SC

Why Lee Bright Didn’t Filibuster The Confederate Flag’s Removal

THREE WORDS: PRO. LIFE. CASH. || By FITSNEWS || In his song “The Big Muddy,” Bruce Springsteen observed that “sooner or later, it all comes down to money.” Damn straight … Take the ongoing debate over the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the S.C. State House….

THREE WORDS: PRO. LIFE. CASH.

|| By FITSNEWS || In his song “The Big Muddy,” Bruce Springsteen observed that “sooner or later, it all comes down to money.”

Damn straight …

Take the ongoing debate over the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the S.C. State House.  What’s being billed as a landmark moment for racial harmony (assuming the flag actually comes down) is really nothing more than transactional politics.

As we reported exclusively two weeks ago, the flag isn’t on the verge of coming down because a 21-year-old white supremacist slaughtered nine black people inside their house of worship.  True, the horrificracially motivated “Holy City Massacre” – which was perpetrated by a flag-waving neo-Confederate – is the root cause of the current discourse, but don’t forget that state lawmakers and S.C. governor Nikki Haley spent the first few days after the shooting with their fingers in the air.

And their ears on the phone …

And it wasn’t “racial reconciliation” that ultimately turned around their indifference and initial reluctance toward removing the flag … it was money.

Big money.

(And a big political threat we’re working hard to verify).

Such transactional politics – spearheaded by corporate behemoths BMW, Boeing, Michelin and Volvo – wasn’t confined to the “take it down” side, either.

We’re also told S.C. Senator Lee Bright – an ardent flag supporter – made his surprising decision not to filibuster the flag’s removal due to similar pressures.

Specifically, several major donors in the pro-life community told us Bright was given an ultimatum: Call off his planned filibuster of the flag or risk losing access to a steady stream of pro-life cash.  And Bright – who is likely to face multiple credible challengers in 2016 – simply couldn’t afford to do that.

Don’t get us wrong: It’s unlikely Bright’s filibuster would have kept the flag removal bill from clearing the State Senate.  As the chamber demonstrated not once but twice, there was overwhelming support for a clean bill to take the controversial banner down and move it to a government-run museum.

But lawmakers were leery of Bright’s possible filibuster … because voting to “sit him down” meant they would lose their ability in the future to employ the same tactic in pursuit of blocking bills they found objectionable.

Flag opponents and supporters are sharply divided in South Carolina … and extremely vocal.  But leaders on both sides of the debate aren’t following the voices of their constituents when it comes to their decisions, they’re following the money.

The debates may change, but the decision-making process doesn’t.

Sooner or later, it really does “all come down to money.”

***

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34 comments

Krazy Kat July 8, 2015 at 9:43 am

And I thought it was because he only had a vocabulary of about 400 words.

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Soft Sigh from Hell July 8, 2015 at 10:19 am

Having more than your base may be pointless.

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Soft Sigh from Hell July 8, 2015 at 9:48 am

No strong principles, no strong backbone, just a pandering conservative. Big surprise.

With such as their frontline troops it’s no wonder the flag-worshipers are failing.

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Fealty to Corporate Interests July 8, 2015 at 9:56 am

He only got his seat because he learned quickly to bend the knee to the people who can bankroll a successful campaign. Just as well though, I’d rather Bright take orders from people running successful businesses than a failure of a businessman like himself making his own decisions.

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shifty henry July 8, 2015 at 9:51 am

And all of this is going to cause major changes in my life —– how?

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Nothing July 8, 2015 at 10:02 am

Angles will descend from heaven and South Carolina will become the Garden of Eden. There will be no more flags murdering people, hate will disappear, and we’ll all get together every Saturday on the banks of the Congaree and sing “We Shall Gather at the River”

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Soft Sigh from Hell July 8, 2015 at 10:07 am

Well maybe . . . after we dispose of Tillman and all the other monuments and names. Surely you’ve heard the plans.

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shifty henry July 8, 2015 at 11:07 am

‘Angles’ —- I understand that to mean angleworms for the fishing on the Congaree?

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Quietus July 8, 2015 at 9:58 am

Everyone…hic…up…hic…Drink…hic…up…we have another “horrific, racially motivated”

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CNSYD July 8, 2015 at 10:05 am

Its only 10 AM. Just think how many more Folks will hoist today.

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Tazmaniac July 8, 2015 at 10:11 am

I’m pretty sure my family is planning an intervention, I’ll confirm it after I get checked into the rehab.

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Bible Thumper July 8, 2015 at 10:01 am

Fitsnews July 8 – Nikki Haley spent the first few days after the shooting with their fingers in the air.

(The Hill, June 24) “I think she (Haley) has handled it about as well as could be imagined,” said Will Folks

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Lynn July 8, 2015 at 11:35 am

Haley for President is our best hope. Of all the GOP candidates, I would prefer her.

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Fuck Fits July 8, 2015 at 11:36 am

LMAO. you are one stupid cookie

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Lynn July 8, 2015 at 11:38 am

Name one better.

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Lynn July 8, 2015 at 2:16 pm

I wonder what would happen, and if this is even possible, but assuming it is. What would happen if after the primaries and candidates are chosen for both parties. What if, a third Independent party surfaced. One that had Mitt Romney and Gov. Haley. Is that possible?

I know they can change parties after the primaries, but not sure if they can announce candidacy. I am sure I could look it up, but you likely know?

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Bible Thumper July 8, 2015 at 4:04 pm

Haley has been in office 4 1/2 years and is still the youngest governor at 43. I think she’ll be President one day, but there is no need to rush.

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Sikh Willie July 8, 2015 at 4:32 pm

God help us all if that day ever comes

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Bible Thumper July 8, 2015 at 4:36 pm

But, you don’t doubt it could happen.

Lynn July 8, 2015 at 5:03 pm

It will happen. That is my opinion. I don’t always agree with her, but prefer it sooner than later. Last comment on THIS topic.

Lynn July 8, 2015 at 4:48 pm

She is a young governor – but Obama wasn’t even a Governor. She is the best GOP has. Many are going to turn. There is a need to rush, but that is my opinion.

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Lynn July 8, 2015 at 5:01 pm

I am not going to harp on this any longer today.

But… while she is young, she will appeal to young voters. While she is a minority, she will appeal to minority voters. She has the ability to turn minority vote. Some might call her a sell out, others will call her a hero. The latter is very easily combatted.

She also had two terms as Governor of a state that is not easy to manage and a good track record. She has a lot of experience. I am sure she has other plans, but hopefully that includes VP plans or POTUS plans.

If ever we needed Independent thinkers – now is the time. Not to apply any pressure.

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Lynn July 8, 2015 at 5:02 pm

*latter = former.

Lynn July 8, 2015 at 11:33 am

No surprise there. When Sen. Bright blamed the government for his failed business in an attempt to seek a US Senate seat, more than a million dollars in the red, it was then I formed the opinion he is self serving.

I was shocked by those who supported him during his US Senate run, in the name of fiscal conservatism.

I hope they vote him out next election.

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SCBlueWoman July 8, 2015 at 11:57 am

Someone should ask him about the federal funds he got paid while running that business. He is a weasel…. and… one that can’t handle his own finances, much less the state’s.

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Lynn July 8, 2015 at 12:04 pm

Exactly. Why people would support him in the name of fiscal conservatism was astounding. Some of those were atheist, so it was not social conservatism. How he convinced them he was a fiscal conservative is beyond me. Even when he did vote that way, his personal finances told a different and very telling story.

Given the amount of debt and need, he is a weak Senator. Ripe for corruption.

On another note, looks like Mike Pitts of taking up the Bright spot in the House debate.

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sparklecity July 8, 2015 at 2:24 pm

You can thank Karen Martin and her worker bees at the Spartanburg Tea Party for getting Bright elected and so far no indications of them throwing him under the bus and will continue to support him. To date, Ms. Martin continues to heap praise on him for his “fiscally conservative” stance (as did FITS untill “enough was enough”).
Distinct possibility that they will get him reelected (but that is some years away)

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Lynn July 8, 2015 at 2:36 pm

Hey my WV friend. I’m using a real name this time, no games. I agree with what you have said. FITS and many others bought into his fiscal conservatism until he proved them wrong. For me, it was a matter of looking at his financial records. Maybe FITS too? I don’t know when they fell out. I know when I started to view him differently.

Fuck Fits July 8, 2015 at 11:34 am

BULL FUCKING SHIT. Damn you’re one stupid motherfucker.

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Southern Patriot July 8, 2015 at 11:51 am

Haley was all for the flag before she was against it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ACfjjsgDBk

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Lynn July 8, 2015 at 12:42 pm

We all change our mind. To stick with stubborn beliefs when new evidence surfaces is nothing shy of stupidity. SC wanted the flag, she supported it. Majority doesn’t want it now.

I applaud Gov. Haley for changing her position. You try something, if it doesn’t work, you try something else. Times change, they never stay the same. She is moving with the time and the will of the people.

Rep. Henderson has some of the most rigid conservatives, yet her survey overwhelming shows support to remove the flag. Results posted below. There is some overlap between her constituents and those of Sen. Bright, if I recall correctly.

53.5% Strongly feel it should NOT continue to fly (226)

13.7% Somewhat feel it should NOT continue to fly (58)

22.6% Strongly feel it SHOULD continue to fly (96)

5.9% Somewhat feel is SHOULD continue

4.1% Have no feelings or don’t know/not sure (18)

Total responses: 425

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Southern Patriot July 8, 2015 at 1:58 pm

So by your rationale, if more than half the people want to kill all jews, haley should support killing all jews? After all, she’d just be moving with the time and with the will of the people

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Lynn July 8, 2015 at 2:02 pm

On the contrary I supported Legislators making this decision, however, many wanted a popular vote. Rep. Henderson gave that to those who wish to vote and even the ability to forward to a friend. As you can see only 425 responses.

As a ballot measure, it is convoluted people don’t even know what they are voting for unless well informed.

We elect representatives to represent us. They are. Like it or not. They are.

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Lone Ranger July 8, 2015 at 6:42 pm

Yo…Will Folks—that’s right—you who know the price of
everything and the value of nothing…think it all comes down to money?

When your ingrate soul has no control as God’s truth is told…your
“reward” will be 5,000 degrees—trashing patriots will…NOT be funny !!!

Reply

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