DOES TEAM GRAHAM HAVE THE GOODS ON PASTOR-POLITICIAN?
Liberal U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (RINO – S.C.) is leaving nothing to chance … or so it would appear.
The moment one of his “Republican” primary challengers starts to gain even a little bit of traction, Graham’s team of operatives smacks them back down with a well-placed jab.
The latest (alleged) example of this trend in action? An article appearing in The Politico this week on Det Bowers – the Columbia, S.C. pastor who turned in a modestly impressive initial fundraising performance against the well-funded incumbent.
According to reporter Manu Raju’s report, Bowers gave a sermon several years ago (the exact date is uncertain) in which he claimed that women who shower exorbitant attention on their children were the cause of male infidelity and the breakup of marriages.
“I find that in about 95 percent of broken marriages, though the husband’s the one that ran out on his wife, the wife loves her children more than she does her husband,” Bowers said in an audio recording obtained by Raju. “That is an abominable idolatry.”
“Do you hear me ladies?” Bowers continued. “It is an abominable idolatry to love your children more than you love your husband, and it will ruin your marriage. And yet you blame it on him because he ran off with some other woman! He did run off with some other woman, and you packed his bags. All of his emotional bags, you packed for him. Is that true in every case? No, but it’s true in the vast preponderance of them.”
“You just ran him off. You paid more attention to your children than you did to him,” Bowers added. “‘Oh, he doesn’t need me?’ He needs you more than they do. He chose you, they didn’t. An abominable idolatry.”
Hmmmmm … interesting.
“I am disappointed at Politico’s taking (Bowers) remarks out of context,” South Carolina pastor Drew Collins wrote in a guest post on The Quinton Report, a Maryland-based blog. “Those who listen to the entire sermon will hear Det both holding forth the grace of God and criticizing places where he has fallen short of God’s glory as well.”
“I don’t know whom I will support in the primary (I will not support Lindsey Graham, however), but I would encourage any who read this report to listen to the entire sermon, not just one selective snippet,” Collins added.
FITS spoke to a source close to the Graham campaign who denied planting The Politico story about Bowers.
“It’s made to look a certain way but this is absolutely not coming from us,” the source said, adding that Graham’s other challengers – Lowcountry businesswoman Nancy Mace, Upstate businessman Richard Cash, S.C. Sen. Lee Bright and Orangeburg attorney Bill Connor – were “more likely suspects.”
“Look at it like a crime: Who has motive?” the source said. “They do, we don’t.”
However other sources tell FITS Graham staffers have boasted of possessing an entire library of damaging audio files from Bowers two-decade career as a pastor.
Which brings us to the truly incriminating excerpt from Raju’s report …
Bowers’ sermons used to be widely available online as podcasts when he ran a media ministry at the church but are getting more attention now, weeks ahead of the June 10 primary. They appear no longer to be available for downloading.
That’s true, although up until this year compact discs of Bowers’ sermons during his twelve-year career at Christ Church of the Carolinas could be checked out of the church’s library.
“There’s a lot on there that may or may not be on the podcast,” one source familiar with the recordings tell FITS.
Which means Bowers could be in for a bumpy ride …
Bowers also didn’t help himself by refusing to be interviewed for The Politico’s report – and by providing conflicting information regarding the date of the sermon in question.
As off-the-wall (or as inartfully expressed) as some of Bowers’ social views may be, we continue to believe his real vulnerability is his prior career as a liberal trial lawyer who dabbled in Democratic political activism. Bowers was chairman of the 1988 Michael Dukakis for President campaign in South Carolina, for example, which is about as far to the left as you can get on the Palmetto State’s political spectrum.
107 comments
He’s no liberal.
Political opponents directly or indirectly sling mud at each other. Once again Sic Willie is on the cutting edge of investigative journalism. Who knew that this went on?
So, why do you come here if everything is so obvious? Where do you get these reports like the above? Don’t you think it gives you some flavor of how the race is going in general?
You seem to attack almost every article Will posts, yet you come back here again and again. If everything is so obvious, aren’t you wasting your time?
Very good post, sir. You have to forgive, old, simple CNSYD. He can’t seem to get over The USC’s 5 game winning streak over Pickens Technical College (PTC) and the unavoidable fact that #6 is coming soon. Please forgive him. But if you want to find a time when he is not on here attacking Will, check the night of PTC’s annual loss to The USC and the week following the game. He is sure to be among the missing.
Was I missing the 65 times that Carl’s Jr lost to Clemson in football? As has been said many times, Carl’s Jr has an Alabama mouth and a Vandy trophy case.
Only articles that are not “news” such as this one. Will’s purpose is to somehow skewer both Graham and any primary opponent of Mace simultaneously. He is the one wasting time.
I come here to mock Sic and pat him on the back for the occasional good piece.
As if his opponents have the resources to pull oppo. Nice try Graham.
tis the problem, honorable opponents don’t do the rectal exam of their opponents, leaving the Chinese axiom, hu flung dung (firstest) as the most skeered. I have to ask how many people might go to jail if the incumbent RINO were not to be re-elected.
Wait, a pastor gave a sermon that some people may not agree with? Stop the presses. Next you’ll be telling me he believes that unless you commit your life to Jesus, you won’t be going to heaven. It’s almost like he’s religious or something.
I always wondered where Buz ‘fly’ Martin developed his skills for parnoid,delusional,weird and false conspiracy/allegations that made him the laughing-stock of Horry/Georgetown Counties.
It appears from the University of FITS.
Very good observation. They are 2 peas in the pod of Kook-jobs…Everybody is screwed up, but them, Tom Davis and Sanford, of course…
“As off-the-wall (or as inartfully expressed) as some of Bowers’ social views may be, we continue to believe his real vulnerability is his prior career as a liberal trial lawyer who dabbled in Democratic political activism. ”
Ya know, I’m not a Christian and his sermon makes sense to me. Doesn’t seem “off the wall” at all.
If your wife focuses on the children and neglects the primary relationship/family unit-the father, she has in essence packed his bags.
It’s not like we all haven’t seen that before. It’s not a justification for the cheating, it’s merely an explanation.
Det Bowers should be happy that sexually ambiguous Graham is attacking his sermons on family, it’s like Miss Lindsey just put a big “kick me” sign on his rear.
*on his own rear(Lindsey’s that is)
Det has NO CHANCE. Todd Akin 2.0. Not good for the party. We could lose to a democrat if Det were for some miracle to beat Graham.
Hi Lindsay!
We could lose to a democrat if Det were for some miracle to beat Graham.
“We”, who, Paleface?
What this guy said in a sermon is very relevant to any woman who is not a Stepford wife. Its just more of all the Republican crap they can’t seem to hide anymore. Like saying if women have equal pay they won’t be able to get a husband.
Any woman who works, has a daughter, is single, or who does not think she should be subservient to a man is a fool if they vote for a Republican.
Are you a Christian Jan?
Indeed I am. Are you?
No. But I find this verse interesting:
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” (KJV)
You find one sentence by Paul out of the entire Bible interesting. What point are you trying to make? That god wants women to be servants? That would be a Republican sentiment.
A what about the last part of Colossians 3. “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything.” Do Republicans support this philosophy as well?
Or maybe god did not stop giving us instructions 2000 years ago.
If you want to selectively ignore the bible, that is your prerogative, I understand as I’m agnostic.
But you spit on this notion of a wife being subservient to her husband by calling those “who does not think she should be subservient to a man is a fool if they vote for a Republican” when there are clearly biblical reasons to do so even for a Democrat.
I believe it is you who are selectively ignoring the bible and history. You did not even fully quote Colossians 3. You can’t take one sentence and defend that sentence without defending the whole.
Do I believe Christ directs women to be subservient to men? No I don’t. Do I believe certain far right religious organizations believe women should be servants? Yes, I do.
I stand by my belief that any woman who thinks she should be treated the same as men and have the same rights as men is a fool to vote for Republicans.
But I will agree with you to this extent, if a woman believes she is inferior to men, that she needs a husband to tell her what to do, that she should be willing to work for less because men deserve more money than she does, that she should not be in a leadership role because that is the business of men; or that men are smarter than women, she would be a fool to vote for a Democrat.
Religion is easy if you make it up isn’t it?
L. Ron Hubbard said: ” Hell fucking yes!”
Profitable, too.
“You did not even fully quote Colossians 3. You can’t take one sentence and defend that sentence without defending the whole.”
Feel free to provide me the context that changes the meaning of the particular sentence I quoted.
I’m open if you have an actual argument as to why the sentence doesn’t mean what it says.
Mark 9:35 – If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Unlike Republican men, women don’t want to be first. They want to be equal. So perhaps it is Republican men who should take to heart you quote.
Your right. That was precisely the point I was making.
Are you surprised?
You’re right. That was precisely my point. If the man is the head, then he becomes his wife’s servant. This puts her at the head.
Are you surprised?
People who channel snippets of The Bible to manipulate, and attack, their enemies are dangerous.
Liberal Feminism has hurt more women than it ever helped. While Christ has freed any and EVERY woman who is truly liberated.
Or maybe god did not stop giving us instructions 2000 years ago.
What instructions have been given since?
Why (In your opinion) would an all-knowing God, who created the universe—change instructions?
The answer is that man is becoming smarter. God gave us a brain, and despite the efforts of many (mainly conservatives) to stop us from using it, we are using it. Through science we gain knowledge, and with knowledge comes greater understanding of truth and the nature of creation.
In 1633 Galileo Galilei was convicted of heresy by Christians for espousing his agreement with Copernicus’ theory the earth was not the center of the universe and not even the center of our solar system. He was forced to recant his beliefs and imprisoned for the rest of his life. The men who convicted and imprisoned Galileo were not evil men. They had nothing really to gain by Galileo’s arrest. In fact they were lenient. He could have been burned at the stake. They truly believed that he was challenging clear scripture, and in those days that was a crime and had to be punished in the name of god and truth..
Today we know Galileo was correct. No one questions it. Through increased knowledge Christians have learned we were misinterpreting scripture. Our faith in our interpretation was misplaced. There are many more examples of how with increased knowledge we have changed our beliefs. Those changes will continue as we gain more and more knowledge. Whether you call this new instructions from god or new interpretations of the original instructions, the result is the same. Christians simply no longer believe everything we did 2000, 1000, 500, 250 or even 100 years ago.
Paul is not god. He was merely a man, possessed of imperfect knowledge, trying to impart his understanding to a world of people with imperfect knowledge. And his observations were written down by people with imperfect knowledge and often interpreted by people with an agenda. Maybe Paul was just wrong, may he was quoted out of context, maybe his words were changed. Maybe I am wrong. I can live with all those possibilities because I believe god will forgive all my sins. In the mean time, until greater knowledge proves me wrong I will stick with my belief that women should be the equal of men, and that Christ did not command women to be servants to men.
But hey, its a free country. We do have freedom of religion. So if you are a woman who believes you are inferior to men, by all means vote for Republicans. They agree with you.
Holy cow, that’s a whole lotta nothing, with no argument against the quote that started it off.
No wonder God wanted women to let man be the head of the family. AMIRITE?
I have been very even handed in this debate. As I have said. If you are a woman, and you believe you are inferior to men, that you were put on this earth to clean houses and raise children, that your roll in life is to serve men, that you should be paid less than men for the same work, that you can’t get pregnant if you are raped, that if you have a good job and high pay you won’t be able to get a husband, that men are smarter than women, or that women need a husband to tell them what to do, you should be ar Republicans. They agree with you.
AMIRITE?
Yawn. Your talking points are boring me. At first I thought you were a funny troll. Obviously you’re sincere, and that’s sad.
It’s hard to take her seriously.
That was not addressed to you. It addressed the question of why would god change the rules. I am not a fundamentalist, so what I believe is:
Truth is constant. It doesn’t change, but human knowledge of what is and is not true does change. We evaluate our beliefs and dogma in the light of the knowledge of the truth we have available to us. So if our knowledge changes some of our beliefs and dogma may change.
Christian beliefs do change over time. That is irrefutable. Of course there are core beliefs that have not changed in almost 2000 years and which are central to the religion regardless of your denomination; but this is not one of them.
That is as simple as I can make it for you. Is it an oversimplification? But you don’t really care anyway.
Christian beliefs do change over time.
If we’re just making it up, then let’s just make it that Jesus said women and men are totally equal, that everyone goes to heaven no matter what, and Jan is the supreme ruler of Christendom.
To be so arrogant to believe that you can speak for every married couple, God, or even every woman, exposes you as an judgmental and pious manipulator…
Women, who are married mostly vote Republican. It’s the women who have more difficulty in healthy relationships – the dysfunctional- who are closed-minded and depend on a impersonal and nebulous government to fulfill their needs…
*Leonard “Bones” McCoy voice*
Dammit, Jan!!
You forced me to upvote GT!
“You forced me to upvote GT!”
Get a room!
Remember that next time you blow Euwe Max.
Let’s not get all carried away, now….
Thanks TBG. I’m respect a reasonable Brotha…
Again….. Let’s not get all carried away.
Dont worth I’m sure you’ll do something to screw it up in no time….JK….
Nah, you just think like he does more than you like to admit. I haven’t spoken for anyone but myself.
I stand by all my beliefs. Republicans have no respect for women who work or who seek equal status with men. Therefore those women should not vote for them.
Some? This is not a sermon that most Christians would support.
Was the good reverend alluding to the Sanford marriage and Mark Sanford’s adultery perchance?
This guy is a total whack job. Way to go repubs! You got a real winner here.
I guarantee if he beats Graham, he’ll destroy any candidate the dems put up. Then again, maybe you guys will pick a real winner like Alvin Green. It’s almost like Democratic voters just close their eyes and pick or something.
I guarantee if he beats Graham
I guarantee if he beats Graham, Jesus will make his second coming and, as his first miracle, convert Richard Dawkins by decking him straight in the face.
“If.”
I really want Det to win now.
Since this CLOWN has NO chance of beating Graham,guess we wont have a chance to test your “theory.”
Why did you put theory in quotes?
Because he’s an idiot.
Government ID’s aren’t free. Voter fraud is less likely than getting struck my lightening, twice. You should be more concerned with fixing problems that actually occur.
You elected Obama, Dumb@$$…You have to be kidding…
Hey, Det….Leftwing Democrat Rev. Jeremiah Wright damned America and said the victims of 911 Deserved it….and look what it did for Obama…
So I would not fret…
Hee…seems like God was listening.
A nation that elects leaders who turn their backs on God is not blessed…So sadly we’re all suffering for the sins of the hateful and ignorant.
I have better things to do than worry what you creatins on Earth (especially you Koch sucking idiots in the U.S.) are up to. Jesus, there’s a billion planets in this mofo universe that keeps expanding…AND screw your football team.
Is it true you worry more about two gay dudes being considered legally married than you do starving and dying children across the globe?
Christians have fed more starving children and saved the lives of more of the imperiled than Communism and AIDS, combined, have taken…
The fact that God has rescued and freed so many…while liberalism has imprisoned and/or doomed them..is why you hate Him…and me… w/ such fervor…
Don’t believe me, read the Gospels….All Jesus did was tell you a Truth, that you did not want to hear…and you could not accept…Compare what Jesus teaches to the secular humanism of today…and you are crucifying Him, all over again…
No, that’s what dumbfuck Tango would like you to believe…Lol! Love Ya man!
Paging Todd Akin!
What are his views on legitimate rape? That’s all I need to know.
Lindsey Graham is a “liberal”? Here, certainly, but in the rest of the state, he’s a “moderate.”
I agree, he’s moderately liberal.
We as republicans just can’t help ourselves can we. This man is a disgrace. He just perpetuates the whole war on women in our very own party. WTH!
lol.
Well what’s your problem with this guy. You need a man to tell you what to do and take care of you. Because if you are a Republican woman it ain’t your brains you’re relying on.
We as republicans just can’t help ourselves can we.
“We”, who, Paleface?
Just read this and I find another reason to support another candidate for Govenor. She plans to help bail out this failed institution that has landed in the current mess due to financial mismanagement
”
SC State on track to run out of money next month
Associated Press
Posted: Friday, April 25, 2014 10:24 a.m.
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ORANGEBURG – South Carolina State University is on track to run out of money next month, and school officials said Thursday they hope government leaders will help.
University President Thomas Elzey told trustees the Orangeburg school has $1.5 million on hand. That’s less than half of what S.C. State needs to pay its 1,045 employees, utility bills and debt payment next month.
“Our situation is urgent,” Elzey said Thursday.
The university has requested a $13.6 million bailout from the state after years of borrowing money to cover deficits caused by declining enrollment and overspending.
Earlier this month, state Inspector General Patrick Maley said S.C. State had diverted $6.5 million meant for agriculture research to cover debts since 2007. Maley said he found no fraud, but rather a pattern of mismanagement that allowed the inappropriate practice to escalate out of control.
Maley also noted the university was mismanaging funds when it borrowed public service funds from the 1890 Research and Extension program to help pay operating expenses. The university has had to pay the program back and can no longer access that money.
Officials said the only reason S.C. State made payroll this month is because of a $1.3 million check from its food-service vendor. If the school fails, trustee Katon Dawson said the state would be responsible for about $90 million in defaulted bonds and outstanding bills.
State leaders have said they don’t want the state’s only historically black public college to close, and university officials say they’re optimistic government leaders will help the school find a way to keep going.
The state Budget and Control Board, chaired by Gov. Nikki Haley, is set to discuss the school’s finances next week, and the governor’s office said it had proposed allowing S.C. State to borrow up to $6 million. To get that money, the school would need to provide three years of audited financial statements for the school and its foundations. S.C. State would need to use the loan to pay its bond debt before payroll and other bills.
The rest of the money sought by the school could come from the Legislature, according to the governor’s office.
“The crisis at S.C. State University has reached a critical stage, and Gov. Haley’s proposal is a way for this important institution to get back on its feet,” said Haley spokesman Doug Mayer.”
The Democrats and James Clyburn will never let this school go down – nor let anyone really audit the past three years of financial activity.
Senator Graham represents the state of South Carolina with honor and distinction – I am proud to have him serve our country. And he’s a real good dresser too – a fine looking man with a heart of gold.
All that’s missing is: “I’m Lindsey Graham and I approve this message.”
Rocky says Graham is really good dresser and fine looking man. Is that you Rock Hudson? Just kidding, I’m all about gay undercover. It’s the only way to survive politically in SC.
If you assume (correctly) that Det Bowers will get no votes from pro abortion, gay, secular feminists because of what he believes and says about these issues, you exclude about 5 potential votes in a SC Republican primary.
Nothing justifies a guy “running off” with another woman. If that’s done before the divorce, it’s called adultery, and I highly doubt that his holy book lists ANY justification for adultery. If it’s done after the divorce, then that was a decision made by a single man.
The most any person can be blamed for is being the cause for the marriage ending.
Bowers will get between 5-8% of the vote in the primary.Hes not a major factor and is relatively unknown by most people in the state.
Are there no sex scandals against Graham? Drag a 100.00 bill through the gay bars in D.C. and find out?
Harpootlian has had P.I.’s on Graham for years and they have never been able to find anything. He may just be asexual.
From the NSA and Homeland, its no secret that Graham is being provided data on his challengers.
The problem is protestants teach that and every one can interpret the bible and not be wrong. So when they say things like the above, they think they are right. Out the door goes science, psychology, and the authors intent and context. Please make it stop.
I work in a service industry and I talk politics with at least 20 to 30 different people every day from all societal and demographic backgrounds.I haven’t met a soul in the Columbia Metro area who plans to vote for Graham. ( I have voted for him on the last two elections…)
Well,Hell that settles it!Grahams goose is Cooked!Thanks for settling this damn election!
Next !
I hear ya, but what you’re running into is a very old and well-documented phenomenon. Especially in cases wherein the folks conversing don’t know each other that well, there isn’t enough trust to do anything but take what they think is the popular position. For example, I talk to lots of people in my work as well. I would say that because of the unique sets of folks with whom I interact that at least a third or more are fairly liberal Democrats, yet I have only found about a dozen people who voted for Obama. I know we’re a red state, but I don’t think Romney carried us at 99%.
Or maybe he just made it up cause he doesnt like Graham?
Aaaaaah…could be…
In 1988, Graham was still a small government conservative. I’ll take Bower’s conversion over Graham’s.
I am not in favor of anyone named Det being our Senator . . .and if he is a Republican you might as well go ahead stick a “b” in there and call him Debt . . .
This article claims Bower’s comments were taken out of context. Yet, doesn’t explain in what context would ever make these comments rational. Just because you finish a sermon with claiming you are imperfect, doesn’t somehow cancel out everything you say. Would it matter if Graham was in the audience and recorded this ridiculous sermon himself? Bower is the one who has these beliefs and said it. Let’s focus the debate. Are his beliefs on the reasons for divorce in line with what a majority of Americans believe? No. Probably not even more than 2%.
He was never going to win anyway.
With Det Bowers, it’s about the money. It’s always about the money. I have known him since law school. It’s always about Det being the center of attention and the money flowing his way.
Guess that’s why he didn’t officially file sooner, and held his checks, folks would figure out his income and where it came from. Agreed. All about the money. Slimy.
What about Lindsey Graham’s dick sucking problem?
‘Context’ isn’t needed for a statement that is so clear and direct.
This man was apparently once a liberal, then found Christ and turned into a bat-shit crazy prick. Simple.
Det ends his talks with the question of whom do you trust? Inferring you should trust a preacher over the others—-uhhh NO. This brings up another point: It is not the preacher that guarantees religious freedom, it is the soldier. RESTORE HONOR VOTE CONNOR.
Fits….you need to accept that Graham is going to win and get another 6 years at the helm.
In fact, at this rate with this crop of knuckleheads running against him, he’s likely to escape a runoff as well.
Does Det have any counseling sermons available on frigidity or nymphomania as the cause of men leaving their wives?