Fearlessness

In the unending drama that is the race for the Republican governor nomination, Jakie Knotts made the comment in reference to Nikki Haley: “We got a raghead in Washington; we don’t need one in South Carolina.” In an attempt to backpedal, Knotts said his comments were made ‘in jest‘, and that the ‘humor was lost in translation’. After all, everyone knows that Pub Politics is the local scene’s version of SNL.

Moving on from my disbelief that Jakie knows what SNL is…

Obviously, Jakie faced political pressure to apologize. And I can personally testify that he says stupid things when drunk (I don’t know if he was, but it was at a bar). But a joke? A joke? Let’s look at a past incident that I think shows his true character.

In 2003-04, the “lost tribe” of Somali Bantus was relocated in numerous states across America. The Bantus were enslaved, robbed, assaulted, and murdered as they wandered in Africa. Originally, the State Department planned to settle half the Midlands group in Cayce and half in Columbia. But in October 2003, they decided to put all the group in Columbia, due to protests. The protests came from citizens like this woman, and from a legislator named Jakie Knotts.

During hearings at Cayce City Hall, and Brookland Cayce High School, Knotts voiced his concerns about what “those people” would do to our community. Eyewitness testimony (my mother, for full disclosure) from the BC hearing: Knotts was florid, angry, and very vocal in his opposition to the community taking in the Somali Bantus. He expressed concern that they would not ‘integrate’ and would cause a drain on our resources. (Like he was concerned about Obamacare’s impact…and a third Midlands heart center….etc….)

I am a Nikki Haley supporter. I am not an Obama supporter. But I condemn Jakie’s comments about them both equally. Because a person’s race does not make them who they are. Religion does, yes, but that does not give you the right to condemn them. And in this case, you are making a false condemnation.

Jakie has shown, over years, who he truly is. I support Katrina Shealy in his bid to oust him, and I urge the voters of Lexington County to do the same. End the hate in the Republican Party. Hasn’t our state seen enough?