The Seneca Daily Journal

Haley is best choice

State Rep. Nikki Haley receives The Journal’s endorsement in the race for the Republican nomination for governor of South Carolina.

We believe Haley possesses the best combination of business and legislative experience, ideas and commitment needed to steer South Carolina in these very troubled times. Haley was chosen over a talented field of contenders, including U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett. It was difficult to pick Haley over Barrett. The congressman is a Westminster native and has been consistently supported by this newspaper, in the past. However, we cannot do so this time.

While it would be nice to have a resident of the Oconee/Pickens area in the governor’s mansion, the stakes are too high to choose based on sentimentality. Barrett’s support for the Obama administration’s federal bailout program and TARP funding under former President George W. Bush are not consistent with the conservative principles needed in South Carolina. Further, Barrett’s initial support of a value added tax, or VAT, followed by a reversal when called out by Haley, is troubling. Finally, the congressman has been so focused on running for governor that he has forgotten to represent us in Washington. He missed every roll call vote in February and April, and has been absent for well over half for the year. Some absences might be expected, but this much is unacceptable.

Haley offers several strong features that make her the best candidate. Raised by parents who ran a family-owned business, she is an accountant by trade who will examine South Carolina’s taxes and fees to make sure taxpayers are treated fairly and the state is an attractive place to do business. She has almost single-handedly led an effort to make state legislators more accountable by fighting to have every vote taken in Columbia recorded, so there is accountability, rather than voice votes.

She is a leader in the movement for transparency in political contributions, so that voters will know where the dollars helping candidates get elected come from, and to whom those candidates might be obligated if elected. Haley is also a proponent of term limits, a reform many believe would lead to fresh ideas and better government in South Carolina.

This is a very important election. We urge our readers to carefully consider the candidates and vote for the best choice on June 8.

Edgefield Daily Editorial
Haley: The right choice for South Carolina Governor

May 17, 2010

EDITORIAL – With the crowded field of candidates seeking to be the next governor, only one stands out as a leader that can take on the establishment of politics as usual in Columbia, Rep. Nikki Haley. Haley has shown she can defy the good old boy system and win victories for citizens, not special interests groups or the party insiders. She is the only true citizen candidate for governor.

Rep. Haley is not afraid to point to and talk about the elephant in the room, something that cost her dearly after being stripped of prominent committee appointments for forcing the legislature to place their votes on the record so voters can see how their representatives in Columbia are voting. What a novel idea, representatives actually being accountable for their votes and spending of taxpayer’s dollars.

Rep. Haley knows what it is like to run a small business in South Carolina and the burdens placed on them by the state. She knows that the private sector can do the job smarter and cheaper than government and the best way to create jobs is to get government out of the way of small businesses.

She is a true conservative and stands in the way of insidious over-regulation and over-taxation. She knows that if small businesses have more freedom and money in their hands they will invest in their companies and create more jobs rather than sending it to Columbia to be spent on pet projects by the powerful party leaders.

Haley has the much needed common sense approach to solving the problems that have been ignored, if not encouraged, by the standard bearers of the status quo in our state government for far too long.
Nikki Haley is who we need leading our state as Governor.