Friday, March 13, 2009
With a 10.4% unemployment rate, South Carolina has the fastest growing unemployment rate in the country, and economists do not see an end to the cycle of job losses spreading across the state. Between January 2008 and January 2009, South Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 4.7% — the largest jobless rate increase in the country.
Yet Governor Mark Sanford, a wealthy man in his own right, doesn’t want to spend stimulus money on the unemployed. Sanford, who is white, said the recently signed economic stimulus bill could spur a Zimbabwe-style economic collapse of the U.S. economic system. A curious comparison for a governor to make in a state with an African-American population of 30%.
So, what does Gov. Sanford want to do with the Federal stimulus money? He wants to use it to pay down the state’s debt. Reducing debt on the back of suffering citizens can only mean one thing: he plans to run for president in 2012.
From the Left 
Gov. Sanford is a turd.
But, the people of S. Carolina elected him so they must agree with his selfishness.
It will be interesting to see how his constituents react at the voting booths next time around.
The governor is seeking 700 million dollars in stimulis money. You would think they could find some unemployment benefits in all of that money. Whoever is in control of that money needs to deny Gov. Sanford’s request. The fact that he is an extreme rightwing conservative shouldn’t be lost on this arguement.
What an ass! So because he is rolling in money means that the poor don’t need help? Amazed by the absolute hardheaded stupidity coming from the GOP.
His ploy for the GOP nomination will doom him in the general if he is the nominee.
South Carolinians elected Sanford. No one put a gun to their heads. This is what happens when you elect a Republican to office. Remember George Bush or Ronald Reagan?