Posted on 06/12/2010 5:29:59 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
MANNING - After his shocking win in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, 32-year-old Army and Air National Guard veteran Alvin Greene announced Friday that he has refused his party's request to bow out of the race.
Therefore, Greene was certified Friday as the Democratic nominee. He will face Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who is seeking a second term, in the November general election.
State Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler had asked Greene to resign from the race on Wednesday, saying that he failed to represent "South Carolina's values" due to a felony charge of disseminating, procuring or promoting obscenity. The charge stems from an allegation that he showed a University of South Carolina student pornographic pictures at the school's Thomas Cooper Library in November.
She would rather see Vic Rawl, a current Charleston County councilman and former state representative who party leaders assumed would handily win the race, challenge DeMint.
"I did not do this lightly, as I believe strongly that the Democratic voters of this state have the right to select our nominee," Fowler stated. "But this ... information about Mr. Greene ... would certainly have affected the decision of many of those voters." Greene disagreed, telling The Item on Friday that he was elected fairly and substantially by state voters.
"I got 60 percent of the vote," he said. "I'm the nominee. The results have been certified. They want me out, but that's not going to happen. I'm in."
A graduate of Manning High School and the University of South Carolina, Greene seemed overwhelmed Wednesday and Thursday after nearly constant media attention.
He initially spoke with The Item on Wednesday from behind a partially opened screened door in his garage and did not allow anyone to take pictures. Dressed in track pants and a green T-shirt detailing a 1993 family reunion, Greene nervously swayed from side to side as he mumbled through answers to questions about how he managed to win an election with no website, signs or fliers during his campaign. He also declined to say where he had campaigned or how much he had spent other than $2,000 and a $10,400 filing fee, which he said came from two years of personal savings.
"I've done this all on my own, yeah, with my friends and friends of friends and family," Greene said of campaigning.
Regarding his pending charge, he said on Friday, "After the charges have been cleared, there shouldn't be any excuse. That's the only thing holding (the party) back. In a few weeks, when (the charges) go away, maybe they will (support me). I need the funds. I need the money ... I need ... I need ... "
As to how the charge might "go away," Greene said it could be adjudicated as a misdemeanor or reduced. He also said he could be acquitted, or the charge could be dropped.
State Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire said there is little the Democratic Party can do to challenge Greene's nomination.
Even so, it appears Greene will get little support from his party. Sumter native and House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., said Thursday that he believes Greene should be investigated, and officials noted Friday that the State Law Enforcement Division is now investigating Greene.
Rawl has until noon Monday to file a protest of the election with the party. Barring a successful challenge by Rawl, only a resignation by Greene for nonpolitical reasons would allow the party to hold a special primary.
"Those reasons are defined as reasons of health, family crises or substantial business conflicts," Whitmire said. "If it's not one of those immediately, then the burden of proof would be on the candidate withdrawing to show legitimate, nonpolitical reasoning, and the state commission would be the one to decide if it's legitimate."
It’s funny how the Democrats always charge the Republicans with “Dirty Tricks”....Yet the Dems are the ones who always seem to be the one with the bag of Dirty Tricks....I think the Dems didn’t get their way so they assume that like them someone had to pull a Dirty Trick....Amazing the way these rats think.....Greene is certified now so I’m thinking the Dems will suddenly decide to get behind him....
This guy is a college graduate? Doesn’t speak well of the University of South Carolina
USC, USAF, or US Army.
But, I have heard through AF sources the guy is likeley an idiot-savant.
He was separated from the AF for failure to adapt. But, he was a smart guy, who could not speak well.
From what I have heard only.
Just who in the hell are these people to be "investigating" a private citizen who has decided to seek public office, anyway?
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