Four days ago, this website broke the news that S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s 2014 reelection committee included an alleged white supremacist, one Roan Garcia Quintana.
Quintana’s alleged white supremacy – detailed in this Democratic memo obtained exclusively by our website – has since gone viral, receiving extensive play from numerous statewide and national media outlets.
We still don’t think the story is a “huge deal” (as we noted in our original coverage), but Haley’s likely opponent in South Carolina’s 2014 gubernatorial race disagrees with us.
“Nikki Haley’s appointment of a white supremacist to her re-election steering committee and refusal to renounce his beliefs is deeply disturbing,” S.C. Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) said in a statement. “The racist beliefs and harmful rhetoric that Governor Haley is standing by have no place in our politics, are offensive to South Carolinians, and once again damage the reputation of our great state. We deserve so much better from our elected leaders.”
Sheheen’s release also noted that Garcia Quintana – a Cuban immigrant, ironically – had “doubled down” on his racist views, referring to an interview he gave a local reporter.
“Is it racist to be proud of your own heritage? Is it racist to want to keep your own heritage pure?” Garcia-Quintana told Jamie Self of The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper.
Hmmmm … that sort of comment (along with Haley’s curiously defensive refusal to remove Quintana from his post) makes this a much more interesting scandal.
“The IRS thinks conservatives should be targeted for abuse, but Governor Haley does not,” Haley’s top political advisor Tim Pearson told The State.
Wait … what? Since when was white supremacy compatible with “conservative” ideology? And more to the point, since when was Nikki Haley a “conservative?”
Anyway, two ranking Democrats in the S.C. General Assembly have called on Haley to remove Garcia Quintana from her reelection committee.
“South Carolina has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, and this kind of divisive outlook will only deter businesses and start ups from coming to our state,” S.C. Sen. Joel Lourie and S.C. House minority leader Todd Rutherford wrote in a letter to Haley. “South Carolina is losing the majority of our educated young people to other states in the region, and this kind of backwards thinking will only drive them and their talent further away.”
What … people don’t like how “Republicans” party in the Palmetto State?
Anyway, this should have been a relatively simple “scandal” for Haley’s campaign to handle. All she had to do was say she was unaware of the racist views held by Quintana and the Council of Conservative Citizens (the St. Louis-based organization he’s involved with) – and report that he had voluntarily left her steering committee.
Problem solved.
For whatever reason, Team Haley decided to raise the bet on a losing hand – turning a “nothingburger” of a story into something that could do some actual damage to her already tenuous reelection prospects.
What do you think? Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in our comments section below …
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81 comments
Great article Will. I am just amazed that even 2 people called Nikki Haley Heroic – more than amazed – more like appalled.
Great article Will. I am just amazed that even 2 people called Nikki Haley Heroic – more than amazed – more like appalled.
Haley is an idiot. Not because he’s racist but because she fails to understand how media works. I’d shed him like a winter coat.
Haley is an idiot. Not because he’s racist but because she fails to understand how media works. I’d shed him like a winter coat.
I can’t believe Haley’s made it this far with that school girl ego and the total lack of critical thinking.
It’s a great…oh, who the fuck am I kidding…?
No doubt, but damn, was David Duke busy?
Think Sheheen would come down even harder than he did. Nice opening until she can close it.
I can’t believe Haley’s made it this far with that school girl ego and the total lack of critical thinking.
It’s a great…oh, who the fuck am I kidding…?
No doubt, but damn, was David Duke busy?
Think Sheheen would come down even harder than he did. Nice opening until she can close it.
“Since when was white supremacy compatible with “conservative” ideology?”
Uh…since Nixon’s “Southern Strategy?” Duh?
Since your ancestors fired on Fort Sumter, Rebel Boy.
“Since when was white supremacy compatible with “conservative” ideology?”
Uh…since Nixon’s “Southern Strategy?” Duh?
Since your ancestors fired on Fort Sumter, Rebel Boy.
I mentioned this in another article about this issue, but Haley having this man on her steering committee is not a full-sale adoption of his views. If Haley herself supports or perpetuates all the policies endorsed by the CCC and Quintana, that’s one thing. I am assuming he is on her steering committee because she needs the votes of anti-immigration conservatives, who may be hesitant to vote for her because of her ethnic background. This is political posturing, not a complete adoption of the CCC’s white supremacist views. Furthermore, guilt-by-association accusations of racism are in my opinion very dangerous. Politics make strange bedfellows, and I see no problem in coalition building on issues that one feels are extremely important, even with those who have abhorrent opinions on everything else. For example, Libertarians and Greens seem to be the only folks in American politics who support ending the wars and promoting civil liberties. The two parties are no different on these issues, though their posturing may differ for political reasons. Consequently, paleo-conservatives, neo-confederates and anarchists all support ending America’s empire and repealing the surveillance state, for varying reasons. I’m all for forming alliances with those groups for limited purposes, because we have a similar vision on certain issues. If alignment with these fringe groups on issues is prohibited, it only makes the conformity of thought in the political establishment stronger.
That’s nothing more than blathering idiocy to justify compromising a core human principle; that all humans are created equal…
If you are willing to compromise a core human principle, please stay out of public service… of ANY kind…
Your post is blathering idiocy. I can believe in the equality of human individuals, yet agree with the CCC on a number of issues. You falsely equate agreement on one or two issues with agreement on all. This is the problem I have with folks like you. Coalition building on relevant issues does not require full sale adoption of each constituency’s belief system. The CCC opposes the expansion of federal power into people’s private lives. I do as well. The CCC opposes American involvement in wars overseas, based on the premise that we should look after our own. I do as well. I disagree with their racism and anti-immigration stances, and I need not support or adopt their beliefs on those issues to build a coalition with them to oppose war and the surveillance state. To me, this man is no less a psychotic than John McCain or Lindsey Graham, who fully support perpetual war, the American empire and the murders of thousands of civilians yearly at the hands of our military, all the while shilling for an apartheid regime in Israel that ACTUALLY implements against Palestinians the stated goals of the CCC. Yet no one would object to a similar neo-conservative being appointed. Cognitive dissonance at its finest.
Bullshit! The Council of Conservative Citizens and the League of the South believe non-white people are genetically inferior. There’s no evading the fact they, and Garcia-Quintana, are white supremacists who believe, in the words of the CofCC, people of color are a “retrograde species.”
And, no, the fact they are also anti-Semitic doesn’t somehow make them respectable.
Your whole post makes assumptions with no basis.The CofCC is a fringe group with no more that a few thousand members nationwide(probably a hundred or so in SC).Why would a sitting Governor believe that a member of such a group would in any way assist her?No one even knew who this guy is until now.Fact is she is going to get rid of him shortly as everyone knows.
I mentioned this in another article about this issue, but Haley having this man on her steering committee is not a full-sale adoption of his views. If Haley herself supports or perpetuates all the policies endorsed by the CCC and Quintana, that’s one thing. I am assuming he is on her steering committee because she needs the votes of anti-immigration conservatives, who may be hesitant to vote for her because of her ethnic background. This is political posturing, not a complete adoption of the CCC’s white supremacist views. Furthermore, guilt-by-association accusations of racism are in my opinion very dangerous. Politics make strange bedfellows, and I see no problem in coalition building on issues that one feels are extremely important, even with those who have abhorrent opinions on everything else. For example, Libertarians and Greens seem to be the only folks in American politics who support ending the wars and promoting civil liberties. The two parties are no different on these issues, though their posturing may differ for political reasons. Consequently, paleo-conservatives, neo-confederates and anarchists all support ending America’s empire and repealing the surveillance state, for varying reasons. I’m all for forming alliances with those groups for limited purposes, because we have a similar vision on certain issues. If alignment with these fringe groups on issues is prohibited, it only makes the conformity of thought in the political establishment stronger.
That’s nothing more than blathering idiocy to justify compromising a core human principle; that all humans are created equal…
If you are willing to compromise a core human principle, please stay out of public service… of ANY kind…
Your post is blathering idiocy. I can believe in the equality of human individuals, yet agree with the CCC on a number of issues. You falsely equate agreement on one or two issues with agreement on all. This is the problem I have with folks like you. Coalition building on relevant issues does not require full sale adoption of each constituency’s belief system. The CCC opposes the expansion of federal power into people’s private lives. I do as well. The CCC opposes American involvement in wars overseas, based on the premise that we should look after our own. I do as well. I disagree with their racism and anti-immigration stances, and I need not support or adopt their beliefs on those issues to build a coalition with them to oppose war and the surveillance state. To me, this man is no less a psychotic than John McCain or Lindsey Graham, who fully support perpetual war, the American empire and the murders of thousands of civilians yearly at the hands of our military, all the while shilling for an apartheid regime in Israel that ACTUALLY implements against Palestinians the stated goals of the CCC. Yet no one would object to a similar neo-conservative being appointed. Cognitive dissonance at its finest.
Bullshit! The Council of Conservative Citizens and the League of the South believe non-white people are genetically inferior. There’s no evading the fact they, and Garcia-Quintana, are white supremacists who believe, in the words of the CofCC, people of color are a “retrograde species.”
And, no, the fact they are also anti-Semitic doesn’t somehow make them respectable.
Your whole post makes assumptions with no basis.The CofCC is a fringe group with no more that a few thousand members nationwide(probably a hundred or so in SC).Why would a sitting Governor believe that a member of such a group would in any way assist her?No one even knew who this guy is until now.Fact is she is going to get rid of him shortly as everyone knows.
Roan Garcia Quintana.
WTF?
Did Clarence Bigsby turn down the job?
Clayton Bisbee. Funny as hell bit wasn’t it?
Yeah…Clayton.
Thanks for bailin’ me out!
I loved it when the dude’s head exploded.
Roan Garcia Quintana.
WTF?
Did Clarence Bigsby turn down the job?
Clayton Bisbee. Funny as hell bit wasn’t it?
Yeah…Clayton.
Thanks for bailin’ me out!
I loved it when the dude’s head exploded.
Just so I’m clear…
We have a Hispanic White Supremacist campaigning for a female Indian’s South Carolina gubernatorial campaign?
Sweet,ain’t it?
And, let’s not forget Haley claims to be white herself. She and Garcia-Quintana have the same kind of self-loathing. In fact, her alleged promiscuity (sleep with as many white men as possible?) may have something to do with that.
Just so I’m clear…
We have a Hispanic White Supremacist campaigning for a female Indian’s South Carolina gubernatorial campaign?
Sweet,ain’t it?
And, let’s not forget Haley claims to be white herself. She and Garcia-Quintana have the same kind of self-loathing. In fact, her alleged promiscuity (sleep with as many white men as possible?) may have something to do with that.
Whats the point of this?Cant Haley find a Republican not a member of some goofy old Segregation era organization to serve on her committee?I mean come on,Talk about creating an issue for no reason.Good God!
Whats the point of this?Cant Haley find a Republican not a member of some goofy old Segregation era organization to serve on her committee?I mean come on,Talk about creating an issue for no reason.Good God!
This Hispanic white supremacist says that mixed race marriage is the mongrelization of the races…. Surely he realizes that Haley is in a mixed race marriage. She has someone working for her that thinks her children are mongrels. Did she take parenting lessons from Sanford?
Obviously.
She is too stupid to see the hypocrisy. You can also bet it has never occurred to her that she represents the state of SC, and that her stupidity continues to damage the image of the state.
Is she back to being a Methodist white woman?
She’s only a minority when it sells books and garners sympathy.
Europeans, particularly southern Europeans, are the most mongrelized humans on earth. Their grandmothers fucked everybody to come along, all the way back to the Neanderthals.
Their grandfathers did,too, right?
I doubt that is the only thing Nikki took from Mark.
This Hispanic white supremacist says that mixed race marriage is the mongrelization of the races…. Surely he realizes that Haley is in a mixed race marriage. She has someone working for her that thinks her children are mongrels. Did she take parenting lessons from Sanford?
Obviously.
She is too stupid to see the hypocrisy. You can also bet it has never occurred to her that she represents the state of SC, and that her stupidity continues to damage the image of the state.
Is she back to being a Methodist white woman?
She’s only a minority when it sells books and garners sympathy.
Europeans, particularly southern Europeans, are the most mongrelized humans on earth. Their grandmothers fucked everybody to come along, all the way back to the Neanderthals.
Their grandfathers did,too, right?
I doubt that is the only thing Nikki took from Mark.
People like Robert KKK Byrd, (D) Grand Dragon comes to mind.
Not really. Sen Byrd renounced his affiliation, apologized, and spent the rest of his life seeking racial justice for minorities.
Contrast Byrd’s actions with Atwater’s. It took a terminal brain tumor to have any affect and now we learn that all his crying and carrying on was just more spin.
People like Robert KKK Byrd, (D) Grand Dragon comes to mind.
Not really. Sen Byrd renounced his affiliation, apologized, and spent the rest of his life seeking racial justice for minorities.
Contrast Byrd’s actions with Atwater’s. It took a terminal brain tumor to have any affect and now we learn that all his crying and carrying on was just more spin.
Fits–you did, indeed, note that you feel this is not a “huge deal”. I’m curious as to why you think so.
He believes that racist politics is ‘normal’ in South Carolina. That is accurate in my opinion. S.C. was birthed in bigotry. It led the Confederacy and refused to desegregate longer than any other state with the exception, perhaps, of Virginia. A white supremacist from the state, Strom Thurmond, ran for President as a segregationist and led the war against civil rights laws. There is only one person representing the interests of color in S.C.’s Congressional delegation even today. The state government is run by a cabal of neo-Confederates. (The same people who sent Joe Wilson to Congress and elected his son attorney general. Who hold events where they have blacks pose as slaves and maintain all-white schools and country clubs.) The majority of white voters often vote against their own best interest because any improvements might help black South Carolinians, as well.
Against this backdrop, Garcia-Quintana’s views are ‘normal’ for a white Republican. He stands out because of his exotic background, not because of his bigoted views.
Fits–you did, indeed, note that you feel this is not a “huge deal”. I’m curious as to why you think so.
He believes that racist politics is ‘normal’ in South Carolina. That is accurate in my opinion. S.C. was birthed in bigotry. It led the Confederacy and refused to desegregate longer than any other state with the exception, perhaps, of Virginia. A white supremacist from the state, Strom Thurmond, ran for President as a segregationist and led the war against civil rights laws. There is only one person representing the interests of color in S.C.’s Congressional delegation even today. The state government is run by a cabal of neo-Confederates. (The same people who sent Joe Wilson to Congress and elected his son attorney general. Who hold events where they have blacks pose as slaves and maintain all-white schools and country clubs.) The majority of white voters often vote against their own best interest because any improvements might help black South Carolinians, as well.
Against this backdrop, Garcia-Quintana’s views are ‘normal’ for a white Republican. He stands out because of his exotic background, not because of his bigoted views.
“nothingburger”?-isn’t that the catchphrase of a homosexual repub consultant?
“nothingburger”?-isn’t that the catchphrase of a homosexual repub consultant?
the dude said “is it racist to be proud of your own heritage? is it racist to want to keep your own heritage pure?” it seems like nikki haley is neither proud of her own heritage as she hides it and has cast it aside. as for pure the pure part, that statement should deeply offend haley, although she self-describes herslef as white. which is interesting, because i know someone from india who came to SC in 1963 and i asked them if they suffered discrimination and they said they stayed in “white accomdations, lodgings, ate at white restaurants, and were afforded the rights of the average white man circa 1963- the year they put the confed flag back up if i am correct. in south africa and other british colonies indians were afforded 2nd class status while blacks or other indigenous people were relegated to the lowest levels of opportunity and advancement and the least legal rights in society. nikki haley is proving to be a second class feudal middle manager- a reverse victorian vicereina- the imported maharani of obamian neo-reconstruction SC with haley and gay miss lindsey and gay uncle tim leading the way LOL. you earned it SC.and lecherous old uncle marko LMFAO LOL!!!!!!!
the dude said “is it racist to be proud of your own heritage? is it racist to want to keep your own heritage pure?” it seems like nikki haley is neither proud of her own heritage as she hides it and has cast it aside. as for pure the pure part, that statement should deeply offend haley, although she self-describes herslef as white. which is interesting, because i know someone from india who came to SC in 1963 and i asked them if they suffered discrimination and they said they stayed in “white accomdations, lodgings, ate at white restaurants, and were afforded the rights of the average white man circa 1963- the year they put the confed flag back up if i am correct. in south africa and other british colonies indians were afforded 2nd class status while blacks or other indigenous people were relegated to the lowest levels of opportunity and advancement and the least legal rights in society. nikki haley is proving to be a second class feudal middle manager- a reverse victorian vicereina- the imported maharani of obamian neo-reconstruction SC with haley and gay miss lindsey and gay uncle tim leading the way LOL. you earned it SC.and lecherous old uncle marko LMFAO LOL!!!!!!!
This is what happens when you elect a first generation American who has no knowledge of the history or culture of the state or country.
And, she hires a bunch of equally ignorant carpetbaggers as her yes-men.
This is an unforced Haley error.
Pretty Racist Statement, by an obvious Racist, Race-Hater.
You people sure know how to Use your Racism to get what you want (see Obama)….
Way to go Bo!Lets call them damn libruls what they are!Aint like we are or anything.We jes believe in the Constitution!Right Bo?
Are you saying you DON”T believe in the Constitution…???
Is it because your god, Obama, said it limits the almighty Gov’t too much…looks like you agree…
PS: How many white people did you and Obama HATE today…???
This is what happens when you elect a first generation American who has no knowledge of the history or culture of the state or country.
And, she hires a bunch of equally ignorant carpetbaggers as her yes-men.
This is an unforced Haley error.
FITS declaration that Voter (ID) integrity legislation is a move to suppress minority vote is far more damaging (see Melouise Richardson and 2012 results) on a practical level than any Scandal FITS and the democrats can manufacture about White Supremacists…
FITS, the media and the democrats conjure up all kinds of enemies in their minds, while Jihadists are bombing our children on American streets. And FITS and Obama have their heads up their @$$#$ and all their Fire-Power investigating Christians they hate…
Stuff it, FITS. You’re as big a F%^*in idiot as there is..and this liberal Race-Bait crap is a great example…
With a name like Roan Garcia-Quintana, I could only guess that he’s not from around here.
Looking at his bio page: http://www.roangq.com/bio.html
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
Yup, he’s not from around here!
With a name like Roan Garcia-Quintana, I could only guess that he’s not from around here.
Looking at his bio page: http://www.roangq.com/bio.html
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
Yup, he’s not from around here!
Perhaps you should have defined the word “HEROIC” before allowing people to vote..
Perhaps you should have defined the word “HEROIC” before allowing people to vote..
Obama insulted the his grandmother who raised him after his Communist Sperm and Egg donors abandoned him, as a “TYPICAL WHITE WOMAN.”
And yall elected Obama president TWICE. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen where the Race-conscious (in his weak mind) FITS comment on Mr. Obama’s Racial Hatred..and I ain’t even gotten to Rev. Wright and Obama yet…
Hypocrites and delusional ghost chasers are what FITS, the media and the dems are proving to be…
Ghost chasers? Is that some kind of racial slur? T, do you hate us honkie-ass crackas?
OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA!
Smirks: I know it when I hit you where you are vulnerable. And you are very open to attack as the RACISTS you are. You have to know that even the punch-drunk and simple-minded like FITS will eventually figure out that you are Bigots and Haters against Whites and Conservatives…
Also: Racism is Immoral, just as liberalism is immoral. You people have NO PROBLEM with racial hatred, as long as it’s you being the Racist…
I know racial hatred is wrong, and I will not tolerate it on ANY level. Not even for the politically trendy leftwing radicals, like you and Obama…