SCHotline

By Louis Neiger
I recently read a book by David Barton called Setting the record straight: American History in Black & White published 2004. It is a well-documented book of endnotes and references from personal writings and government documents.

Most history books either skim over or they do not include history of Black Americans and their rich American heritage. This book would be a great reference book for your library.  I had never heard of Oliver Cromwell or Prince Whipple both black Americans, who served with General Washington.  Their faces can be seen in the painting in the boat crossing the Delaware, Christmas Eve before the attack on Trenton, New Jersey.  They also served other generals during the revolutionary war.  Neither had I ever read about Peter Salem a black legendary Minuteman hero of 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill, Saratoga and Stony Point who fought right along with other Americans.

We usually do not read, in the average history book, of Muslims attacking villages in Africa and putting these people in chains and selling men, woman and children into bondage to Dutch traders who introduced slavery to the expanding world and the Americas.  We will read, in the average history book, about the Dutch traders coming up the James River in Virginia the year 1619 and starting the slave trade. What we probably have not heard about is that at this same time in history a ship arrived in the Puritan Christian Colony of Massachusetts with slaves.  The officers of the ship were arrested and imprisoned and the kidnapped slaves returned to Africa at the colony’s expense.

After the ratification of the Constitution 1789 Congress expanded its fight against slavery and passed the Northwest Ordnance. It established territories that would become states and forbade any federal territories to practice slavery.  Six states eventually came in as free states.

In 1808 ‘Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (Washington DC: Gales and Seaton, p. 1266, 9th Congress, 2nd session,” An act to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States,” March 2, 1807 which abolished the slave trade was enacted into law.  Free Blacks during this time in the north and south were extended full rights of a citizen and regularly voted both in the North and the South.

One great American Frederick Douglas was born into slavery in Maryland in 1818.  His mother was black and his father an unknown white.   His life was an example to us all that even under the worst of circumstances we can better ourselves.  Frederick Douglas learned to read and write prior to escaping slavery and going north 1838.  He than joined an anti slavery organization and eventually went out on his own and received presidential appointments and was an adviser to many presidents including Lincoln and after the civil war Grant, Hayes and Garfield.  The Democratic president Glover Cleveland had him removed from office but Republican President Benjamin Harrison reappointed him when he was elected after Cleveland. Frederick Douglas spoke and wrote against slavery and was one of the main pioneers to push for civil rights for all.

Douglas wrote and debated in his later years one of the main questions of today, why was the African American community only given a three-fifths representation in the Constitution. Many today state the Constitution was a slavery bill.  Frederick Douglas came to a conclusion and dared people to debate after reading the founding fathers documents and the US Constitution that the clause in the Constitution was and is actually an ANTI slavery document.    In short the slavery representatives wanted to have representation for their property, one full vote for every 30,000 slaves but not allow their property (slaves) to vote for the representatives or have any rights.  The anti slavery representatives saw that if the slavery states had a full vote for the slaves, it would allow almost half of the south’s population that was in slavery NO REAL representation in Washington and to allow expansion of slavery.

With most of the founding fathers dead in 1820 the Democratic Party, which became the majority party in Congress; recalled the law of 1789 prohibiting slavery in federal territories. The Democratic Congress passed the Missouri Compromise and reversed the earlier policy and allowed slavery in almost half of the federal territories.

Some of the early presidents John Quincy Adams who served as ambassador to Russia as a young adult in his teens and his father John Adams the 2nd president of the United States both had fought against slavery. John Quincy Adams fought until his death prior to the civil war and in congress stating:   “The first step of the slaveholder to justify by argument of the peculiar institutions (slaveholder) is to deny the self evident truths of the Declaration of Independence.  He (slaveholder) denies that all men are created equal.  He (slaveholder) denies that they (slaves) have inalienable rights”. John Quincy Adams as president and as a representative in the US Congress until his death submitted bills against slavery.

The Democrats in Congress passed a proslavery 1850 Fugitive State Law, that required Northerners to return escaped slaves back into slavery or else pay heavy fines.  This in many cases allowed slave-hunters to kidnap even Free Blacks in the North and carry them back South just by accusing a black of being a slave even though he was free.

An anti slavery Representative Charles Sumner started the Republican Party and they first ran a Republican Presidential candidate 1856 by running John C. Fremont against Democrat James Buchanan.  Fremont lost.

Than came the famous Dred Scott decision in 1857, where the Democratic Controlled Supreme Court declared that blacks were not persons or citizens but instead were property and therefore had no rights.  Three years later the Republicans ran their 2nd presidential candidate, Abraham Lincoln, who won as the first Republican President.

Republican president Dwight D. Eisenhower was against racial segregation and determined to eliminate racial discrimination in all areas under his authority. . One of his 1st orders, an executive order, halted segregation in the District of Columbia and federal agencies.  He was the 1st president to appoint a black American Frederic Morrow to an executive on the White House staff.  In 1957 Eisenhower proposed a bold civil rights bill to increase black voting rights and protections that was blocked by democratic senator James Eastman, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In 1959 again Eisenhower presented a second civil rights bill to Congress and was met again with unyielding opposition in the Democratic House.  It eventually passed the house but the democrats in the Senate killed the bill.
John F. Kennedy was less willing to utilize executive orders to promote civil rights for over a year.   Kennedy, 1962 Issued Executive Order #11063 banning racial discrimination in housing. The violent discord in Birmingham in 1963 where Democratic Governor George Wallace prevented blacks from entering school, did force Kennedy to send a major civil rights bill to Congress.  A current democratic Senator from Virginia, Senator Robert Byrd, back than was one of the senators that gave a stiff opposition to the bill.  Kennedy was killed and famous Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King along with many other Americans organized people and pushed through the Civil rights Act of 1964 followed by the Voting rights act of 1965.
The little known fact is that out of the 315 Democrats in congress only 198 voted for these bills, alone would not of passed, but with 83% of the Republicans voting overwhelmingly for these bills sending them to President Lyndon Johnson’s desk where he signed them into law. ‘Congressional Quarterly (Washington, D C: Congressional Quarterly Service, 1965), Vol. 20, pp, 606, 696, 88th Congress, 2nd Session, vote on the Civil Rights Bill of 1964, February 10, 1964’.

Another great Constitutional Amendment occurred in 1964 abolishing the poll tax. Ninety one percent of the Republicans supported this Amendment.  Of the sixteen senators that wanted to keep the poll tax alive, fifteen of the senators where democrats that voted to keep the poll tax alive. ‘Congressional Quarterly (Washington, D C: Congressional Quarterly Service, 1962), Vol. 18,pp. 630, 654, 87th Congress, 2nd session, Senate and House votes on approving the Constitutional Amendment banning the poll tax, March 27 and August 27th 1962.’  If the Republicans did not support these bills they would of NEVER passed at that time.

Our Current Secretary of State of the United States, Doctor Condoleezza Rice could of quit as a child in Birmingham, Alabama when her best girlfriend was killed in a church fire during the turbulent 1960s. Here is a woman that has succeeded in education and government politics going into countries including Muslim countries that see women only as property and handles herself at the highest standard representing America.  I do not see her as an African American but a great American.

In this short time that I have been on this earth, I have been blessed in the 1960s to attend integrated schools, go to war in Vietnam and have many friends over the years of all races.  We did not see ourselves as black, white or yellow but human beings created by God, with inalienable rights given us by our creator blessed to be born as Americans.  As our Declaration of Independence states all men are created equal.

On September 11, 2001 when we were attacked by extremist Muslims we all came together as over 3,000 of our fellow American’s lives were snuffed out in a senseless attack on our country.  We cried together as we watched on TV and listened to the radio.  We determined together as Americans to work and to rebuild and to bring to justice those responsible for the deaths of our fellow citizens.

Former slave and consultant to several presidents, Frederick Douglas taught us all that you can succeed even in the face of daunting circumstances. This is what America is about.  Let us not look out for handouts from government, but look to give ahand to help some one succeed.  It should be our hearts to help people not depend on government to do it. That is what makes America great!
Till next time…..

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Lou Neiger has been a regular contributor to The Dutch Fork Chronicle since 2005 and published in several papers as a guest columnist in South Carolina.  Lou has worked in the Insurance Planning field since 1981 and earned his CLU designation from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa.   He and his family live in Newberry

Editor of SCHotline will be providing commentary once again with ETV the Big Picture.

Watch us live on the net by clicking here.

It is 7:46PM and the election has already been called for Obama. Wow that was quick. I guess all it is now is the spin that will happen.

Roxanne Walker is once again to my left and will provide her normal left wing spin on things. Brad Warthen is across the studio from me and today he is wearing better shoes last week he had on some tennis shoes.

Roxanne is almost giddy over there. She is so excited the party will nominate the most liberal, most inexperienced candidate ever nominated by a party. The republicans are going to have so much fun pointing out how liberal his record is.

We had a great exchange the first time aroun. Roxanne just keeps on talking about how the Democrats are unified and excited of course this is the case when you have the most liberal candidates stumping in a state where you typically never see a national democrat. This week and last week was some of the first times Obama, and Hillary traveled throughout the state I hope they got some great BBQ.

It looks like there will be a strong turnout for the dems but remember there was no rain, snow it was a clear day in most parts of the state.

Wow Joe Erwin just said he expects the voter turnout to approach 500,000. I would like to know where Joe buys that good stuff. I would like to have some of that wacky weed.

This is a great day for the state of South Carolina. We have now been able to put the death nail in the Clinton legacy. Hillary will not be the nominee. This is truly a great day.

Obama is about to speak and we are watching and listening to it live. This is just surprising as to what has happened here in South Carolina. There are a few points to point out though.

1. The weather was much better for the Democrats

2. The politician had more time to campaign here in South Carolina. The Republicans only had 3 days to campaign from Michigian but the Democrats had a full week to campaign.

3. There were more personal attacks which turn up the intensity of the campaign. This made people more active and involved in the campaigns.

4. There seem to be more new people voting as well. This trend will not hold if they are not inspired to vote again. I am not sure state democrats can inspire them like Obama did.

5. Obama sells hope and everyone wants hope.

6. No one know what Obama believes or what he stands for. They don’t know he is one of the most liberal, inexperienced Senators.

Congressman Clyburn is in the studio now and about to be interviewed by Andy. Who did Congressman Clyburn vote for, he will not tell us who he voted for. Does anyone want to guess or does anyone know?

Now Liz Patterson is trying to tell us they will build the democratic party by electing local dems to the local races. We will see if she can find some good candidates to run under the Democratic banner.

by Jeffrey Sewell

Who is to blame for the current state of the SCGOP?

The long established S.C. political consulting machine is the problem: no new ideas, bad data, cookie-cutter operations, and bad candidates. The same-old, same-old produces the same unacceptable results, which frankly does not benefit the folks of South Carolina or further the Republican agenda of change for the better.

The time is now for new consulting firms to step up and step out. With young minds like Boling, Donahue, Folks, Piper, Ragley and others, there is certainly not a lack of young talent in this state. It is time for them to make their mark. They understand how to recruit on principle, not on dollars in the candidate’s pocket. With the talent pool in SC for both young consultants and conservative candidates, there is no reason to rely on the traditional establishment any longer. It just makes sense that if you have a good conservative candidate, you can raise the cash necessary to win.

The Huckabee campaign is the perfect example of performing at the top on a shoestring budget, bravo Chip, Drake & Adam. ‘Doing more with less’ is as much a business approach and state of mind as it is a way to govern a State.

On the issues, Conservatives must recognize that we must first cut the waste in our state government.

It is entirely possible to improve services while cutting both waste and taxes. Don’t get me wrong, this will not have the Democrats dancing in the street; it will be quite the opposite. This is the only common sense approach to improving the political landscape of South Carolina in a way that will encourage new business development, create new jobs and improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians.

Jeffrey Sewell is a principal of SCHotline.com and a the principal consultant of Sewell Consultancy, he and his wife Vee reside in West Columbia, South Carolina [BIO]

by Dr. Frederick Meekins

Throughout his time in the public limelight, Republican Mike Huckabee has made obesity awareness one of his pet issues having lost over 100 pounds himself.  However, as is typical of most fanatics having come to a realization or a cause a little later in the game than most, it is not enough for them to keep what they have learned to themselves but now they are out to impose their new way of life to such an extent that they are willing to appeal to the mechanisms of the state in order to enforce their vision of reality.

As part of an initiative to combat childhood obesity, as Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee implemented directives where each public school student in that state would have their weight cataloged by operatives of the educational system.  From this assessment, a document similar to a report card would be generated and sent out at about the same time as the more traditional scholastic evaluation.

Those  with their perceptions mired in what to them seemed more carefree times might respond, “What’s the big deal?”  Perhaps they should stop and reflect for a moment.

As in the case of grades and such, once the state tabulates an individual’s weight,, it will become part of their permanent file and be used to track them for the rest of their lives.  And don’t go around thinking the number will simply remain just another harmless statistic tossed into a file folder with no additional reference made to it.

In a FoxNews.com story posted 6/13/04 titled “Students To Be Graded On Weight”, the health coordinator is quoted as saying, “We’re going to know how many are overweight, how many are underweight, how many are normal weight.”  It’s bad enough for the government to have such information in its possession, but it gets even worse when it serves as the basis for the implementation of concrete policies.

According to an article titled “Arkansas’ Battle Against Childhood Obesity Enters Its Second Year” posted on the website of the University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences, at schools with a disproportionate number of obese students, “The incentives offered to students in some areas have changed from pizza or ice cream to yogurt parties or other more healthy food choices.”

Now what kid in their right mind is going to bust their hump for yogurt and carrot sticks?  If that is all they have to look forward to, they might as well drag their feet and remain mired in mediocrity.

However, if readers still think this will be the only impact, they are still not waking up to the complete picture.  For often with these kinds of government programs, using a carrot (an appropriate snack choice under the regimen of the food fascists) and stick approach, once the carrot has been dangled for a while, the stick is eventually brought out to whack those with a more independent streak.  The director of the Arkansas Center For Health Improvement said, “We need schools, parents, and communities across the state to get onboard and become active in this effort that will make a profound difference in our children’s lives.”

These health officials might have say in how schools respond and even communities if once sees such social conglomerations as essentially under government control rather than as the organic dynamic relationships that develop uncoerced from the interaction of free people, but what if parents decide not to cooperate?  One need only look at the last three words of the director’s statement to get a glimpse of where things are headed.

Unless he is referring to his own offspring when he says “our children’s lives” that statement is very revealing as to what this higher mid-level functionary is thinking.  The state, ladies and gentlemen, according to this worldview, holds ultimate title to your progeny and you are merely a hired hand granted the privilege of overseeing them for a few years — the number continuing to decrease as proponents of universal preschool and the like continue to make headway — but who must ultimately raise them in accord with the will of the lord of the manor.

To those thinking they are so sophisticated in their moderation, don’t go dismissing with the flick of a wrist and the crinkling of a nose what I have to say.  In this day and age, especially in certain Republican circles, you can pretty much get what you want by dressing it up in the name of national security or the war on terrorism.

That is exactly what Mike Huckabee has done.  In comments before the Southern Governor’s association regarding what he perceives as an obesity epidemic, Huckabee said, “You’ve got a serious situation with a generation of kids coming up so unhealthy they won’t be able to pass the military physical.  We keep talking about the war on terror — who’s going to fight it if we don’t have enough people who are healthy enough to show up and pick up a backpack.”

Thus, it has finally been revealed why many government officials are feigning concern about the expanding waistlines of many Americans.  They might initially start off claiming their efforts are for the purpose of increasing the expectancy and quality of life, but ultimately it is about nothing more than getting you healthy enough to die or toil for the glory of the Fatherland (or maybe rather “Homeland” as the aspiring totalitarians among us prefer to call it nowadays so much so that even Smallville producers are so frightened that they won’t speak the word preferring to call the agency “the Department of Domestic Security”).

Huckabee’s comments also reveal the kind of double standard being propagated by the ruling elites.  According to Huckabee, the primary reason Americans must be compelled towards physical fitness is so that we might be able to fulfill our obligation of national service.  However, it is quite obvious he exempts his own family from these expectations.

Normally, a person’s weight is the last thing I criticize as at about the age of 9 or 10 on a visit to the doctor’s office for an unrelated matter I was handed a diet plan with a rear-end of a hippopotamus splashed across it and even in Christian schools the vilest of taunts were often reserved for the overweight students.  However, a man with a son the size of one of the Huckabee offspring (and the other two children don’t look like they have skipped many meals either) ought to be among the last to insinuate you are an unfit parent if your progeny happens to be bigger than Nicole Richie.

On the Drudge Report around 12/19/07 was featured a portrait of the Huckabee household.  Standing behind his parents was a young man, it would not be an exaggeration to say, who was nearly as wide as his two parents put together.

Now, in this land of the free and the home of the brave, if the Huckabee spawn wants to be that big, that is his prerogative and most of the time, most of us should keep our mouths shut about it.  However, I am not the presidential contender assailing the patriotism of those whose waistlines exceed the guidelines established by those implementing the New World Order.

But you see, it is not an obligation of those in the governing class such as the Huckabees to be ready at a moments notice to answer the call of the nation.  Rather, that responsibility falls to you, ladies and gentleman, to hand over the lives of your children to sacrifice in wars the elites never intend to send their own children off into.

The Huckabee son is allowed to expand until his heart’s content or it bursts.  Never will he have to face the embarrassment of being weighed in front of his classmates or his parents receive in the mail threatening letters on how this information was forwarded to government authorities   Never will he face the embarrassment of having to be weighed in front of his classmates or his parents receive an intimidating letter in the mail from government authorities.

During the Christmas season, the media about had a coronary attempting to determine whether the intersecting boards of a bookshelf where a subliminal attempt to interject the cross into the campaign.  Too bad they have not been as concerned about a plan that could potentially curtail basic liberties and bring yet another level of surveillance into the lives of the American people if applied at a national level.

Mike Green will be LIVE blogging in Myrtle Beach tonight at the Philip’s Seafood.

I just saw Joe Erwin who will be in the spin room for Obama. He somehow got in the media center. I directed him to the right people who could get him to the spin room.

……I love Myrtle Beach they are great with hospitality. They gave us some great food and lots of goodies. There is only one problem and it is cold here.

It seems that everyone is going after Obama. He seems to be handling himself well but he is starting to show some frustration with these questions. I believe Clinton comes across as harsh and means.

Wow wait just a sec… Obama just slapped Hillary with the line you were sitting on the board of Wal-Mart while I was in the streets of Chicago.

WOAH!!! NOW Clinton strikes back. She just called Obama a lawyer representing a slum-lord in Chicago.

Edwards just mentioned exactly what I was thinking. Is this a two person debate or are there three people in the debate? Thank John Edward for reminding us you are still there.

Hey CNN I have a question for you to ask. Is cutting you hair a race issue?

Edwards just took on the predatory lending companies and all I can say is WAY TO GO EDWARDS. Put these scumbag institutions out of business.

It seems that we are backed to the boring part of the debate now. They are arguing about some small point that no one cares about.

Hillary just went after Obama again. This is starting to get really HOT.

Does everything in this debate have to be about race?

I have went over to the debate hall. We are getting ready to go into the spin room. The volunteers are getting their signs together and the spin is about to begin.

BTW, SCETV has invited me back to comment on the Democrats’ primary on the 26. So tune in to ETV from 8-10PM and watch me take on Roxanne Walker again.

Inez Tenenbaum just came in. She is here for the Obama campaign.

We are nearing the end of the debate and I am starting to get immune to the constant slamming of Republicans.

Mike Green will be LIVE blogging in ETV Studios Tonight…Make your vote known and please tell us why you voted the way you did and why!

We are about 1 minute out and I am here with Roxanne Walker and Brad Warthen.

Now Andy is talking with our favorite GOP Chairman from Spartanburg. This guy never ceases to amaze me if he can find a camera he will jump in front of it.

Here we go with our first report.

I am predicting it will be a McCain evening followed closely by Mike Huckabee, Thompson then Romney. If this happens McCain will get a big boost in Florida and I believe go on to be our nominee. I do not think anyone can stop him at this time. Rudy’s strategy of waiting until Florida is proving to be a fatal flaw.

On our first cut away Roxanne went right for the party is in disarry card. Just watch the next cutaway and I will get a good zing in on the Dems.

To all the Ron Paul supporters out there why don’t you put your energy to good use and take out some Rhino’s in the statehouse.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is now speaking and he makes one good point that we need to have both primaries on the same day. I agree wholeheartedly this was crazy having the primaries on different days. I disagree with him that the state ran the election well. The whole point of letting the state take over the primary is that no polling places would be closed or consolidated. Then they come out about two weeks before the election and consolidate precincts. Not to mention all the problems in Myrtle Beach. Who are the election officials down there? They need to be held accountable for this mistake.

It looks like it is going to be a long night. Things are just to close to call. I get to go first on our next segment.

We just found out that Brad Warthen went to Memphis state University.

It appears that Mitt Romney is not going to get a bronze tonight but a ribbon for participation.

I am getting word the Upstate is half in and Huckabee is only leading there by 11% of the vote. This will not be enough for him to win here in South Carolina. CNN website is showing what counties are in and how much they are in. Here is the link. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/county/#val=SCREP1

Let’s change the subject now and talk about the whole election process here. I believe South Carolina has lost some prominence in the national spotlight. This compressed election cycle hurt South Carolina and the decision of Mitt Romney to not participate here hurt us as well. Also the election was not as negative as it was in 2000. I credit the rise of the internet and blogs as to stopping this. We along with other blogs were able to expose it and put a spin on it before the main stream media reported it.

Now for some analysis of the race. It appears that Fred Thompson was the spoiler of the race for Mike Huckabee. If you look at it he cut into his leads in the Upstate region and Huckabee was never able to make it up. One could only guess what would happen if Thompson had not been in the race. We could be looking at a Huckabee victory tonight.

The question now is when will Mitt and Thompson drop out. Mitt has put so much time and effort in the state and if it continues and he finishes forth it will not be good for Mitt going into the Flordia primary. It seems the voters of South Carolina knew who Mitt was and rejected him for some reason. It might have been the over scripting of the candidate or maybe it was his lack of connection with the voters. Who knows but it will make an interesting study for some political science student.

Let me say thank you to SCETV for allowing me to give some insight into the Presidential race and thank you for listening to it. I will have some more comments tomorrow on SCHotline.com

SCHotline has received several responses to our negative campaign alert hotline. The most numerous was about push polling being done by CC Advertising.

If you’ve received one of these automated push poll messages, I encourage you to voice your complaints by calling ccAdvertising, the company putting out the calls, at (703) 234-2200 or (703) 597-3252. You can also leave your thoughts with Common Sense Issues leader Patrick Davis at (719) 536-9809.

Governor Huckabee kicks off return to South Carolina by stumping in Lexington at Hudson’s Smokehouse.

Governor Huckabee receives a warm welcome from and estimated 400+ crowd.

Governor Beasley works the crowd showing some love like few politicians know how to.

Veta and friends enjoy their fifteen minutes of fame with Gov. Huck

As a good friend once stated; “in this business of politics you have to sometimes do business with some unsavory characters”  Brad you are my favorite liberal!

Lets pick on the old retired homeowners.

Today SCHotline.com has established a state wide negative campaigning alert hotline. You may call and report any instance of negative campaigning 24 hours a day from now until the primary. The phone number is 1-800-236-1386. We also have set up a fax number to receive copies of negative mailpieces 803-753-9095. You may also email us at admin@schotline.com.

We will take your report and turn it over to the proper authorities.

Please give us as much detail as you can regarding when you saw, heard or received the negative campaigning. If you have a recording of the voice mail you received you may record it on our 800 number. Please give us the caller ID of the person making the call as well.

“The only way to stop negative campaigning is to expose it to the sunlight,” said Mike Green, editor of SCHotline.com. “They will scurry just like roaches do when you turn the light on them.”

This hotline is monitored twenty fours a day. You anonymity will be respected. Please give us as much detail as you can and remember no detail is to small.