South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has become embroiled in an increasingly testy dispute with the Obama Administration and other elected officials from South Carolina over his potential refusal of federal stimulus money. Sanford’s latest effort, an attempt to get the Administration to agree that South Carolina be allowed to pay down state debt with the stimulus money, has been rejected.
The Obama administration on Monday rejected South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s request to use $700 million in federal stimulus cash to pay down state debt.
White House Budget Director Peter Orszag said in a letter to the Republican that the federal stimulus law doesn’t allow President Barack Obama to make an exception for that cash. Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer had no immediate response, but the governor has said he would reject part of the stimulus money if Obama wouldn’t give him flexibility in spending it.
Sanford’s position, with South Carolina experiencing high unemployment, has brought rebukes from many, including some in his own party. And the DNC wasted little time focusing some fire on Sanford for his position, putting out the ad below. In response Sanford has called on President Obama to force the DNC to take down the ad.
“It’s in that spirit that I’d respectfully ask him to end this ad, as it shatters the idea of change he so well articulated this fall — and to ask his Democratic National Committee to put an end to this mudslinging and get back to an honest debate about the future of our country,” Sanford said.
Not much of a chance of that. And the South Carolina House, controlled by the G.O.P., just passed a budget that is balanced with the utilization of federal stimulus money.
Last week, the South Carolina House, which is controlled by the GOP, passed a state budget patched together with the help of $1 billion in federal stimulus cash. Then, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman, a Republican, introduced a measure that would allow the state to spend the stimulus cash despite Sanford’s opposition.
The Republican controlled House in South Carolina has one major difference with Governor Sanford. Their members are not running for President in 2012.
Bill Manzi.com 
Your Honor,
Before you go to another state to make a point, you had better see how things are going here.
The fact that a GOP run state has balanced the budget using stimulus cash, when our own Democrat dominated state can’t balance its budget even WITH the stimulus is not a bad job by Republicans.
Jules
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A balanced budget is a good thing, but it does not speak to the question of helping the citizens of his state who need some help during this downturn. The “losers” as Republicans like to call them.
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Your Honor,
The federal government does no give money without conditions. You certainly know the consequences of that.
He felt that being free of the heavy hand of OBAM is worth the this principled action.
I know, as a Democrat would understand that.
I NEVER heard a Republican call unfortunates losers. Please tell me where I can find such a reference.
Jules
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Ask and you shall receive …
Right at about 0:42.
-FM
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Fred,
This guy is a reporter who let go at the stock exchange. He doesn’t represent the political party. I’m sure individual republicans can be as nasty as any street smart liberal on the Huffington Post.
You proved nothing.
Jules
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Jules:
You asked for a Republican, I gave you one. Are you asking something different now? Do you want me to climb through the archives of our hero, Rush?
Actually, you should look into the back story on the Santelli rant: not quite as spontaneous as you may have been lead to believe. A coordinated attack by Republicans, by accounts.
-FM
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Just in case we don’t get back to this …
“Obama Announces Rezko Rescue: Bail Out Losers, Punish Achievers”
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_021809/content/01125106.guest.html
-FM
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Fred,
I asked for something that proves, somehow, that the Republicans, as a party, use the term, as our mayor accuses.
Jules.
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Jules:
You’re putting words in the Mayor’s mouth … and what more proof do you need than the words of the current leader of the Republican party, Rush?
I’ll stop now. Point made.
-FM
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