Rep. Nikki Haley and husband. (Photo: India Unfinished)

South Carolina Rep. Nikki Haley has aspirations to become the governor of the Palmetto state in the upcoming election. However, it appears she’ll have to contend with allegations from former Gov. Mark Stanford staffer Will Folks that Folks and Nikki Haley were involved in “an inappropriate physical relationship” that occurred during her current marriage. According to the Daily Caller, Will Folks dropped the Nikki Haley bomb on his website.

Was Rep. Nikki Haley ‘hiking the Appalachian Trail,’ too?

As Nikki Haley and anyone else who has paid attention to South Carolina politics knows, the office of governor has been a veritable hot seat that has attracted its fair share of attention. Gov. Mark Sanford “hiked the Appalachian Trail” on taxpayer dollars (rather than easy cash loans) in order to be with mistress Maria Belen Chapur. Lt. Governor Andre Bauer publicly compared poor people to stray animals. Now gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley is dealing with her own alleged affair. Her campaign team has denied Folks’ allegations. Haley has told the press that “I have been 100 percent faithful to my husband throughout our 13 years of marriage.” Folks’ subsequent marriage (after the alleged affair) has reportedly been less successful. There was a domestic violence incident in 2005 where Folks shoved his wife into the furniture.

Folks is feeling the pressure

There are “several impending news stories” in the South Carolina press involving this alleged affair between Nikki Haley and Will Folks, and this, according to the Daily Caller, is what prompted Folks to speak out. “I am told that at least one story based upon this information will be published this week,” he said. “Watching all of this unfold, I have become convinced that the gradual release of this information is deliberately designed to advance this story in the press while simultaneously forcing either evasive answers or denials on my part or on Nikki’s part.”

In other words, the press is having a field day

Here’s a thought: Perhaps South Carolina politicians could behave in a more upright, honest manner. Clearly the claims against Nikki Haley have not been proved, but does South Carolina need any more negative publicity? Their political cupboards have been full for some time. One wonders if Sarah Palin and Jenny Sanford – both of whom have endorsed Nikki Haley – did their due diligence before taking the podium. While there are plenty of people like the author of the India Unfinished blog who have positive things to say about Nikki Haley – i.e. “Nikki’s greatest gift to voters is herself. She represents fusion, ambition, integrity and perseverance” – even a potentially unfounded allegation against Haley look bad for a state that lately has been burned by its politicians a great deal.

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Are Andre Bauer's comments regarding the poor the medicine we need or simply a lack of compassion at the worst possible time? (Photo: gary2idaho.wordpress.com)

South Carolina is a perfectly fine place, I’m sure. The Palmetto State no doubt has beauty and local color in spades. However, its recent political history has been talk show cannon fodder. Gov. Mark Sanford went on his soul-searching trip on the Appalachian Trail (aka Argentina) with Maria Belen Chapur. Now Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (he of the “Andre Bauer for governor” campaign) has searched his soul and made a startling admission: “Poor children are stray animals,” referring to those who take public assistance.

Will Andre Bauer need payday loans like the rest of us soon?

In his infinite wisdom, Bauer said this during an interview with local South Carolina newspaper The State. Yet in decrying government handout culture, perhaps Andre Bauer was attempting to take on an issue that in fact needs reform. “In government, we are too often giving a handout instead of a hand up,” he told the newspaper. But then he went on to tell a little story that couldn’t possibly help his public image:

“My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed.

“You’re facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don’t think too much further than that. And so what you’ve got to do is you’ve got to curtail that type of behavior. They don’t know any better.”

12.6 percent of South Carolina is out of work

Thus, the timing of Andre Bauer’s comments – from the campaign trail, no less – could have been better. Fellow politicians have called for him to formally apologize for his comments, but Bauer has refused so far. Interestingly, Andre Bauer is a child of divorce who once qualified for reduced-price lunches.

“This is out of love and compassion,” he said. “If I have to take a hit, then fine. … I will take short-term pain for long-term gain.”

Does charitable work cover up mistimed political statements?

The State and other media outlets indicate that Andre Bauer participates in a variety of charity actions. However, in the world of politics and the media mirror of public perception, will Andre Bauer’s proclamation that “poor children are like stray animals” sink his career and bring even more shame to South Carolina? Boy, if I had payday loans for each mile of that Appalachian Trail!

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South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (Photo: schotline.wordpress.com)

At one time, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was one of the most vocal critics of President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. He insisted that the best thing for the country was that Mr. Clinton step down, because his actions were “unconscionable” (say that in the most condescending, self-righteous tone possible and you’ll get the idea).

Was Sanford raking in extra cash (or at least pats on the back) from the conservative Christian, right-wing Republican, straight white American males (thank you, Todd Snider) that are his primary demographic? Considering he’s completely unwilling to take such a hard-line stance with himself after his own affair, he’s a hypocrite at best. That he also abused the public trust by abandoning his job and misusing taxpayer funds should open him up to criminal prosecution, let alone impeachment.

Lt. Governor Andre Bauer of South Carolina says it’s time for Mr. Sanford to go.

Buh-bye

The Christian Science Monitor reports that Andre Bauer has officially requested that Mark Sanford take the best interests of his constituents into account and leave office. Otherwise, the circulating rumors of impeachment talk could become more than just rumors; it could “dominate next year’s legislative session instead of issues like the economy and job creation.”

Bauer is not the first Republican to voice this message. The Monitor indicates that back in June, 10 state senators said they wanted Sanford to step down. As of July 6, the South Carolina Republican Party voted to censure the governor. Yet Sanford remains, like an ox grazing in the grass. Not only does he consider himself fit for office, but he dared to invoke divine providence, saying that, “If the good Lord’s going to make changes in your life, you’ve gotta stick around for the process.” Unbelievable.

Is it true that the good Lord prefers South Carolina to Arkansas, Mark?

“Hiking the Appalachian Trail” is now etched in America’s popular consciousness. For Mark Sanford, it was a taxpayer-funded love-fest with María Belén Chapur in Argentina. Exercise in the hills will never be the same again, and Lt. Governor Andre Bauer thinks that’s the kind of embarrassment South Carolina can do without if it’s going to overcome to doldrums of the recession.

Oh, one thing that’s gone under the radar is that Sanford admitted during his confessionary press conference that he’d “crossed the lines” with a “handful of women” since he’d been married. So this isn’t a one-time mistake. But did he use other people’s money to fund those affairs, too?

And “The Family” is pulling the strings with Mr. Sanford

Yes, Sanford considered resigning. “Immediately after all this unfolded last week I had thought I would resign – as I believe in the military model of leadership and when trust of any form is broken one lays down the sword,” he said to the press. But – and it’s a big but – “A long list of close friends have suggested otherwise – that for God to really work in my life I shouldn’t be getting off so lightly.” Now that we know that he is being advised by the shadow religious group at C Street House, they’re telling him to rub his transgressions in the face of the people he is supposed to represent. Separation between church and state, anyone?

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Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer has the right idea. Mark Sanford needs to be shown the door. He also should face criminal charges for using taxpayer funds for extra cash. Do it legally next time, Mark. Right here – just click the button.

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