DIRTY TRICKS ALREADY UNDERWAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA’S U.S. SENATE RACE …
South Carolina’s reputation as America’s hotbed of dirty political tricks is secure … as the high-profile race for U.S. Senate fell victim to a “carefully orchestrated hoax” targeting its newest candidate.
Newsrooms across the Palmetto State started buzzing Wednesday when a media report – ostensibly a “wire” from the Associated Press – declared that Lowcountry businessman and former statewide official Thomas Ravenel had dropped out of the U.S. Senate race.
“One day he’s in – the next day he’s out,” the fake news report stated. “Reality TV show star Thomas Ravenel has pulled out of the race for the U.S. Senate Seat in South Carolina. The move comes a day after he went through a big show having himself recorded as he showed up to file the necessary petitions to launch his candidacy.”
The report then claims Ravenel’s petition candidacy was “all a promotion for his Bravo show ‘Southern Charm.'”
Ravenel confirmed his candidacy to FITS in an interview.
“I’m in,” he told us. “Clearly that’s got somebody scared.”
Indeed … and our guess is that “somebody” is not Democratic nominee Brad Hutto, a State Senator from Orangeburg, S.C. who has welcomed Ravenel’s entry to the race. Who doesn’t want Ravenel in the running? U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (RINO-S.C.).
Anyway … wanna see a screen shot of the “wire?”
Take a look …
(Click to enlarge)
Television stations in Columbia, Spartanburg and Charleston also confirmed receiving the “wire,” with several of them contacting the Ravenel campaign for comment.
The Associated Press’ Columbia, S.C. bureau told FITS it was “still trying to find out what happened.”
Asked whether the wire service would ever publish a report declaring a candidate to have dropped out of a race without first receiving confirmation from the candidate or an authorized spokesman, the AP declined to comment.
“We just found out about this five minutes ago,” AP reporter Jeffrey Collins told FITS.
Collins promised to contact FITS upon confirming that the wire was a hoax.
Ravenel’s campaign pounced on the botched stunt …
“This is nothing but a carefully orchestrated hoax intended to plant seeds of doubt,” Ravenel aide Kevin Heekin said. “Lindsey Graham may wish Thomas Ravenel wasn’t running, but he is – and because he is South Carolinians will have a long-overdue choice come November. Lindsey Graham is afraid – and juvenile stunts like this telegraph his fear.”
Hard to argue with that assessment … now the only question is whether the hoax can be directly traced to supporters of Graham, arguably the most liberal “Republican” in the U.S. Congress.
84 comments
This probably was originated by FITS and Ravenel. The old proving a false negative strategy thing re-hashed. “they are so afraid of my candidacy that they are pulling these stunts”. Blah blah blah
BINGO!!
Allow me to double your BINGO……..”they are afraid of my candidacy” was the give away.
This was done by you. I am filing criminal complaints with SLED.
Exactly. Any free press for Ravenel keeps his name in the news. Ravenel’s reaction to this story smacks of Nikki Haley’s poor-little-me/they just hate the girl in the Governor’s mansion bullshit. Screw this guy.
exactly. instead of following up with more info on Ravenel’s felony conviction, recent arrest in NY, and drunkeness on Bravo, media will go this “news” – or at least that’s what Ravenel’s campaign is hoping for. Dumb prank.
Democrats and their wacko “they are gonna get me” theories…LoL
To even think like this, you must have been deprived of the Christmas gifts you wanted, not being happy with what you got.
What a laugher from the wacked out deprived left
thank you for exemplifying the kind of fumbducks that are openly standing behind the cokehead candidate. Quick, go take another 8 ball before you crash into another six-day wave of depression.
It must be a shift change at the Alvin S. Glenn…ain’t there a retard there you can take it out on? They don’t fight back in cuffs. If you do not like our Democracy, I am sure Mexico is hiring.
GOP-Write says Ravenel mentioned FITS’ name as his political consultant on that low-rent TV show.
Is that true?
GOPWrite may be the only alternative media in this state with less credibility than your boring political digest.
I know, I know…FITS is your god. Master of all wisdom, and pun-tang photos, too. LMAO…
Er’body else has no right to speak, or have an opinion, other than the one FITS, and the DNC, give yall. Hahahaha…
What is a pun-tang phone and where do I get one? ;)
It’s the new Obama phone that Tango has the right’s to ! A joint venture with Nikki, Tango, can’t believe you don’t have one !!!
pun-tang phone
Sure would make pimpin’ easier…
Da Nang.
poon tang “putain” in French, probably converted from French by American soldiers serving in Vietnam (formerly French Indochina)… like boo koo – beaucoup
If Ravenel’s campaign account has a $200,000 + debt to Thomas Ravenel as the result of a personal loan from his last run….then…..doesn’t it stand to reason that any money he raises from supporters this go around could be used to repay Thomas Ravenel as opposed to say….buying media?
If this is accurate, then, isn’t it safe to say that Ravenel could raise some funds from suckers who support him and then write himself a check for the balance owed, lose the race by a mile, and still emerge a winner by collecting money that he is “due”?
If this is true why has FITS News not reported on this angle? Would it not be newsworthy of Haley, Harrell,Knots or any others? Just curious.
This is not a news site, friend (*especially* when it comes to Dreamy Ravenel)…
This is not a news site, friend (*especially* when it comes to Dreamy Ravenel)…
Typically (though who can tell any more?) the news has to actually happen before it can be reported on.
This question was already raised by th msm thank you.
Not surprising. The MSM is all about getting ahead of conservatives to make sure the low-information voters already know how they should think.
Hey Dick Tracy, math is not your strong suit. Neither is reading. Try looking at the illustrated version of Federal Campaign Finance Laws if pictures help you best understand basic concepts.
hit a nerve Tommy boy? I can do 50-30= 20+1. Or, 50 goes into 20 about 60 times before 20 becomes 20+1. Here is a good one ..12 million minus 21= 6 million. I hear the cuz got real pissed when he did that one.
51 certainly goes in to 22 enough times to make at least one.
Now *there’s* some math even angry name-callers can get!
Your math sucks as loud as your hand does. You must be employed at RCSD. Try 90 million chips at Poker Stars. See ya at the NH Ring Tables…LoL
How dare he not? Again, “how dare he not?” Thank you. Precisely what most on here have been arguing. You are right. As for “phoney laws”? Thomas, go hump a polo horse or something, you are embarrassing yourself now.
sound likes something that fairy Wes Donehue would pull….
This is the same old trash that Graham and the GOP consultant class has done for years. It is getting really old. We can expect to see all the dirty tricks in the book from Graham just like his buddy in Mississippi who stole the primary election. Look for good ole Lindsay to start hawking food stamps and Obama-phones to get votes any day
can you name another incident in which Graham pulled this kind of junk? Or any junk?
no, he cant but Ravenel is actually known for selling junk.
Did he add to much cut to those 8 balls that he sold?
These comments are becoming more annoying than Obama’s “blame Bush” garbage. Time to find a new insult.
Let me guess, afraid to lose your hook up? He cant sell to you in DC can he?
Is the man not a convicted drug dealer? A very bad analogy on your end. BS Obama says against Bush compaired to the factual drug dealing conviction of a piece of shit like Ravenel. What is really annoying is idiots like you that keep defending him for some reason. You must approve of illegal drugs.
When we gonna get the wire reports about the kids he fathered on the sly? Or the black baby he has from 1998? Come on people, you’re getting slack.
Or the black baby he has from 1998?
His roots run deep in the black community, eh?
Verily, T-Rav IS the legitimate heir to Ol’ Strom’s Senate seat!
Who didn’t know this was fake? T Rav doesn’t pull out
Holy shit – you win the day on this one!
What’s the total number of little RAV’s now ?
Whoa, I don’t know about all of that! He was eyeing the shit out of my wife and grinning her up at the Silver Elephant a few years back, but I don’t *think* he got anywhere. None of my kids have his shit-eatin’ grin, so I think I’m good. Besides, my wife is train smoke hot, but almost his age…yawnsville for Ravenel.
Holy shit – you win the day on this one!
Drudge Report Investigating This Story —- Graham is entwined in collusion with the person behind this fake Associated wire. Graham and his cronies know that tRev is a serious threat. This will bring Graham down. It will be in the Charleston City News, on every talk back radio station in South Carolina … and reported on in many major news outlets across the state and the nation.
That’s just abject silliness! Have you ever studied actual political operations? Why on Earth would a guy who’s 20-30 points up in the polls, millions and millions ahead in fundraising, and a 98% lock for the win risk it all on a fake email that may generate a tiny little buzz for a day or three? Brilliant; simply brilliant. This was either some fringe kook or some of Ravenel’s peeps.
You did it.
Damn…ya got me!
I keed, of course! Not that LG asks me for advice much, but I would tell them if they called- this clown will become more and more desperate for mainstream media coverage as the campaign wears on, and he’ll soon run out of lame tricks to get it. Why should LG’s people give him even two days of exposure for free? No way…
Ravenel better be content catching his 3 or 4 political blow jobs a week right here on FITS, because he’s gonna have to pay for the rest of ’em.
Ummm, how about asking the ghost of Richard Nixon?
Zackly! How’d that work out for him? Pols live and learn… ;-)
Well, he did win the election in question. It’s the coverup that gets you.
True enough, true enough. He won the battle, but I think everyone agrees that (as you said) his coverup lost the war for him.
Bullshit – T-Rav is a friggin benefit to Graham’s campaign. Remember ’08 when the guy (Lib posing as a Democrat) ran against him? He only had less than $2,000 to spend on the campaign after the filing fee — and still got 42% of the vote! Having a third-party candidate with name recognition – not to mention affiliation with the GOP – is the best thing for Graham. Now, instead of angry republicans voting for the dem candidate, they’ll vote for Ravenel —- *and Graham is guaranteed re-election – at least by plurality – without doubt.*
In a three way race, 35% is a statistical win. Hutto will take more votes from Graham leaving pop star Tommy with a real chance for a 35-40% win. Graham himself said his 7 million dollar PAC funded ad blitz in the Primary was focused on the 60% that would vote for him. That 60% will not hold up in a General Election in a three way race.
You appear to be sharing some of Ravenel’s blow…your numbers are simply mad, and reject political history outright! Ravenel is probably around 2-3% now (although there’s been no real scientific polling yet with him by name), and he won’t be able to break much beyond twice that range. People forget that exposure for some folks is great, but for TR it’s a double-edged sword. His shtick will look worse and worse the more that normal mainstream folks hear it. He will poll like all fringy / kook candidates- a hodgepodge. He’ll take a few angry tea party types from LG (although most of them either sit out on his race or vote D anyway), he’ll get some Dems, and he’ll draw some *really* kooky types who would never have voted in the first place without a pro-dope dope in the race (all 1,500 of ’em). That in NO WAY reaches 35-40% of a 2 million-voter general election. Just won’t happen. As I have said many times, if he breaks 10-12% he will have succeeded in embarrassing a state that’s pretty hard to embarrass…
You must of ignored the “Do Not Swim” signs at the beach. The fecal bacteria is on your breath and in your brain. You, serious, credible? LoL
Wow, that’s some pretty intellectual rhetoric, that! Since you’re dealing in wishes and rainbows and I try to stick to history, facts, and other boring non-unicorn data, how ’bout we settle this like gentlemen- with a friendly wager. Not that I would ever bet on an election (tacky?), but *if* I was to do so, I would let you in on the bet for any steak in SC that TR doesn’t break 10% on the only day that counts (that would be November 4th). I already picked up a few steaks (theoretically speaking, of course) form LG haters when I said that he’d kill the primary on night one and they guffawed. A month or two later I am enjoying some NY Prime on 28th North. Yummy, that was. Strangely, only two of that gang returned for the second bet, but I’m game if you are…
the only 3 way you’ll get will be with Shep and Kathryn.
OK. This is starting to be fun.
Ya know Buz………when is the first episode of season 2 supposed to air.? How many episodes are to be shown before the November poll..?
Every episode should begin with Thomas at a gas station filling up his tank and asking the camera how many gallons of American Blood this gas price is costing…!
Every episode should also end with him on the back porch reading the Post and Courier before tossing it all in the can…!
…and your right……the next few months are going to be a LOT of fun….!!
“There’s no such thing as too much fun.”
-Bill Murray
BUT…
“There is such a thing as too much coke.”
-Ghost of Len Bias
if you have a bad ticker… too much is almost everything.
*** NEWS ALERT *** …. Lindsey Graham is well known for being pro illegal & pro amnesty — he is in lock step with Obama on the said. He condones what is currently going on down at the border (catch and release) … LQQK at this >>>
LUBBOCK, Texas—An illegal immigrant who was released by U.S. authorities with a Notice to Appear has been arrested for the alleged murder of a woman and kidnapping of children on U.S. soil. The alleged crimes occurred after the man was released.
The man, Pedro Alberto Monterroso-Navas, entered the U.S. illegally with children and turned himself in to U.S. Border Patrol agents. He was processed and released, as are all illegal immigrants who come as unaccompanied minors or incomplete family units from Central America. The alien is from Honduras. —– http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-Texas/2014/07/16/Exclusive-Released-Alien-from-Border-Crisis-Arrested-For-Alleged-Murder-Kidnapping-in-Texas
“Clearly that’s got somebody scared.”
Please. Stop.
Miss Lindsay must be getting nervous.
So the wire report was a hoax. I thought the T-Rav campaign was a hoax. It must be getting difficult for T-Rav to distinguish the real from the fake.
AP wire : Fake
The Senate run: Real
Southern Charm: Fake
Felony conviction: Real
Leaving Southern Charm: Fake
DUI: Real
Relationship with Dennis: Fake
Baby girl: Real
Renunciation of US citizenship: Real, but just for a bit.
oh wow, best comment of the day.
“Reality TV show star Thomas Ravenel…”
Reality, the only thing real about Tom, Tom is, he’s a convicted felon.
Tommy is getting some serious cred when the GOP Establishment pulls stunts like this. Ravanel has my vote. Like the General Assembly, I am tired of D.C. passing laws that protect them from us. Use to be citizens needed protection from them. With the “us first” mentality from D.C. and our GA, citizens need more unconventional candidates. Who does the GA think they are restricting who can run for office.
bullshit – this is a stunt pulled by Tommy and his campaign to make dumb people think he as “some serious cred” –
Ravenel entering this race was a dream come true for Graham. Tommy only made this junk up to stifle news about his long record of BS.
Your brain has shrunk from watching too much Maddow and Schultz. Maybe you should go back to watching Big Bang Theory on TBS.
As opposed to, um, Southern Charm. I will take Big Bang. I never feel sorry for them.
can you refute with anything but juvenile gibberish?
You can’t vote for yourself Tommy. There is that small issue with the convicted felon drug sharing program that you are forever tied to. Glad to remind you bud. Oh, is that a trigger word like, Hey, Tommy, let’s go downtown and play a game of ,,,,, eight-ball. Oh, sorry cuz, those damn trigger words.
I have access to both AP wires and to its website. Last thing on TRav was the story that he was sticking with his TV show. They could pull from the website, but if this was released to the actual wire, I’d see it.
Also, not to get insanely technical, but if it was an actual AP story, it would have a long dash and not a single hyphen between the dateline and the start of the story.
hyphen –
pseudo dash —
dash –
long dash —
They didn’t even try to go with a –. It’s just -.
Here’s the last story header and first graf.
BC-US–US Senate-Ravenel,2nd Ld-Writethru/255
Eds: Corrects from ‘revered’ to ‘reversed’ in first paragraph.
Senate hopeful says he’ll return to reality show
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A day after presenting signatures to run for U.S. Senate,
former state treasurer and convicted felon Thomas Ravenel reversed
course Tuesday and said he will return for the second season of a
reality TV show based in Charleston.
Close, but no cigar.
Needs to be an –
I would reach out to the TV reporter and see if they got that on their wire, or through an email. Which would be bad on them if they took a “wire” story sent by email seriously.
As little respect as I have for Graham, I sure as hell would never claim he did this. The guy ain’t that stupid. Hell, he debated the libertarian-posing-as-a-Democrat in 2008, didn’t he? This is Rovian prank pulled by Ravenel (apparently with Heekin’s aid). Real media ain’t gonna fall for this junk.
There are three certainties in D.C. you must be made aware of: Barack is a homosexual, Michelle is a Tranny, and Graham will do anything to tap their asses for the rest of his term..
And they all wear pink shirts just like cokey boy.
“I’m in,” he told us. “Clearly that’s got somebody scared.”
The boy is delusional or high as a kite.
Meanwhile, Brad Hutto will sit back and watch the GOP internecine war take both Lightfoot and T-Rav out.
Ravenation!!!!!!!!!
This is TRav people trying to generate interest. Nobody else cares. He is a non-factor.
Excuse me – TRav person.