National Politics - 2016

“Quinndom” Blasted For Neo-Confederate Roots

“THE SCANDAL WILL RISE AGAIN …” BUT DOES THIS HIT PIECE MISS THE MARK? || By FITSNEWS || There’s a sprawling piece in Buzzfeed this week (from reporters Andrew Kaczynski and Ilan Ben-Meir) on the tormented racial history of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham‘s top political advisor. “Republican Senator’s Adviser Formerly Served…

“THE SCANDAL WILL RISE AGAIN …” BUT DOES THIS HIT PIECE MISS THE MARK?

|| By FITSNEWS || There’s a sprawling piece in Buzzfeed this week (from reporters Andrew Kaczynski and Ilan Ben-Meir) on the tormented racial history of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham‘s top political advisor.

“Republican Senator’s Adviser Formerly Served As Editor Of Neo-Confederate Magazine,” the headline blares, and from there Kaczynski and Ben-Meir launch into an exhaustive review of the many off-color opinions offered years ago by Graham advisor Richard Quinn, Sr. during his lengthy association with a publication known as Southern Partisan.

Quinn, of course, is the leader of early-voting South Carolina’s largest “Republican” consulting empire – the “Quinndom.”

The gist of Buzzfeed‘s story?  That Quinn wrote extensively for (and Graham appeared in) a publication which assailed iconic black leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela – while at the same time praising white supremacists like David Duke.

The Buzzfeed story is juicy.  And in-depth.  And national.  And has the potential to be very damaging – to both Graham and the “Quinndom” (to say nothing of South Carolina’s already battered national image).

“The Quinns are a national liability now,” one Democratic source told FITS.

But let’s be honest: The story is also old news … by nearly a decade and a half.  Seriously, with all due respect to Kaczynski and Ben-Meir, “2000 called – and wants its headline back.”  And more importantly, in our estimation, their expose missed a much larger point about the truly damaging impact of neo-Confederatism in the Palmetto State.  As well as some swipes that could have made it an even more compelling feature.

Quinn’s prior affiliation with Southern Partisan is no secret.  In fact it has already been a national scandal once before … back when advisors to then-Texas governor George W. Bush were throwing everything (including some overtly racist material of their own) at U.S. Senator John McCain in a desperate bid to win the 2000 “First in the South” presidential primary.

LINDSEY GRAHAM
LINDSEY GRAHAM

So why is this news now?  Is Lindsey Graham’s 2016 presidential campaign so legitimate as to warrant the rehashing of a 15-year-old story about his consultant?

We don’t think so … in fact the more Graham speaks on the national stage, the clearer his unfitness for higher office becomes.

It’s curious, though … Buzzfeed devoted thousands of words to a political advisor who used to be a racist, yet published nary a word about Graham’s threat to use troops against the U.S. Congress if it failed to “restore funding” to the military-industrial complex and the U.S. spy state.

WTF?

Also, Kacynski and Ben-Meir clearly need some lessons from us when it comes to sharpening the blade … and thrusting it in the heart.

For starters, what story linking Graham to a racist (sorry, formerly racist) political consultant would ignore the Senator’s bizarre remarks at an elitist, whites only club in Charleston, S.C. last fall?

Graham may have been joking, but his comment that “white men who are in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency” should have received a prominent placement in Buzzfeed‘s hit piece.

Buzzfeed‘s reporters also neglected to mention the membership of “Quinndom” stalwart lieutenant governor Henry McMaster (and former S.C. Senate president John Courson) in a whites-only Columbia, S.C. country club.

More to the point, what story about the neo-Confederate roots of Quinn’s consulting empire would ignore the tens of millions of tax dollars squandered on the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley?  Tax money was funneled for years to this project (and other neo-Confederate line items) at the behest of former Senate leader and lieutenant governor Glenn McConnell, a longtime member of the “Quinndom.”

And funneled duplicitously …

Including McConnell in the narrative would have not only given the Buzzfeed piece a critical fiscal angle (i.e. government subsidizing neo-Confederate spending), it would have enabled them to reference this story … 

And of course this visual of McConnell …

(Click to enlarge)

mcconnell slaves

(Pic: Via FB)

“Swing and a miss,” boys.

Again … we don’t think Richard Quinn’s disavowed musings from decades ago constitute a fresh round of national attention (certainly not in the context of a presidential campaign that has one foot in the Pentagon and the other foot in the nut house).

But come on Buzzfeed … if you’re gonna throw a punch, throw the punch.

***

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34 comments

OldFogey March 12, 2015 at 9:24 am

After all, the Quinndom doesn’t represent the Democratic Party within SC, and I am unaware that he represents any candidates of any party in other states, nor am I aware that he represents any Polish interests (sour grapes on the part of Andrew Kaczynski and Ilan Ben-Meir?????). The Quinndom is very, very good at what it does. Particularly when dealing with SC elections.

I remember The Partisan from many years ago – it was a pretty good magazine, and, after all, was a publication of (or closely allied with) the Sons of the Confederacy organization. Last time I paid any attention, there is still a state-issued “vanity tag” license plate for the SCV.

Reply
gq March 12, 2015 at 10:35 am

Steve Benjamin is a client.

Reply
OldFogey March 12, 2015 at 12:32 pm

Smart man.

But while he’s a Democrat, he’s not the “Democratic Party”.

There may be a few others…

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TK March 12, 2015 at 9:26 am

Ahhh, the Hunley. Or as I like to refer to it, “Glenn McConnell’s wet dream.”

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TroubleBaby March 12, 2015 at 9:36 am

“nary a word about Graham’s threat to use troops against the U.S. Congress if it failed to “restore funding” to the military-industrial complex”

That’s because the “anti-war” Left disappeared shortly after Obama was elected.

Now that their boy is in office, “war is ok”…or in most cases, they just remain silent. Remember how anti-war they used to be?

Also, “Neo Confederate” is a literal dog whistle for the Left as well. The SPLC is constantly warning Liberals about “neo confederates” and host of other “hate” groups like they are taking over the country..lol

They are the Left’s version of Rush Limbaugh or Mark Levin with all the associated hyperbole and hypocrisy.

Reply
shifty henry March 12, 2015 at 9:43 am

“clearly need some lessons from us when it comes to sharpening the blade … and thrusting it in the heart”

The manager at Books-a-Million just notified me that they have no information on the publication of the “Haley-Folks” expose. He did put my name on the waiting list. He was curious, though, because I was the eighth person to ask about it.

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mamatiger92 March 12, 2015 at 9:46 am

ouch

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CNSYD March 12, 2015 at 10:29 am

What?? I thought it had been out for years along with the book covering other topics like who took Wingo’s SAT, Spiller’s lake house, Watkins’ family’s resort vacation, etc.

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Not Me March 12, 2015 at 10:33 am

Will Folks is a joke and if anonymous commenting was disabled, this sites hits would dry up FAST. As it is, this blog gets a majority of hits and rehits from the handful of people who come here to troll each other anonymously.

Reply
Really? March 12, 2015 at 10:39 am

You are probably underestimating the # of people that simply come here & read the articles(and comments) and never post.

300,000 unique visitors a month is nothing to sneeze at…(assuming Will is not exaggerating, I know some here might think he is)

Reply
Anonymous Troll March 12, 2015 at 10:50 am

No, they really just come here to read the witty banter in the comments.

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shifty henry March 12, 2015 at 12:52 pm

Thank you! — from me. and those others who provide (in addition to intelligent, knowledgeable, and/or instructive comments) . Tu Yung Tu, my young Asian housekeeper and cook, enjoys reading them to me – she says it improves both her spelling, pronounciation and reading comprehension. She’s a “hoot” – I just may keep her!

The Colonel March 12, 2015 at 1:15 pm

That’s why I come here…

jimlewisowb March 12, 2015 at 2:22 pm

an anonymous poster bitching about anonymous posters – oh gee how cute

however, am amused by your handle, Not Me

apparently your mother named you after the fella she accused of being your father

Reply
shifty henry March 12, 2015 at 8:12 pm

Many of us are grateful to Sic Willie for providing this forum, and it is unlikely that you would be banned — so post away! Your comment did bring to mind the incident in 1988 of the BLOOM PICAYUNE (All the tales too ticklish to tell) when this announcement was published —

“We no longer feature a “Letters to the Editor” section. We felt it
was high time to drop the pretense of looking as though we respect the thoughts of the grunting gaggle of inarticulate orangutans which call themselves “the public”. It’s also high time other newspaper editors came clean too.

If you feel you simply have to express yourselves, spray-paint
it on the side of a boxcar Just remember, “i” comes before “e” except after “c” and “Casablanca” isn’t a country.”

Reply
Waiting List March 12, 2015 at 10:40 am

You will be waiting for a long time. Unless Haley runs for a higher office I think the ship has sailed on a publisher putting his book out. Publishers want money and that kind of book would have sold best around 2010. She will have to run for something much bigger for that chance to come around again.

Reply
southmauldin March 12, 2015 at 9:50 am

This “Quinndom” thing needs to stop. If you keep telling someone over and over again how great they are, they may begin to believe the hype.

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jimlewisowb March 12, 2015 at 9:58 am

…“The Quinns are a national liability now,” one Democratic source told FITS.”..

Hey asshole, when you have a few minutes why don’t you review the “national liability” of some of your Democratic buddies —- here are a few starters:

Buck Farack
I Never Saw a Titty I Didn’t Want to Squeeze Biden
Hen Cackle Clinton
Turkey Neck Pelosi
Asswipe Reid

Reply
The Colonel March 12, 2015 at 1:18 pm

Gee, Jim, don’t hold back, tell us how you really feel about Democrats…

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The Gray Ghost March 12, 2015 at 1:57 pm

Typical response from a Neo Confederate,”Oh yeah well what about…”

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jimlewisowb March 12, 2015 at 2:25 pm

Oh yeah well what about the War of Northern Aggression

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well-i-am into it March 12, 2015 at 10:03 am

Lindsey has no chance at presidency, and he knows it…most likely he is aiming for the vice-presidency, given all the chest beating with the other pro-war minds. James Buchanan was the only president who was never married and that will not change because people expect their president to be married these days and the first-lady’s office is a big business with all the initiatives, lobbyists, fund risings and programs and there is no way the presidency will ever be in an eternal bachelor’s hands. Presidency, as an institution, has come too far for this to happen. IMO.

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Bible Thumper March 12, 2015 at 10:08 am

Secretary of Defense is his goal.

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well-i-am into it March 12, 2015 at 10:10 am

He can be SoD now! Heck, no one wants that job in this administration and Obama will be too happy to sacrifice Lindsey’s political career by making him the SoD, he only will have to make that wish and Barack will make that happen for sure!

Reply
Godslayer March 12, 2015 at 10:34 am

But Lindsey will be able to get married after the Supreme Court decision expected this summer.

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Karma Karma Karma March 12, 2015 at 10:11 am

Karma is a bitch….

Reply
True Colors... March 12, 2015 at 10:17 am

Make sense… Remember he orchestrated that “illegitimate bi-racial daughter” push poll against McCain in 2000 for his adopted daughter…

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Centrist View March 12, 2015 at 10:42 am

“But let’s be honest: The story is also old news … by nearly a decade and a half. Seriously, with all due respect to Kaczynski and Ben-Meir, “2000 called – and wants its headline back.”

But that was before:
HANDS UP! DON’T SHOOT!
I CAN’T BREATHE.
Clemson Cripmas
Ferguson, MO
U of OK SAE fraternity bus ride
… and several other racial stories of recent history.

Race is in the news. And with the 2016 election cycle starting its full swing, the Southern view or Richard Quinn might factor in.

Reply
shifty henry March 12, 2015 at 1:40 pm

The flag should be flapping towards the right ….

Reply
The Gray Ghost March 12, 2015 at 1:59 pm

What these writers don’t get is that Neo Confederatism is a well thought of movement among most SC Republicans.

Reply
nitrat March 13, 2015 at 1:38 pm

Yeah, but it may be good for finally doing in the MSM’s affection for the ‘bipartisan’, work across the aisle Lindsey Graham once and for all. (If you pay attention long enough you know the MSM elevates that type above all others even when it’s almost always a false narrative.)
He’s been getting passes from them since he ran the Clinton impeachment in the House. They may find him just a little too low down dirty now.
He deserves it. They may even stop inviting him on all the Sunday talk shows. That would be a blessing for the nation.

Reply
Ben derrr March 14, 2015 at 7:49 am

You left out Curtis Loftis. He also has Quinn on the payroll. Richard was even in his government office right before the primary in 2014.

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Lunelle Siegel July 4, 2015 at 11:23 am

Why does the NAACP & Co. GET TO DEFINE A HISTORICAL AMERICAN FLAG?

TELL THE SC LEGISLATURE NOT TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CERTAIN PEOPLE.

TAKE BACK OUR FLAG. PLEASE SIGN THIS PEITITION:
https://www.change.org/p/south-carolina-state-house-south-carolina-state-senate-south-carolina-governor-demand-the-naacp-rescind-their-odious-blight-on-the-universe-resolution-before-any-debate-on-removing-the-sc-confederate-veterans-memorial-flag

Reply
Dan August 5, 2015 at 4:06 am

Note: the Hunley group also has Richard Quinn’s daughter on the payroll, in
case no one noticed.
http://hunley.org/main_index.asp?CONTENT=CONTACTUS

Reply

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