Jim:

Looking for an example of the South Carolina attorney general’s surrogates also exercising exceptionally poor judgment? Look no further than the very recent example of a McMaster deputy who was caught with an adult entertainer in his car while trying to flee a Columbia, S.C. graveyard after a police officer arrived to investigate the activities of people in a car that was observed entering that property rather late at night. (And, oh yes, the police report – which ostensibly was being swept under the rug until former Sanford Press Man Will Folks (i.e. Fits News) caught wind of it – did note sex toys were among the materials found in that deputy’s car.)

It seems McMaster’s teammates are doing a fine job of perpetuating their own attrition rates for bizarre behavior without me or any other interested observers naming names. Consider, if you will, the guy gets caught with his … well, lets just says he is caught in a position compromising enough to warrant his professional relationship with McMaster’s office dissolving very soon thereafter … and he responds by pulling his deputy attorney general’s badge on the officer!

Further, simply pointing to McMaster, who is the attorney general, as someone who possesses a unique relationship with the grand jury is not the same thing as threatening anyone in the manner you have suggested I have described anyone working for/with McMaster as having done. Instead, I made mention of such statements as they represent a terribly tasteless way of attempting to “spook” supporters of other candidates — much like spreading rumors that your campaign consultants possess photos which reveal another candidate appears to be having an affair.

FOR THE RECORD: I have yet to hear Clan McMaster has actually gone so far as to threaten to unleash a grand jury investigation of anyone because they’re supporting a gubernatorial candidate other than Henry. (But if anyone reading this has, please let SCHotline know.)

Jim, I do appreciate your employ of a logically fallacious tactic in your efforts to portray my piece as propaganda part of a smear-campaign, which it’s not. As always, I’m calling it like I see it, and no one has paid me to do so, not even SCHotline.

By the way, I’ve yet to receive payment from any politicians running for office anywhere at any time. But I do feel compelled to ask how much some of them may be paying you.

MICHAEL S. SMITH II

“Hugo Chavez clearly wants to fight an economic war with the U.S.” does not tell the story. The US clearly had wanted to create instability in Venezuela, and for him defending his country, he wants to fight an economic war with the US? The US has been trying to fight economic wars throughout all of Latin and South America.

As per usual writers not taking a historical perspective, not delving deep enough into the responsibilities of the US and their ugly footprints across South America. Guess what? South America are strong enough and the US has it’s hands in too many cookie jars to keep a strong post. And just because South America has the word “America” in it, it does not mean that it belongs to the US.