Republican state Sen. John Hawkins of Spartanburg raised a few eyebrows this week with remarks made before a group of USC students rallying in support of U.S. troops in Iraq.

He was fed up with the media's focus on looting in the streets of Baghdad, saying it was unbalanced, that too much attention was paid to it.

"I would rather take looting in Baghdad over the looting we saw in L.A. 10 years ago, any day," he said, referring to the rioting after Los Angeles police officers were acquitted in 1992 in the Rodney King beating incident.

Some thought his remarks sounded racist, but he denies it.

Hawkins explained that the looting in Baghdad was done by Muslims expressing anger with the Baath Party regime that oppressed many of them for years. "They were releasing penned-up emotions."

The L.A. looting, on the other hand, he said, was violent and against citizens of this country. His remark had nothing to do with the fact that the L.A. looters were predominantly black, Hawkins said.

HEY, DON'T TELL MCCONNELL, BUT...

No, Mark Sanford is not in Washington anymore. But we can see why he was a little confused.

The governor gave an interview to S.C. ETV's "Stateline" program last week, taking questions from moderator Charles Bierbauer. There were all the trappings of the D.C. talk shows: bright lights; multiple cups of water ("Which one's mine?" Sanford asked); and familiar D.C. faces -- Bierbauer is now the dean of USC's journalism school but was formerly a reporter for CNN.

But in talking about working with the General Assembly, Sanford said the House was a challenge because the members are up for re-election every two years.

But the Senate, he said, was easier to deal with -- "You're looking at a six-year window."

Well, Guv, U.S. senators may serve six years, but down here, they run every four. Let's not give Glenn McConnell any wild ideas.

THE BRAWL FOR THE DRAWL...THE CLASH FOR THE CASH...THE BATTLE OF THE PRATTLE...THE FIGHT AMONG THE TRITE...

Only two weeks left 'til the May 3 Democratic presidential debate -- John Edwards, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, Richard Gephardt, the Rev. Al Sharpton, that guy with the dark hair, etc.

The Buzz has to say it's been eating up its favorite Web site's take on what's being dubbed the "Collision in Columbia."

ABC's "The Note" is taking note of the event every day, with features ranging from a match game on S.C.'s political celebs (" Tucker... Eskew"), to a "Columbian Travel Guide," including a tip about U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn's famous fish fry.

If you want to check it out: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/TheNote.html.

And if the debate isn't enough to interest you, the Buzz hears that the state Democratic convention earlier that day will be a doozy. Not the election of a new chairman so much as the farewell of the old one.

Outgoing Democratic chairman Dick Harpootlian is telling folks that he's already written his speech, and it's a "humdinger."

SOMETHING IN THE WATER?

What exactly was going on last summer? Was it something in the State House water fountain, or perhaps the thrill of the Republican gubernatorial runoff?

The Buzz doesn't know for sure, but there are a passel of new papas (and mamas) out there:

On April 9, Senate clerk Jeff Gossett and his wife, Paige, welcomed a baby girl, Anna Katherine.

Then, on April 10, GOP spokesman Luke Byars and his wife, Drea, had their own baby boy, Patton Custis.

Then late on the night of the 11th -- OK, very early on the 12th -- The State's own political reporter Aaron Sheinin and his wife, Tracy Gould, had their first child, Maxwell Gould Sheinin.

Congratulations to all, and enjoy your paternity leave. The Buzz will be looking for y'all in the lobby real soon. We'll know you by your bleary eyes and proud smiles.