The SCGOP Blog

HEY, BIG SPENDER!
Liberal Democrat Rob Miller doesn’t “practice what he preaches” on spending

(COLUMBIA, SC – August 25, 2010) “When you point a finger at someone, you have three fingers pointing back at you.” Perhaps Rob Miller missed school the day his teacher taught that lesson. Although he is pointing an accusing finger on federal spending, his own fingers point right back at him on the same subject.

It all started late last week when the liberal Democrat’s congressional campaign issued a news release attacking Congressman Joe Wilson for supporting “the single largest instance of government spending in the history of our country when he voted for the bailout…”

Stop right there.

For starters, Miller’s assertion is wrong. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly known as the “Stimulus Bill,” carried an estimated $814 billion price-tag and is widely considered to be (using the terminology in Miller’s own news release) “the largest single instance of government spending in the history of the country.” Congressman Joe Wilson voted against it. So Miller’s claim is utterly wrong. [Source: The Associated Press, August 24, 2010]

On top of that, while Joe Wilson voted against the enormous spending spree made possible by the stimulus bill, Rob Miller has attacked Joe Wilson for opposing it. Talk about trying to have it both ways!

But there’s more.

Rob Miller is on record as saying he would have voted for the massive hijacking of our nation’s health care system (peddled as “health care reform” and commonly derided as “Obamacare”) that was passed by Congress last March. [Source: Lexington County Chronicle, March 25, 2010]

Miller seems to have conveniently forgotten just how expensive this “reform” is. The socialization of America’s premiere health care system by the Obama-Pelosi-Reid Gang –which Rob Miller says he would have voted for– is expected to reach $940 billion dollars when all its costs are added up. [Source: The Associated Press, March 18, 2010]

What’s more, that measure is also the most sweeping power-grab ever made by the federal government. When this “reform” is fully enacted, its provision requiring all Americans to carry health insurance or a face a significant fine means the government will intrude into the life of every single American citizen. To put it simply, Washington liberals saw a chance to make Big Government even bigger, so they pounced on it. And Rob Miller is on record as saying he would have pounced with them.

Had he been in Congress at the time, Rob Miller says he would have voted to pass health care “reform,” right alongside Nancy Pelosi, Henny Stoyer, Barney Frank and the rest of Capitol Hill’s ruling liberal elite.

Rob Miller’s TV commercial boasts about “the courage to do what’s right.”

Doing “what’s right,” Mr. Miller, is being honest with the people of South Carolina. Doing “what’s right” is not posing as a “fiscal conservative” while also favoring a nearly $1 trillion dollar piece of legislation. Doing “what’s right” is not making misleading and inaccurate charges against your opponent.

Rob Miller’s latest negative attack is the latest reason why he is wrong on the issues, and wrong for South Carolina.

Karen hit the road on Friday with Senator DeMint, including a stop at Trey Gowdy’s Spartanburg event.

Columbia, SC – August 18, 2010 – Vince Sheheen is holding his first public press event in months today.

It’s a good thing, too – more and more unanswered questions pile up by the day about his liberal views and the votes he has taken as a career Columbia insider.

Today is a perfect opportunity for Vince to start giving South Carolinians the answers he owes them:

-  Where does Sheheen stand on Obamacare? Specifically, what would he do as governor to either speed or impede the implementation of the law? Would he reverse current state policy of not participating in the costly “high-risk” pool? How would he fund the increases in Medicaid eligibility being mandated by Obamacare?

-  Where does Sheheen stand on illegal immigration? Sheheen cast the lone “no” vote on a bill that would make English the official language for conducting state business. Does Sheheen support or oppose the Arizona-style immigration law – a law that served as a model for several pieces of legislation in our own legislature? Would he sign or veto a similar bill?

-  Why won’t Sheheen release his legal clients? It was discovered last week that he raked in a share of a cool $1 million legal profit by suing payday lenders, at the same time he was taking votes on bills to regulate the industry. A leading
newspaper called his participation in the suit a “money grab.” What other clients is he representing while regulating the industries and agencies he is suing?

-  Where does Sheheen stand on abortion? A bill was passed earlier this year on an unrecorded vote to create a 24-hour waiting period before getting an abortion. Since no vote was recorded, did Sheheen vote for or against the bill? Is he pro-life, or pro-choice?

-  Where does Sheheen stand on state suits to stop the implementation of Obamacare, and to force the removal of nuclear waste from South Carolina? As governor, would he work with the next attorney general to pursue those suits, or would he kowtow to the Obama Administration? Would he try to cut funding for those suits?

“So far, Vince Sheheen’s campaign has been long on rhetoric and short on answers about the positions he would take as governor,” SCGOP Chairman Karen Floyd said. “While we don’t expect his made-for-television event today to be much different, it is time for Sheheen to start answering these questions. Voters will quickly see through his attempts to try and avoid tough questions. South Carolina is waiting: Where do you stand, Vince?”

ROB MILLER’S NEW TV AD TOUTS “THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT;”

SC WWII patriot asks him to display it by returning $370,000+ to MoveOn.org

(COLUMBIA, SC – August 18, 2010)   A South Carolina veteran of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars is responding to liberal Democrat Rob Miller’s new TV commercial by asking Miller to display the courage he promises in it.

Miller took to the airwaves today, with a commercial that promotes his military record. All South Carolinians owe Miller, and all the other brave men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, a debt of gratitude.

Miller is apparently taking a page from his losing 2008 campaign play book and hoping an avalanche of TV advertising will send him to Washington.

One thing is different this time: his new TV ad promises “the courage to do what’s right.”

A military veteran who fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam War veteran today joined the growing chorus of distinguished retired South Carolina military leaders calling on Miller to cut his ties to the liberal activist group MoveOn.org.

“Rob Miller’s TV commercial talks about courage,” said Colonel Charles Murray, U.S. Army (retired) of Columbia. “Courage is having the strength to do the right thing. MoveOn.org slandered General David Petraeus’ honor and integrity. Rob Miller can display courage by cutting his ties to MoveOn.org and returning every penny of the $370,000 it sent to his campaign. Doing that would show true courage.”

Major General James Livingston, USMC (retired) and South Carolina Adjutant General Stan Spears have also asked Miller to distance himself from the group and return the money to MoveOn.org.

Lead by example, Mister Miller. Show us your courage by doing the right thing. Return all of MoveOn.org’s money and repudiate the extremist group.

Columbia, S.C. – August 18, 2010 – Joined by state lawmakers and pro-life advocates at the Carolina Pregnancy Center in Spartanburg, Gov. Mark Sanford today signed H.3245, a bill establishing a 24-hour waiting period before abortions. The new law requires that a woman considering an abortion be given a full day to review materials objectively explaining what an abortion is and how to determine the age of an unborn fetus.

“I believe life is sacred, and in the debate over when life begins, I think we as a society should always err on the side of life,” Gov. Sanford said. “Given current federal law, I think it’s imperative that a decision of this magnitude only be made with the fullest and most accurate knowledge available. It’s our hope and expectation that this new law results in a substantial decrease in the number of abortions carried out in South Carolina. Accordingly, I’d give credit to Sen.
Kevin Bryant on the legislative side, and on the ‘grassroots’ side I’d thank Oran Smith of the Palmetto Family Council, Lisa Van Riper of SC Citizens for Life, Alexia Newman here at the Carolina Pregnancy Center, and a host of others for the work they put into this.”

“This legislation requires 24 hours to expand the amount of information that is being considered before a very important decision concerning the life of a child is made,” Senator and Chairman of the Conference Committee Kevin Bryant said. “I’d thank those in the legislature and concerned citizens throughout the community for helping push this effort, and in the same light thank the Governor for signing this significant legislation that further recognizes the
sanctity of life for all.”

In the United States, about a quarter of all pregnancies end in abortion, while in South Carolina around 10 percent of pregnancies end in abortion.

This morning, unopposed GOP Nominee for South Carolina State Treasurer, Curtis Loftis, announced his transition team. The team is comprised of a group of twenty-one talented and hard-working individuals from across South Carolina. They have been challenged to provide expert recommendations to Loftis that will allow him to meet his campaign goals of creating the most transparent and accountable Treasurer’s Office in America and eradicate fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Loftis stated in a letter to his team,

“I was extremely proud (and humbled) to receive the Republican nomination for State Treasurer. Given that I have no general election opponent, I thought that it would be prudent to begin the hard work that lies ahead.”

Executive Director Bill Leidinger, former assistant Secretary of Education, has extensive experience in financial, operational, and human capital management, leads the team. The committee is comprised into three divisions: Budget & Control Board, Board of Financial Institutions, and the State Treasurer’s Office.  The team is scheduled to hold its first meeting on August 25th.

The transition team is being funded by Curtis Loftis for Treasurer.

In keeping with his campaign promise of uncompromised transparency, attached is Loftis’ letter to his team as well as the mission and scope of the transition process.

Where do you stand, Vince? Where does Sheheen stand on new pro-life bill?

Columbia, SC – August 17, 2010 – Tomorrow, a bill will be signed that prevents abortions from being performed before a 24-hour waiting period.

The bill passed the Senate earlier this year, but no one knows how Vince Sheheen voted on it – the bill was passed without a roll-call vote.

In fact, Vince Sheheen’s entire position on abortion has been impossible to nail down. Earlier this year, during a televised debate, Sheheen referred to questions about abortion as a “trap,” and refused to answer the moderator’s question about whether he was pro-life, or pro-choice.

You can see the clip for yourself by clicking here (part 2, at the 3 minute mark).

All of this begs the question: Where does Vince Sheheen stand on abortion, and was he in favor of this bill?

“The issue of protecting the unborn largely transcends partisan lines in South Carolina. We applaud all who worked to advance this pro-life measure through the General Assembly, and applaud the governor for signing it,” South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Karen Floyd said.

“But once again, Vince Sheheen is caught hiding his views on an incredibly important issue. Would he sign bills aimed at ending abortions in South Carolina? Will he stand for the lives of the unborn? This issue is too important for Vince Sheheen to continue playing the liberal game of trying to have his political cake and eat it too.”

ROB MILLER TRIES TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS
Liberal Democrat talks “centrist” to folks in the 2nd District
while also telling liberals he is one of them

(Columbia, SC – August 17, 2010) Liberal Democrat Rob Miller keeps trying to have the best of both worlds.

He made a pair of rare personal appearances on the campaign trail last Saturday, popping up in Pelion and Salley. Judging from news accounts, he was yet again trying to pass himself off to folks as a middle of the road Democrat. Here is what the Aiken Standard reported Sunday about his visit: “The nominee (Miller) believes the nation needs to get back to the concept of the sensible center, where Republicans, Democrats and Independents can actually sit down and talk….”

Stop the press! Once again, what Rob Miller says at one time doesn’t match what he says at another.

On Saturday, it was “sit down and talk.” But just two days before that, a contributor posted this on the very liberal Daily Kos website: “Received a surprise call from Rob Miller today. He’s fundraising, and my name wound up on his list… I told him that I hope progressives (read “liberals”) can run on their principals and not compromise for the sake of “bipartisanship.” He agreed…”

So much for “sitting down and talking.”

But it doesn’t stop there. Just six weeks ago, Rob Miller chatted up another liberal blogger, who posted the following about his conversation with Miller on the liberal Down With Tyranny blog on June 29th: “I asked him if we can expect to see him join the Blue Dog Caucus in Congress. He (Miller) laughed. “I get asked that all the time.” He said he wouldn’t be joining the Blue Dogs and an impeccable source told me that the Blue Dogs approached Miller several times bearing gifts– promising to raise money for him… and he turned them down flat.”

You see, Rob Miller knows that most folks in South Carolina’s Second District are moderates and conservatives. But he clearly is not. So in order to win their votes in November, he must pretend to be one of them now. Which makes some people wonder how he would actually vote if he winds up making it to the House.

We already know the answer. Rob Miller leaves behind him a trail as wide as an Interstate highway revealing his true political colors, and he cannot run from it. Exhibit A: the $370,000+ that the activist busy-bodies at MoveOn.org have rounded up for him from liberal donors in New York and Massachusetts and Oregon and dozens of other blue states. (By the way, as recently as last Monday, the Hilton Head Island Island Packet reported Miller still won’t say whether he will heed the growing chorus of calls for him to send that money back to MoveOn.org.)

Rob Miller poses as “one of us” on those rare times when he actually campaigns in South Carolina, then poses as “one of them” when he talks to liberals.

So as we head into the depths of summer, the guessing game goes on: who is the real Rob Miller, and whose side is he really on?

Please give us your opinion on the biggest issues facing our state and nation at http://blog.scgop.com/2010/08/16/2010-summer-survey/