 In his recent filing with the Federal Election Commission, congressional candidate Mark Sanford reported receiving $2,500 from conservative mogul David Koch on February 1, the Sunlight Foundation first reported. With a net worth of approximately $34 billion, Koch is ranked by Forbes to be the fourth most-wealthy American. Executive VP of Koch Industries, a conglomerate affiliated with paper, chemicals and oil, he’s better known for political activism and special-interest lobbying. An apparent basis for his support of Sanford in this special election, the two agree on many political principals. For example, Koch is a board member of the libertarian Cato Institute. In 1980, he was vice-presidential candidate of the Libertarian Party, running on a platform that called for elimination of Social Security, minimum wage and corporate taxes. In his own political career, Sanford openly identified with the movement, calling his identification as a libertarian “ a badge of honor.” In his previous term in U.S. Congress (1995-2001), he voted against strengthening Social Security and sponsored a bill for its privatization. Both also have affiliation with the Tea Party. Koch is an original founder of Americans for Prosperity, a conservative organization affiliated with creation of the organization by its partner group, FreedomWorks. He’s also credited with providing ample funding to the Tea Party movement. Columbia’s The State newspaper says Sanford was a “ Tea Party frugal before it was politically fashionable,” and The Daily Beast says he “ was Tea Party before there was a Tea Party.” The South Carolina Libertarian Party, which has no candidate in this race, also identifies with the Tea Party movement, using the “Don’t Tread On Me” Gadsden Flag in the header logo of its website. Other notable donors to Sanford’s campaign include Thomas Ravenel, who then-governor Sanford suspended from the state treasurer’s office in 2007 after federal indictment on cocaine charges, and billionaire hedge fund investor Richard Chilton. Sanford is one of 16 Republican candidates in this special election to fill the 1st District seat, which has remained empty since January when Tim Scott assumed Jim DeMint’s senate office following resignation. The primary race is March 19; the victor of an anticipated April 2 GOP runoff will face the Democratic candidate in a May 7 final election.
 That Democrats and Republicans think differently is rather obvious to most. But these opposing political supporters even think from different parts of the brain, a recent study found. According to the recent (and appropriately titled) “ Red Brain, Blue Brain” report, Democrats have higher activity in the left insula – the part of the brain that processes internal cues and emotions – when facing risks.
When Republicans think about risk, however, they have much higher activity in the right amygdale, the region of the brain associated with fear and exterior cues. As a result, these conservative-leaning voters “show greater sensitivity to threatening stimuli,” the report concludes in its summary. In other words, Democrats tend to think through challenging circumstances before responding, while Republicans are more prone to react impulsively and emotionally to outside influences. The “Red Brain, Blue Brain” study was conducted by professors of medicine, psychology, psychiatry, biology and (of course) political science, and was released by the Public Library of Science on Feb. 13. Eighty-two subjects who identified their political preferences participated in the research, which included MRI tests conducted as they participated in risk-taking mental exercises and games. Researchers confirmed subject party identification by voting records. Although the study was just released, similar ones have circulated in recent years, and it seems the Republican Party has kept up with the topic, too. For example, a 2008 study published in Science noted that conservatives have much quicker and stronger physiological reactions to sudden noises and alarming photos than do liberal Democrats, and establishes connotation between Republicans’ knee-jerk responses and their political beliefs of increased military spending and capital punishment. | | Republican campaign platforms and political ads used that year and in following have been laden with such tactics, too. For example (and see slide show for images at the bottom of this page): - The McCain campaign was often criticized for using “fear factors,” such as calling opponent Obama a “terrorist” and implying racial division in 2008.
- Hoping to build support for offshore drilling, the GOP falsely claimed that China was drilling immediately off the coast of Cuba, threatening U.S. oil supplies.
- Arguments against the Affordable Care Act from 2009 and 2010 told of “death panels.”
- Both Republican candidates and the National Rifle Association continue false claims that “Obama will take away your guns.”
- The “Obama is a Muslim” tactic has been continuously promoted, and at times in support of the juvenile “birth certificate” argument.
- In March 2010, an internal party presentation that was leaked to media showed how the Republican National Committee intended to promote the term “socialism” as a fear-inducing tactic in voter outreach and fundraising.
- Voters saw that fraudulent “socialism” tactic regularly used in 2012, too, and from Republican candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House, not to mention the presidential race.
- A tactic now known as “Medi-scare” – a false claim that the savings Obamacare produces for Medicare were actually cuts to its benefits, thus threatening the well-being of seniors – was widely used by many campaigns.
- And in last year’s elections, strongly religious voters were pelted with ads and other communications that frequently referred to “danger” and “threats” to “Judeo-Christian” values. Some were even told that a vote for President Obama was equivalent to “reject(ing) Jesus Christ” and would “put your own soul in jeopardy,” and were threatened with the claim that their votes would “be recorded in eternity.” (See video at bottom of this page)
Apparently, and as 2012 election results showed, the population of “blue brain” Americans seems to be dominant. Another study associating political beliefs to specific operation of the brain was released recently, as well. Last year, the Univ. of South Carolina released a neurological study of similar format but focusing on different areas of the brain. Similar to the “Red Brain, Blue Brain” results, this study found members of the opposing parties to have higher activity rates in different cranial areas. | | Democrats have more activity in the part of the brain connected with wider social connections, such as friends and issues that affect more people and are inclusive of other parts of the world, the USC study concludes; on the other hand, Republicans are dominantly active in the brain region associated with tight social connections, such as family and their own personal properties and interests.
 (from The Daily Beast) John Kuhn may have ended his congressional campaign shortly after first announcing it, and due to potential violations of election laws made in a recent letter requesting donations. The Charleston attorney and one-time state senator formally declared his interest in the 1st Congressional District race on Dec. 18. In a Dec. 28 letter, a copy of which was recently posted on Summerville Patch, Kuhn requested campaign donations for the special election required to fill the seat of Rep. Tim Scott, who assumed an empty senate seat following Jim DeMint’s Dec. 6 resignation.
 (click for larger image) The single-page letter (see on right) is openly missing a disclaimer notice – the common “paid for by” box – that the Federal Election Commission requires to appear on all distributed for a campaign. Specifically, 11 CFR 110.11(c)(2) states “on printed materials, the disclaimer notice must appear within a printed box set apart from the other contents in the communication.” The common disclaimer is absent from Kuhn’s letter, however. Any materials for collection of federal campaign donations are also to list maximum contribution amounts, which for congressional races are $2,500 per person per election cycle, and other donation restrictions. Kuhn mentions no such limitations, however. In fact, his letter asks recipients to donate “as much as you possibly can(.) “I need a lot of money,” the letter reads. And if any recipient honored the request, Kuhn’s campaign might face difficulty in complying with yet another regulation. Federal campaigns are required to report to the FEC the name, mailing address, occupation and employer of all who donate over $200 in one year to political campaigns, and donation requests are to specify that requirement. Even though Kuhn’s letter requests contributions, it doesn’t ask for the needed information. The Charleston attorney seemed confident in his campaign when submitting the letter. “I have a great chance to win this election because they drew the perfect district for me after the last census.” Filing for the special election begins on Jan. 18. Primary races are scheduled for March 19, and voters will select a new congressional representative on May 7. In 2001, Kuhn was elected state senator of District 43, covering parts of Charleston and Berkeley counties. However, he lost the primary race in the next election cycle to Chip Campsen, who still holds the office. Kuhn made news in early 2012 when he endorsed Ron Paul in South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary.
 (David Becker/Getty Images) While he is still taking flak for a secret video that got released last week (see below), there were many other notable quotes and deeds from Mitt Romney in that same period that shouldn’t be overlooked. And that “ 47 percent” line wasn’t the worst of them, either. Romney appeared on Univision, a Hispanic U.S. television network, but only after his campaign team was allowed to fill the empty seats of the studio with Romney supporters. And his faux pas (or “paso en falso”) wasn’t the tanned, Spanish skin tone that some media thought to be his cosmetic attempt to look Latino. Romney reportedly refused to enter the stage when called by the hosts (“ threw a tantrum,” according to one witness) because he didn’t like this traditional intro of the network. He forced the crew to start shooting all over again with his own favored introduction of last-minute planning. Speaking about his goal to repeal the Affordable Care Act on Sunday’s 60 Minutes, Romney suggested that folks without insurance could simply go to a hospital emergency room when they needed medical care. Not only is this practice partly responsible for the very high cost of medical care in the U.S., and even for the high cost of medical insurance for others, but it’s also the exact opposite of what Romney told voters in his last presidential campaign. In a 2008 debate of Republican candidates, Romney said “they shouldn’t be allowed to just show up at the hospital and say, somebody else should pay for me.” After long wait and uncountable requests, on Sept. 21 Romney finally released his most recent tax return. He could have taken an additional $1.75 million in deductions for charitable donations, too, he points out, but chose not to, thus increasing his tax burden. But just weeks ago in July, Romney said he would never, ever pass up on a possible tax deduction; in fact, to do so would mean he shouldn’t get elected, he said. “(F)rankly if I had paid more than are legally due, I don’t think I’d be qualified to become president.” This release of his last tax return didn’t answer many questions, either, and instead just created new ones. Lastly, Romney thinks the aircraft industry has long overlooked one needed improvement – retractable windows! Explaining how an onboard electrical mishap delayed his wife’s flight last Friday, Romney said “you can’t find any oxygen from outside the aircraft to get in the aircraft, because the windows don’t open. I don’t know why they don’t do that. It’s a real problem.” Of course, airplane windows don’t open for three main reasons: 1) there is a depreciation of oxygen at flight altitudes, meaning passengers would pass out and quickly die, 2) the temperature is far below zero at such elevations, and 3) passengers would be sucked out of their pressurized cabins. (Add in all the litter from folks tossing out their empty peanut packs, and it’s even clearer.) And this, folks, is just a one-week recap of the man who wants to be your president.
 Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Mitt Romney flip-flops so much that an opponent once referred to him not as pro-choice, but multiple choice. He owns a gun/he doesn't own a gun. He's always been Republican/he used to be independent. He was disappointed in Reagan/he wants to be like Reagan. And he's flipped on stem cell research almost as frequently as he's gone from "don't ask" to "do tell." In short, Romney can't seem to make up his mind on any important issue. He's catching a lot of flak for that, too, as the campaign season picks up pace. But perhaps the most telling of his flip-floppiness is a report that his primary opponent had compiled against him back in the 2008 race. John McCain's campaign team compiled a very detailed account on Romney, covering his personal history. One full section of the report detailed the many turnarounds Romney made during his political career - abortion, immigration, taxes, the Second Amendment, and more. Read the entire 200-page document here on Robservations. If he changes his mind so often, then how can we count on him to be president?
 Ed Carter won Republican Party nomination for State House Dist. 97 in Tuesday’s primary, according to election results. But Richard Hayes, chair of Dorchester County’s Democratic Party, suspects Carter is ineligible to continue his candidacy due to blatant errors in campaign filing records. Hayes now formally challenges Carrol Duncan, chair of the county GOP, to produce the paper records of Carter’s Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) to validate his candidacy. “Carter filed his SEI online before the candidate filing period actually began,” Hayes says. “Duncan let the county election commission think she got a paper copy of his SEI during the actual filing period, though.” Hayes requests that Duncan provide him and/or local media with copies of Carter’s SEI and Statement of Intention of Candidacy. According to records of the state Ethics Commission, Carter filed his SEI for this year’s campaign on March 13. (See image below.) Filing didn’t begin until two days later, however.
 A candidate's SEI was to be filed online with the state Ethics Commission; a paper copy of that same SEI, complete with date and time stamp, could then be printed from Ethics' website immediately in following. That printed copy was then to be submitted simultaneously with other paperwork to a county’s party chair. (See sample in right column.) “If Duncan and Carter did this correctly, then they have the paperwork,” says Hayes. “And since there’s already questionability found in the public records of his filing, then either Duncan needs to put up or Carter needs to pull out.” Section 8-13-1356 of South Carolina’s Code of Law states: “A candidate must file a statement of economic interests for the preceding calendar year at the same time and with the same official with whom the candidate files a declaration of candidacy or petition for nomination.” The Code’s Section 7-11-15 requires that such candidate registration occur “between noon on March sixteenth and noon on March thirtieth,” however. As a result, Hayes asserts, the documentation of his March 13 filing could indicate Carter is ineligible to continue his campaign. Two recent state Supreme Court decisions support Hayes’ claims, as well. In its May 1 case, the court ruled: “We grant declaratory relief as follows: (1) that individuals not exempt who are seeking nomination by political party primary to be a candidate for office must file a Statement of Economic Interest (SEI) at the same time and with the same official with whom the individuals file a Statement of Intention of Candidacy (SIC); (2) that an official authorized to receive SICs may not accept the forms unless they are accompanied by an SEI; (3) that an individual who did not file an SEI at the same time and with the same official with whom the individual filed an SIC should not appear on the party primary election ballot or the general election ballot(.)” In its June 4 case, the court ruled: “(F)iling a paper copy of an SEI simultaneously with the filing of an SIC is the only method by which a non-exempt individual can comply with § 8-13-1356.” “How could Carter have filed paper copies of the required documents simultaneously?” Hayes asks. “It’s public record he filed his SEI online two days early, and before any registration could be accepted. “And since Carter filed it early, then how can Duncan have the dated paper copy of the SEI she’s supposed to have received and retained?"
 On June 7 Joshua Dickard, executive director of County Elections and Voter Registration, submitted an email to both county party chairs requesting final validation of all candidates. “Please submit any decertified names to my office by 4:00 p.m. today,” Dickard wrote.
Because all of Dorchester County’s Republican candidates, including Carter, remained on the June 12 ballots, Duncan apparently submitted no listing of decertification, Hayes assumes.
“Since she didn’t decertify any candidates, then that means she’s sworn to have the documentation,” he states.
“So let me say it one more time: either Duncan needs to put up or Carter needs to pull out.”
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.
 Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy (U.S. Army, Retired) National defense and foreign policy were the featured topics of last night’s debate of Republican presidential candidates. But “not one candidate” offered legitimate responses to questions, says Claudia Kennedy, a retired Lieutenant General (Army) residing in Hilton Head. The 90-minute debate was held at Spartanburg’s Wofford College. Participating candidates were Rep. Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Rep. Ron Paul, Gov. Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. “We heard a lot of bold statements from the Republican candidates for president (last night), but what we didn’t hear from a single candidate…was an approach that would improve on President Obama’s successful efforts in every aspect of foreign policy and national security,” Lt. Gen. Kennedy said. “Not one candidate on the stage tonight offered an approach to foreign policy that is as strong or consistent as Pres. Obama’s.” The policy statements issued last night ranged from withholding foreign aid to allies (Perry) to “taking out” scientists in Iran (Gingrich) – even approval of torture (Bachmann and Cain). Lt. Gen. Kennedy’s strongest criticism was of Romney, “who has taken both or all sides of every major foreign policy issue we have faced over the past decade,” she said, offering examples of the former Massachusetts governor’s consistent changes in stance on critical issues. “Mitt Romney opposed the effort to depose Gaddafi, and then praised it when it occurred. He has taken both sides on withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and both sides on timetables. While Mitt Romney once questioned the conduct of the war in Iraq, he now wants to keep American troops there indefinitely without defining a mission. And while Mitt Romney has been saber rattling on Iran, he has said he’d have to consult with his lawyers about whether or not to take action against Iran.” These inconsistencies don’t indicate indecision alone, Lt. Gen. Kennedy says. It also appears Romney sometimes switches to whatever stance is popular after-the-fact. “Romney has repeatedly changed his positions on foreign policy to suit his own political ends – an affliction which I understand extends to his approach to domestic issues as well. A Commander-in-Chief often gets only one chance to make the right decision on issues of foreign policy and national security and Mitt Romney has shown time and again he doesn’t have the strength of his convictions to make the right call.” Whichever candidate finally wins the nomination won’t be able to challenge his or her opponent on these topics in the General Election next year, she says. “Pres. Obama has secured our country, taken out terrorist leaders including Bin Laden, led the international coalition which toppled Gaddafi, has ended the war in Iraq, is responsibly managing the war in Afghanistan, led an international coalition to impose the most stringent regime of sanctions that Iran has ever faced and has done all this while restoring our standing in the world.” Lt. Gen. Kennedy served 31 years in the U.S. Army, retiring in June 2000. She was on the slate of potential vice presidential candidates in 2008, and in 2010 was appointed chairwoman of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. The first woman in the Army to rise to three-star general, she served in the roles of senior intelligence officer for the U.S. Forces Command and Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence. Kennedy’s awards include the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and four Legions of Merits decorations. Another South Carolina debate of Republican candidates is scheduled for January 16 in Myrtle Beach, just five days before the January 21 primary election in the state.
 On Saturday night, Spartanburg’s Wofford College will host 1,500 attendees and 200 journalists for the latest debate of eight Republican presidential candidates. There could be just as many people protesting outside the event’s Benjamin Johnson Arena location, though. Progressive groups across the state scheduled demonstrations that evening in the city and directly across from the debate site. Russell Bannan organized a protest march in representation of worker’s rights and social justice, and participants will include the South Carolina Progressive Network, the state’s AFL-CIO and other labor unions, and Jobs with Justice. Those particular issues hit home here, he says. “The GOP right now has been on a non-stop attack, especially in South Carolina, against organized labor’s rights and worker’s rights to collectively bargain,” political activist Bannan told the local Patch. He anticipates participation from hundreds. The march begins from Morgan Square at 6 p.m. Another demonstration begins at 4 p.m. at the corner of Evins and Church Sts. Debbie Gardner Morrow, a progressive organizer in Spartanburg, has recruited many to join her in a functional, but still fun, demonstration. Choreographed signage will be combined with parody songs in a sarcastic-yet-spirited theme at the gathering, she said. The focus of Morrow’s demonstration is quite a smorgasbord. Basically, any of the many things that progressive minds find unbalanced at the moment – “unemployment, energy and the environment, good education, voter suppression, wars, women’s rights and civil rights, income disparity, unfair taxation” – can be targeted, Morrow said. She expects participants from not just the Spartanburg and Greenville area, but from as far away as Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Charleston, too. Local “Occupy” groups in the state have also hinted at possible demonstrations that day. The 90-minute debate, hosted by CBS News and the National Journal, begins at 8 p.m. Scott Pelley of CBS and National Journal’s Major Garrett will be the moderators. The first hour will be broadcast live on Spartanburg’s CBS affiliate, WSPA-2. Patch.com’s Taylors-Wade Hampton edition will also host an online viewing, and with guest commentators that include Examiner’s Rob Groce. The eight Republican candidates for president who’ll appear are Rep. Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Rep. Ron Paul, Gov. Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. Foreign affairs and national security are the anticipated topics of focus. In an average of most recent polls of South Carolina Republican voters, Cain has a four-point lead over Romney, with Gingrich taking a distant third place. Another South Carolina debate of Republican candidates is scheduled for January 16 in Myrtle Beach, just five days before the January 21 primary election in the state.
 Rep. Michele Bachmann’s speech from Patriots Point this evening was thrown askew by demonstrators. About eight minutes into her address on national security, the presidential candidate was interrupted when approximately 30 Occupy Charleston members stood in orchestrated protest. Initiating calls for “mike check!” were followed by an organized alert of respectful intent: “this will only take a minute,” the group announced collectively. “We have a message for Ms. Bachmann,” they continued in organized address, specifying needs for the government to represent citizens instead of corporations. “This does not help the American people,” was the thematic conclusion of Occupy Charleston’s demonstration, which was sporadically interrupted by other attendees.
Bachmann left the podium escorted by police shortly after the interruption. When Occupy Charleston peacefully left the hosting USS Yorktown facility, chanting “we are the 99 percent” in their exit, Bachmann returned to complete her address.
Afterwards, Bachmann said “They have a right to do that, but how disrespectful to do that in a roomful of veterans.”
Occupy Charleston issued the following statement this evening shortly after its demonstration:
“Today Occupy Charleston invoked the first amendment at a speech by presidential candidate Michele Bachmann. Together in unison we took advantage of the moment to address the system and the people within it as to the unjust role of corporate money in politics. Michele Bachmann was not our target in this action; she is a representative of the institutional and legal corruption that has infected our country – a system of corruption that values profit over people and is driven by the financial interest of the few against the many.”
This evening’s protest was the first public event for Occupy Charleston since its 99-hour campout at Charleston’s Brittlebank Park from the 19th to the 23rd of October.
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