S.C. in National News

[digital_sandlapper]

Joe Wilson was kind enough to embarass our state yet again recently, and now we have national headlines like this:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090911/pl_politico/27026

Ouch. Not good publicity for us. The Republican Party in S.C. seems hell-bent on ruining our whole state along with them.

[krazeeboi]

SC seems to be more of a punchline now than it's ever been. It's just crazy.

[digital_sandlapper]

I can't believe no one other than Krazee has an opinion on this.

Here's yet more bad press: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/opinion/13dowd.html?_r=1

Not trying to get too political here, but what do you all think? Is this year's 4 examples of negative press hurting us as far as tourism or attracting industry? Or worse, is it creating a long-lasting negative image for South Carolina as suggested in the press?

IMO, we really are looking bad right now, and I blame the state GOP office for its arrogant, Lee Atwater-esque tactics. I am truly ashamed and bewildered by it.

[krazeeboi]

Several individuals have stated that due to Wilson's outburst, they will no longer be vacationing in SC as they have done for years now, according to an article in The State.

S.C. and local tourism officials say they are being flooded by e-mails and calls from people across the country, saying they won’t vacation in the Palmetto State because they’re upset by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst at President Barack Obama.

A number of the out-of-state e-mailers have said they have taken beach trips for years in Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head and other resort areas but don’t plan to return, officials said.

[GvilleSC]

I'm not totally buying it all. If this has drastically changed anyone's views of South Carolina, I'd be interested to know how exactly they viewed the state before... Interestingly enough, this character comes from some of the more "liberal" places in the state. Go figure, yet he supposedly represents us ALL?

This week it's this, next week it's something else... It just needs to be put in perspective and I don't think it really carries that much weight.

[krazeeboi]

I'm not totally buying it all. If this has drastically changed anyone's views of South Carolina, I'd be interested to know how exactly they viewed the state before

[Spartan]

They said on the radio that after his comment, Wilson got a $200,000 bump in his campaign donations. His opponent had a $750,000 boost.

[krazeeboi]

The most recent figures I've seen have Miller at $1.2 million since the incident and Wilson at over $1 million. Miller's contributions started pouring in immediately after Wilson's outburst; seems like most of Wilson's contributions were done more in response to Miller's, at least from my perspective.

I found this quote interesting from this article from the Washington Post:

when Wilson went so far Wednesday night as to heckle President Obama, interrupting his address to a joint session of Congress with shouts of "You lie!" he wasn't straying far from South Carolina's tradition of wild and woolly politics. The outburst not only thrust the little-known congressman into the national spotlight; it also made him the latest in a legendary line of South Carolina politicians who appeared to revel in renegade behavior.

[vicupstate]

DeMint and Wilson are up for re-election, the Governorship is up too.

Sending them back home, is the best way to clean up our image.

I donated to Wilson's opponent. I suggest the same to everyone else.

I assure you, the networks will cover whether Joe Wilson wins re-election next year, whereas normally, they would not.

[waccamatt]

I'm not totally buying it all. If this has drastically changed anyone's views of South Carolina, I'd be interested to know how exactly they viewed the state before... Interestingly enough, this character comes from some of the more "liberal" places in the state. Go figure, yet he supposedly represents us ALL?

This week it's this, next week it's something else... It just needs to be put in perspective and I don't think it really carries that much weight.

[GvilleSC]

No, Lexington County is not liberal. Not everything people write about is focused on Columbia.

[alias007]

>>>Is this year's 4 examples of negative press hurting us as far as tourism or attracting industry?

I really think they are, but this sort of damage is always temporary. People that come to SC love it for their own personal reasons. Whether it's the people or the location, the foothills, lakes, campgrounds, golf courses, islands or beaches. People that go to Charleston LOVE Charleston. People that golf in our state LOVE our courses. And so on and so forth.

People love SC and despite the current bad press, they'll remember it the next time they look at their golf clubs, swimming trunks or that big huge RV they have parked out back.

When people hear these stories they get turned off of SC, no doubt. But I think over time people start realizing all the little things that the media outlets leave out. Many people will acknowledge the fact that the leaders in their own state have issues too and that SC is just having a rough year. Many people will realize that assuming that all South Carolinians must be carbon copies of Sanford, DeMint, Wilson and Miss South Carolina would be a categorically condemning bias to the extreme. They'll remember the Sanford issue and think, "Mark Sanford was a dork, yes.... But his wife seemed like a good person."

When people gather around the water cooler to talk, all of these sorts of things come up in the conversation. And the next time they watch the news, they roll their eyes.

South Carolina is a beautiful place with wonderful people. Though we may suffer some in the meantime, people will continue to visit our state. [opinion alert] But we should turn all of this into a good thing. Perhaps with the right leadership (next election people!!!) some of our problems (education system) can go away. [end opinion] That's how I'm looking at it at least.

Sorry for the long answer, I needed to get this off my chest and I used your question to do so. ;-)

[digital_sandlapper]

^^Well said.

I agree that this will be a temporary effect on our tourism and industry. However, in the long run, our image is getting increasingly tarnished. We need a "saviour" of that image. I nominate Rob Miller, and I would add folks like Emile DeFelice, who I think should run for more than just head of Agriculture. These folks and others like them will hopefully do well, and help our state cleanse ourselves of the "good ole boy" syndrome that's been holding us down for decades. (Hey, let me have my dream, guys!)

[Spartan]

People who choose not to come to South Carolina because of a politician probably weren't going to come anyway.

[CorgiMatt]

The President said today he doesn't think people are speaking out against him or his policies because he's black. That might help SC's image a little bit where the Joe Wilson thing is concerned. I don't care for his politics, but I'd have to say that if Wilson's uncivil outburst was racist then Kanye's and Serena's actions must have been also. I'm assuming the line coach Serena cussed out was white. My politics are liberal and some would even say partly radical, but equating conservative SC politicians' fiscal views with being racist is a stretch.

[vicupstate]

SNL does Joe Wilson

More 'recognition' for our fine state.

[CorgiMatt]

NPR skipped over SC and mentioned NC in a report about the nation's and the states' unemployment rates today, saying NC was one of the states that gained jobs from July to August. NC gained over 7,000 jobs. The national media usually give South Carolina only bad press and ignore opportunities to say something good about us. We gained over 14,000.

[krazeeboi]

SNL does Joe Wilson

More 'recognition' for our fine state.