It seemed like an odd move.

Rep. Catherine Ceips, R-Beaufort, on Wednesday gave an impassioned speech against Gov. Mark Sanford’s veto of a House bill designed to protect South Carolina’s military bases — and then asked members to sustain the veto.

They did, but only after making it clear they were hot that Sanford nixed their proposal to head off the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission, which could ax one or more of South Carolina’s bases this year.

Sanford wants a task force he created to be the state’s voice on base closings.

In the end, Ceips said, the only thing to do was to support Sanford.

“I’m asking us to put our faith in the governor,” she said, drawing cynical laughter from House members. “Let his voice be the one that the BRAC Commission hears.

“God help us, I hope he is right.”

— Jennifer Talhelm