David Beasley

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David Beasley
113rd Governor of South Carolina
In office 1995 – 1999
Preceded by	Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.
Succeeded by	Jim Hodges
Born	February 26 1957 ( 1957-02-26) (age 50) Darlington, South Carolina
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Wood Payne
Residence	Society Hill, South Carolina
Alma mater	University of South Carolina University of South Carolina School of Law
Profession	Politician
Religion	Christian

David Muldrow Beasley (born February 26, 1957) is a Republican who served one term as the Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999.

David Beasley, a native of Darlington, South Carolina, began his political career as a member of the Democratic Party, but switched to the Republican Party long before his time as governor. His first run for public office came in 1978, when, as a 21-year-old junior attending Clemson University, he unexpectedly won a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He later graduated from the University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina School of Law.

He served as a member of the House from 1979 until 1995, rising through the party ranks to become Majority Whip and, later, Majority Leader. During the 1994 election for governor, both he and his Democratic opponent, Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore, both had tough primary fights within their own respective parties. Beasley, however, went on to narrowly win the general election by a vote of 50%-48%.

During his term as governor, Beasley was known for injecting his Christian faith into the public discourse.

In 1998, Governor Beasley was soundly defeated in his bid for re-election by Democrat Jim Hodges. There are several reasons cited for Beasley’s surprising loss in such a staunchly Republican state.

First, owners of video poker machines, which were legal in South Carolina at the time, poured millions of dollars into advertisements attacking Beasley for trying to ban video poker. Then there was Beasley’s own refusal to follow up on the public promises he made to several “Southern Heritage” groups, pledging to defend the Confederate flag which flew on top of the State House (he later ordered the Confederate flag to be removed from the top of the South Carolina capitol to a place nearby on the capitol grounds). Many conservative Republicans remembered this supposed “flip-flop” on Election Day, and simply stayed home. Beasley’s opposition to all-day kindergarten deprived him of any Democratic support.

Following his term as governor, Beasley was asked to serve as a fellow at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2003, Beasley was given the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award by U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) for his unpopular decision to remove the Confederate flag from atop the South Carolina capitol.

In 2004, the governor unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate. He lost the Republican nomination to Congressman Jim DeMint of Greenville, South Carolina.

In April 2005, Governor Beasley, along his administration’s former Chief Legal Counsel, Henry Deneen, incorporated the Center for Global Strategies, Ltd (CGS). CGS focuses on developmental initiatives in the non-integrated world. Currently, Governor Beasley serves as the Chairman of the Board.

In 2007, Beasley endorsed Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries.

Beasley is married to the former Mary Wood Payne and is the father of four children: Mary Hunter, Sarah Catherine, David Jr., and Samuel Ross. Governor Beasley currently resides in Society Hill, SC, located in Darlington County.

[edit] External links

• SCIway Biography of David Muldrow Beasley
• NGA Biography of David Muldrow Beasley

Super Delegates Donkey’s and Elephants

By Louis W.  Neiger

02/16/2007

The fact that the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination, Hillary and Obama, are running such a close race is causing greater attention to be paid to the role of the Superdelegates in selecting the Democratic nominee.

In an article by Meg Kinnard Associated Press Feb. 15, 2008 Titled “Clyburn: Superdelegates should keep quiet on candidate support” House majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D) SC is quoted as saying that his fellow Democratic Superdelegates have been too quick to endorse presidential candidates and he disagrees with those who base their support on election and caucus results.  Jim Clyburn states “We’re supposed to be unpledged delegates” He continued by saying We’re supposed to be playing the role of being there as a safety valve, if something were to go wrong.”  “They are there to make whatever midcourse correction needs to be made, and that is the role that we’re supposed to play.”

It is amusing to hear the third highest-ranking Democratic Representative in the US congress basically telling average people who vote Democratic that their vote may not count as much as a Superdelegate.  Many of the Superdelegates represent NO one except themselves.  They as Superdelegates will dictate who will be the presidential nominee, possibly overriding the will of the people who vote in the Democratic Party primaries and caucuses.

What, we may be asking is, a Superdelegate in the Democrat party?

A Superdelegate that we read or hear about from the media is an informal term for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention.  They can also be called Party Leaders and Elected Official (PLEO) delegates and are mainly used in the Democratic Party.  Superdelegates are seated based solely on their status as current or former elected officeholders and party officials. They are free to support any candidate for the nomination, although many of them have publicly announced endorsements.

To give a little more background, right after the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the Democratic Party made changes in its delegate selection.   The work of the McGovern-Fraser Commission purposed changes to make the composition of the convention less subject to control by party leaders and more responsive to the votes cast during the campaign for the nomination.  The changes left some Democrats believing that the role of party leaders and elected officials had been unduly diminished, weakening the Democratic ticket. In response, the Superdelegate rule was instituted after the 1980 election. Its purpose was to accord a greater role to active politicians.

In the 1984 election, the two major contenders for the Presidential nomination were Gary Hart and Walter Mondale. Each won some primaries and caucuses. Hart was only slightly behind Mondale in the number of votes cast, but Mondale won the support of almost all the Superdelegates and became the Democratic Party nominee.

The Superdelegate has not always prevailed. In the Democratic primary of the 2004 election, Dean got an early lead in delegate counts by obtaining the support of many of the Superdelegates even before the first primaries were held. Nevertheless, John Kerry defeated Dean in a succession of primaries and caucuses and won the nomination.

Many of these democratic Superdelegates have been paid money since 2005 to support a candidate.   In an article by Foon Rhee, deputy national editor Boston Globe February 14, 2008 titled ‘Superdelegates get campaign cash’ Rhee reported that about $890,000 has been paid out and Obama’s PAC has paid out $694,000.   For that money 81 Superdelegates had announced support for Obama.  The Clinton PAC paid out $195,000 to Superdelegates.  For that money 13 Superdelegates of the 109 that received money have announced for Clinton.

At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the 796 Superdelegates will compose approximately one-fifth of the total number of delegates.   With a total of 4,049 delegates convening in August to choose the Democratic presidential nominee, the winner has to be backed by at least 2,025.  Of the 4,049 delegates 3,253 are pledged.  These pledged delegates are those who have to back a candidate based on performances in the primaries or caucuses.  The remaining 796 are Superdelegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.  These 796 Superdelegates include Democratic members of the United States Congress, Democratic governors, various additional elected officials, members of the Democratic National Committee, as well as “all former Democratic Presidents, all former Democratic Vice Presidents, all former Democratic Leaders of the U.S. Senate, all former Democratic Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives and Democratic Minority Leaders, as applicable, and all former Chairs of the Democratic National Committee who will express their preference if no candidate reaches the magic figure of 2,025.

Convention delegates who are NOT Superdelegates are selected as a result of the Democratic Party primaries and caucuses in each state, voters make their choice among the contenders for the party’s nomination for President.  Delegates supporting each candidate are chosen with the ratio to their candidate’s share of the vote.  In some states, delegate’s chosen are legally required to vote for the candidate to whom they are pledged on the first ballot at the convention.  After the completion first ballot they may choose another candidate if a second ballot is required.

The race for the Democratic presidential nomination is getting increasingly polarized. The Democrats have traditionally relied on the support of blue-collar workers, Afro-Americans, Latinos (legal & Illegal).  Also far left fringe groups like the US communist party that disbanded around 2004 and is seeking to advance their ideology through the Democratic Party.  Many of the folks that vote in the Democratic Party do not realize other different far left groups making decisions and pushing their agendas with the Democratic Party leadership.

In the Republican Party, members of the party’s national committee automatically become delegates without being pledged to any candidate. In 2008, there will be 168 members of the Republican National Committee from each state and State Republican Chairpersons among the total of 2,380 delegates to the 2008 Republican National Convention.  These delegates are the State Republican Chairpersons and National Committeepersons elected at the State conventions by County delegates elected from the different counties.  People active in the Republican Party elected these folks.  In most cases these National Committeepersons and State Chairpersons vote the way the Republican Party primaries and caucuses vote from their respective state.  Current and former elected officials are not delegates unless elected at the State Convention level to represent the state. They can endorse a candidate but have no vote unless voted in as a delegate and seated on the convention floor.

Well folks in conclusion, if you do not think your vote counts, it may not in the Democratic Party because former elected politicians who are Superdelegates that have not been chosen by the people could override yours and hundreds of thousands of other voters as stated by Rep. Clyburn “to make whatever midcourse correction needs to be made.  What can you do?  Get involved with other folks of like mind and change the Democratic Party or… change parties.

Till Next Time….

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

[Update] Gervais Street Bridge has now reopened [1030 AM]

This does not look like a jumper by the looks of the special emergency vehicles at the scene; well update this story as we learn more… Update: Sources have confirmed and tell SCHotline it is a suspicious package. [915AM]