updates
basic updates section. if no cat is checked when creating a post. then this will be the default one.
Greetings!
Thank you for your tremendous support throughout our campaign journey. I am proud of the professional campaign we ran and of our message of restoring our public infrastructure, prioritizing quality public schools and promoting economic engines that provide high-paying jobs to grow our middle class and lift families out of poverty.
While our race for Congress in South Carolina did not produce the desired results, I’m encouraged by the over 120,000 votes I received. In addition, I’m excited about the efforts underway to grow the Democratic Party in my home state of South Carolina.
I am particularly excited about the future of women in our Party. To that end, I will work even harder to encourage more women to run for office at all levels of government. As a National Leader with the Women’s Campaign Fund, I am working through its “She Should Run” initiative.
In order to position myself to run again, I must first retire my campaign debt. My short-term campaign debt amounts to roughly $50,000 and is owed to staff, vendors and consultants. My goal is to retire this debt by January 31, 2013. Our long-term debt, that is, debt owed to myself is roughly $340,000. My goal is to retire that debt by July 1, 2013.
Once again, I turn to you, my friends and loyal supporters, to aid in this endeavor. Your generosity during the campaign was incredible and very heartening.
I am asking that you once again extend your generosity to help in this first phase of debt reduction. No contribution is too small. Online contributions can still be made atwww.gloria4congress.com or sent to Gloria Bromell Tinubu for Congress, P.O. Box 51348, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579.
The dreams we dream for our children and grandchildren become realities. My vision of restoring the American dream to South Carolina’s families and children can become a reality with your help and continued support.
Wishing you blessings and prosperity during this holiday season and the coming year!
Thank you for your support!
We wish to thank everyone for their support. We couldn’t have come this far without you and your help.
Please pick up any Gloria Yard Signs you see and dispose of them.
Thank you again!
Volunteer Opportunities: Help GOTV!
Do you have time on November 6th after you vote?
We need Volunteers in Horry County, Florence County and Darlington County.
Help us encourage your neighbors to vote. We will be making phone calls, going door to door and setting up encouragement teams all day.
Stop by one of our locations and help us Get Out The Vote!
~Headquarters in Conway at 1421 3rd Ave
~Florence office at 420 W. Cheves St.
~Call James Jackson for Darlington address 843-307-0718
We also need help Monday the 5th for phone banking
In Georgetown at 1515 Butts Georgetown, SC
In Darlington please call James Jackson at 843-307-0718 for more information
Please stop by and help!
Oh Snap!
Thursday, Nov. 01, 2012
OH SNAP!
Pop quizzing our congressional candidates – and a trio of famous cereal mascots
If a person gets involved in politics, does that mean they are automatically experts in U.S. history and civics?
Not by a long shot.
Scholars and pundits have been complaining for years about the historical literacy of average U.S. students and voters, but recent history shows that people who lead – and seek to lead – the country often don’t fare much better.
Some examples:
Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin hinted in 2011 that Paul Revere made his midnight ride “to warn the British.”
When asked if she knew who the revered Revere was, she famously gaffed: “He who warned, uh, the British that they weren’t gonna be takin’ away our arms, uh, by ringing those bells, and um, makin’ sure as he’s riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed.” (He actually rode to warn minutemen that the British were coming so they could arm themselves and prepare).
President Obama, while on the stump in 2008, claimed he had visited “57 states.” (There are only 50.)
Vice President Joe Biden claimed that Franklin D. Roosevelt appeared on TV in 1929 to discuss the stock market. (FDR hadn’t been elected yet, and TV was still in the experimental stage).
And in the recent election cycle, former Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, a U.S. House member from Minnesota, said the American Revolution began in Concord, N.H. (it actually started with the battle of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts). Bachmann made several other gaffes, but the Revolutionary flub stood out the most in media reports.
Granted, many politicians at the local, state and national level are forced to answer questions with little or no time to prepare, and it’s normal for people to become tongue-tied and have, well, a brain fart when trying to speak on the fly.
But still, aren’t there some things that ought to be general knowledge not just for us but for the people whose images crowd our mailboxes, TV and computer screens during an election year?
With Tuesday’s election quickly upon us, Surge staff thought it would be fun to see how our two candidates for the new Seventh Congressional District did when asked some basic questions that might be asked of any student in an American history or civics class. How would they fare if confronted, one-on-one, without any prior knowledge of what we were going to ask? Without Googling, with no lifelines, and no cheat sheets.
A political pop quiz, we figured, might be a good, fun way to get to know the two candidates – Republican Tom Rice and Democrat Gloria Bromell Tinubu. Our readers could see if their knowledge matched up with the candidates’, and maybe learn something about their personality and sense of humor along the way.
In the end, we realize this exercise in pop quizzery is un-scientific, and really means nothing in the grand scheme of things, and it also doesn’t prove or disprove either candidate’s ability to govern on the Federal level.
We prepared a 10-question quiz dealing with some basics of South Carolina and U.S. history, politics, government and current events. Some of the questions came directly from sample test questions given to people applying to become a U.S. citizen; others are standard on South Carolina civics and history exams.
The goal was just to see how our candidates for the Seventh District did. The results, as you will see, were interesting.
Gloria’s got game.
Gloria Bromell Tinubu’s staff members were ready and willing to help us with our quirky little idea, even though the candidate was busy traveling from one corner of the new district – which covers all of Horry and Georgetown counties and stretches all the way up to Chesterfield and Marlboro counties – to the other in the last three weeks before the campaign. To her credit, Tinubu’s staff was easy to approach, quick to respond to phone calls and e-mails, and seems to have a sense of humor, as does the candidate.
We caught up with her during one of her down times at her campaign office, and she willingly took the quiz. She was dealing with a hectic schedule, having to prepare for and participate in two debates with her opponent, but Tinubu, a teaching associate in the College of Business Administration at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, was good-natured and approached the quiz with an open mind, even though she originally had been told it would be only about South Carolina and not include U.S. history as well. We also talked about the challenge of answering questions like this off the cuff.
It didn’t matter. It turned out she knew her U.S. history just fine.
Her results? Very good. She only missed two of the 10 questions.
Here are the questions and her answers:
Q. How many Electoral College votes does South Carolina have in the 2012 election?
A. Nine. Correct.
Q. Who becomes President of the United States if both the president and the vice-president should die?
A. Speaker of the House. Correct.
Q. Who said “Give me liberty, or give me death?”
A. Patrick Henry. Correct.
Q. How many Supreme Court justices are there?
A. Nine. Correct.
Q. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
A. House of Representatives and the Senate. Correct.
Q. How many counties are in South Carolina?
A. 46. Correct.
Q. Who is the current lieutenant governor of South Carolina?
A. Ken Ard. Wrong. (The office is held by Glenn McConnell, who took it after Ard stepped down over an ethics breach.)
Q. Which amendment guarantees the right to free speech?
A. First Amendment. Correct.
Q. What are the three branches of the U.S. government?
A. Executive, legislative and judicial. Correct.
Q. How many signers of the Declaration of Independence hailed from the Palmetto State, and who are they? (This was something of a bonus question and easily the toughest of the 10.)
A. Tinubu thought there might have been three, and thought Thomas Calhoun was one of them. Wrong. There were actually four signers: Thomas Heyward, Jr.; Arthur Middleton, Thomas Lynch, Jr.; Edward Rutledge.
Not unusual, because everybody else in the random sampling of Grand Strand residents we administered the quiz to got this answer wrong too.
Tom Rice? No Dice.
Quiz shows, apparently, are not Tom Rice’s cup of tea.
Your Surge correspondent tried repeatedly to set up a time for him to take our little Q&A, but nothing worked.
Repeated calls and e-mails to his campaign manager and headquarters went nowhere. We described the premise in detail, tried to explain why we wanted to do something a little different and how it would appeal to younger readers, an important part of the voting bloc who might not be interested in reading more traditional political fare.
We enlisted one of his grassroots community campaign workers to help and plead our case at a staff meeting, but no go. The response was both that Rice was too busy with less than 20 days left before the campaign (even though we asked for only about 10 minutes of his time) and also, at one point, that consultants from Columbia didn’t think the quiz was that great an idea.
Calls to Rice’s personal cell phone also didn’t work. Finally, there was a last ditch effort to speak to Rice in person after the Oct. 23 debate with Tinubu at CCU. During the very brief “media time” set aside after the debate, Rice laughed and indicated he wouldn’t be interested in taking the quiz, but he did offer a brief opinion about what he considered the most important issue in the campaign: “Jobs.”
Snap, Crackle and Pop! Quiz
With candidate Rice declining to take part in our political pop quiz, we were sort of left in the lurch. We couldn’t have a one-sided quiz. Who to turn to represent the other side? Then we remembered a trio of well-known characters who have come to play an important role in Rice’s campaign. Anybody notice what he’s been handing out at campaign headquarters and some appearances? Rice Krispies Treats. That delicious marshmallow snack made with one of our most iconic cereals. Since they were taking such an important role in the campaign for the Seventh, we called on the three guys who represent all things Rice Krispies: Snap, Crackle and Pop, to take the quiz instead of Rice. It’s not quite the same thing and we would have loved to have the input from Rice himself, but in this election cycle you can’t always get what you want. Clint Eastwood had to rant at an empty chair instead of President Obama at the Republican National Convention, so we called on these three to take the quiz. Despite their youthful appearances, this trio is actually more than 60-years-old. “They’ve had a few makeovers in their time though,” according to their bio posted on Kellogg’s Web site. “Perhaps that’s how they keep their youthful glow.” According to promotional materials, “Snap is the oldest and a problem solver, Crackle is an unsure “middle child” and Pop is a mischievous youngster.”
They took turns taking our 10-question challenge.
Q. How many Electoral College votes does South Carolina have in the 2012 election?
A. Snap: How would I know? I’d never even been here before until Tom started handing our stuff out. Then I had to come into town to monitor how we were being treated. But I really have no idea. Seven? Eight? Wrong. Correct answer: nine.
Q. Who becomes President of the United States if the President and the vice-president show die?
A. Crackle: Speaker of the House. Correct.
Q. Who said “Give me liberty, or give me death?”
A. Crackle: Oh, what’s his name…an attorney…Patrick Henry? Correct.
Q. How many Supreme Court justices are there?
A. Snap: Nine. Correct.
Q. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
A. Pop: Don’t ask me. I don’t care. I didn’t want to be here in the first place. I’m still mad about when Tom Rice and other people tried to shut down the bike rallies in 2008. I know he said at the CCU debate that was old news, but not to me it isn’t. You wouldn’t know it but me and the old lady have a sweet Harley Road King. We used to come down here all the time with Toucan Sam and Dig’Em from Sugar Smacks in the old days, but ever since Rice and his crowd tried to “Take Back May,” I don’t want anything to do with Myrtle Beach. You can actually take the election and this whole quiz and (expletive deleted…)
Q. How many counties are there in South Carolina?
A. Crackle: 40? I don’t know the exact number, but I think (former congressional candidate and former Lt. Governor) Andre Bauer has lived in just about all of them, hasn’t he? Wrong. Correct answer: 46.
Q. Who is the current lieutenant governor of South Carolina?
A. Snap: I thought Andre Bauer was still the lieutenant governor. He’s not? I really have no idea. Who is? Maybe Jadaveon Clowney? I’ve heard that name thrown around a lot. Is it him? Wrong. Jadaveon Clowney is a defensive end for the South Carolina Gamecocks. And while you probably do hear his name much more than you hear the actual lieutenant governor’s, the correct answer is Glenn McConnell.
Q. Which amendment guarantees the right to free speech?
A. Snap: I plead the Fifth. Wrong. Correct answer: It is the First Amendment.
Q. What are the three branches of the U.S. government?
A. Crackle: Judicial, executive and legislative. What can I say? I’m a political buff. I know you wouldn’t think that of us cereal gnomes, but we have some really intellectual discussions when we get together. You ought to get Boo Berry, Count Chocula and Franken Berry going on 18th Centure political philosophy. It’s riveting! Correct.
Q. Bonus question: How many people from South Carolina signed the Declaration of Independence and who were they?
A. Crackle: Now that’s something I don’t know. Can I put in a call to Booberry? Or maybe Tony the Tiger. He has a real interest in Southern history. He could probably get that answer for you.
Sorry. No time left. But we did appreciate Snap and Crackle for their answers. Don’t worry, Pop, we understand your anger about the bike rallies, but we really hope you and the old lady come back some day. The rallies still go on. They’ve just moved south to Murrells Inlet. You and Dig ‘Em might enjoy doing a few burn-outs at Suck, Bang Blow come next May.
Donations needed!
We need water donated for our poll watcher and volunteers on November 6th.
Please drop off your donated packs of water or energy drinks at your county headquarters or contact your field coordinator and they will pick it up.
http://www.gloria4congress.com/for-more-information-contact-your-field-coordinator/
Volunteers needed in Florence!
We need your support!
We are going to be walking in your neighborhoods in Florence and need volunteers. Meet at our Headquarters on 420 W. Cheves Street in Florence at 4pm. Please join us for a few hours. We will be walking till 7pm everyday starting Thursday November 1 until Monday November 5th.
Come out and encourage your neighbors to vote.
The Right to Vote. Do Not Take It For Granted.
Loved these words on the right to vote from the great poet, Dr. Maya Angelou which speaks to the amazing strides our country has made. Please read and share across the 7th District and beyond:
I am not writing to you as a black voter, or a woman voter, or as a voter who is over 70 years old and six feet tall. I am writing to you as a representative of this great country—as an American.
It is your job to vote. It is your responsibility, your right, and your privilege. You may be pretty or plain, heavy or thin, gay or straight, poor or rich.
But remember this: In an election, every voice is equally powerful—don’t underestimate your vote. Voting is the great equalizer.
As a country, we can scarcely perceive the magnitude of our progress.
My grandmother and my uncle experienced circumstances that would break your heart. When they went to vote, they were asked impossible questions like, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” When they couldn’t answer, they couldn’t vote.
I once debated with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. about whether an African American would ever be elected president. He believed it would happen within the next 40 years at the time—I believed it would never happen within my lifetime.
I have never been happier to have been proven wrong.
And since President Barack Obama’s historic election, we’ve moved forward in courageous and beautiful ways. More students can afford college, and more families have access to affordable health insurance. Women have greater opportunities to get equal pay for equal work.
Yet as Rev. King wrote, “All progress is precarious.”
So don’t sit on the sidelines. Don’t hesitate. Don’t have any regrets. Vote.
Go, rise up, and let your friends and family in early vote states know where they can vote today. We must make our voices heard.
Your vote is not only important. It’s imperative.
Thank you,
Dr. Maya Angelou
It is unfortunate that South Carolina’s legislature has yet to allow our citizens to go to the polls to vote early, but it is possible to request an absentee ballot to effectively do the same thing. But no matter what, it is essential that each of us take the time to stand up, vote, and to be counted on November 6th.
We have fought hard to ensure that we all have the right to vote once we reach the age of 18. It was only 92 years ago that women won the right to vote. Minorities have also struggled with access to the polls. Even today, there are efforts by some to make it more difficult to vote.
Thus, it is essential that we don’t take this for granted. That we don’t let anyone deprive us of a right to voice our opinion and elect those who would represent our views locally and nationally.
Stand up, and be counted.
Rice Tinubu Face Off in Debate
Published Friday, October 19, 2012 6:12 AM
Democrats and Republicans are very far apart on many issues in this election year, and that was evident at the 7th Congressional District debate at Myrtle Beach High School on Wednesday night.
In 17 days, voters in the eight counties that make up the new district will choose either Gloria Bromell Tinubu, the Democrat, or Tom Rice, the Republican.
One thing both candidates agree on is the importance of the choice.
“This is one of the most important elections we’ll face in our lifetimes,” Tinubu said.
“This is a critical election,” Rice said. “The future of the country is at stake.”
The economy and jobs were major themes throughout the one-hour event.
Rice believes smaller government, fewer regulations, lower taxes – especially the corporate tax rate – will help create jobs.
“We’re handicapping our businesses and making them less competitive worldwide,” Rice said. “If we kneecap them with higher taxes they can’t stay in business competing with their competitors worldwide.”
Tinubu touted investing in education, training and infrastructure as a way to help the economy.
“We have to provide a first-class or world class educational and training system for all our citizens, from pre-K through college,” she said.
When Rice remarked that he would hire an experienced economic development advisor if elected, Tinubu reminded everyone that she was an economic development expert.
Both agreed that the Port of Georgetown needs to be dredged, and something needs to be done about Social Security before it goes bankrupt.
Rice said he didn’t support unions, touting South Carolina as a right-to-work state. Tinubu said the state has been right-to-work state for almost 60 years and continues to be at the bottom of every economic indicator.
Tinubu would support an extension of unemployment benefits. Rice would not, and would like to see a work requirement.
“It’s wrong to encourage and continue a dependency culture,” Rice said.
One word – “socialism” – uttered by Rice about 40 minutes into the debate, seemed to make both candidates a little more combative from then on.
In response to a rather innocent sounding question – whether the person at the top of their tickets was helping or hurting – Rice said he was “comfortable” with Romney and attacked the President Obama’s leadership.
“We really don’t have a foreign policy right now,” Rice said. “What you see happening around the world is a result of lack of leadership. America needs to lead. I think people look to us to lead.”
“I believe the president believes in economics as I understand it,” Tinubu responded. “That is management of our resources for the long-term benefit of all.”
“The management of our assets for the benefit of all sounds a lot like socialism to me,” Rice said to a round of wild applause from the audience.
“Aren’t you really tired of that phrase socialism?,” Tinubu asked. “Government is a social enterprise, it’s us coming together as society, saying there are things we have to do together we can’t do ourselves.”
The candidates differed on whether, if given the chance, they would vote to abolish the Affordable Health Care Act.
Tinubu would not, because she believes people shouldn’t have to go bankrupt to deal with a health care crisis.
“It’s unconscionable,” she said.
Although he supports the sections dealing with preexisting conditions and keeping kids on their parents insurance until they’re 26, Rice called the whole plan “dramatic overreach” and said he would “absolutely” vote to repeal it.
“How can it be a good thing for government to run our health care?” Rice asked. How can it be a good thing for government to make our health care decisions for us?”
After the debate, both candidates were pleased with their performances.
“I feel comfortable with what happened,” Rice said.
“It was a good exchange,” Tinubu said. “I wish we had more time to fully express or feelings about issues.”
Both said the only poll that matters is on Nov. 6.
By Chris Sokoloski
csokoloski@gtowntimes.com
http://www.gtowntimes.com/local/Rice–Tinubu-face-off-in-debate2012-10-19T04-12-19
Restoring the Economy
Full Employment
Restoring the ability of American workers to fairly share in the economy’s productivity gains by shifting the focus of our national economic policy back to full employment at livable wages.
Job Creation
Restoring access to credit to small businesses for productive investments leading to the creation of millions of jobs by channeling excess cash reserves currently held at commercial banks.
Financial Markets
Restoring balance to our financial markets by rewarding long-term investors who add value to the economy rather than short-term speculators who subtract value.
7th Congressional Debates
Debate: October 23, 2012
Coastal Carolina University, in partnership with WBTW News 13, The Morning News, The Sun News and Francis Marion University, will air a live debate between the Republican Tom Rice, and Democratic Party Nominee, Gloria Bromell Tinubu for South Carolina’s new 7th Congressional District seat at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Coastal Carolina University’s Wheelwright Auditorium.
Attendees should be seated by 6:45 p.m.
Location: Coastal Carolina University’s Wheelwright Auditorium
When: Debate begins at 7:00pm.
Broadcast: WBTW News 13
Driving Directions to the Wheelwright Auditorium
From the west:
Take US Hwy 501 east through Conway and Coastal Carolina University will be on the right. Turn right onto University Boulevard at the stoplight with the flashing CCU marquee sign. Turn right onto the first road, Chanticleer Drive, East. The Wheelwright Auditorium is immediately on the left.
From the east (Highway 501):
Take US Hwy 501 west towards Conway. Just past Horry Georgetown Technical College is a stoplight. Turn left onto University Boulevard at the stoplight with the flashing CCU marquee sign. Turn right onto the first road, Chanticleer Drive, East. The Wheelwright Auditorium is immediately on the left.
From the south (Highway 544):
Take US Hwy. 544 west towards Conway. After the intersection at Singleton Ridge Road and passing Quail Creek Golf Course, the CCU entrance will be at the upcoming intersection and stoplight next to the football stadium. Turn right onto University Boulevard and drive toward US Hwy 501. Turn left onto Chanticleer Drive, East. The Wheelwright Auditorium is immediately on the left.
