Sanford taking heat for debate decision

Supporters disappointed he agreed to NAACP’s out-of-state event

By AARON GOULD SHEININ

asheinin@thestate.com

Two powerful Senate Republicans say Gov. Mark Sanford’s decision to attend an NAACP debate across state lines is a mistake that could cost him politically.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, said fellow Republican Sanford should reconsider.

“As a supporter, I’m telling you that I’m disappointed,” McConnell told The State newspaper.

Sanford has agreed to attend a NAACP candidates’ forum Oct. 12 in Augusta. His Democratic opponent, state Sen. Tommy Moore of Aiken, originally accepted the invitation, but then backed out earlier this week over the event’s location.

McConnell and Senate Education chairman John Courson, R-Richland, said Sanford’s presence at the event lends credence to the NAACP’s economic boycott of the state.

The civil rights organization launched the boycott in 2000 to protest the flying of the Confederate flag from atop the State House. The boycott continued even after a compromise moved the flag from the Capitol dome to the State House grounds.

The Oct. 12 debate is part of the state NAACP’s annual conference, which is held out of state each year to honor the boycott. McConnell and Courson said Sanford’s presence there sends the wrong message.

“A debate over the leadership of South Carolina that is being deliberately held outside of this state, to try to bolster the boycott, is a debate that I would decline,” McConnell said.

Courson said, “It’s fundamentally wrong to have a political debate for South Carolinians in another state, regardless of the motive behind having it out of state. It’s illogical for me.”

McConnell and Courson were both supporters of flying the Confederate flag from the dome, but both also eventually advocated and voted for the compromise.

Sanford said Friday his decision to attend the debate has nothing to do with the boycott and that it’s “the most strained of logic to say if you attend you agree with what they’re saying.”

He said he does not support the boycott. “You’ve probably been to a rock concert. That doesn’t mean you’re agreeing with the lifestyle of the performer.”

He said the NAACP invited him, his campaign staff asked if he wanted to go, and “I said yes. End of story.”

McConnell warned Sanford risks political fallout from voters who would not look kindly on his decision.

“The mainstream of South Carolina is against the boycott,” McConnell said. “Black and white, Democrat and Republican — the mainstream is against the boycott. Even though you say you don’t support it, but honoring and going to the meeting across the river — I think it can hurt politically.”

Sanford was critical of Moore’s change of heart and said it was “overtly political.”

“It’d be one thing if it’s a substantive objection, based on, ‘I just have such strong feelings about this boycott,’ but the fact is that Tommy’s campaign accepted,” Sanford said. “Augusta’s geography hasn’t changed. ... They knew it was in Augusta.”

The original invitation from the NAACP, sent in June, did not mention it would be out of state. Karen Gutmann, Moore’s campaign spokeswoman, said while she learned earlier this month the debate was set for Augusta, Moore and campaign manager Chris Carpenter did not know until last week.

“That’s when the decision was made that the sitting governor of the state or a candidate for governor simply can’t or shouldn’t support an economic boycott of his own state,” Gutmann said.

Gutmann said Moore has “great respect for the NAACP. Tommy views it as friends disagreeing on this one issue.”

But Lonnie Randolph, president of the South Carolina Conference of the NAACP, said Moore’s decision shows a lack of respect for the organization.

“This is not about whether you support sanctions,” Randolph said. “This is about us holding a meeting to give the candidates an opportunity to be questioned by members of our organization and to present their case.”

Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658.