News Analysis: ACRW Freedom Caucus Bias Ruins "Candidate Forum"

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer/News Analysis

It was billed as a forum for candidates in South Carolina House Districts 6, 7 and 10, but what ensued was more of a political ambush of candidates who are not aligned with the South Carolina Freedom Caucus.

The Anderson County Republican Women could have had a dog whistle in mind when they invited candidates to Monday’s forum at Tucker’s Restaurant, hoping their ruse of hosting a public sharing of the candidates’ ideas would go unnoticed. But subltely be damned, it was soon clear this meeting was not about getting to know candidates or their positions, but taking pot shots at the two candidates who showed up and are not aligned with the Freedom Caucus.

In more than four decades of covering state, local and national politics, this event ranks high among the least informative and most aggressively partisan in-party political fighting I have witnessed. I shot video of the entire event, but am choosing not to publish it because it would reveal little about the candidates or issues. I have never edited or chosen not to run a political video before, but there was little, if any, information voters might find useful in Monday’s show. This was not, again, not a political forum.

Once the question of joining the Freedom Party was asked, the two candidates who answered “no,” incumbent S.C. Rep. Jay West, R-Dist. 7, and Kyle White, challenger for the S.C. Dist. 6 Seat held by incumbent S.C. April Cromer, R-Dist. 6., became the targets of the event for the remaining hour plus. S.C. Rep. Thomas Beach, R-Dist. 10, spoke at the beginning and left early without questioning, and his challenger Pam Anthony was not in attendance, which might have been a wise move.

The moderator for the ACRW, Vice President Lois Lois Noel-Peden, from the outset was clearly more aggressive when questioning West and White, and the questions themselves were sometimes confusing and loaded with arcane inferences. Noel-Peden once caught herself and said “I am supposed to be impartial,” but by that time it was far too late.

Some in the room seemed to enjoy the spectacle, while others could be seen casting side glances to gauge the audience reaction to the meeting’s agenda.

West, who has served in his seat since 2016, said he was disappointed with how the event was handled.

“The debate at the luncheon with the Anderson County Republican Women was a bit perplexing,” said West. “I have never participated in an event with a similar format. Though we were asked to respond to many questions with “yes or no,” without having any context of the questions or being able to provide context for answers was unfamiliar.”

White agreed.

“While many of the forum questions were largely irrelevant and the format was designed for some kind of gotcha game, I survived unscathed and it gave me good practice for when I get to Columbia,” said White.

West and White were held more tightly to their time for answers as well, and faced passive-aggressive attacks from at least two women in the crowd whose questions ranged from disingenuous to vicious.

Cromer and S.C. House 7 Challenger Lee Gilreath received little pushback on any of their answers, though Gilreath did stumble and stutter before finally saying he would favor criminal prosecution of women who get abortions.

One veteran member of the South Carolina Legislative Delegation, S.C. Rep. Anne Thayer, R-Dist. 9, was also concerned with Monday’s event.

“Today's event was disturbing to say the least,” said Thayer. “It was intended to be a candidate's forum. Unfortunately, it felt more like an assault on the candidates who didn't fall in line with leadership's coronation of their favored candidates. I simply don't understand why attacks have replaced productive policy discussions.

“Treating candidates that we disagree with in such a demeaning way marginalizes our party and our community,” added Thayer. “I cannot, and will not, stand by as the party leaders descend into such unethical and immoral behavior. Sometimes you stay and fight and sometimes you walk away ashamed to have been a part of such an event. Today was one of those few days I simply had to walk away.

Thayer said such behavior could have long-term results on finding qualified people to run for office.

“If we do not change our processes, no good candidates will ever offer themselves up to be criticized and humiliated by the county leadership elite. Our republican party stands at a crossroads, I hope that we choose the right path, but am not confident after what I witnessed today. Today I was ashamed and hope that leadership will reevaluate how they treat candidates. Respect and honor should always trump mean spirited assaults and contempt.”