South CarolinaPing
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Posted on 09/03/2010 4:36:05 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
The communications director for U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., recently made comments comparing the likeability of the congressman's opponent to that of the world's most well-known terrorist.
On Wednesday, Columbia's Free Times published a story quoting Spratt Communications Director Wayne Wingate as saying, "If Osama bin Laden ran in this district as a Republican, he would get 38 to 40 percent of the vote in any election year."
State Sen. Mick Mulvaney, R-Indian Land, is running against Spratt to represent South Carolina's 5th Congressional District in Washington. A day after the comment was published, Wingate said he was standing by his words.
"When I said it, I was just thinking of the most unlikable person someone could imagine," Wingate said Thursday. "I was trying to say it really didn't matter who the Republicans ran. They'd just vote for whoever the Republican candidate was."
Wingate was also quoted in the story as saying, "This is a very Republican district. So you've got that plus this tea party angst against any incumbent in the world right now."
That comparison doesn't sit well with Sumter County Republican Chairman Braden Bunch, who said he was personally insulted by Wingate's comparison.
"To me, he's saying we don't care about who our candidates are, and that's ridiculous," said Bunch. "It's really kind of insulting to the people of Sumter and the entire 5th district. It's sad that folks saying they're representing us would make such a rude and insulting comparison."
Wingate said he was speaking only for himself and was not expressing the opinion of Spratt.
"It's not like it's some rogue communications director. The candidate was right there when he said it," Bunch said. "That's just kind of disappointing Mr. Spratt would let that slide and say nothing."
What's more, said Bunch, it's sad that someone who represents a district that's home to so many soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan would let something like that slide.
Bunch said he believes the campaign has been cordial up to this point, and he's sad to see comments like this come out.
Wingate said he agreed the word choice was wrong. He now says he should have compared Mulvaney's likeability to that of "a wet dog," but that concession is too little, too late for Bunch, who believes Mulvaney is owed a real apology.
Bryan Partridge, Mulvaney's communications director, was also surprised by Wingate's comment.
"Why would the Spratt campaign's chief spokesperson claim, just days before 9/11, that 40 percent of this district would vote for Osama Bin Laden? I think that says a lot about how out of touch Mr. Spratt's campaign is with this District."
Mulvany would not comment on Wingate's opinion.
Is it true that his wife can eat no lean?
ping
We are in Spratt’s district. Lots of Mulvaney signs around here and only one Spratt sign in a well known Dems yard. Keeping fingers crossed for a Mulvaney victory.
Bin Laden could win any election in any large American city as long as he has a (D) next to his name.
Spratt’s side must be getting pretty nervous......I hope SC voters will get it right.....
Pretty rich coming from the party of Alvin Greene.
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