(Published October 26‚ 2004)

For decades, until recently, South Carolina was represented in the U.S. Senate by two lawmakers who differed in political affiliation and philosophy, yet could work together on issues of vital importance to South Carolinians. We think Inez Tenenbaum, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, would continue this tradition and provide a strong voice for all constituents.

Tenenbaum faces a three-term congressman, Rep. Jim DeMint, R-4th District, whose previous career was in advertising.

At the outset of this campaign, trade appeared to be the principal issue on which Tenenbaum, state superintendent of education, hoped to upset DeMint, the front runner after he defeated former Gov. David Beasley in the GOP primary. DeMint earned the ire of many textile manufacturers by being the only member of the South Carolina delegation to vote to grant the president so-called "fast track" authority to negotiate trade agreements with other countries. DeMint maintains that South Carolina's best hope in restoring manufacturing jobs lost by the precipitous decline of the textile industry is in exports and that attempts to build or restore trade barriers will work against the state's best interests.

Although we think DeMint is correct in his assessment that textiles will never regain its status as the state's biggest industry, we fault him for not standing with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and others who would force China to stop subsidizing its exports, including textiles, by failing to properly value its currency. Like it or not, international trade is not a level playing field, and America needs to protect its manufacturing base and to address the balance of trade deficit that threatens to undermine the nation's economy.

Other telling issues are DeMint's plans for tax reform and for propping up Social Security. On the former, although he appears to have backpedaled somewhat in recent days, the congressman wants to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and to replace the income tax with a national sales tax. This is one of those ideas that likely has little chance of becoming reality but makes headlines. Such a tax would be regressive because it would fall heaviest on low and middle-income citizens, and it would be a more unstable revenue source than the existing system.

As for his point that the federal tax code is bewilderingly complicated, we would point out that Congress only has itself to blame for its complexity.

On Social Security reform, DeMint's plan to partially privatize the retirement system could cost $1 trillion or more over 10 years. It's nice to think that there's a way to guarantee the soundness of Social Security and Medicare without raising taxes, delaying or reducing benefits, etc., but the math simply doesn't work.

Much has been made of DeMint's comment that neither homosexual nor unwed pregnant women should be allowed to teach in public schools. After vehement criticism, DeMint backed off his comment about women but has declined to apologize to gays. Clearly, he is content with the signal sent.

Both DeMint and Tenenbaum support going to war against Saddam Hussein's regime.

Our major reasons for backing Tenenbaum are her record of public service, her commitment to the most vulnerable in our society and her willingness to reach across the political aisle.

Critics have attacked her for keeping the national Democratic ticket at arm's length. In recent weeks, her opponent has made his ties to the Bush/Cheney ticket his top selling point. Again, we would prefer that this state's next U.S. senator be more in the mold of a Hollings, Thurmond or Graham, who would stand up to party bosses when the interests of this state were at stake.

A teacher, first, and lawyer, second, Superintendent Tenenbaum has been a strong advocate for children. During her tenure, Palmetto State students have shown steady progress on state and national tests, including the SAT and the controversial PACT program. South Carolina not only embraced the federal No Child Left Behind Act, but it also adopted stricter standards than many states.

True, South Carolina remains at the bottom of many national measures of education, but the superintendent is to be admired for refusing to blame poverty and a century of neglect by state leaders as reason for problems. Instead, she has set the bar higher for all children, even raising the number of credits necessary for a high school diploma and toughening the so-called exit exam, which all students must pass in order to graduate.

Whether it be in pushing for early childhood education or advocating new approaches to work with juveniles in trouble, Tenenbaum has been an innovator. More important, she has never allowed partisan politics to derail worthy causes. For example, the Governor's Juvenile Justice Youth Councils, which she was instrumental in founding, were established by Gov. David Beasley, a Republican, and headed by Judge Bill Byars of Columbia, whom another Republican governor, Mark Sanford, later appointed to head the Department of Juvenile Justice.

South Carolinians, who appreciate an independent streak in their lawmakers, would do well to elect Inez Tenenbaum to the U.S. Senate.

IN SUMMARY
The Herald recommends Inez Tenebaum for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by "Fritz" Hollings.