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Anderson County Republican Party censures MacKay
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Raymond MacKay
ANDERSON COUNTY — The Anderson County Republican Party’s executive committee voted unanimously Monday night to censure Raymond MacKay for participating in the South Carolina Democratic Presidential Preference Primary, then filing to run as a Republican for Anderson County Council.
MacKay is a candidate for the District 1 seat currently held by Republican Bob Waldrep. A run-off election between MacKay and Waldrep is scheduled for June 24. The winner will have no opposition in the general election in November, as no Democratic candidate filed for the seat.
Questions about MacKay’s party loyalty erupted after Waldrep sent a mailing to District 1 residents alleging that MacKay is a Democrat.
MacKay fired back, citing his service as a Young Republican at age 16 and as a delegate to the South Carolina State Republican Convention in 1974. He also said he has voted for every Republican presidential nominee since Gerald Ford was president.
MacKay said he voted for John Edwards during the presidential preference primary because Edwards was a South Carolina native running a distant third, and he wanted Edwards to have a good showing in his home state.
The party’s reprimand came as no surprise, MacKay said. He accused the Waldrep campaign of making a lot out of a single vote in an effort to distract attention from the incumbent’s “dismal” voting record.
“Obviously there are some people in Anderson County that want to tell the people in District 1 how to vote in this election,” MacKay said Tuesday. “I will continue to trust the voters of this district to chose the candidate with the right vision for a positive, progressive Anderson County.”
The censure is a statement condemning MacKay’s actions but has no effect on his candidacy. State law allows residents to vote in the primary of their choice, regardless of party affiliation.
But Anderson County Republican Party chairman Lee Rogers said the party’s membership did not understand how MacKay could vote in the Democratic primaries in January, then run as a Republican in March.
“It’s not uncommon, but the folks in the party feel it’s disingenuous,” Rogers said.
Neither MacKay nor Waldrep sit on the party’s executive committee.
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My common sence tells me to vote for Waldrep.
I am a proud republican and I would not have been caught dead in a democratic primary.
Someone explain to me what all this has to do with our local government? So far, Waldrop has done a pretty crappy job and I still believe that MacKay will do a better job no matter how he voted in the past. My confidence and full support is still with MacKay.
In response to Ms. Cenac:
Don't take this the wrong way, as it is not directed only towards you. I am tired of small grammatical and contextual errors in Independent-Mail news articles.
"MacKay said he voted for Edwards...because he was a South Carolina running in a distant third..."
I think the quote was a South Carolina NATIVE.
The AIM also used the colloquial word 'hooker' in a headline today in a story regarding a dispute between a prostitue and her stab victim.
I have seen many other errors and slang usage over the past several years, but this is the first time I have complained. These journalistic gaffes have increased in number lately, and frankly, I am discouraged and embarassed by this, my hometown newspaper.
What it has to do with our local government is as follows. With our current economic climate our local government need to shrink and not continue to grow as it has during the last 10 years. We need someone to champion the taxpayers of Anderson County, and at least Mr. Waldrep has some experience in this area.
Censured, huh? Ooohhh...that sounds scary...
Come on Heidi. This story broke last night and people have been posting on the Cocklebur Forum all day. Give us a story with some meat to it. Do two minutes of research and give us the names of those on the Anderson County Republican Executive Committee who voted to censure Mr. MacKay. Take a few more minutes to research and post Mr. MacKay's actual voting record and while you're at it why not post Mr. Waldrep's also. Is there any precedent for a censure of this type? What might the ramifications be for the candidates or the committee? Did you go out and interview citizens of the county to get their take on this? Has anyone from the Republican Party state or national level gotten involved?
Blindly being either Republican or Democrat seems to me to be foolish. Wasn't there another South Carolinian that changed his party affiliation a number of times when he felt the other folks in the party were heading in a direction he choose not to take? Listening to all that is being said, looking at all the available information and then making an informed decision seems to me to be most reasonable. "The party," regardless of which one you choose, doesn't want you to think, they simply want you to do as they tell you, blindly. If you don't you're a threat to them and they will get rid of you any way they can.
First of all, one's vote is a personal, private affair. Secondly, I thought we lived in a nation that votes for individuals running for office, not a party standard. MacKay should have the right to vote for ANY person he feels best suited for office. Just because I may occasionally vote Democrat does not mean my ideology isn't Republican. I am ashamed of the Republican party to take this very un-American stand.
Heidi, I apologize for the earlier post. Thanks for updating the article with additional info.
It's not uncommon for a party member to cross party lines in a primary, especially if they want their candiate to run against a particular candiate from the other party. This censure stinks of good old boy politics. Sounds to me that Bob and his friends in the Republican Executive Committee are afraid they are losing. On this one, the score is MacKay-1, Waldrep-0.
When one decides to run as a Republican for any elected office, they take a party loyalty oath, as do Democrats for their party. It's not a contsitution thing, it's simply a party thing. Both Democrats and Republicans are free to have, and to enforce their code party rules.
It's not only a matter of how MacKay voted in Janaury, but his only political monitary contributions have been only to Democrats, never Republicans. That's easy to see at followthemoney.org
Have you ever heard the expression, "Where your treasure is, there your heart is also." If your votes in a presidential primary, and your money in recent years have gone to Democrats, then would it not be safe to assume one is a Democrat?
Raymond MacKay has every right to run for County Council in District 1, and to vote for who ever he pleases. However, but he does not have the right to run in a party, and pledge an oath to that party, that it appears he's not been able to keep.
What happened??? Waldrep has been a democrat and then a republican....The only reason this could concern anyone is they are afraid of losing. This is silly.... Vote MacKay!!!!
In response to Scratch:
You can call a hooker whatever you desire. I would just prefer if our paper didn't reduce our vocabulary to lower order language. Any publication should promote the oppposite effect.
My concern is not just about this term, but all colloquialisms in general. This is not the first time I've seen our paper use slang in the news articles.
These comments don't even have anything to do with this article. They apply to a different one from today.
<http://www.independentmail.com/news/2....
I was complaining about errors, and the AIM has resolved the one from this article.
Lets cut through the bull...Raymond MacKay is propped up by the Preston organization in an attempt to push out Waldrep. If you want Preston to remain in control of the county council vote for MacKay. If you don't then vote for Waldrep.
I couldn't care less about party affiliations on a local level...but the primary thing makes me question MacKays scruples. If he's willing to vote for Edwards just because he's a local boy I wonder what kind of votes he'll cast on council, and for what reason and who's benefit. Seems to me he doesn't take the responsibilty of voting very seriously.
Did he vote in the Republican primary also? Or did "the loyal republican" decide the presidential primary wasn't important enough?
Message to Waldrep...if you make it through this one you better develop a spine and get a little tougher. Leadership means taking a stand and being willing to slug it out for something besides votes!
How can anyone feel good about being a Republican. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I must vote Democrat. I am very afraid that members of the grand old party of hate are going to be in for a shock when the meet their maker.
"Lets cut through the bull...Raymond MacKay is propped up by the Preston organization in an attempt to push out Waldrep. If you want Preston to remain in control of the county council vote for MacKay. If you don't then vote for Waldrep."
I agree w/LOL. Politics here are SO much like Chicago...corruption at every opportunity. McKay is obviously a paid employee of the Preston camp.
in response to cwilson4
cwilson4
20 years? Pardon me for not being a math major but 1992 the year that Bob Waldrep was elected to the State Senate as a DEMOCRAT seems to disqualify him for the 20 year fidelity test, which you have imposed here. Check your facts or shut up!
in response to FED_UP
Since you brought it up, how can a christian for the party that believes in so many unchristian things according to the bible. I should't have to name them to someone who keeps up with politics.
BORING. Give us more stories of drunken southerners doing stupid stuff.
I could careless HOW Mackay votes when he is in private. BUT, I can tell you I do care how he may vote if elected to CC.
________________________________________________
He is an extension of Joey Preston and his crew!
I have a good idea how to pay for the audit....why not use Preston's salary!
I could careless HOW Mackay votes when he is in private. BUT, I can tell you I do care how he may vote if elected to CC.
________________________________________________
He is an extension of Joey Preston and his crew!
I have a good idea how to pay for the audit....why not use Preston's salary!
in response to MassachusettsLiberal
Ok... At least when Southerners' do something stupid, they laugh at themselves; Heck, Jeff Foxworthy made a career out of doing JUST THAT!
I don't see where, in the 2 stories regarding MASSACHUSETTS, there was benefit of drink, JUST PLAIN STUPIDITY!!!
Hey, if YOU don't like it here, the trail runs in two directions~ get back on it and head NORTH, BUBBA!
I never cease to be amazed at just how brainwashed both Republicans and Democrats can be.
in response to origrethnk
"I never cease to be amazed at just how brainwashed both Republicans and Democrats can be."
You have that right. We will continue downward unless people wake up.
Wake up! Wake up! - People need to use their own brain, background and wits to stay ahead of the curve. When you are satisfied with listening to and believing without question what's being told to you, you let yourself open to be led down the "garden path." Since that's the easiest path to take, you take it, staying in one place, listening to the same people and reliving the same past, over and over again.
I voted for MacKay in the first election, and I will vote for him again in the runoff. In my opinion, partisan politics do not have a place in local politics. I could care less which party he is affiliated with. What I do care about is unseating the ridiculous county council that we have now, and I will vote for *anyone* who is not an incumbent.
in response to MassachusettsLiberal
A drunken massachusetts man drove off a bridge he knew very well with a girl that worked for him who happened to be pregnant. He was married to someone else at the time. He managed to get out but she didn't.
Not funny but true. Oh, did I mention he was a senator?
in response to melissaw
do you not think it a little unfair to measure the success or failure rate of Bob Waldrep and Cindy Wilson, when they have been fighting a stacked deck. a deck designed (and let's not forget promoted by the reporting of our "pandering to the status quo" local newspaper), designed to diminish their every move and motion as a tactic to divert our attention from the activities of JRP and his GANG OF FIVE? one can only imagine what could have been accomplished for the County and Districts 1 and 7 if they had not been stonewalled and pilloried in the fashion they were. but of course that is speculative, as the GANG OF FIVE repeatedly shut down everything they tried to do.
District 7 was smart enough to see through it! is District 1?
And, you folks thought the fighting would end with a new election. LOL!!! Surprise, surprise, surprise! Geeezzzz. "Get ready to RUMBLE!!!"
cwilson...personally..i think the fighting will not end untill we get rid of cindy wilson and bob waldrep. they have done nothing but make the council a circus. and most of this town will say the same thing. i mean i really think we should have adults on the council....not highschool teenagers....so...sorry bob and cindy..and that means you should go. mackay has my vote. we need change and he is just the man to do it. bob trys to judge mackay without judging himself first.don't get on to mackay for voting in the democratic primary, when bob obviously is the one who does not know what party he wants to be in. he went from republican to dem. to republican. to democrat..oh wait..republican again.... i mean ..seriously..and you people are goin to talk trash about mackay? are yall idiots?
This is all a bunch of crap.
Childish political attacks that hopefully will backfire.
Vote McKay or Stay at HOME>>>>
O.K. Someone said stay home. i guess we will do that, duh
Bob Waldrep has waffled between the Democrat and Republican parties so why is he upset that someone voted in a Primary election?
I can't believe he would throw stones at Raymond MacKay for something when he went several steps further -
A reference book has him listed as a democrat Senator from SC. See for yourself:
http://www.box.net/shared/jsoxmedc0c
you know, who someone votes for in an election should be none of anybody's business. that is why it is a secret. but if YOU decide to publish YOUR vote, expect people to have find issue with it. now that being said, if someone consistently walks on one side of the track with their financial contributions etc. and then panders to the other party to run under their name...sounds like someone playing all ends against the middle. maybe they should just run as an independent!
the left and the right, the Democrat and the Republican, the liberal the conservative all have very different positions, often at opposite ends of the spectrum. to pander to them all, is a little tooooooo...faux politics?
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