THE SUMTER ITEM N.G. Osteen 1843-1936 The Watchman and Southron
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item
H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item
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Margaret W. Osteen 1908-1996 The Item Hubert D. Osteen Jr. Chairman & Editor-in-Chief Graham Osteen Co-President Kyle Osteen Co-President Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher Larry Miller CEO Rick Carpenter Managing Editor
20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, South Carolina 29150 • Founded October 15, 1894
Clinton drama gives us much-needed relief
I
t’s the gift that keeps on giving. We are referring to the Clintons, of course, but more specifically, Hillary, the presumptive favorite to be the Democrat Party’s nominee for the presidency in 2016. Hillary has suddenly become a growing liability to her party after The Associated Press filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the State Department, where she served as secretary of state until she got the notion to make another run for the presidency after her failure in 2008 to upend “The Chosen One,” community organizer Barack Obama. The AP, which has carried water in recent years for Democrats, has sud-
most significant issues of our time,” according to the AP’s legal counsel. denly gotten religion and seeks to What got Hillary into the legal trouforce the release of email corresponble was after it came to light she was dence and government documents using a private email account run on from Hillary’s tenure as secretary of a server on her property outside New state. This dance between Hillary and York City while working at the state the AP has been going on for the past department. If those private account seven years as the news organization emails were used for government made repeated requests under the U.S. business, Hillary would be breaking Freedom of Information Act only to the law. The AP is alleging the state get stiffed by Hillary and her endepartment was not producing her ablers. Now the AP means business emails in accordance with a public reand is going to court to force disclocords request. sure of the documents, which the AP This is not the first time both Clinthinks will shed light on actions by tons have appeared to be ethically the state department and former Secchallenged as they have stonewalled retary Clinton “during some of the practically every document request
EDITORIAL
dating back to the Whitewater days in Arkansas. Drama always surrounds the Clintons. However, the upside of this latest drama may be a blessing for those Americans sick and tired of the other drama concerning Obama, Congress, Iran and Israel. There is a lot to be said for a welcome timeout from too much of the above. Therefore we should sit back and enjoy the show with both Clintons occupying space on the American political stage. In the words of the late Father Richard John Neuhaus, watching the Clintons is like watching “with fascinating disgust as an unstoppable toilet backs up into (your) living room.”
GUEST COLUMN
Reflections on Selma BY JIM CLYBURN
I
am home alone, reflecting on the remarkable and blessed experiences of the past three days. Yesterday I sat at the steps of the State House in Montgomery, Alabama, listening to some remarkable reflections from a spouse and daughter of the 1960s. Juanita Abernathy, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr.’s constant companion, Ralph David Abernathy, and Peggy Wallace Kennedy, the daughter of former Alabama Gov. George Wallace, gave moving testimonies of what it was Jim like on oppoClyburn site ends of the spectrum as wills were tested during the run up to the March 7, 1965, march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. I was particularly moved by Ms. Wallace Kennedy as she shared the experience of taking her son, Gov. Wallace’s grandson, to the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia. After taking in some of the sights and sounds of the Center, her son asked her, “Why did Pa Pa do those things to other people?” Ms. Wallace Kennedy said that she answered her son by telling him that her father “never told (her) why he did those things” but that they were wrong, and that it would be “up to (them) to help make things right.” My flight home was out of Birmingham. During the 90-minute automobile ride from Montgomery to Birmingham, the time I spent in the Birmingham airport waiting on my flight, and on the flights to Columbia through Charlotte, I did a lot of reflecting and projecting. My feelings were that there is much more hope than the despair that so many express for the future of our great country. Before leaving Montgomery, I had conversations with several current and former colleagues about what might flow from our weekend experiences. I shared my favorite passage from King’s letter from Birmingham City Jail. In that timeless document, King responded to those who felt that his cause was right but the timing was wrong. King admonished in that letter that time is never right and time is never wrong. Time is always what we make of it. He went on to intone that he was coming to the conclusion that “the people of ill will have used time much
‘We are hearing a great deal from those in our society who would like to turn the clock back on voting rights, civil rights and the right to peaceably assemble. The rights to judicial fairness and effective representation in our various legislative bodies are under siege.’ more effectively than have the people of good will,” and he concluded the thought by writing, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.” We are hearing a great deal from those in our society who would like to turn the clock back on voting rights, civil rights and the right to peaceably assemble. The rights to judicial fairness and effective representation in our various legislative bodies are under siege. The allowance of unlimited and secret financing of political campaigns and the creation of political ghettos and barrios are disconcerting. The voices of those who toss around gratuitous insults are loud and clear. On Saturday morning I sat in the pews of Brown Chapel AMEC and listened to a panel of several people whose lives were significantly impacted by the events at Selma 50 years ago. One of them was Mary Liuzzo Lilleboe, the daughter of Viola Liuzzo, the white activist who was murdered while transporting some of the marchers back to Selma from Montgomery. Ms. Liuzzo Lilleboe said that she is often asked why her mother went to Selma. But she said that she believes the more appropriate question is “why more people didn’t go.” I believe there are many more people of good will among us than various news reports might lead us to believe. Hopefully, more of them will raise their voices in continuance of our search for “a more perfect Union.” Sumter native Jim Clyburn represents the 6th District of South Carolina.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SPENDING MUST BE REDUCED; DEBT MUST BE PAID DOWN
Graham and Tim Scott, to tell these people they are wrong. It’s time for our senators to We have over $18 trillion in debt, which is insist that these projects go forward despite what local folks think because Scott and greater than $58,000 for every man, woman Graham know what is best for them ... like and child in our country. And the debt continues to increase by more than $500 billion when they insist and continue to vote for the Keystone pipeline through the heart of each year. In other words, we continue to our country. spend $500 billion more each year than the I have called both Senate offices and taxes we take in. Currently, we are paying $300 billion in interest each year on the debt asked them about the pipeline, wind power and drilling off the coast of South Carolina. at very low interest rates. The interest payNeither will tell me anything. ments will go up significantly by more Truth is they are just playing petty, partispending and higher interest rates in the fusan politics on behalf of the extreme right ture. wing of our state by saying they will not let A vote or support for any politician must this president “win” anything and following ensure that he/she will reduce spending to Sen. McConnell like obedient little puppies. not only balance the budget, but use some I thought these men were supposed to be of the tax receipts to start to pay down the U.S. senators, not just Republican senators. debt. Any politician voting to spend more They can’t try to force the pipeline on othmoney than available through tax receipts ers, giving the power of eminent domain to should be fired (voted out of office). This is not an article to support higher taxes but to a private foreign company to take property from U.S. citizens, and also vote against rid us of politicians who obligate us, our children, grandchildren and even children wind power and oil drilling off South Caronot born yet for their excesses. lina because it doesn’t look good or it deSpending more money than you have is stroys the view. never good, and the result will greatly harm So it’s time for Scott and Graham to tell us all. In one word it is “madness.” us why they support bullying Mid-WesternDON DAMM ers into accepting a land grab from a CanaSumter dian company and if this means they will do the same to South Carolina residents S.C. SENATORS IGNORE PIPELINE, when it comes to wind power and oil drillWIND POWER, DRILLING ISSUES ing near South Carolina. And, why are these same senators not pushing for an oil I noticed in The Sumter Item that several communities on the coast have passed reso- refinery to be built in Charleston or Beaufort? It would be consistent with their nolutions against wind-generated electric tion that we need more oil but not just power being placed off our coast. Many are somewhere else but here. strongly opposing the proposed drilling for LOYD YOUNG oil off South Carolina as well. Sumter Well, it’s time for our senators, Lindsey
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