FORTUNATE SON? OR FUTURE CONGRESSMAN?
We knew Atlanta, Georgia media mogul Ted Turner owned property in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, but until this week we didn’t know he had a son who lived in the Palmetto State.
Then we got a press release this week heralding the U.S. Congressional candidacy of one Robert E. “Teddy” Turner IV – eldest son of the billionaire CNN founder/ Atlanta Braves owner. Turner’s release announcing his bid for the first congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Senator-designate Tim Scott described him as an “entrepreneur, conservationist, and maritime enthusiast who is well known in the Lowcountry for his philanthropic endeavors.”
It also described him as a “Republican,” a label that has certainly never applied to his famous father – an outspoken liberal and staunch supporter of U.S. President Barack Obama’s socialized medicine law.
So what’s the deal with Turner? Is he just another “fortunate son?” Or is he a legitimate political prospect?
Intrigued by his candidacy, we interviewed Turner this week in the wake of his surprise announcement. Specifically, we wondered how he planned to campaign in a district that recently selected Scott over a pair of famous “fortunate sons,” Carroll A. Campbell III (son of the late S.C. Gov. Carroll Campbell) and Paul Thurmond (son of the legendary U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond).
“No matter what I do, I’ll never escape being Ted’s son – and I wouldn’t want to,” he told us. “But I’m me. I’m very different from my father.”
In fact Turner won’t be holding back when it comes to criticizing political views that his father embraced – or embracing views his father has criticized.
“My dad, even though he is rich and famous and outspoken – we’re not on the same political team,” Turner said.
Asked how much of his own money he planned on pumping into the race, Turner brought up another key distinction between him and his father.
“One huge difference between Ted Turner III and Teddy Turner IV is about $2 billion,” he said, referring to his dad’s estimated $2 billion net worth. “So financially I’m going to be very similar to a lot of these other candidates who are running.”
Turner, 49, says he told his father about his congressional bid – and his dad volunteered to be his first contributor.
“He immediately asked what the minimum contribution was, though,” Turner jokes.
“My family is supportive but they’re not supportive in the way some would think – I’m treading on some shaky ground with them,” he added, referring to his conservative positions on various issues.
Speaking of … what is Turner campaigning on? Like most of the candidates he’ll be facing off against, he’s focused on fiscal issues.
“We can only borrow so much money,” he told us. “And raising taxes is not going to solve the problem. We need to take a look at cuts.”
Sounds good, right? Of course it does … but the devil for Turner (and all of the candidates seeking Scott’s seat) will be in the details of those proposed cuts. Also, with so many candidates likely to jump into this race Turner is going to have to go to great lengths to distinguish himself – beyond just the novelty of having a famous father. If he can do so via substantive policy, he’ll have a real shot. If he spouts the same rhetoric as the other guys devoid of any real substance, his bid will go nowhere.
Turner has one son – two-year-old Seldon – with his wife, Blair. He’s also father to 12-year-old Robert E. Turner V and 11-year-old daughter Riley.
***
34 comments
To hell with him. I’d vote for his father, though.
I’d bang his Mom…
maybe 40 years ago…
Based on what I have read I’d buy him a Ying Ling but he has a damn long way to go before he can stick his hand in the fucking wing basket.
Anytime I see someone call himself an entrepreneur, I think of a dude without a job that is supported by his family.
Conservationist? Maritime enthusiast? Those are hobbies, not jobs.
He actually has another grown son in Charleston, film maker. Both those boys been here a long time, sailing, having kids, etc.
CNN? This is a case for Peter Hamby!!
With a father like the Liberal Nutjob Ted Turner…no wonder he is a Republican…
Like having a Drug addict for a father..once you see the damage, you’ll be anything BUT what he is….
agree
Totally agree, and this makes sense. Dear old Old T was a normal guy, loved America, wasn’t a racist, wasn’t off his meds, wasn’t treasonous, and not a totally f’ing ahole.
And then you were born. And you became anything BUT what he was.
You still spewin’ shit, boy? Thought after the erection, I wouldn’t see your dumbass ’round here. Guess you’ll just bitch ’til 2014 hands you Repubes another failure, then off you go again ROCK HARD for 2016. Think of all that sweet time you waste coming here, Bo T.
Old idio”T” is just waiting to rev up for HILLARY in 2016
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!
Slick Willy be back in the HOUSE!
Oh, shit yeah!
lol…more proof that my earlier nomination for Big T as “most successful troll on FITSnews” needs to be taken seriously.
Georgia carpetbagger. His strings will be pulled from Atlanta.
….. another Nikki connection to GA? Her motto must be “a deal is a DEAL.”
“You’re Toast”: Ted Turner’s Son Gets Axed in Merger
AP News Archive Oct. 9, 1996 3:49 PM ET
NEW YORK (AP) — As father-son moments go, this one probably isn’t destined for any parenting guidebook.
Teddy Turner, the 33-year-old son of media magnate Ted Turner, cautiously asked his dad recently if the son’s job at Turner Broadcasting System Inc. was safe under the company’s pending merger with Time Warner Inc.
The elder Turner’s reply: “You’re toast.”
Teddy Turner told The Wall Street Journal that his siblings, who were gathered for a family dinner when the subject came up, thought dad was kidding.
“I realized he wouldn’t joke about something like that,” Teddy Turner said.
Teddy Turner, reached at his TBS office in Atlanta Wednesday, declined to discuss the matter. A TBS spokesman also declined comment.
The younger Turner, a promotions manager at Turner’s home entertainment division, is one of an estimated 1,000 employees expected to lose their jobs as Turner and Time Warner, whose shareholders are scheduled to vote on the $6.8 billion merger Thursday, begin to mesh the large media companies.
Teddy Turner’ sister and wife, who also work at Atlanta-based Turner, are expected to hold onto their jobs, the newspaper said.
Ted Turner tried to soften the blow with a philosophical speech similar to what other laid off workers might hear.
“It’s good for the company and it’s good for you. In the short run it’s always a little painful,” Teddy Turner said he was told.
And later in the dinner, Ted Turner said remorsefully, “I fired my own son.”
The younger Turner was offered a chance to interview for another job within the company but declined. He is planning to start his own television technology company.
Another one of Ted’s one-liners.
Remember that article.
But someone has to live at Yammassee to watch over Ted Sr., pet bear, “Honey Bun”.
Teddy and another multi-millionaire Pierre Manigault hunt deer together. And after that they hunt unattached women.
Teddy has more of a resemblance to Jimmy Buffett than Ted,Sr.
Kinda funny (or just Textbook typical) to see the media going after the son, because he’s not Ted.
If you’re an over-the-top, certified Kook, like Ted, anything is OK, as long as your are a Billionaire Leftist…
The son’s got REAL Guts…to be not-lefting bat-$#!t means he will be slaughtered by the Pukes in the media…
I’d vote for him, just on his couage, compared to his father’s taking the coward’s (liberal) easy way path…
Back in the day when I lived in Charleston, one young Teddy Turner was actually a very nice guy that I believe worked at a bar in Charleston and had or was currently attending The Citadel. Based on the money that he came from, he was a nice young man that apparently did not let the riches go to his head unlike a lot of other spoiled rich kids. I think the senior Turner actually pushed his children to go out and support themselves. I am sure that the money helped – but I know others in similar families that as I noted above were spoiled brats. Teddy did not fall into the same category.
Robert Edward “Teddy” Turner IV was the motivating force behind finally getting the tall ship Spirit of South Carolina finished and in the water. He’s currently the chairman of the SC Maritime Foundation.
From their website:
The The South Carolina Maritime Foundation is a public nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that owns and operates the tall ship Spirit of South Carolina. The Foundation’s mission is to create opportunities for life-changing experiences resulting in leaders for tomorrow’s communities. Since its first season of programming in 2007, over 9,500 students have been served.
In addition to owning and operating the Spirit of South Carolina sailing school vessel, the Foundation participates in local maritime events to help fund the Foundations educational programs, including Charleston Race Week, Charleston Harbor Fest, Spirit Ball, and Captain’s Cup Golf Tournament.
The ship serves as a privately funded “good will” ambassador for our state as well.
Teddy IV appears to have a bit firmer grasp of reality than Daddy. He’s a graduate of the Boy’s School on the Ashley. He teaches high school economics at Charleston Collegiate High School a “…a progressive, nonsectarian, independent day school…” Teddy has taken some of daddy’s money, increased it and done quite well for himself. He claims to be a “Rogue Republican” – I hope that isn’t the same thing as a “Maverick Republican” a la John McCain. His praise of Tim Scott was effusive in his announcement.
His father, Robert Edward Turner III, has been headed down the toilet since winning the America’s cup 4-0 against Australia in 1977. He’s a basket case. I ran into Turner III one night shortly after his victory at Newport at a Hawks game (he owned the team then). He was drunk and smelled like the stable he’d been hanging out in for most of the day but he invited me to sit on the floor with him. I was in hog heaven at the time but this was before Captain Planet, his anti-religion, anti-Semite rants and his stupid positions like his assertion that within 30 to 40 years “most of the people will have died and the rest of us will be cannibals.” He advocates drastically cutting the U.S. military budget and limiting Americans having no more than two children. His brain is an alcohol and drug addled clown car looking for a place to disgorge 20 idiot clown ideas. He’s about 20 fries short of a Happy Meal.
It might be fun watching II decry the excesses of IV should he get elected…
That should read “…watching III decry the excesses of IV…” II was a conservative business magnate.
Teddy will sell real well among SC voters. The soap opera that is the Turner family should be very popular. Let the skeletons fall where they may.
Nannygate or au pair?
Many of your are wrong about Teddy. I was next door to him for a few years at The Citadel, and he is a genuine person, and is really a conservative. Don’t judge him by anything but what he is and what he will do, not who his father is!
Turner plus Campbell= 3%
Teddy Turner is a nice enough guy. He may even be a republican. However, I think we need someone who has a conservative voting record to send to Congress… That man is Larry Grooms. Run Larry run!
Is that a metrosexual version of Dean Moss?
The father Ted packed his shit up several years ago moved to an unknown location in Fl. It appears the avowed libturd didn’t want to pay GA state taxes.
Ted Sr’s father, Teddy Jr.s grandfather took his own life with a silver plated revolver on Binden Plantation in Beaufort County. Long history with SC.
“We knew Atlanta, Georgia media mogul Ted Turner owned property in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, but until this week we didn’t know he had a son who lived in the Palmetto State…”
?WTF?
… Are you so Columbiafied and Dirty Myrtled that you blinked at all the Spirit Of South Carolina stuff?
Don’t take your eyes off Nimrata’s snail trail, whatever you do.
Why dog this fellow folks because right now ANYONE NEW running politic’s would be an improvement over what we have in office now. He## I wish I had listened when I was younger, and when that route because LORD know I know more & have more common sense than the AHOLES out there past & present. People need to VOTE EVERYONE OUT OF OFFICE & START FRESH … Saying the country is in trouble is way off the mark it is drowning, and people put their pocket books before their intentions to the point it makes me NUTZ & TRUST ME I tell them ALL TOO! Kinda scary with OBAMA in charge & me dogging him,but, sitting idly by while the country goes off the deep end is NOT MY CUP OF TEA… If you folks commenting here would do the same to your politician’s it might be more effective only don’t just contact one contact them all, and talk like your in control,and see what happens…Each time a person makes an effort it’s the same as 100,000 in statistic’s & if you really have a point to make do it 24/7 a week before in vote online to plant a seed to get others to follow it WORKS! I love planting seeds only I get so fired up & my wording isn’t as sweet,but, all I have to do is get folks THINKING!
JUST GIVE FOLKS DIRECTION ( the direction you want them to GO! )
Even with the newspaper folks you tell them things & they think it’s their idea to publish it LMAO I learned that years ago on my own… All goes back to planting seeds though! As for the TURNER KID ,,G’LUCK KIDDO & you can introduce me to your daddy I saw him talk yesterday & he’s not at all what I thought. Tell him I don’t want marriage or his money I handle my business & I chose to be celebate the last few years & no dating ,but, I’m about to break the dating part ( MAYBE LMAO undecided ) but if your daddy needed a date I’m OK looking but I would want 2 weeks advance notice but I considering the young men ask me out on my worst days w/no makeup I guess I don’t look that bad LMAO …I’m serious though I was impressed after hearing him talk. I like humor too & he has that,,as for moi almost 5’10 52 150 on my worst day. Brn /hazel w/attitude & mean as a polecat if you piss me off LMAO later kiddo’s … Also you folks typing should consider politics as well… Ciao !
p.s. Tell your Dad I loved the Valet remark,but, I think he underestimates himself … People may only call on him for cash
( referring to them Kings & Queens but if made them FRIENDS cash don’t matter… ) tell them them just dazzle them like he did on TV last night! I watched just because he made me laugh & I’m having a rough month so I needed any laugh I can get…Hel# I look for things to make me laugh,but, was surprised by that !