In a slight new twist on his standard “damn the poor” rhetoric, Andre Bauer is now channeling Japanese chauvinists.
Remember back in the early 90s, when speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Yoshio Sakurauchi blamed our trade deficit with his country on lazy American workers? (Leading our own Fritz Hollings to suggest U.S. workers “should draw a mushroom cloud and put under it: ‘Made in America by lazy and illiterate Americans and tested in Japan.'”)
Well, now Andre Bauer has brought it closer to home:
By JIM DAVENPORT – Associated Press WriterSPARTANBURG, S.C. — South Carolina’s lieutenant governor said Friday that lazy residents who don’t want to take jobs harvesting the state’s crops are the root of its problems with illegal immigration.
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer’s remarks came at the opening of a debate of Republican gubernatorial hopefuls. The candidates were asked about Arizona’s new tough illegal immigration law and whether South Carolina should do more to fight the problem.
“The real problem is the workforce,” Bauer said. State relief programs leave people unwilling to work the jobs in fields and orchards now filled with migrant workers, he said.
“The problem is we have a give-away system in this country and in this state that is so strong that people would rather sit home and do nothing than do these jobs. Laziness is not a disability,” Bauer said. “There are lot of people that are flat out lazy and they are using up the goods and services that we have in this state.”
To the credit of S.C. Republicans, Mr. Bauer came in last in the straw poll at the Silver Elephant Banquet Saturday night. I don’t know if there’s a connection there or not.
I do know that the AP’s Jim Davenport showed the above story to S.C. GOP Chair Karen Floyd on his laptop before the banquet, apparently hoping for a reaction, and she changed the subject.
I wouldn’t put too much stock in that straw poll. Andre’s probably smart enough to know that his rhetoric will resonate with the people who DON’T attend something called the Silver Elephant Banquet.
He’s taking a populist approach at positioning himself with the white rural Republicans. That’s his best
shot at winning the primary…
I’ll vote for Haley first but I’d vote for Andre over the other two (Barrett and McMaster) in a heartbeat.
Andre made an appearance at my church on Sunday (First Baptist Columbia) along with an attractive young lady. I have no doubt he will outwork his challengers. People have counted Andre out before and have looked pretty foolish.
Doug,
Is she a tall, blond beauty? If so, I met her when she accompanied him at a fund raiser last year. (I didn’t make a contribution, I was a freeloader, courtesy of the sponsor.)
I agree with you. I won’t vote for the guy, but he does resonate well with the populus in general. He works will at the grassroots level, connects well, and has made siginifant inroads with the retired, senior citizen population. His tireless work as their advocate will pay off with votes if he is the candidate. Like you said, don’t underestimate or count him out at this point.
I never put much stock in ANY straw poll. But for the very reasons that Bart cites — Andre wins election after election in defiance of all good sense — I’ll take my small comforts where I can get them.
Okay, so I’ll bite: why *do* we have to import farm workers when we have such a high unemployment rate?
I understand that some of us are not as “fit” as Andre, physically. I understand that some of us are holding out for jobs more suited to our education, experience and financial obligations (you might want to review your “about” page, btw, Brad). If busloads of workers come from Jasper and Hampton counties everyday to work on Hilton Head “plantations”….
Bart,
> Is she a tall, blond beauty?
Nope. She was (channeling Bob Seger here)
“a black haired beauty with big dark eyes
And points all her own sitting way up high
Way up firm and high
(Night Moves – 1976) ”
Actually, from my vantage point in the balcony, all I could confirm was the black hair. 🙂 And since it was church, I probably shouldn’t even admit to that.
Yeah, durn those lazy po’folks who don’ wanna work part time for minimum wage or less with absolutely no benefits! Why, the next thing they’ll ax fo’ is a lunch break! Or for someone to carry ’em to the hospital when they have an allergic reaction to a bee sting or somethin’!
I wouldn’t vote for Andre on a bet. In fact, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to justify casting a ballot on the first few pages of the ballot this year. None of the potential choices for statewide or federal office impresses me as anything other than an ideologue more interested in scoring points on the opposition than in actually governing.
When are these people going to stop playing their kindergarten games and do what we elected them to do?
Well, Nick—I think you may be wrong about Sheheen–you can’t be an idealogue Democrat in this state and get elected. Eleanor Kitzman for Lt. Gov. She started an insurance company and, didn’t she end up in a scuffle with Sanford? There’s a couple of pragmatic choices.
In my person experience, Leighton Lord can run a large law firm with grace and aplomb, and lots of folks at the AG’s office are hoping we’ll vote for him, I hear.
I agree with K Fenner.
Looks as if Andre ‘s remarks caught the nation’s attention (again):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/26/andre-bauer-south-carolin_n_551985.html
Karen is a smart chairwoman. She needed to change the subject. LOL After June 8th, none of us (her included) will have to worry over this goon again. Thank goodness!
K Fenn– I am for Leighton Lord…good choice…he and Niiki Haley took the time to come speak to our county GOP BBQ crowd tonight in Hartsville. That got lots of points with me 🙂
@Andrew–People have written Andre off repeatedly and he is the Energizer Bunny. A former highly placed Republican Party official agrees with you. Perhaps this time Andre has reached too high.