The Shot!

Senator Honored for Excellence in Public Service and Government
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Continues the fight for people, not politics.
www.nathansnews.com
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Columbia, SC – Today, the South Carolina Club for Growth State Action PAC endorsed three reform-minded candidates who are seeking election in the upcoming June 10th primary.

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Iraq War Combat Veteran: “It is time for Washington to truly support the troops”
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In their last rankings, The National Journal Group said that Governor Mitt Romney is “in real trouble in South Carolina.”

Well, not according to Whit Ayers, who’s new poll puts Romney in a dead heat with Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Senator John McCain. Former Senator Fred Thompson continues his downward spiral.

On the Dem side, Clinton is killing.  It’s bad news for Obama, but for Edwards, its means game over.

REPUBLICANS:

Mitt Romney - 20%
Rudy Giuliani - 19%
John McCain - 17%
Fred Thompson - 13%
Mike Huckabee - 8%
Ron Paul - 3%
Duncan Hunter - 1%
Tom Tancredo - 0%
Undecided - 18%
DEMOCRATS:

Hillary Clinton - 40%
Barack Obama - 21%
John Edwards - 13%
Joe Biden - 3%
Bill Richardson - 2%
Dennis Kucinich - 1%
Chris Dodd - 0%
Mike Gravel - 0%
Undecided - 20%

GOVERNOR SAYS CHAIRMAN OF THE GEAR COMMISSION
NEEDED TO BRING ABOUT REFORMS, TAXPAYER SAVINGS

Columbia, S.C. - August 13, 2007 - Gov. Mark Sanford today announced his
intention to nominate Chad Walldorf to lead the Budget and Control Board, as
part of an effort to bring about much-needed reforms highlighted in the
recent Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR).

Walldorf, 39, most recently chaired the GEAR Commission, which identified
roughly $500 million in savings that could be achieved through reforms at
the Budget and Control Board. South Carolina is the only state in the nation
to have such an agency, which handles administrative functions of government
performed by governors in 49 other states. The GEAR report again highlighted
the need to address the $20 billion in unfunded retirement and retiree
healthcare liabilities facing the state. Gov. Sanford said Chad’s recent
work examining the Budget and Control Board’s operations make him the ideal
candidate for the job.

“What has again been highlighted in the GEAR report is that the antiquated
and chronically unaccountable structure of the Budget and Control Board is
costing taxpayers in very real terms,” Gov. Sanford said. “Based upon the
work he did with the GEAR report, I don’t think there’s anyone better
qualified than Chad to take the reins of this agency and work toward
addressing these much-needed reforms. As well, with his background in the
private sector and experience running a successful corporation, I think he
has the skill set needed to bring a greater degree of efficiency and
transparency to this agency. I’m hopeful that the other members of the
Budget and Control Board will support us in this nomination.”

Walldorf co-founded Sticky Fingers Restaurants in 1992, which over the past
15 years has grown from one location to 19 and employs over 1,100. Chad took
a two-year sabbatical from his business beginning in January of 2003 to
serve as a Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Mark Sanford during the first
two years of his administration.

Walldorf would succeed Henry White who resigned two weeks ago,  hours prior
to the General Assembly’s election of a new Treasurer. The Treasurer is one
of five voting members of the Budget and Control Board, which hires the
Executive Director of the agency.

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Republican congressman joins effort to rally presidential hopefuls in the fight against global AIDS, malaria and hunger

Columbia, SC — Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) joined South Carolina’s ONE Vote ’08 campaign today, signing on as Republican co-chair to help lead the movement to make the fight against diseases such as AIDS and malaria a key foreign policy issue in the 2008 South Carolina presidential primary.

As Republican co-chair for ONE Vote ’08 in the state, Wilson will talk with candidates and voters about the need for America’s next president to take the lead in ending global poverty and preventable disease in the developing world. Wilson brings a wealth of experience in South Carolina politics to ONE Vote ’08, having served 17 years in the South Carolina Senate before being elected to congress in 2001.

“I am honored to be named co-chair of South Carolina’s ONE Vote ’08 campaign,” said Congressman Joe Wilson. “This nation has made great strides in our global struggle against AIDS, malaria and hunger. But there remains a tremendous amount of work to be done. We must remain dedicated to fighting these deadly diseases and bringing food and medicine to the millions around the world who so desperately need our help. Any candidate for president must be committed to leading this nation towards meeting those goals.”

“I am looking forward to working with Congressman Wilson on these important issues.  Together, I the Congressman and I will do our utmost to bring attention to ONE Vote ’08 during the South Carolina primary season,” said former Governor Jim Hodges, South Carolina ONE Vote ’08 co-chair.

In South Carolina alone, ONE Vote ’08 is mobilizing more than 15,000 ONE members this primary season, encouraging the presidential candidates to make commitments to address issues such as the lack of clean water and basic education worldwide at campaign stops, debates, town halls and coffee shops across the state. Wilson will join former Governor Jim Hodges to organize and promote ONE’s message in the state.

An unprecedented $30 million effort with political experts, high-profile faith leaders and national security experts behind it, ONE Vote ’08 is focusing on South Carolina and the other early primary states — Iowa, Nevada, and New Hampshire — to build a grassroots movement to encourage America’s next president to save lives and secure America’s future. ONE Vote ’08 is co-chaired nationally by former Senate Majority Leaders Bill Frist and Tom Daschle.

Weak Reform Allows Secret Earmarks, Will Not Stop Culture of Corruption

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) today voted against the Senate lobbying bill that lacked real earmark and ethics reform.

“This bill is a charade meant to give cover to politicians who want to continue secret earmarks,” said Senator DeMint. “Sadly, more members are worried about having a good sound-bite for their next election than they are about doing what’s right and being honest with America. This was about incumbency protection and pretending to do something.”

“This bill won’t even begin to stop corruption in Washington, because the earmark favor factory will remain open and ready for business. Politicians will still be able to use these secret earmarks to direct millions of taxpayer dollars to special interests. You can hear the champagne bottles being uncorked all over K Street, because the lobbyists know it will be business as usual.”

According to the nonpartisan watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste, earmarks have exploded in recent years. In 1991, Congress earmarked 546 projects costing taxpayers $3.1 billion. In 2005 that number increased to 13,997 earmarks costing taxpayers $27.3 billion.

In January, the Senate unanimously approved real earmark reform that would have required 100% of earmarks to be disclosed to the public and given every senator the ability to hold committees accountable. However, after six months of blocking the enactment of these strong ethics rules, Senate Democrat leaders secretly gutted earmark reform.

Today, they forced a vote on the new bill that allows secret earmarks to continue. It also eliminated many other important taxpayer safeguards: it allows senators to trade earmarks for votes, it allows senators to provide earmarks that financially benefit themselves or their families, it still allows senators to drop earmarks into bills when they are in conference and cannot be fully debated and voted on; it allows senators to get around disclosing earmarks on the Internet in a timely way; and it allows senators to avoid having to put their no-conflict certification letter on the Internet in a timely way.

Senator DeMint offered an amendment to restore full earmark reform, however he was blocked from receiving a vote. Also, during the debate, presiding officer U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) was forced to concede that the Senate Parliamentarian would not be permitted to verify completeness and accuracy of earmark disclosure.

“Republicans and Democrats that voted for this sham reform should know that Americans aren’t stupid and they won’t be fooled. Americans know the Senate missed its best chance to drain the swamp in Washington and stop secret earmarks that have led to so much corruption. I will continue to fight for real earmark reform and I will continue to shine a light on this corrosive system.”

Background: Wall Street Journal – “Earmarks as Usual”

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New York City –The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced Mayor Giuliani’s campaign county chairs and co-chairs for the Lowcountry region of South Carolina.

“We’re delighted to have these fine individuals join Team Rudy and help promote Rudy’s message of strong leadership and fiscal conservatism,” said South Carolina State Chairman Barry Wynn. “As the campaign progresses, more and more South Carolinians are recognizing that Rudy is the real fiscal conservative candidate.”

This announcement is the latest in a series of recent endorsements in South Carolina. Most recently, the Giuliani campaign announced a new executive director, three additional campaign staff members and opened campaign offices in both West Columbia and Charleston.

About Lowcountry County Leadership:
Beaufort County Co-Chairs

Mike Passanite, local businessman and Republican activist
Bill Roe, former Beaufort County Republican Party Chairman
Berkeley County Co-Chairs

Tim Callanan, Berkeley County Councilman

Deanna Trout, small business owner and former county co-chair for President George W. Bush

Charleston County Chair

Jane Barr, former President of the Charleston League of Women Voters

Colleton County Chair

Mary “Libba” Flowers, retired teacher and mother of seven

Dorchester County Chair

Grant Mishoe, Captain with the North Charleston Fire Department

Jasper County Chair

Thaire “Scooter” Daley, Jr., South Carolina Republican Party State Executive Committeeman
 

Democrats underestimate al-Qaeda, endanger Americans 

SCGOP Chairman says terrorists will take over Iraq

COLUMBIA, S.C. – S.C. Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson today issued the following statement on Senator Harry Reid’s night-long effort to downplay the importance of winning in Iraq:

“Tonight in the Senate, Democrats led by Harry Reid plan to concede defeat and call for retreat – sending terrorists in Iraq a clear message: Be patient and America will surrender. 

“Sen. Reid’s timing couldn’t be worse.  Today, we learned al-Qaeda operatives in Iraq are rebuilding the terror network’s organization.  While Sen. Reid has rallied liberals under the white flag of surrender, Osama bin Laden has rallied terrorists under the ominous flag of violent jihad.  Iraq will become al-Qaeda’s safe haven if Sen. Reid has his way. 

“Sen. Reid underestimates al-Qaeda’s desire to destroy and mission to murder.  When President Bill Clinton underestimated that desire and mission and balked at the chance to put al-Qaeda out of business, terrorists went on to claim thousands of innocent American lives in attacks on U.S. embassies, on U.S. military interests and on U.S. soil on September 11, 2001. 

“We can finally put al-Qaeda out of business if armchair generals like Sen. Reid will finally provide the real generals leading our armed forces on the ground in Iraq with the time and the tools they need to win.”

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