Sound Off: Did State GOP Go Too Far?
Choice of Shealy over Knotts is a rare example of party showing preference.
Though they may have a preference, political parties typically do not endorse one member of their own party over another member. But on Saturday, the South Carolina Republican Party Executive Committee took the unusual step of endorsing a petition candidate, Katrina Shealy, over Jake Knotts, a long-time Republican, for Senate seat 23.
To be sure, Shealy would have preferred to be on the ballot as a Republican and Knotts has been oft-criticized for being a RINO (Republican in Name Only). But the endorsement had little to do with adherence to Republican doctrine. What caused the SCGOP to act at this stage is not clear--the candidates had been certified and are set to be on the November ballot. But Knotts' ability to make headlines in unflattering ways over the last several years, and especially in the last few months, was surely a factor.
Knotts' lawsuit over Shealy in April led to this entire election season being thrown into chaos. Since then, he's found his way into the news for a variety of reasons.
Nevertheless, political parties have a tradition of letting voters decide. So, did SCGOP exceed its authority by endorsing Shealy?
Vote in the poll and tell us in the comments section below.
William Scott
9:58 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
He has a "fatboy"complex.
Cheryll Woods-Flowers
10:01 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
I am certainly not a Knox fan but...the party is an organization that exists to support Republican candidates in elections between those elected to represent the party and their opponents. The party should NEVER get in the middle of a contest between two Republicans. I have seen a great deal more of that lately and it makes me sick to know that so many have spent so many hours and dollars to build the party in the state...only to come to this!
Larry Frye
5:08 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
How does Knotts keep getting support and re-elected? He's been a black-eye to the Republican Party. Isn't the Republican Party just looking out for themselves and trying to put their best face forward and continue building?...and that is obviously Katrina!
Mimi
5:34 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
That is because the Republican party is no longer one party it is a combination of the right wing loons and the moderate Republicans and then the liberal Republicans. The Republican party in recent years has become fractured and disoriented.
Cheryll Woods-Flowers
10:43 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
What does that have to do with the question, Freda?
Cheryll Woods-Flowers
12:29 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Anyone who is not commenting on the QUESTION posed by Patch should have their comments deleted...perhaps having to put in some kind of code before posting would shut down roboposts...
Shawn Drury
2:17 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
People, Let's focus on the question at hand. Off-topic rants have been deleted.
West Ashley
5:41 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Knotts is tied up in legal issues to say the least. He was centured by the entire senate recently and asked to resign after racist comments about obama and haley. He ran anyway. It had to be done. It is shocking how little the author and commenters seem to know about this. I blame the post and courier some, but google.com and thestate.com are still functional web sites.
Cheryll Woods-Flowers
5:53 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
I am very much aware of the full situation. I ha e worked in party politics in our state for almost 4 decades. I still believe that a party should not take a position in a primary.
stanley seigler
11:30 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
@Cheryll Woods-Flowers: '...worked in party politics in our state for almost 4 decades...'
well perhaps...but/if he was asked to resign after racist comments about obama and haley and he did make racist remarks...then i say it's one of the few positives for the GOPs...and;
perhaps there will time in another PATCH thread for
Woods-Flowers to explain how she/GOPs can support policies that lead to 1929/2008...and divided the country with willie horton ads...
Jim Hargett
8:57 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Disapointed that Cheryl does not see how strongly the State executive committee needed to demonstrate which candidate they feel more accurately represents the GOP platform. Does Cheryl monitor the voting records on senators as to the continuing excessive debt S.C. is building? Did Knotts sustain any of Nikki's budget vetos? A House candidate, Gaye Holt asked Curtis Loftis last week at Mauldin City Hall about any hope since the debt jumped from 36 billion to 38 billion recently. Do we really think S.C. is any better off that the 16+ trillions debt of the U.S.? Katrina is full of fire to mandate a smaller, more common sense government but is catching pure h..l by the 'RINOist'.
Cheryll Woods-Flowers
9:04 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
This will be my last post on this because it is very clear that some members of the party that I have worked very hard as part of a large group to build, a party that has embraced difference of opinion and philosphy has become way to polarized. Yes...I do monitor voting records, and I in fact disagree with many of the governor's vetos. Call me a RINO if you will but I will match my Republican volunteer and representation record with anyone who may post here. One question that we should ask ourselves...are we afraid of the voters' ability to make a good decision without trying to influence our own people?
stanley seigler
11:05 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
@Cheryll Woods-Flowers: 'This will be my last post on this...'
hate to hear this is ms woods-flowers last comment...it's enjoyable watching the TP destroy the GOP...
well not really the country needs a strong responsible republican party...issues need to be debated and compromises reached... i miss my daddy's GOP.
Jim Hargett
9:20 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
"match my volunteer record". This volunteer went to Miami, Fl. during the 2008 elections on my own dime to fight ObamaSuicide, During the 2010 elections, I spent months of daily walking the streets, door-to-door in U.S. district 4 and 5 plus tons of calls. Walking the streets and handing out flyers of state senator voting records induced many threats from RINOs. Last year the same, but the heartbreak is in the Court hearings last week in Columbia with the County GOP being sued by the Dems and being a part of the confrontation against the Dems and RINOS and feeling the hearbreak of the Dems winning. Walking the streets of the businesses and homes to give voters an opportunity to vote for petition candidates after 150+ of them were 'glitched' off the ballots? YES!, we MUST get "Polarized" Cheryll into understanding the GOP platform following by our candidates or we loose our country.
JoSCh
10:19 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
WTF is ObamaSuicide?
FWIW Jim, you're the problem with the GOP and this country. Thanks.
Poster
5:22 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Jake Knotts has many ties to illegal gaming in Lexington County and the GOP is looking to distance themselves from this ticking time bomb.
Charlie
9:49 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Check out the latest corruption report on Good Ole Jakie by main stream news outlet in Columbia WIS TV by Jody Barr.
The SC GOP should be concerned because Knotts will likely be indicted unless of course he can lean on Chief Justice Jean Toal who admits she is afraid of him!
Cheryl Woods Flowers do you really think that just because a candidate has an R after his name we should blindly "PULL THE R LEVER" ..... Really ?!?!?!
Jim Hargett
10:23 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Thanks Charlie. More need to stand up and speak like you are doing.