SOURCES: POWERFUL PALMETTO POLITICO ON HIS DEATHBED
|| By FITSNEWS || South Carolina “Republican” kingmaker John Rainey has never much cared for this website or its founding editor Will Folks … and we’ve never much cared for him.
Back in 2003, Rainey would roll through former S.C. governor Mark Sanford‘s office like royalty … full of self-importance and recrimination for those who did not measure up to his high standard. On his visits he specifically singled out Folks – then a brash, twenty-something press secretary – for failing to wear a coat and tie to the governor’s office.
“You need to show respect for this office – and yourself,” Rainey would say.
“Whatever,” Folks would respond.
Respect … Rainey has always been big on that. Which is why years later, when summoned to a meeting with the wealthy attorney/ investor/ fundraiser, Folks donned his sharpest suit and best manners.
“You wore a tie,” Rainey remarked.
“I remembered,” Folks responded.
Rainey has always been a pit bull in defense of his beliefs … which we’re going to go ahead and say haven’t ever really been in alignment with ours. He’s been a liberal “Republican” who consistently favored more government – which he was in a position to enable as Sanford’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) chairman.
But over the years we have developed a (very) grudging respect for the man we mercilessly criticized over the years.
Why do we bring this up now? Sources tell FITS Rainey is on his deathbed at Columbia, S.C.’s Baptist Hospital.
“He’s unresponsive,” one source told us. “On heart and lung machine, dialysis. Prognosis is grim.”
What happened?
Apparently a recent surgical procedure resulted in Rainey contracting sepsis, a whole body inflammation triggered by an infection. Things have gone steadily downhill from there, we’re told.
Rainey made statewide news in 2012 when he relentlessly pursued ethics charges against S.C. governor Nikki Haley. He got her, too – nailing her dead to rights on a host of abuses.
Unfortunately, Haley’s flagrant violations were shamelessly whitewashed by her former colleagues in the S.C. House of Representatives. In fact, not only did these “Republicans” refuse to investigate clear and compelling evidence of corruption committed by Haley, they allowed her to spew unsubstantiated hate against Rainey.
“Mr. Rainey is a racist, sexist bigot who has tried everything in his power to hurt me and my family,” Haley said during her show trial.
The governor was flat out lying … as Rainey later documented. But Haley’s demonstrably false claim … like similar attacks on S.C. Senator Katrina Shealy (who also dared to criticize her) went unchallenged by the media.
Sad …
This website makes it a point not to heap praise upon dead (or dying) public officials whose policies failed those they were charged with protecting. In fact we are repeatedly bashed for “speaking ill of the dead” on such occasions.
But in Rainey’s case, we believe he made up for a lifetime of misguided (albeit well-intentioned) ideology with his tenacious pursuit of the truth about Haley, whom he rightfully regarded as “corrupt to her core.”
So while we didn’t agree with him on policy (or care for him personally) … we cannot help but admire him.
“A very difficult man, but I have a feeling there will be many tears,” our source said of Rainey’s imminent passing.
We agree.
It has been written that silence in the face of corruption is cowardice … and a sin.
Well, whatever one thinks of Rainey he sure as hell was never silent …
Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.
20 comments
A great man, a great citizen of South Carolina, and an outstanding American. God bless him and his family.
Pray all you want, there’s nobody listening.
Yes I am.
liar, god would never bring himself to comment here
I dunno…JC hung out with the salt of the Earth…and prostitutes. FITS qualifies…
Hey, NOGOD, you need to go back to the Gurudwara from which you came.
A true patriot and a true rock star. Haley could have learned a lot from this fine man.
Statesmen are rare. Sorry to hear we’ll have on less.
When his pimps say ‘jump’….FITS bends at the waist…
When the media is for sale – like FITS just admitted – no wonder corruption never leaves..
Had a hooker climb out the bathroom window on ya, you say?
Desperately STUPID Much…LMAO…
If you ain’t got it (and you DON’T) why do you try so hard? It just makes you look bad….
And the award for the “Weakest Evidence Of Flat Out Lying” is presented to Will Folks for his “Rainey-note.png” file attached to his recent article entitled – “
PRAYERS FOR JOHN RAINEY
“…The governor was flat out lying … as Rainey later documented. But Haley’s demonstrably false claim …”
Come on will, an undated, random “thank you” note from Haley, most likely dated to when she was still a Sate House Rep as evidence that Rainey isn’t the
mean spirited bastard“difficult man” his reputation says he is?Don’t get me wrong here, I admire the
mean spirited bastard“difficult man”, just pointing out the weakness of your attack on Haley in an article whose purported purpose is to offer a prayer/thoughtful word for “a difficult man”…He cain’t hep it.
Bet Naughty Nikki will be offering a silent prayer…of thanks.
Is this the same John Rainey who gave us Mark Sanford as Guv?
He is a true gentleman, perfect manners, very brave, fearless, thoughful, with tremendous class, inteligent, wonderful way of expresing himself, funny, they dont make men like him anymore, a very special, special person.
John Rainey has the courage of his convictions and will not back down, few people are left like him, He absolutly loves, adores So Carolina with a pasion I have never seen in others. A remarcable man of great generosity, thoughtfulness and loyalty. His family can be very proud of who he is. A man of integrity, strengh and honor. Yes, i agree there will many tears. This is a big man, in a world where men are no longer big. God can do anything, maybe He will pull this excepcional man throught.
“…they dont make men like him anymore…”
They, the voters in particular, don’t WANT or respect men like that anymore either.
They want screaming, spitting, talking point spouting idiots rather than honorable men and women in politics.
It’s the voters who have declined so drastically in caliber that puts the scum we have in public office.
FITS you shit wagon! A man is on his deathbed and you use it to earn your filthy money to take a swipe at Haley. Folks is a joke for using every chance to take shots at Haley and being paid to do it, but this is low even for the whore he is.
I dare say your resume will never come close to even comparing to this mans accomplishments or contributions made during his lifetime, all of which weren’t even mentioned in his obituary! Jealous much? You should be. You should also be ashamed, but doubt you even have the capacity. John Rainey and the entire Rainey family have always been true conservators of this state and have always been faithful stewards, when people of their means could have simply kept their fortunes in their families, they have always chosen to give back, and promote this state and her people in a positive and forward light. So while you continue to spew hate against the living and now, the dead as well, I will always remember my boss, my friend and his family, and be thankful for the people they are, and pray daily for more like them, and less like you, to live here and promote our state. It’s amazing at the trash that’s left behind on the street after the parade passes by.