We don’t agree with much of what S.C. Rep. Bakari Sellers (D-Bamberg) has stood for during his seven years in the S.C. House of Representatives.
Having said that, the 29-year-old lawmaker has emerged as one of the few genuinely substantive voices in the S.C. General Assembly, and he’s certainly no more fiscally liberal or anti-free market than most “Republican” members of the S.C. House.
In fact in some instances he’s actually more pro-free market …
Anyway, Sellers’ greatest impediment to reaching the next level in Palmetto politics (he’s currently running statewide as the leading Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor) may be something he has no control over … his name.
But don’t take our word for that.
Take a look at what Sellers’ posted on social media this week …
(Click to enlarge)
First of all, props to that Tom Peden guy for not living “anywhere near” South Carolina. That’s a solid decision on his part.
However Peden’s “just what kind of name is Bakari” comment is pure South Carolina in terms of its racist mentality.
Seriously … come on, dude.
What kind of name is Bakari, though? Well it’s Egyptian translation is said to be “noble oath,” while is African origin is said to mean “promising.” But in South Carolina it probably translates into “unelectable,” if for no other reason than it is literally one letter away from “Barack.”
We’d like to think our home state was capable of looking past something like that, but …
This website wrote a piece a few weeks ago on the meaningless of political labels, concluding that truth in politics can only be found by ignoring labels and focusing on the specific collection and appropriation of tax dollars.
Judging books by their content, in other words …
We would apply that same wisdom to candidates’ names …
26 comments
I remember hearing that SC couldn’t be racist because Nikki Haley and Tim Scott was elected, and here we are hearing how Bakari might not win because his name sounds black. Gotta love it.
Bakari will lose for no other reason than that he will run as a Democrat. Blame it on his name, his “alleged” DUI, or whatever horse shit you want, but the truth is that hell would have to freeze over for a Democrat to beat out even the worst Republican candidates, be it Sheheen vs. Haley, Colbert-Busch vs. Sanford, or Stamper vs. Graham.
For now.
Sellers does not have a chance in this race. Why? He hired Scott Malyrick to runs his campaign (along with Rod Shealy, Jr.)
Scott Malyrick is the kiss of death to any campaign. Sorry Sellers, give it up. ou have lost before you started.
Just so we aren’t being too hard on Peden for PC reasons, should people reserve judgement on me if I ran for office and my name was “Apple Butter”?
Yeah.
What kind of name is Peden?
Poindexter, the guy’s first name is Tom.
It’s a verb – Tom Peden his pants.
Ha! Nicely done.
Obviously it’s Italian – you know that song by Dean Martin:
Bakari, oh oh
E contare, oh oh oh oh
No wonder my happy heart sings
Your love has given me wings
Penso che un sogno cosi non ritorni mai piu
Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu
Poi d’improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito
Wait, what- that song starts with Volare – oh, never mind
Just because your name is Bakari don’t mean you can make cakes and cookies
It’s one of them there mooslem commie names like Barak and Enos
Bakari, it’s a great name? Hell I like a Bakari and Coke on the rocks now and then.
Just don’t be caught driving under the influence of such in Chester, unless of course your name is Bakari as well.
I disagree. I think people will look at his substance and support him. A rose by any other name………..it’s childish to judge people this way because we have no control over the names we are given.
Name three people who are planning to run (qualified) to run. I LOVE the name Bakari and vote for him because the rest of the pack are Vanilla with the and canned response to the same ideas. Bakari and Sic Willie YOU ARE similar.
There are dorks everywhere, that doesn’t mean there are enough to keep him from getting elected. I think Smirks is right, if/when he looses it won’t be because of his name. Isn’t there a Clementa somewhere in state politics and I see all kinds of “odd” names cropping up in different political circuits. The name won’t hurt him, hell if he changed his name to “bin Laden” but broadcast Republican ideals he would have a better chance of winning than as “Tom Jones” as a Democrat.
He needs to tighten up so he won’t loose
Cut from the same cloth as the guy named Barak.
It’s a name that a Black Panther would give his son.
Barkari is a great guy. And very good looking. If the Republicans do not run anyone qualified he may get my vote.
It’s an uppity darkie name. Why not Henry or George as in the old days? We used to name ’em ourselves.
How about Toby? Or Kunta Kinte?
What kind of name is Reince freaking Priebus?
What kind of name is Tom Davis?
I think it means “I broke the honor code in law school and got away with it” but Fits won’t run a story on that.