BY SCHUYLER KROPF Of The Post and Courier Staff
Outspoken Charleston City Councilman Kwadjo Campbell says he plans to join the Republican Party next month - making him a rare elected black convert in South Carolina and stunning both sides of the political aisle. Campbell said Thursday he would talk more about his decision sometime around the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. He pegged his switch on the perception that the Democratic Party has taken black voters for granted, while at the same time contending that black South Carolinians have a better chance of prospering if they can gain strength in both major parties. "I think right now is the opportune time to negotiate the Republican agenda for people of color in this nation," he said. Campbell originally ran for Charleston City Council's District 2 seat as a Democrat, but by the time he sought re-election this year, city offices were changed to nonpartisan races. His district includes much of the city's East Side. Outside of City Hall, he had been aligned with the Democratic Party until this year, when he backed Republican Mark Sanford for governor. Reaction to Campbell's announcement ranged from disbelief to ambivalence. "Kwadjo has had a bit of an identity crisis for some time," said Charleston County Democratic Party Chairwoman Diane Aghapour. "He was a Democrat and then not a Democrat; then he wanted to start his own party. Now he's becoming a Republican. "I don't think Kwadjo will find that his goals and the goals of the Republicans are in unison," she added. "But good luck to him ... I hope he's found himself." "Damn," said state Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, whom Campbell has helped in past Senate elections. Ford questioned whether Campbell had thought out the ramifications of his decision, saying the timing could not be worse given the national furor over Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott's praise for Strom Thurmond's "Dixiecrat" run for president in 1948. "I don't think he understands what's going on in the Republican Party," Ford said. "Trent Lott put those boys in a bad predicament." Meanwhile, Charleston County Council Chairman Tim Scott, who is black and Republican, responded with "Wow," but said the Republican Party is growing big enough to where Campbell would be welcome. "I would imagine his shift has been prompted by a sense of frustration and ambivalence from the other side," Scott said. "If it makes him feel good, then it's fine with me," said U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., whose district includes the northern part of the East Side. Campbell said he was not taking sides in the Lott affair, adding that he thinks Lott won't weather the controversy and will have to resign as Senate leader. Campbell said the advantage now for blacks would be to see what the GOP agenda can offer them during this national point of weakness. He also said the future of the party is in Republicans like Sanford, whose agenda of school choice and business development Campbell endorsed. He also said his decision to switch isn't a whim and is permanent. Campbell has been a city councilman for five years. He won re-election in March in a race that had to be settled after voters made three trips to the polls. After winning his seat again, he told supporters that he plans to run for mayor next year. If he does, he is expected to face incumbent Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. and possibly other candidates. Campbell said he grew up being politically influenced by his grandfather, who was in the military and an admirer of Ronald Reagan. "All I knew about the Republican Party was that they were the party of Lincoln," he said. Campbell said he became a Democrat only when he was a student at the College of Charleston. State Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson said he was not familiar with Campbell, his record at City Hall or his decision to join the GOP but said the party would welcome him. "We're excited to bring people into the Republican Party," he said. Campbell said his strength would be in getting black voters to support Republicans in the hopes of influencing local races, but he added he also hoped to run for U.S. Senate one day.
Southernerns have the best quotes . . .
Boys? BOYS?!!?! Who is he calling boy?!? Who does this racist piece of trash think he is? He should not hold a public office with segregationist views like these! I call for his immediate resignation!!
If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)
Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.
Nationally this means vouchers and enterprise zones. Karl Rove, are you listening!!These things resonate with blacks and represent the keys to the shackles which keep our black brothers on the democrat plantation!
The only good that will come of this is Joe "Little Black Joe" Riley might have his tiny little nads stomped on a bit.
It was why the Republicans were founded. It is why the Republicans fought and died against the Democrat Party Confederacy slave owners. It is why the Republicans voted for Civil Rights laws in the 1960's defeating massive Democrat Party opposition.