#ProbeGate: Nikki Haley’s Problem, Too?

NO … AND YES …

This website doesn’t have a lot of nice things to say about S.C. governor Nikki Haley.  The one-time Tea Party heroine has become just another tool of the “Republican” establishment (and its corporate cronies).  As a result, she’s been a huge disappointment on the bread-and-butter issues of taxes and spending.

The result of Haley’s status quo shift?  A dismal economic record … and more of the same dysfunctional, ineffective government.

Making matters worse, Haley has also seen her voluminous (and quite serious) ethical transgressions completely whitewashed – leaving her little room to talk when it comes to the integrity of others.

Having said all of that, this week we have to give Haley her due …

In the mushrooming “Probe-gate” scandal involving S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson and his political neo-Confederates, Haley has stayed above the fray.

Her only play?  Backing the decision by her “top cop” – S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) chief Mark Keel – to proceed with the empaneling of a grand jury to issue indictments in an ongoing investigation of legislative corruption.

Keel, based on the evidence in the case, agreed with S.C. first circuit solicitor David Pascoe and circuit court judge Clifton Newman to move forward with the grand jury.

Wilson is blocking them … albeit clumsily.  And fighting to politicize the process … again, albeit clumsily.

Anyway, Haley’s decision to support her SLED chief puts her on the right side of this issue – and pits her against Wilson and the political empire of Richard Quinn and Associates, who appear to be scrambling for their political survival.

But is Haley still going to suffer as a result of this scandal?  Even though she’s not connected to it?  And even though she’s taken the correct position as to how it should be resolved?

It’s possible …

Here’s the problem: “Probe-gate” – or #ProbeGate as it’s referred to on Twitter – is one of those rare political scandals that has escaped the political “bubble.”  In other words people who don’t follow politics are aware of what’s happening – and they’re not happy about it.

They’re especially upset with Wilson’s handling of the matter.

And because the popular perception is that governors are in control of state government, they are wondering openly what Haley intends to do with the attorney general.

Obviously those of us who do follow politics know the reality: Haley can’t do anything about Wilson.

Unless he’s indicted himself, her hands are tied.  He’s an independently-elected constitutional officer – meaning Haley has absolutely no power over his office.

Of course most people don’t know that … 

Many assume Wilson works for Haley.  And because Haley and Wilson are both “Republicans” – and have been allied in the past on ethics issues – it’s easy to see how people who don’t live and breathe this stuff could confuse that for some sort of an alliance.  Or worse, it’s easy to see how they could draw the conclusion that Haley is somehow protecting Wilson (even though she isn’t).

Anyway … keep an eye on this public perception angle as #ProbeGate moves forward.

If Wilson’s status as “damaged goods” begins to adversely impact other GOP officeholders, we suspect to see them start joining our call for his resignation.

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