Monday, May 21 2012 3:55 PM EDT2012-05-21 19:55:52 GMT
At a time when public school students are turning out some of the worst science scores, those in charge of setting the standards have plans to drop some of those standards."You say, why are we concernedMore >>
At a time when public school students are turning out some of the worst science scores, those in charge of setting the standards have plans to drop some of those standards.More >>
Friday, May 18 2012 5:55 PM EDT2012-05-18 21:55:48 GMT
Lexington County Senate candidate Katrina Shealy says she's moving ahead with her campaign and still thinks she might be able to get her name back on the June 12 primary ballot.Shealy is challenging RepublicanMore >>
Lexington County Senate candidate Katrina Shealy says she's moving ahead with her campaign and still thinks she might be able to get her name back on the June 12 primary ballot.More >>
Friday, May 18 2012 4:28 PM EDT2012-05-18 20:28:46 GMT
The South Carolina House Ethics Committee is scheduled to discuss whether to re-open an ethics complaint against Gov. Nikki Haley.More >>
The South Carolina House of Representatives' House Ethics Committee unanimously agreed Friday to take a closer look at an ethics complaint against Governor Nikki Haley. The complaint alleges Haley used her position as a House member to lobby and voted on bills to benefit employers.More >>
Thursday, May 17 2012 6:43 PM EDT2012-05-17 22:43:01 GMT
Lexington County Republican Katrina Shealy may be back on the primary ballot to challenge state Sen. Jake Knotts in the June 12 primary following a protest hearing with the state Republican Party.The stateMore >>
The state Election Commission says Lexington County Republican Katrina Shealy will not be restored to the June 12 primary ballot following a protest hearing with the state Republican Party that supposedly put her back in the state senate race against Sen. Jake Knotts.More >>
Thursday, May 17 2012 6:28 PM EDT2012-05-17 22:28:15 GMT
A bill inside the State House would open public school athletics to private and home school students. Home and private schoolers want the law changed that would allow them to participate in public schoolMore >>
A bill inside the State House would open public school athletics to home school and charter school students.More >>
Attorneys for John Edwards expect to rest their case Wednesday without calling the two-time Democratic presidential candidate or his one-time mistress to the witness stand.More >>
John Edwards' team wrapped up their defense Wednesday without calling the ex-presidential candidate, his mistress or daughter to testify, a move experts say was intended to shift focus from a political sex scandal to the...More >>
SUMTER, SC (WIS) - The chairwoman of the Sumter Tea Party is taking some heat after posting a joke on Facebook about killing the president and first lady.
Shery Lanford Smith posted the joke on her public profile Thursday afternoon, according to a screen-capture taken by the Sumter Item's Nick McCormac. Smith removed the post after being asked about it.
In the joke, the Obamas' helicopter pilot says to his co-pilot, "I could throw both of them out of the window and make 256 million people very happy!" Smith also posted, "If you're one of [the] 256 million, pass it on," implying she herself would be happy to see the Obamas killed.
The joke has been circulating for years in various forms which have included the names of multiple political figures. "It's just a joke," Smith told the Item when contacted about her post. "I had no idea it would be an issue."
Smith was elected chairwoman of the Sumter Tea Party in February 2011, according to the organization's now-defunct website.
While Smith's joke was clearly posted in jest, this isn't the first time a South Carolina political figure has come under fire for inflammatory Facebook posts. In 2009, longtime SCGOP activist Rusty DePass drew national attention after posting that an escaped gorilla was probably "just one of Michelle [Obama]'s ancestors."
In July, the co-chairman of the Kershaw County Republican Party was asked to resign after 'liking' a post which outlines when one should "shoot a cop." That article was posted by the Kershaw County Patriots, another tea party-affiliated group.
Do you think Smith's statement was appropriate, even as a joke? Weigh in on our Facebook page.
A screen-capture of the post (Source: The Sumter Item's Nick McCormac)
Shery Smith (Source: Facebook)
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