SPEAKING FREELY ON CANDIDATE GREG FORD, THE REPUBLICANS' WORST NIGHTMARE

Finally, we long-suffering South Carolina Democrats have caught a break.

That is because Republican primary voters selected Greg Ford to oppose Dr. Sonja Ogletree Satani (Dr. SOS) in the January 6 special election to represent House District 98. Ford's surprising primary victory gives Democrats the best chance the party has had in years to flip the seat.

Ford is not a middle-of-the-road Dorchester County Republican politician. As I noted in the last "Speaking Freely," he is a full-bore Trumper, loaded down with MAGA prejudices. I highlighted that Ford wants to cut state taxes without addressing how, or with what effect. On education he has embraced the warped view that schools indoctrinate children to hate America.

There is more of this nonsense, much more, drawn from his own campaign material when he was challenging District 98 incumbent Chris Murphy in previous failed primaries.

On guns his message is simple, and simplistic: "To make my stance crystal clear, the 2nd Amendment is non-negotiable, PERIOD." (The caps are his.) He falls back on the familiar NRA assertion that "we don't have a firearms issue, WE HAVE A CRIMINAL ISSUE." (The caps, again, are his.)

He should explain to voters whether men who have threatened their wives and children should have guns; or whether there should be any background checks on gun owners; or if there should be any limitations on the types of firearms available to civilians. Does "PERIOD" really mean no limits at all to Ford?

On voter integrity he has swallowed the Trump line that our election system is broken and that fraudsters besiege the polls. He offers no evidence for this allegation, because there is none.

Nevertheless, Ford would spend precious tax dollars to fully audit all elections. He would require monthly voter roll maintenance. He wants the state to produce a standardized voter ID that would be required at the polls.

Given the lengths our system goes to accommodate the voting rights of people like Ford who serve in the military abroad, this is insulting to dedicated election workers in Dorchester County.

On vaccines he sounds like the crazed anti-vaxer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. He wants to "preserve individual autonomy" in vaccination decisions, suggesting that regardless of what schools require of registrants, only parents should make vaccination decisions for their children. Ford should tell voters what he thinks of the measles outbreak in South Carolina, or whether he wants to see a return of childhood polio.

Finally he offers "My Pledge to District 98" in which he claims our rights and liberties in South Carolina "are under direct attack" and that he intends to go to Columbia to introduce legislation to restore "rights, liberties and Constitutional Freedoms we have lost." He continues, "I will fight to my utmost ability, I will not waver in my beliefs, I will not relent in the face of challenge...."

This is scary in its belligerence. Ford is clearly not a man open to compromise, to the exchange of ideas, or to the value of facts with which his opinions conflict.

The Assembly already has its share of MAGA adherents and conspiracy nuts. They call themselves the Freedom Caucus, and even their fellow Republicans are embarrassed by them. Voters in the 98th district should not send another one to Columbia, particularly when his Democratic opponent for the seat, Dr. SOS, is experienced, sensible, and focused on the real problems affecting this state.

The election is on January 6. Early voting begins on December 22 and extends to January 2. In a special election, every vote matters greatly, given the likelihood of a small turnout. Candidate Ford has given us many reasons to turn out and vote for Dr. SOS.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Go here to learn more about the District 98 election and opportunities to help get out the vote for Democratic candidate Dr. SOS.