The State (By Katon Dawson): Nikki Haley is South Carolina’s true reformer
http://www.thestate.com/2010/09/30/1489131/nikki-haley-is-south-carolinas.html
It is painfully obvious how the old guard in both parties will do and say anything to keep Nikki Haley from being elected governor. The most recent example is the column by a former leader of the S.C. Republican Party that was driven by either fear and jealousy or by simple misinformation (“Haley puts GOP principles at risk,” Sept. 22).
When I served as chairman of the state Republican Party during the 2004 election cycle, I had the opportunity to work directly and extensively with Nikki Haley when she first ran for office. During her six years of service in the State House, I have continued to work with her and have grown to admire her dedication to the simple but profound principles of our party.
A strong fiscal conservative who fights tirelessly for taxpayers, Nikki believes the people of our state are hard-working and honest, and they deserve a state government that reflects those values and works for the people, not the politicians. She is driven by a desire to see our state achieve the greatness that we are capable of.
As a legislator, Nikki has taken tough stands on key issues, and her political opponents have tried to make her pay a price for standing on principle.
When Nikki saw that 92 percent of bills that passed the House and 99 percent of bills that passed the Senate were on anonymous voice votes, she spoke up for taxpayers and said that was wrong: Taxpayers deserve to know exactly how their money is being spent by Columbia politicians. So for two years, she fought a bruising fight for on-the-record voting in the State House.
Although Nikki understood her opponents were well-heeled, entrenched believers in the status quo, she executed a keen political strategy. Enlisting the help of grassroots voters of all political persuasions to put pressure on individual legislators, Nikki caused many a good-ol’ boy to wonder just how he got beat at his own game.
Some of Nikki’s disgruntled detractors are now seeking to distract her attention — and the attention of voters — away from issues she is winning on. They want her to rehash this summer’s discredited and outlandish allegations. Nikki handled those allegations appropriately, and she and the voters have moved past those distractions.
Nikki Haley came through a very tough primary with a convincing victory. She tactfully delivered her message of reform to voters around out state. Record numbers voted in our primary and gave her our nomination with overwhelming support. She is wisely taking her message of reform to all of South Carolina.
I would warn readers to watch out for the good-ol’ boys who will do and say anything to try to stop her. Nikki Haley is the face of the 21st-century Republican Party, and I am proud to give her my full support and will do all I can to make sure she is elected our next governor.
