SC Prog Blog

Last week newspaper publisher McClatchy Co., which owns five South Carolina newspapers, announced it is cutting 10 percent of its workforce. Columbia’s The State said cuts would affect about a dozen newsroom positions. The Sun News of Myrtle Beach said it would shed nine jobs, or about 3.6 percent of its staff. The Herald of Rock Hill said it would not eliminate any positions. The Beaufort Gazette and The Island Packet of Hilton Head have not said whether they will cut jobs.

What does this mean for readers? Chris Kromm, editor of Facing South, published by the Institute for Southern Studies, offers this analysis.

******

Reports that newspaper publisher McClatchy Co. is slashing 1,400 jobs this month — 10 percent of its national workforce — sent shockwaves through the media industry and served as a grim reminder of the precarious state of newspapers.

But McClatchy’s massive bloodletting raised a bigger question: When newspapers don’t have reporters, who’s keeping the public informed and shedding light on the state of democracy?

The cuts will be especially hard in the South, where McClatchy owns 15 newspapers. And although McClatchy insists cuts in news reporting will be less than seen at Gannett and other chains, newsrooms will definitely feel the knife.

A survey of the carnage: The Charlotte Observer will cut 123 jobs, or 11 percent of its workforce. The Miami Herald plans 250 job cuts, 17 percent of workers there. The Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky. is dropping 17 positions. In Raleigh, N.C., the News & Observer is cutting a total of 70 jobs, 16 of them in the newsroom.

But not all will suffer equally. As the Lexington Newspaper Guild pointedly observed, McClatchy gave CEO Gary Pruitt an $800,000 bonus last year and just hired a new corporate vice president, even as the company’s stock was spiraling downward:

The Guild does not believe it is humane when employees who have put in a lifetime of service to McClatchy and KnightRidder are thrown to the curb, while McClatchy’s excessive corporate bureaucracy remains untouched.

McClatchy’s corporate mindset — so common in today’s Big Media — offers clues to the real problems facing newspapers. It’s not necessarily readership: As McClatchy admits, online readership grew 41 percent in the first quarter of 2008. The problem is an economic mismatch between declining ad revenues and shareholder demands for high profit margins on one hand, and the money needed for in-depth reporting on the other.

(more…)

Turnout decreases and extra expense in SC’s runoff elections make case for instant runoff voting

South Carolina voters - or at least handfuls of them - went to the polls on June 24 for runoff elections in 11 state legislative elections two weeks after the June 10 initial round. In the district number 4 democratic runoff for State House of Representatives, Paul Corden won a majority with fewer than 7,800 votes after falling short of a majority in early June with 14,968 votes. Overall, turnout declined by more than 48% in his runoff, and declined by at least 20% in nine other runoffs for state office held by Republicans and Democrats. South Carolina taxpayers likely spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on these runoffs; North Carolina’s statewide runoff the same day (one drawing turnout of less than 2% of registered voters) cost $5 million.

FairVote’s executive director Rob Richie said, “Ensuring winners of party nominations are not opposed by a majority of primary voters is a laudable goal. But the delayed, two-round runoff used in South Carolina isn’t working. It’s time to follow the suggestion of Senators John McCain and Barack Obama and adopt instant runoff voting in South Carolina.”

With instant runoff voting, voters have the option to rank candidates in order of preference rather than select only one choice. If no candidate receives a first choice majority, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the runoff. Ballots cast for eliminated candidates are added to the totals of the runoff candidates according to which candidate is ranked next on each ballot.

Instant runoff ballots have already been used by overseas and military voters during traditional runoffs in South Carolina since 2006. FairVote’s analysis of the 2006 elections shows high comprehension of the new system. In the eight counties where both Democratic and Republican voters had runoff elections, the valid ballot rate in the runoff was fully 100% — with all of these voters returning an instant runoff ballot casting valid ballots.

More than a dozen American cities have passed instant runoff voting or stated to use it. Sen. Barack Obama was the prime sponsor of Illinois legislation in 2002 to establish it for primaries, while Sen. John McCain that year recorded a phone announcement to support instant runoff voting in Alaska. Its advantages over delayed runoffs include: 1) less money spent on running elections; 2) fewer demands for candidates on raising money; 3) higher turnout in one election.

VOTER TURNOUT IN SOUTH CAROLINA RUNOFFS, JUNE 24, 2008 *

Runoff  Winner  Percent Decline in Turnout
State Senate District 10 - REP Dee Compton 23%
State Senate District 12 - REP Lee Bright 20%
State Senate District 13 - REP Shane Martin 16%
State Senate District 23 - REP Jake Knotts -9%
State House District 79 - REP David Herndon 34%
State Senate District 81 - REP Tom Young -3%
State House District 04 - DEM Paul Corden 48%
State Senate District 17 - DEM Creighton B Coleman 25%
State House District 101 - DEM Kenneth Ken Kennedy 41%
State House District 111 - DEM Wendell G Gilliard 33%
State House District 122 - DEM Curtis Brantley 20%

*Data for runoffs is preliminary, but reflects 100% of precincts reporting.

Today the state Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the appeal of the school funding lawsuit. See details in The State.

Here is the trailer for “Corridor of Shame.” If you haven’t yet seen the documentary, you can read background on the film and buy a copy here. Watch it, then share it with folks at your school, church or community organization.

Click here to sign the petition for a constitutional amendment to insert “high quality education” into our state constitution, replacing the current South Carolina standard of a “minimally adequate education.”

SC Progressive Network member group Sean’s Last Wish is asking for community support at tonight’s meeting of the Richland Lexington District 5 as the board makes a final decision regarding extracurricular clubs at Irmo High School. See more about the school’s policies, the history behind the GSA controversy and more at the school district’s web site.

School Board Meeting on Monday, June 23, 7pm
H.E. Corley Elementary School,
1500 Chadford Road
Irmo, SC 29063

You can see video of a recent rally supporting the GSA here.

This was forwarded by Columbia Christians for Life. Scary stuff. These folks’ preoccupation with “gay abomination” looks a whole lot like sicko titillation.

Wiley Drake is a California pastor vying to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

He caused a stir last year after he used church stationery and an Internet radio program to endorse former Gov. Mike Huckabee for president. After Americans United for Separation of Church and State protested, Drake issued a call for “imprecatory” prayer — specifically for the death of several of the AU leaders.

Using God as a hit man? Now that’s deviant!

**********

From: wileydrake @hotmail.com
Subject: Legal Same Sex Marriages
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:45:22 +0000

What Legal Same Sex Marriages Bring into society………..

Oral Sex with the ingesting of semen and anal contamination bringing about hepatitis A, gonorrhea, HIV, and hepatitis B

Rectal Sex brings a mixing bowl for saliva and its germs and/or an artifical lubricant which penetrates the rectal lining (which is only one cell thick) rectal intercourse is the most efficient way to spread hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis and a host of other blood-born diseases. This brings about the enteric parasites collectively known as “Gay Bowel Syndrome”

Urine Sex In a San Francisco survey of 655 same sex people, 5% drank urine, 7% practiced fisting, 33% ingested feces via anal/oral contact.

Some say same-sex marriage is ok and we should be concerned about the community that want same-sex marriage. We should be concerned when their life style brings early death to them and the rest of society. God called what same-sex marriages do sodomy and those who do it sodomites.

If we do not stand and fight this plague God will as He did in sodom and their neighborhood.

****************

Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:38:01 -0400
To: Columbia Christians for Life
From: Columbia Christians for Life
Subject: What Legal Same Sex Marriages Bring into society………..

Exactly - we don’t need just to DEFEND “traditional” marriage - we need to re-criminalize the filthy, immoral, abominable commission of ACTS of SODOMY!

Stephen Moller, who murdered Sean Kennedy on May 16, 2007, was sentenced June 11 to a five-year suspended sentence to three years with three years probation after he gets out of jail. He will spend about 10 months in jail, after which he is then entitled to parole. If granted, he will then be on probation for three years. Moller was also sentenced to 30 days community service, ordered to take anger management classes and undergo alcohol and drug counseling.

Sean’s mother, Elke Kennedy, held a press conference after the hearing. Here is her statement:

I want to thank you all for being here today. You have followed the story since Sean’s violent murder last year and I appreciate it. There was no justice today for my son Sean. The sentence that Stephen Moeller received is a joke and a slap on the wrist.

Once again it proves that in the state of South Carolina there is no justice for the victim, especially for a victim of a senseless, violent, bias-motivated crime. I understand that the judge had to sentence according to the plea agreement and the existing restrictions in the law, but that does not make this any easier!

Our judicial system is a joke and it is trying to make you believe that it is there to assure justice. Decisions are made by the solicitor instead of judges and juries. Like in Sean’s case, nobody will ever hear the evidence and all the facts like the voice mail because it was plea bargained by the solicitor, who has only met with me one time almost 10 month ago.

In essence, when the solicitor plea bargains any case, are they not really working for the defendant instead of the victim? Most pleas benefit only the defendant because it results in a lesser charge.

In fact, I believe that Sean’s case has been mishandled from the beginning. Getting the investigation started - we had to initiate the securing of evidence - sheriffs deputies did not take it serious. Our Solicitors got a lot of pressure about the case, received weekly phone calls from our SC senators from Washington and from congress man Inglis himself. Do any of you know of another local case that our Senators and congressman would be that interested in? I don’t!

Furthermore, our officials have known about the 25-year gap in our laws and have not done anything about it! When asked why there was this gap I was told that nobody had ever complained. Well this mother has and will continue to do so.

Bob Arial stated last October that involuntary manslaughter charge and the maximum time with that is not enough in the case of Sean’s Murder, but that is all they could do according to the existing law! Our solicitor invited me to help him change these laws - Mr. Arial - I am here, I am willing and I demand that we change these laws.

So moving forward we must identify the gaps, educate the public and we must demand all inclusive laws in our state that will protect all human beings. We need to be able to identify bias-motivated crimes and be able to report them.

Remember, this is an election year - you can make a difference!

My son was violently murdered because of hate, and as his mother I want justice. This could have happened to anybody’s son, daughter, brother or sister. My family will never be the same. A big part of our lives has been ripped out of our hearts and we are all struggling through birthdays, holidays, etc.

No mother should ever have to bury her child. No mother should ever have to lose her child to violence and hate. No mother should ever have to fight to see justice for her child!

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has commuted the death sentence of Percy Walton, who was scheduled to be executed tonight (6/10/08) at 9pm for his murders of Jessie Kendrick, Elizabeth Kendrick and Archie Moore. Late yesterday afternoon, Gov. Kaine commuted Percy Walton’s death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole, citing Walton’s severe mental illness. You can read the Governor’s statement here.

OTHER UPCOMING EXECUTIONS

Texas is expected to resume executions tomorrow night, and several others are scheduled this month. Visit NCADP.org for a schedule of upcoming executions and action opportunities.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT ACTION ON THE EAST COAST

If you are willing to sweat, get wet, bake in the sun, and have some fun while meeting and working with other committed abolitionists, consider joining in part or all of the following events. 

OR… if a little suffering for the cause is not your cup of tea, or these events don’t fit your availability, then please become a co-sponsor and help spread the word to others you know who might want to participate.

First, starting June 15: Pilgrimage and Walk of Remembrance 2008:
“Making Strides toward Abolition and Reconciliation”

Join with and/or co-sponsor this 300-mile walk from Raleigh to Washington, DC organized by Nazareth House, a Catholic Worker house ministering to the families of people on death row. It is a spiritual pilgrimage and walk of remembrance - remembering murder victims and their families, people on death row and their families, persons executed and their families and calling for abolition of the death penalty.

Begins in Raleigh on June 15. Concludes in Washington, DC on June 29 

To learn how you can help and participate click here.

And that walk is schedule to arrive at the start of Starvin’ For Justice: the 15th Annual Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the U.S. Supreme Court

June 29 - July 2, All day and into the evening, each day on the sidewalk in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Starvin, for Justice ‘08″ is the 15th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the US Supreme Court. The event is a four day fast & vigil maintaining a presence at SCOTUS, the Supreme Court Of The United States. Some of the participants fast during this time, but fasting is not required. We encounter thousands of visitors to the Court and share our message that no matter how you slice it, the death penalty is BAD PUBLIC POLICY. Much of the time is spent talking to individuals and creating visibility. Several larger events are held at key times during the event to highlight specific concerns, with a series of speakers each evening to educate, enlighten and entertain.

Those who participate in the full event arrive on June 28 and depart on July 3. June 29 and July 2 are anniversaries of key death penalty decisions: June 29th is the anniversary of the Furman v. Georgia decision in 1972, in which the U.S. Supreme Court found the death penalty to be arbitrary and capricious. More than 600 condemned inmates had their death sentences reduced to life. All states were required to re-write their death penalty laws. July 2nd is the anniversary of the Gregg v. Georgia decision in 1976 which allowed the resumption of executions in the United States.

To see photos and videos from past years and get more information, CLICK HERE.

Harriet McBryde Johnson, a well-known Charleston disability and civil rights attorney, died Wednesday. She was a longtime supporter of the SC Progressive Network, and was recognized for her activism with the Network’s 2004 Thunder and Lightning Award.

‘She worked yesterday. It’s a shock to everybody,’ said friend and attorney Susan Dunn.

She was born July 8, 1957, and had been a Charleston resident since age 10. In 2005 she wrote the book Too Late to Die Young: Nearly True Tales from a Life.

She told The Post and Courier that she became an attorney because her disability-rights work had taught her something about the impact of law on how people live. She specialized in helping people who couldn’t work get Social Security benefits.

She was chairwoman of the Charleston County Democratic Party executive committee (1988-2001); city party chair (1995-2000); secretary of city party (1989-95); national convention delegate (1996); president, Charleston County Democratic Women (1989-91); County Council candidate (1994); and a certified poll manager.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Fielding Home For Funerals.

Johnson, who was born with a neuromuscular disease, drew national attention for her opposition to ‘the charity mentality’ and ‘pity-based tactics’ of the annual Jerry Lewis muscular dystrophy telethon.

She was a talented writer. Here is a piece she wrote for POINT.

This ran in today’s op/ed section of The State. Thanks to Bennie Colclough, Co-chair of the SC Progressive Network, and C. Ray Drew, executive director of SC Equality for writing with clarity and compassion on an issue that is fracturing the student body at Irmo High School.

Alliance promotes tolerance, not sex

By BENNIE COLCLOUGH and C. RAY DREW - Guest Columnists

The question of a gay-straight alliance being formed at Irmo High School and the ensuing resignation of Principal Eddie Walker has created a firestorm of emotion in the Midlands. Thousands of people have spoken out on online blogs. Demonstrations have been held. Prayer vigils have been formed. The emotion has created tremendous misunderstanding.

Gay youth grow up isolated. They often grow up without the support of parents, ministers, teachers or friends. The pervasive negative stereotypes in our society create a horrible dissonance in the minds of gay youth: a choice between hiding the true nature of oneself or facing profound rejection from loved ones. This leads to a frightening fact: Gay teenagers are three times more likely to attempt suicide. Regardless of how you feel about gay people, no one wants our kids to kill themselves.

National research shows that 80 percent of gay students do not know a single supportive adult at school, 38 percent face hostility and violence at school, and 18 percent experience physical assault. Gay students face more verbal harassment and physical violence than any other group of students. The one mitigating factor for these students is knowing a supportive adult at school.

(more…)

The State ran this piece today on Principal Eddie Walker, who tendered his resignation (effective at the end of next year) because of the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance group at Irmo High School. The story devotes exactly half a sentence to those who support the GSA. See if you can find it.

***********

Irmo principal draws support

Many back Eddie Walker, who’s leaving school because gay-straight club violates beliefs

By JOY L. WOODSON - jwoodson@thestate.com

While Irmo High principal Eddie Walker still is not talking about his resignation announced nearly a week ago, many in the community are speaking out for him.

Support has been emerging since Walker announced in a letter that he would step down at the end of the 2008-09 school year because a gay-straight club being formed on campus was against his religious and professional beliefs.

Since then, there have been prayer meetings, groups launched on social networking Web sites and — in a strong showing earlier this week — a rally before the Lexington-Richland 5 school board, which included rounds of applause for the man who has led Irmo High since 2005.

Walker has declined repeatedly to talk with The State about his resignation, saying in an e-mail as recently as Wednesday: “I feel my initial e-mail, when read in its entirety, says everything I intended to say.”

His supporters say his refusals for media interviews aren’t surprising. The man they know isn’t swayed from his morals, and he doesn’t apologize for them.

“He has such integrity, and he’s such a great guy, and he loves his students,” said Megan Brasington, 17, a senior at Irmo High. “Those who love Mr. Walker all love Mr. Walker, and they can’t say a bad thing about him.”

She recalled a time when he listened to her mother’s objections to a summer reading book. Walker read it and later removed the book from the reading list, she said.

(more…)

Irmo Principal Eddie Walker

The brouhaha over Irmo High School Principal Eddie Walker continues to brew in the wake of his announced resignation over the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance group on campus. Claiming that the organization conflicts with his professional and religious beliefs, Walker is slated to leave at the end of the next school year.

That leaves a whole year for the community to wrestle with an issue most would rather leave, well, in the closet.

The first round in that public battle will be held tonight, when the Lexington-Richland 5 school board will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at 7pm. The agenda includes discussion of new policies for school clubs. A rally in support of gay students and their allies will be held at 6pm at Dutch Fork Elementary School, 7900 Broad River Road.

Here is the resignation letter submitted by Eddie Walker:

Dear Irmo Nation,

In March I told our faculty and staff, PTSO Board, and SIC that I would be remaining at Irmo High school for two more years. I was committed to stay through the 2009-2010 school year. I am currently in good health, am excited about the future of Irmo High school, am making new friends every day, and continuing to learn from my student heroes on a daily basis. In short I am excited about coming to work every day.

However due to a recent conflict involving my professional and religious beliefs I sent Dr. Angela Bain a letter of resignation effective June 30, 2009. On May 14, 2008, I was instructed by email to allow the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High School. On May 15, 2008 I told Ms. Ann Pilat to allow the formation of this club for the 2008-2009 school year.

Allowing the formation of this club on our campus conflicts with my professional beliefs and religious convictions. I considered resigning this year but reconsidered because to not fulfill my written contract for the 2008-2009 school year would also conflict with my professional beliefs and religious convictions. In my opinion failure to fulfill my contract would constitute a breach of trust with School District Five of Lexington and Richland County, my student heroes, returning Irmo High School employees, and new employees who have chosen to work at Irmo High school for the 2008-2009 school year.

The formation of this club conflicts with my professional beliefs in that we do not have other clubs at Irmo High school based on sexual orientation, sexual preference, or sexual activity. In fact our sex education curriculum is abstinence based. I feel the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High school implies that students joining the club will have chosen to or will choose to engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, opposite sex, or members of both sexes.

I plan to tell our students via the intercom on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 that 2008-2009 will be my last year as Principal of Irmo High School. I don’t plan to go into detail but simply plan to let them know that I will be graduating with the class of 2008-2009 next year. I don’t intend to make a big deal out of this. Let’s get it over quick so we can close this year and have a great 2008-2009 school year. I intend to work with you and our students to make 2008-2009 the best year in our illustrious history. It is very important to me that the club sponsor and all students who join this club receive Golden Rule treatment from everyone.

My decision to resign is a personal choice based on my professional beliefs and religious convictions. I have prayed about the decision for a period of time and I have a peace about it. I would ask that you respect my choice as I respect your choice to disagree with me on this issue. I bear no malice towards anyone involved. If the people involved at the district level had chosen not to allow the club to form I am sure the district would have been sued and the current legal opinions and precedents indicate that in all likelihood the district would have lost.

Sincerely, Eddie Walker

Friends of Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) gathered at the historic Robert Mills House in downtown Columbia on May 22 to honor the legislator for her commitment to progressive values and her long history of speaking truth to power.

Family and friends gathered in a downtown Greenville park on May 16 to honor the memory of Sean Kennedy on the first anniversary of his murder. His mother, Elke Kennedy, has campaigned tirelessly in the past year to educate the public and to promote passage of hate crimes legislation in South Carolina. She established Sean’s Last Wish Foundation to further that work.

After an emotional ceremony, the crowd filed down to the Falls Park bridge and dropped daisies into the Reedy River.

Read an earlier blog post about Sean here.

Today you can sign the petition for a constitutional amendment to insert “high quality education” into our state constitution, replacing the current South Carolina standard of a “minimally adequate education.”

Go to www.GoodbyeMinimallyAdequate.com. Sign the petition and then forward it to your network of friends and supporters of South Carolina’s children. South Carolinians of school age and up are encouraged to sign. NO OUT OF STATE ADDRESSES, PLEASE !!!

We are shooting for 1,000,000 signatures of South Carolinians. Let’s make history. Sign and forward now!

Bud Ferillo