurting and that's not something the State needs. So thank you Governor, thank you Andre, you've earned yourself a special place; a special place in that hall of South Carolina politicians who can't help themselves from making that mistake.

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