2014 SC Senate debate: on Principles & Values


Tim Scott: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework

Question topic: Efforts to bring Islamic law (shariah) to America do not pose a threat to our country and its Constitution.

Scott: Disagree.

Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Scott: Agree.

Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Scott: Christian.

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Sep 30, 2014

Thomas Ravenel: Values taught by church, not enforced by mandate

Government has, in many instances, usurped the role that religious institutions and private charities should play in our society. Values cannot be effectively enforced by mandate. They must be taught and encouraged by private institutions. Throughout history, using force to build a social system has failed repeatedly. Our founding fathers established a system that allowed positive values to flourish, but also allowed negative values to exist. In an environment of true liberty, the market will sort out the good from the bad. "The market," in this context, is allowing God's hand to work rather than depending upon the government to decide which values are virtuous and must be enforced in the community. Freedom to believe allows the best to rise to the top, the worst to collapse on its own, and depravity to find its own error. I firmly believe that weaker believers are those who insist that only by government edict is it possible for God's way to prevail. That is a false ideology.
Source: 2014 South Carolina Senate campaign press release Aug 19, 2014

Lee Bright: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework

Question topic: Efforts to bring Islamic law (shariah) to America do not pose a threat to our country and its Constitution.

Bright: Strongly Disagree.

Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Bright: Strongly Agree.

Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Bright: I am a born-again Christian; and a Southern Baptist.

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Jul 2, 2014

Thomas Ravenel: Fiscally conservative and socially moderate libertarian

During the course of the first season of "Southern Charm" --a show that, per Bravo, "goes behind the walls of Charleston, South Carolina's most aristocratic families to reveal a world of exclusivity, money and scandal that goes back generations" and drew, on average, 1.1 million viewers per episode--Ravenel has consistently described himself as a fiscally conservative and socially moderate libertarian.
Source: Mother Jones magazine on 2014 South Carolina Senate race May 12, 2014

Rick Wade: Withdraws from race, citing too-late entrance

S.C. Democrats can't keep a candidate in a race. Rick Wade, the former Obama Administration official and cabinet head under Gov. Jim Hodges, said Thursday that he will end his U.S. Senate race against Republican Tim Scott. "I certainly had no illusions about being able to match a multimillion-dollar campaign war chest," he said. "But after a couple of months as a candidate, I've concluded that the timing of my entrance--less than a year before Election Day--had compressed the calendar too much for me to raise the money needed to mount a serious challenge."

Wade had been the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination to face Scott in the November general election. His withdrawal comes a day after state Rep. Mike Anthony, D-Union, said he would quit the race for state education superintendent. Wade's withdrawal leaves only long-shot Democratic candidate Joyce Dickerson, a Richland County councilwoman, to oppose Scott in November.

Source: The State magazine on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Mar 6, 2014

Tim Scott: OpEd: Dems call Scott "senator for the Heritage Foundation"

"The campaign is going to be about eradicating poverty (and) talking about the issues of free markets," he said after speaking to a group of youthful offenders in Columbia. "We believe that conservatism works."

Democrats call Scott the senator for the Heritage Foundation, the conservative group DeMint now heads.

Scott's reaction? "Silence is what I have to say," he said out loud. "Everybody has a label for you. I'm going to let the people of South Carolina decide how good I'm working on their behalf. This is a job application. I'm applying for a job."

Not all job applications come with $10,000-plus filing fee, though.

Source: The Island Packet on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Dec 14, 2013

Rick Wade: Commitment to listen to the people, not special interests

Wade announced his candidacy saying, "the people of South Carolina understand that Washington is broken. If we are going to solve the big problems we face & get things done, our representatives must be accountable to their constituents. That starts with 3 commitments:
  1. The commitment to listen to the people
  2. A promise to work for bipartisan solutions to fix our problems
  3. A commitment to reduce the influence of special interests that have enjoyed too much power in Washington for too long."
    Source: TheGrio webzine interview on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Dec 13, 2013

    Nancy Mace: Give a conservative voice to the people of South Carolina

    As a candidate in the 2014 GOP primary, Mace has been a vocal adversary to Senator Lindsey Graham. She says, "He represents an establishment culture in Washington that is not prepared to handle the realities of the 21st century." If elected, she vows to give voters a voice that, she believes, has been lacking in Senator Graham. "Senator Graham does not vote in the interests of the people he represents." His votes for bailouts, debt increases, and tax hikes "simply isn't conservative," Mace claims. If elected, Mace intends to represent the people of South Carolina by standing on principle. "Too many Republicans in Washington like to negotiate with themselves." she says, "By the time they walk in the room with Democrats, they have already given away the store." Mace believes that the people of South Carolina are in need of real leadership and representatives that speak truth and does not shy away from the difficult decisions.
    Source: Edgefield Advertiser on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Nov 23, 2013

    Lee Bright: I live all aspects of my life based on Biblical principles

    Bright's faith and family play a great role in his life. "I am a born-again Christian and I try to live all aspects of my life based on Biblical principles." When asked who the most influential person in his life is, Bright answered, "My wife is my rock."
    Source: Edgefield Advertiser on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Oct 29, 2013

    Rick Wade: Ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state in 2002

    While he's never served in elected office, Wade ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state in 2002. He crisscrossed the state introducing himself to South Carolinians as a moderate with a business agenda and a conservative fiscal message. He likes to refer to himself as a country boy from Lancaster who leans on his values and faith to guide him.

    Wade oversaw the S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services for three years under then-Gov. Jim Hodges.

    Source: The State magazine on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Aug 29, 2013

    Tim Scott: Grew up poor in a black community in North Charleston

    Although many African-Americans look warily at black Republicans, not all have rejected Sen. Scott, even if they don't embrace his GOP label. During a visit to The State in February, the senator said African-Americans have told him that while they might not vote for him, they appreciate his upbeat message, and they express pride in his service.

    Scott is an intelligent, driven, likable man who has overcome many odds. He tells anyone who will listen about how he grew up poor in a black community in North Charleston, the devastating effects of his parents' divorce, his single mother's tireless efforts to care for the family, flunking out of school and finding his way back. He got his act together, completed college and enjoyed a successful career in the insurance business.

    Source: The State magazine on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Aug 29, 2013

    Tim Scott: Served in public office for 18 years, with 2 terms in House

    Q: Tim Scott who was named to succeed South Carolina's Jim DeMint in the Senate. I take it you are intending to run for this senate seat in 2014?

    SCOTT: In 2014, we'll be back on the ballot, yes sir.

    Q: And how long have you been in the congress?

    SCOTT: I just got elected to my second term. I have been in public office for about 18 years serving the good people throughout South Carolina.

    Source: CBS "Face the Nation" on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Dec 23, 2012

    • The above quotations are from 2014 South Carolina Senate debates.
    • Click here for definitions & background information on Principles & Values.
    • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
    • Click here for more quotes by Tim Scott on Principles & Values.
    • Click here for more quotes by Nancy Mace on Principles & Values.
    Candidates and political leaders on Principles & Values:

    Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
    GA:Chambliss(R)
    IA:Harkin(D)
    MI:Levin(D)
    MT:Baucus(D)
    NE:Johanns(R)
    OK:Coburn(R)
    SD:Johnson(D)
    WV:Rockefeller(D)

    Resigned from 113th House:
    AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
    FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
    LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
    MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
    MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
    NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
    SC-1:Tim Scott(R)
    Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
    AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
    GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
    GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
    GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
    HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
    IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
    LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
    ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
    MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
    MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
    OK-5:James Lankford(R)
    PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
    TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
    WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)
    Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
    AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
    AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
    CA-11:George Miller(D)
    CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
    CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
    CA-45:John Campbell(R)
    IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
    MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
    NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
    NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
    NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
    NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
    NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
    PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
    UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
    VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
    VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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    Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018