A little fun at the closing of a recent function created quite a stink in the state, and even circulated to national media that don’t seem to want to let this issue die down.

But what is this issue, exactly, and how on earth did it become such a mess?

At a picnic following the recent annual conference of the South Carolina Progressive Network, Donna Dewitt – the soon-too-retire president of the state’s AFL-CIO – struck a piñata that carried the name and image of Gov. Nikki Haley.

A video of that sarcastic gesture at the private event (see below) quickly went viral, and – for some reason – launched a tidal wave of angry responses from the governor, her supporters and even national networks. 

Since then, Dewitt’s had to appear on national television to answer questions about the event. Another AFL-CIO official in the state (Brett Bursey) got questioned by FOX News.

And somehow, for some reason, and which many nationwide now know, striking a piñata that carries the image of another person is a very, very bad thing to do.  Forget the fact that those traditional party features are regularly made in the images of very popular personalities, and even in a bride-and-groom format that gets knocked around at weddings – it’s wrong, dammit.

But if folks want to believe that hitting a Haley piñata is a terrible thing to do, and if we’re going to make Dewitt (a great person, by the way) go through grilling questions on nationwide television broadcasts, then why aren’t these same people and media asking Haley to own up for what she’s done to us so far in just this first year-and-a-half of her term?

Apparently, there’s a double-standard when it comes to issues involving elected officials and those involving everyday citizens.  For example:

It’s okay for Haley to campaign on a platform of less spending, small government and an end to cronyism, only to then begin paying her staff almost a quarter-million more than the last governor did.

Striking a piñata with her name and picture on it is very wrong, however.

It’s okay for Haley to ignore her job right after she took the governor’s office so she could begin writing her autobiography, and then to ignore that job even more as she runs around attempting to promote that book.

Taking a stick to a piñata that has her image on it, though, is somehow wrong.

It’s okay for Haley to promise to help senior citizens register to vote, only to break that promise, leaving those seniors on the phone with Haley’s staff who didn’t know anything about that promise.

But hitting a Haley piñata is bad.

It’s okay for Haley to spend our money to build a wine cellar in the governor’s mansion.

Hitting a piñata that carries her face is a no-no.

It’s okay for Haley to spend $127,000 of tax-payer dollars on a trip to Paris, and it’s okay for her to spend additional money on having her staff meetings at exclusive vacation getaways instead of her own office.

It’s wrong to smack a $19.99 piñata that bears her name, though.

It’s okay for Haley to call a reporter who asks her important questions about those tax-payer funded vacations “a little girl.”

Hitting a little piñata with Haley’s picture on it is somehow wrong.

It’s okay for Haley to sell her endorsement to other politicians in exchange for $36,000.

However, it’s quite erroneous to hit a piñata with Haley’s picture on it.

It’s okay for Haley to say on national television that “women don’t care about contraception.”

Women like Haley do care, though, when a piñata gets used like a piñata is supposed to be used, but which you can’t do if it has her name or photo on it.

It’s okay for Haley to remove a woman who gave over $70 million to the state university from its board of trustees in exchange for a guy who have Haley’s campaign $4,500.

But, nope – hacking at the Haley piñata is bad.

It’s okay for Haley to sign an executive order to block workers who are on strike from collecting unemployment, and apparently only as a publicity stunt since striking workers don’t get unemployment benefits anyway.

But hitting a piñata that has her picture on it is wrong.

It’s okay for Haley to declare representation of workers is “not needed, not wanted, and not welcome” in South Carolina, seeking to knock our citizens further down the ladder into serfdom.

Using a piñata in the exact way a piñata is supposed to be used is gravely wrong, though, if it has Haley’s name and picture on it.

It’s okay for Haley to play around with a $1 million federal grant to such a degree that the federal government is calling for an investigation on misuse of funds. It’s also okay for Haley to actively delete all of her office’s email records pertaining to that misuse of the $1 million grant, not only breaking her own promise of transparent government, but also violating state law against disposal of public records.

But whopping a piñata with her picture on it is wrong.

It’s okay for Haley to have 23 arrested for exercising their right to assembly on public property, even though there’s been federal ruling on the books for over 50 years protecting that right.

Don’t hit a piñata if it carries her picture, though.

It’s okay for Haley to block the bipartisan and unanimously approved Stroke Prevention Act here in this state that ranks fifth highest in number of strokes, and to try to veto a total of four bills that pertain to improving healthcare in the state.

But smacking a piñata with Haley’s picture must be worse than a stroke or any of the other medical maladies she wants to ignore.

It’s okay for Haley to try to veto three bills that pertain to funding of the state’s Dept. of Health and Environmental Control, and only as vengeance for the time when DHEC denied approval of a project attempted by Haley’s former employer.

But striking a piñata – which is exactly what you’re supposed to do with a piñata – is wrong, simply because it has Haley’s picture on it.

It’s okay for Haley to appoint a new board for DHEC, which now votes exactly the way she tells it to.

It’s not okay to use a piñata in the way it’s supposed to be used, though, if that piñata is a Haley piñata.

It’s okay for Haley to sell out our state and harm the development of its major port by aiding the development of that port’s biggest competitor in another state, which could cost South Carolina 280,000 jobs – and all in exchange for campaign donations she received from that other state.

But don’t even think about hitting a Haley piñata.

It’s okay for Haley to be implicated in an IRS investigation of false reporting and sneaky financial tricks, including illegal contributions to a political candidate, in her role as treasurer of her family’s (supposedly) non-profit organization.

But who the hell do you think you are to use a piñata as a piñata if it carries Haley’s picture?

It’s okay for Haley for interfere with the state legislature’s own investigation of those charges, too.

But damn you and your name and your reputation if you have the audacity to smack a piñata, even though that’s what you’re supposed to do with a piñata, if that piñata has picture of Haley on it.

And now that the piñata bashing is all over and done with, it’s okay for Haley to use this incident as a fund-raising scheme, asking for donations on her website and twitter account to help her “fight back now against the bullying of Liberal unions,” and by sending emails saying she needs campaign money to “show big labor we will not stand for their bullying.”

See how different things are supposed to be if you’re a governor? And even for a quite unpopular governor, who’s never had an approval rating higher than 37.3 percent since the day she took the office?

Don’t worry, Donna Dewitt. You’ve got plenty of back-up. And hopefully media will begin paying attention to issues that matter, like all of the trash going on in Haley’s less-than-half term so far as governor.

But if it doesn’t, and if they decide to only pay attention to stuff like this, I’ll be glad to be your designated hitter at the next piñata party. 

Before the badly-informed public continues use of the “right to work” term in a positive light, they should take a look at the true impositions the far-right’s anti-labor sentiment imposes on them.

For example, check out this recent graph created by Think Progress. The United States is the only country listed that does not offer a guaranteed right of paid maternity leave from the workplace. 

And before anyone yells out “socialist!” take a good look at that list of countries featured on the graph – Germany, Italy, South Africa and almost all of the others are republics with governments elected by the people (and that have solid capitalist economies with profitable companies and corporations).

Ones with paler economies (Mexico, Venezuela) have it, and even a country with a much stricter, male-dominated social structure (Pakistan) guarantees that right to its women workers, too.

And there are many, many more than just those 14 countries listed on the graph that offer this basic benefit. In fact, aside from the United States, only Papua New Guinea (which has only five medical doctors for every 100,000 citizens) and Swaziland (which has a life expectancy of only 32 years) don’t guarantee this medical benefit.

That’s right – we’re one of only three countries on the planet that does not provide its citizens with a guaranteed right of paid maternity leave.

But it doesn’t stop there; 74 countries offer paid paternity leave, too, with 31 of those nations guaranteeing 14 weeks to new fathers. 

We’re also notably absent from the list of 48 countries that guarantee paid time off to parents who need to care for sick children.

It gets a lot worse for U.S. workers, too; 163 countries have paid sick leave, not limited to maternity, as a basic right – but not the United States. Even though 86 percent of the population says it should be guaranteed – even 81 percent of those who self-identify as conservative – we’re still far behind the rest of the world.

Federal government employees have that right (and so does the state of Connecticut recently, due to campaigns by that state’s Working Families Party), but everyone else in the private sector is left at the mercy of their employers.

That mercy ain’t much, either – 16 percent of American workers say that they or at least one of their relatives has been punished by employers, reprimanded, or even fired because of missing work due to an illness. 

In this election year, let’s keep basic labor rights included in the questions we ask candidates. Make sure they defend these rights and freedoms in the Land of the Free, and help the United States join the rest of the modern world.

And if the candidates you speak with disagree? Tell them there’s plenty of room for their kind over in Papua New Guinea and Swaziland.

Little did Donna Dewitt know of the wave of troubles and ill will her demeaning and insensitive actions last week would bring upon the nation.

Instead of the intended results of a shower of candy, smacking a piñata bearing the image of South Carolina governor Nikki Haley produced a spill of animosity instead.

But while outgoing state AFL-CIO president Dewitt has had to answer for her completely cruel behavior on national news, it appears that a completely new stick is wildly swinging across the country in hopes of gaining its own sweets and treats.

Today, country music legend Willie Nelson filed suit against a piñata manufacturer for producing stuffed dolls in his image. Joining Nelson are pop star Justin Bieber and Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, whose likenesses are also borne by best-selling piñatas. 

DC Comics will be joining this trend, its attorneys announced this morning, and to protect the image of its Batman character. “He’s, like, undefeatable,” the company’s attorney said. “To have kids whack him with a stick is – you know, an insult to his character, no matter what goodies the piñata gives them in exchange.”

Further indicating the severity of the cruelness Dewitt instigated, hundreds of children across the country have filed class-action against a senseless company that produces a piñata in the image of their Sesame Street pal Elmo.

A couple who recently separated just hours after their wedding ceremony are planning to file complaint as well, blaming their irreparable differences on the bride and groom piñata featured at their wedding reception. 

Joining this trend, the national Republican Party has filed suit against a company for producing piñatas in the image of its elephant logo. The consumers of that particular piñata have filed a counter-suit, however, complaining that the GOP piñata only produced IOUs and pink slips.

In what appears to be last-second stab at redemption by the person who started all this, Dewitt has also filed suit, and on behalf of all the workers – both employed and unemployed – in South Carolina.

In her complaint, Dewitt states that she injured her back while attempting to open the piñata that carried an image of the governor. “If Haley’s skull wasn’t that thick, all of us wouldn’t be in so much pain right now,” Dewitt said.

 A new Violence Against Women Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday evening, with all of South Carolina’s Republican congressmen voting for it, including Dist. 1’s representative, Tim Scott.

This version of VAWA (H.R. 4970) doesn’t live up to its stated purpose, however, says Bobbie Rose, who is Scott’s Democratic opponent in the 2012 election year.

The House version distinctly differs from the one passed last month in the Senate (S. 1925), which removed the obstacles many immigrants regularly encounter when reporting abuse, and extended coverage to the gay, lesbian and transgender community. S. 1925 also addressed the high levels of abuse Native American and Native Alaskan women endure in their communities, expanding their independent prosecution of domestic violence committed in their own jurisdiction. .

“Rather than reauthorize a bipartisan act, the House of Representatives chose to make a very partisan statement,” Rose says.  “They decided that their female constituents would be best served if a group of GOP sheep determined which woman, which mother, which wife and which daughter should receive protection and aid from our government. They, in their infinite wisdom, determined that immigrant, Native American and LGBT women should be afforded no protections at all!” 

The restrictive bill, which removed those terms from the Senate version, barely passed the House on May 17 with only a 222-205 vote. Scott and other South Carolina Republicans all voted for H.R. 4970.

“Unsurprisingly, our own Rep. Tim Scott voted with his guru, Eric Cantor, and the majority of the House to pass a bill that decides which women in America will be afforded protection from a violent abuser,” Rose protests.  

So limiting is the House Republicans’ version of VAWA that even the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women opposes it, declaring it to be “dangerous for victims(.)”

The National Task Force strongly supported the Senate version of VAWA, however.

Scott’s support for this restrictive format of the bill, Rose says, should send a clear message to voters that the incumbent congressman fails to represent this constituents. “A 13-year average shows that 36,000 South Carolina women are victims of domestic violence every year, and 33 of those women are murdered by their abusers.”

The Palmetto State has held the dismal rank of first of all 50 states in homicide committed against women by men, and 12.5 percent of the South Carolina women are victims of physical abuse at least once in their lifetimes.

H.R. 4970 will now return to the Senate for consideration.

“I ask that everyone who loves and respects a woman, a wife or a mother to join me in protesting this abuse of the authority we granted our congressmen,” Rose says. 

Defending women’s rights is a key platform issue of Rose’s campaign.  

You can't teach an old dog new tricks. But if that dog comes back to life, it's opportunities are endless!

Take Mitt Romney's former pooch, Seamus, for example. In this election year, Romney's been haunted by his former pet from yesteryear, who was once (as everyone around the world now knows) strapped upon the roof of his car while the Romney's ventured on a 650-mile road trip. 

Not only has the memory of that animal and its torturous trek been preserved by consistent media reports, but it appears to have launched a reincarnation of Seamus, too, who last night came back to life in the form of Seattle news reporter Nancy Guppy.

Arriving at the 38th annual Seattle International Film Festival last night, Guppy crawled out of a pet cage strapped atop the roof of a car.

(from a Ken Lambert/Seattle Times photo)

At least Guppy could tolerate the journey much better than Seamus did. She didn't need to be cleaned up at a car wash, like Romney had to do to his (now immortal) pooch. 

****
Also see:
'Dogs Against Romney' hit Charleston campaign event

When it comes to campaigning for office, there are some things a politician simply can’t do.

For example, a candidate for public office can’t openly affiliate with any person, group or entity that has any questionable record. Doing so automatically associates the candidate with the negative public reception that entity can have.

Somebody needs to tell that to a couple of South Carolina Republicans, though, who are both having significant portions of their campaigns operated by a company affiliated with adult entertainment.

Summerville Media Group designed and operates the websites of two Republican candidates in Dorchester County – Ed Carter for State House 97 and Bill Hearn, the incumbent County Councilman for District 6.

For verification, simply check the bottom-right corners of each one’s website. At both www.edcarterforthehouse.org and www.billhearn.org will you read “Proudly powered by Summerville Media Group,” complete with link.

It’s when that latter link is explored that things get interesting. Summerville Media Group’s site not only offers additional verification that it designed those political pages (it has images of Carter’s site posted as a sample its web design, for example), but it lists other sites designed and maintained by SMG, too – including (get ready) “Sexy Skin Magazine.”

SMG lists “Sexy Skin” as a proud example of its site design and online marketing.

Using only its SMG page description as source, “Sexy Skin” seems to promote itself as a hub for amateur porn, inviting persons to offer their own photographs for a weekly contest.

“Do you have what it takes?” that website asks, inviting ladies to submit their own pictures. The winner of its “Hottie of the Week” contest can get “a chance to shoot a ‘Feature Layout’ with a Sexy Skin Magazine feature staff photographer.”

SMG affiliation with “Sexy Skin” delves a little deeper, too. It also does “a lot of the Photo Edits of the girls,” its site states, as well as “design the magazine covers for all the issues.”

(Another site claiming affiliation with “Sexy Skin,” and making the exact same “Photo Edits of the girls” claims of personal contribution to it, is that of 106 Designs, which apparently is another name used by SMG. Adding to the GOP:Porn affiliation, 106 Designs lists the website of Dorchester County’s Republican state Rep. Chris Murphy as one of its projects.)

This certainly seems to be an inappropriate affiliation for any politician to have (let alone openly acknowledge, as indicated by their sites’ “proudly powered by” links), but this is a pretty standard theme for South Carolina Republicans.

Take Roland Corning, for example. This former state representative was an assistant deputy Attorney General for the state when he was found in a cemetery one afternoon with an 18-year-old strip dancer – and Viagra. Corning’s a SC Republican.

So is Beverly Russell, who in fact was on the executive committee of the state’s Republican Party. Russell admitted under oath that he had molested his teenaged stepdaughter for over nine years.

Then there’s former Gov. Mark Sanford, who was busted for using taxpayer dollars to fund his extramarital affair in Argentina. Sanford’s GOP, too.

And let’s not forget the longstanding Republican segregationist Strom Thurmond, who impregnated a 16-year-old African-American woman, and then denied being the father of the child throughout his 47-year term in U.S. Congress.

(This isn’t limited to South Carolina Republican officials, please note. Consider the long listing on www.republicansexoffenders.com, which apparently couldn’t keep up with the multitude of consistent news releases of such incidents – it hasn’t been updated since mid-2008.)

This soft-porn affiliation isn’t extended to the Democratic opponents of Carter and Hearn, though. Incumbent Dist. 97 Rep. Patsy Knight has her website maintained by Harbor Light, which includes in its long portfolio not a single site that a kid couldn’t see.

And the same can be said for Miriam Birdsong, the Democratic candidate for Hearn’s county council Dist. 6 spot. Birdsong’s site (still under some construction at the moment) is being made by John Kauth, a photographer with some dazzle in website design. 

There are no accusations of reading dirty magazines or visting porn shops cast upon either of these Republican candidates, but if Hearn says he will “lead by example,” and if Carter claims “personal responsibility” as an attribute, then perhaps both should live up to those claims by answering to the affiliation their political campaigns now carry.