From the desk of Sic Willie

Dear S.C. Republican,

Are you sick and tired of “GOP” elected officials betraying everything that your party is supposed to stand for? Are you ready for it to stop?

Good. Then let’s get to work.

South Carolina is supposed to be the “reddest state in the nation,” but the truth is our government is run by a Democrat-RINO coalition that leaves real Republicans like you twisting in the wind. Just look at who has the real power in Columbia – former Democrat Hugh Leatherman and his posse of party-switchers.

I wonder - when did the party of Reagan decide that disciples of Jimmy Carter should lead it?

Republican politicians in this state love to campaign under the GOP banner, but when it comes to running this state most of them are a bunch of Lyndon Johnson liberals.

Republicans claim to support limited government, but a “Republican” majority has dramatically increased the size and scope of government in South Carolina and refuses to eliminate unnecessary functions even when faced with the worst revenue year on record.

Republicans claim to support lower taxes, but every so-called “tax cut” passed by this “Republican” majority has been a revenue neutral tax swap that moves money from one pocket to the other.

Republicans claim to support parental choice - but for the past six years they’ve blocked it.

Republicans claim to support creating an efficient, accountable government - but for the past six years they’ve blocked that, too.

Republicans claim to support “conservative judges,” but last year they elected a liberal Democrat to the State Supreme Court.

What has been the result of all this “Republican” leadership? Fiscal disasters like the one we’re currently facing – the consequences of which are going to haunt Republicans for many election cycles to come.

Elect me as your chairman and it stops. Right here … right now.

I’m not a Republican, but then again neither are the people who are running your party into the ground.

Think of me as a “turnaround specialist.”

I will take no salary. I will employ only the staff I need to win races. I will only spend money on candidates who follow the GOP platform.

A focus on technology and the new media? I /am/ the new media, people.

And hear me on this – the waste of the past is over.

Not a dime of party money will go to /anything/ other than electing conservative leaders.

Answer me this simple question – is anybody else currently asking for your vote willing to make you those promises? Or are they part of the problem?

Here’s another promise – on my first day in office, I will boot Sen. Hugh Leatherman, Sen. Billy O’Dell and Sen. Luke Rankin from the S.C. Republican Party. All three of these gentlemen are dyed-in-the-wool Democrats who conveniently switched parties out of political necessity, not ideological allegiance to your values.

They will be gone the second I walk in the door.

I will also send a letter to every Republican elected official in this state – starting with House Speaker Bobby Harrell – telling them that they have one year to begin consistently demonstrating their allegiance to the GOP platform or they will be expelled from the party, too.

It’s as simple as that.

I am going to draw a line in the sand and show you which of your leaders are real Republicans and which ones aren’t – because you don’t “grow a party” by demolishing its core, you grow a party by strengthening its core.

Those who are real Republicans, who believe in core GOP ideals, will receive SCGOP support. Those who don’t can find another party.

Finally, you will not see me slumming for your affection and begging for your votes at party conventions. That’s a waste of your time and my time, and besides – it degrades us both.

You need me to do this job, I don’t need anything from you.

I don’t even particularly care if you vote for me. Like I said, it’s your party, not mine.

As for anything that you’ve read in the press or anything that anyone else has to say about me, I encourage you to believe whatever makes you happy.

Just know this, elect anybody other than me to this position and your party will continue to disintegrate into an increasingly irrelevant assortment of big government apologists and enablers - and you will be completely assimilated by the RINOs or out of power within three election cycles.

On the other hand, entrust me with this responsibility and I will give you a GOP that’s worthy of the mantle of Reagan – by doing nothing more than insisting that its leaders actually follow its principles.

Like I said, simple as that.

Sincerely,

“Sic Willie”