Democrats release ad criticizing SC Governor Sanford on stimulus

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Governor Mark Sanford will be getting a little more airtime on South Carolina's cable television networks next week, but the media attention won't necessarily be positive.

The Democratic National Committee will begin airing an ad criticizing Sanford for not accepting all of the funds allocated for South Carolina under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The 30-second ad will begin airing on Monday on cable television in Columbia.

The ad says Sanford is "playing politics instead of doing what's right." Earlier this week, Sanford denied he was rejecting the money for political reasons.

The following letter from Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) to President Obama is the first action by any state governor to request relief from the long-term financial burdens the Obama stimulus” legislation imposes on state governments.  In it, Sanford asks permission to use $700 million in stimulus dollars to reduce state debt.

Clyburn says that these four governors represent states that are in the “black belt”. I didn’t even know we had a “black belt”. Congressman Clyburn stated that he was just trying to protect black Americans by putting in the provision allowing state legislatures to accept the money. From CNN:

“These four governors represent states that are in the black belt. I was insulted by that,” he said. “All of this was a slap in the face of African-Americans. It had nothing to do with Governor Sanford.”

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) took issue with the criticism of House Majorty Whip Jim Clyburn (S.C.) that he and three other southern governors who are resisting the stimulus money are insensitive to African American needs:

"I would just categorically say that he's absolutely wrong on that one," Sanford said on "Fox News Sunday." "The idea that color would filter into the decision making process is absurd."

"If solving the economic crisis was as easy as writing checks for money you don't have in the bank, all kinds of problems would be solved," he told the media on Wednesday.

He argues, among other things, that receiving stimulus money will mean more debt to future generations.

But there's a large chunk of the money that Sanford has no say over -- in fact 75% of the $2.8 will be distributed by the SC legislature and other government agencies.

The remaining $700 million is up to his discretion so long as it's spent on education and state services. But Sanford wants to use it to pay down the state's debt instead, and he ask President Barack Obama for permission to do just that.

"We think that would be a better use of the money for a stronger financial footing it would put our state in," said Sanford.

Not just the DNC, either. In the span of one day, his decision to turn down part of the stimulus funds earned him criticism from the national organization, the Democratic Governors Association, and even James Clyburn, deploying one of his patented race-baiting denunciations. All for a guy who’s barred by term limits from running for governor again next year.

The One’s honeymoon is ending and the stimulus is starting to stink, with those who opposed it in the name of fiscal responsibility the obvious political beneficiaries. They’re nervous.