Who leaked the long-lost video of Jake Knotts’ “raghead” comment? - One of the most coveted videos in South Carolina politicswas made public on Tuesday when BuzzFeed posted a clip of a state senator calling then-Rep. Nikki Haley a “raghead” during the 2010 race for governor, Palmetto Public Record reported yesterday. But why now? BuzzFeed’s Ben Smith said the video came from an unknown, anonymous source, and the hosts of Pub Politics categorically denied releasing the video themselves. So who leaked it, and why did they wait two years?
SC ballot fix officially dead: Who’s to blame? - A panel of federal judges has dismissed a lawsuit charging that South Carolina violated the Voting Rights Act in connection with a State Supreme Court decision removing 180 state and local candidates from the June primary, Palmetto Public Record reported yesterday. With a legislative solution already dead in the water, the court dismissal leaves disqualified candidates next to no option for getting back on the ballot.
Race for Courson’s seat is one to watch - The last time South Carolina’s top senator, Republican John Courson, faced Democratic opposition was a dozen years ago, according to the Free Times’ Corey Hutchins. While last year’s redrawing of his district lines might have brought in many Republican voters, two Democrats are vying to challenge him in the general election.
Restore state services or cut taxes? - The theme of this spring’s $6.7 billion state general fund debate in the state Senate is restoration, but some S.C. politicians — including Gov. Nikki Haley — are not too happy about that, according to The State’s Adam Beam. Haley wants legislators to give more of that new money back to taxpayers, instead of giving teachers and other state workers a long-awaited raise.
Jim Clyburn comes out strong for gay marriage - Stepping off a stage at his famous fish fry in Columbia May 11, Congressman Jim Clyburn said he supported President Barack Obama’s position on gay marriage, but would take it one step further, according to the Free Times’ Corey Hutchins. “I support his position in so far as gay marriage is concerned, but I don’t think it ought to be left up to the states,” Clyburn told Free Times. “I think it ought to be national.”
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