Sex, Lies and Racial Slurs

After the last two weeks of the South Carolina governor's race, this former resident needs a stiff drink, a long shower, and a priest.

South Carolina just keeps the hits a-comin’!

It is well known that Rep. Nikki Haley, the leading Republican gubernatorial primary candidate, has been accused by two politicos in South Carolina of having affairs with them.  She has denied their claims categorically and unequivocally.  Either she is the Palmetto State’s modern Joan of Arc, or she is a soulless liar hell-bent on ambition, damn the costs.

Well, now she’s accused of something else: being “a f---ing raghead.”  State Sen. Jake Knotts (R. Of Course) accused her and President Barack Obama (!!) of being closeted Muslims when he so articulately stated that “We got a raghead in Washington; we don't need one in South Carolina . . . She's a raghead that's ashamed of her religion trying to hide it behind being Methodist for political reasons."  Further, he stated that “we need a good Christian to be governor.”

Rep. Haley, born to Sikh immigrant parents, has been very public about her conversion to Christianty.

Sen. Knotts has since apologized for what he termed “an unintended slur,” saying he was joking, and offered that he was “freewheelling” on a Saturday Night Live style internet radio program.

To be sure, the state GOP decried his statements, noting that “The South Carolina Republican Party strongly condemns any use of racial or religious slurs.”

Rep. Haley understandably went nuts.  “What the race in 2010 will prove is the goodness of the people of South Carolina, that there fewer people of the Jake Knotts (ilk) and that there are a lot more good, educated people (who) want their voice heard in government.”

Sigh.

Two points:

1)  National implications:  At a time when America is running record deficits, the economy is sputtering, 95% of “new jobs” are completely taxpayer-funded, and Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi continue lustily encroaching into our daily lives, we’re talking about . . . sex, lies, and racial slurs.  If I were a Democrat, I’d send the South Carolina GOP $100.

2)  State implications:  Besieged by the national press on (weird, unproven, kinda creepy) allegations of infidelity, Nikki Haley has once again been elevated to victim status.   Even after a second Scarlet-A bearer came forward, it’s hard not to feel a little sorry for a woman called such a horrible slur.  Could this somewhat negate the infidelity claims?  Well, if I were running for governor of South Carolina, I’d denounce Knotts’ ignorant language very fast and really hard.

How it all shakes out is anyone’s guess.  But after the last two weeks, this former South Carolinian needs a stiff drink, a long shower, and a priest.