SC Ping
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Posted on 07/30/2004 4:57:09 AM PDT by Salo
Tenenbaum promises to defend port if elected
Senate candidate, manager part ways
BY SCHUYLER KROPF Of The Post and Courier Staff
With a crew of port workers lined up behind her, Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Inez Tenenbaum pledged to be the successor to retiring Sen. Fritz Hollings in the fight to defend the Port of Charleston.
"There can be no greater tribute to Sen. Hollings than to carry on his legacy of protecting our ports," Tenenbaum said during a press conference Thursday at the Charleston Maritime Center.
Her comments came as the campaign hit a setback. Campaign manager Carol Butler has left to pursue other opportunities, a spokeswoman said.
"She and Inez decided mutually and amicably to part ways," said spokeswoman Kay Packett.
No successor has been announced. The shakeup comes with less than 100 days left in the race against Republican Jim DeMint, incumbent 4th District representative from Greenville.
DeMint spokesman Terry Sullivan said the change indicated problems. "You can tell your campaign is in trouble when even your staff isn't buying into your rhetoric," he said.
During her press conference, Tenenbaum presented a plan to increase the inspection rate for cargo entering the United States from both coasts.
Only about 4 percent of all cargo is opened and inspected when it arrives in America from overseas, she said. "Those are odds only a terrorist could love," she said.
Tenenbaum's proposal would double the cargo inspection rate to 8 percent over the next two years and continue to double inspection goals every year.
"Protecting our ports isn't just about cargo or containers," she said. "It's about shutting down an avenue for terrorists and protecting all of South Carolina's families from future attacks." Charleston is the fourth-largest container port in the United States.
Tenenbaum was joined by about two dozen supporters, including Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, who said the issues in the Senate race are especially relevant to the people of Charleston. "Nothing is more important to this community, post 9-11, than port security," he said.
Local port truck driver Warren Simmons, said he expected the local International Longshoreman's Union membership to back Tenenbaum. "She's trying to help the port," he said.
Tenenbaum called for expansion of other port defense efforts, including full funding of federal security grants, more inspectors and a quicker timetable to fund cargo-tracking technology.
DeMint responded by saying port security is on his agenda, as well. "I have consistently supported President Bush and (Homeland Security) Secretary (Tom) Ridge in their efforts to keep our homeland secure, and that includes keeping our ports secure," he said.
Also, the newless Courier website is registration-required: annoying/annoying will get you in.
SC Ping, please.
She won't have to worry about keeping any campaign promises.
Following in the footsteps of General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, CSA.
Charleston was the only major Southern port that did fall to the Yankees before Appomatox, thanks to General Beauregard.
I'm a little confused by your reply. There were many Confederate ports that fell to the North prior to Appomatax, e.g., Mobile, New Orleans, Norfolk, etc.
ops33
Meant "did not", sorry, my bad. There's a park in Charleston dedicated to General Beauregard, celebrating this fact. And, as you know, the name of Yosemite Sam's dawg was Beauregard.
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