Spartanburg GOP to Host Sen. Jim DeMint

Senator Jim DeMint will be visiting the world famous Beacon Drive-in on August 20th, 2010 from 3-5 pm.

This event is being sponsored by the Spartanburg GOP and NEWS Radio WORD will be broadcasting from The Beacon as well.

It is very fitting that DeMint is making a stop in Spartanburg during his re-election campaign.

For those of you who don’t remember, during the intense battle for Spartanburg County Chairman in 2009, then chairman Rick Beltram said he would be sitting on his hands when DeMint comes to Spartanbug in 2010.  Why?  DeMint endorsed his opponent in the State GOP race that ended up not being as highly contested as was once thought.

Beltram lost the county GOP race, withdrew from state GOP race and has been working on embarrassing the local party since, forming his own Republican club and most recently staging a meeting to oust write-in candidate Jimmy McMillan from the State House 36 race.

Is it Political Irony or Political Payback?  You tell us!

Graham Votes in Favor of Hate Crimes

We learned today that the Senator everyone loves to hate in South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, did not vote on the amendment to include Hate Crimes in the National Defense Authorization Act and subsequently voted in favor of passing S.1390 (87/7) to be presented to committee and eventually the President.

The legislation was completely hidden from public view.  Why you may ask?  Because America and the media outlets granted their full attention to the Sotomayor confirmation hearings.  We know good and well Senator Graham was in Washington because he was taking part in the confirmation hearings.

After the hearings, Graham voted on an amendment to S.1390 at 5:40pm on July 16th.  The hate crimes amendment was voted on at 10:51pm on July 16th, passing 63/28.

Granted, Senator Graham’s absence did not effectively cause the bill to pass, but being the coalition builder he is, one would have hoped that he could have convinced the leadership to keep this out of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Senator Jim DeMint voted no on the amendment and bill passage.

UPDATE:
There was a motion to adopt Amendment 1611 that would have killed the Hate Crimes Legislation.  Sen. Kyl entered in the record for Senator Graham that he would have voted on the amendment that would have called for a study and effectively axe the Hate Crimes Legislation.  This can be found in roll call vote 231 also taken on July 16, 2009.  Here is the link to the Congressional Record you will need to click on the link inside the congressional record to Page S7633 (this may be a temporary link).

Mr. Bishop from Senator Graham’s office has left a comment below and you can read further to see where Senator Graham voted no in the conference committee meeting.

Independence Day Tea Parties Across South Carolina

It is tea party time in Upstate South Carolina.

I just wish they had a larger affect on the opinions of our leadership in Washington, or in SC for that matter.  A protest is great, but it is not changing policies.  Make sure you are calling your elected officials and let them know how “mad” you are.

Here are the events we know about.  If your event is not listed, let us know.

Boiling Springs Independence Day Tea Party

The American Freedom Day July 4th Tea Party in Boiling Springs  is not being hosted by a political organization, but is being organized by individuals in the community.  Christina Jeffery has worked with the individuals to get some publicity for her campaign and is bringing in Dr. Alan Keyes to speak at the event as well.  Louis Wilson Engram will also be a guest speaker at the 3 hour event starting at 11 am.

The event will be held at the Boiling Springs Community Park off of  Double Bridge Road (just past the library). See the Boiling Springs Tea Party website for more information.

Charleston Tea Party

Hosted by the Charleston County GOP, the event will be held on July 4th at Cannon Park (261 Calhoun St).  Activities begin at 10:30 am.

Columbia Tea Party

This tea party is planned to be held on the State House grounds from 11 am to 2 pm.  Guest speakers include Bill Connor (Candidate for Lt. Governor), Jim DeMint, Nikki Haley (Candidate for Governor), Sheri Few (Stand Up SC) and Talbert Black (Campaign for Liberty)

Fountain Inn Independence Day Tea Party

This event is being hosted by the Upstate Young Republicans based out of Greenville, SC.  The one hour tea party is set to begin at 10 am on July 4th at the Fountain Inn City Hall.

Jim DeMint is Coming to Spartanburg

Jim DeMint will be coming to Spartanburg on July 2nd for a book signing at Costco starting at 3pm.

He is promoting his latest book “Saving Freedom: We Can Stop America’s Slide into Socialism”

Check back for details.

The Silver Elephant

We will update from the event throughout the evening.

Please pardon any typos as I an updating from the WordPress app on the iPhone.

7:17 pm
Katon Dawson just welcomed Rep. Moss to the Republican Party.

7:36 pm
Enjoying dinner with republicans from Lake City & Greenville @ table 14

7:51 pm
We have seen Bobby Harrell, Henry McMaster, Rick Beltram, Bill Connor, Doug Cobb, Adam Fogle, Gov. Sanford.

7:55 pm
Gov. Sanford speaking.

Never seen the excitement in the conservative movement like was seen in Tea Parties.

8:00 pm
There is no moderation in current administration.

8:03
Lindsey Grahm introduced. Receives decent applause.

Never met anyone more sincere than Sanford in politics.

8:04
Never met anyone with more potential than Bob Corker.

Thanks to Dawsons hard work and good luck to Karen.

Obama administration agressive agenda has run up more debt in 100 days than we have run up from Washington to W. Bush.

8:06 pm
We need a republican in PA and re-elect DeMont in 2010.

I wish one more person was here, Pelosi.

I don’t like Obama’s politics, but I do personally. Obama can sell, but Pelosi products are not selling.

She is trying to run the country by degrading Bush.

I do not want to be so hateful and accuse the CIA of lying.

8:10 pm
I promise you this, the patriots (CIA) ate not lying.

Nancy, here is some advice, when ur n trouble quit digging.

And If u don’t stop, I know one Senator who will callyou to the Senate for a hearing and find out what you really know.

8:12
Jim DeMint introduced.

Honored to serve with Lindsay Graham.

The party is growing, and we can show the nation how it is done.

Recognizes Kevin Hall for efforts.

Glad none of you Governor’s candidates decided to run for the Senate.

Five way primaries are difficult.

We expand the party when we discuss ideas n the primary.

8:17pm
Democrats have moved to the left of Europe.

We need to stand and fight for freedom.

We need to stop what I believe is a socialist agenda.

8:19
Introduction of Bob Corker.

We need to seven our country from some dangerous proposals. They believe n equal outcome, we believe n equal opportunity.

8:27 pm
About once a week, this administration sends us a Trojan Horse.

This administration sends attractive ideas to the people and we have to defend our values.

10 years of social spending in stimulus bill. They wan to change it permanently.

Cap & Trade, Employees Free Choice Act (ends secret ballot elections for unionization).

8:31
Next is healthcare reform. Daschle said we failed first time to pass government controlled health care because we shared it with the public.

8:34 pm
Why should American tax payer fund a private company so it can sell out to another private company.

I know every American is not as conservative as we are, nut I guarantee that they are not as liberal as they are.

8:36 pm
Our ideas have lifted millions ofnpeople out of poverty.

Administration treats financial success as it should be shameful. This thought process is not new to the world, but it is to this nation.

We need to make sure we conduct ourselves with integrity.

If we hold ourselves to a higher standard we will regai. The trust of the American people.

8:41 pm
Introduction of David Wilkins.

We are glad to be home, but I miss my job as Ambassador to Canada.

Look around this room, you can feel the energy.

8:46
Eventuall America will see what we already know, what is happening in Washington is tearing us down.

Katon has never stopped hitting me up for money.

He has done an excellent job building this party.

Dawson put SCGOP on the map.

Thanks to Katon, the Republican road to the White House starts right here.

8:56 pm
Remarks and words of thanks from Katon Dawson.

We are here because we believe we are given our liberties from God, not the federal government.

9:05 pm
Katon Dawson: Thank you, I did the very best I could.

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