My Thoughts on Tea Parties...

Tomorrow Republicans, democrats, and independents will come together from all walks of life in Florence, South Carolina and in other cities across America to make history and to say, “We want our County, State and Country back…and we intend to have our voices heard!” Our voices will join those of Millions of Americans across the USA today who, with one loud voice, are proclaiming NO MORE TAXES and NO MORE PORK BARREL Spending!!

The voters of the Pee Dee do care and WE do have something to say. We must make Washington and Columbia understand that we are not alone in our protest of these horrific tax increases to cover bail outs and irresponsible budget increases that will bankrupt our country. For too long there has been a divide between our ELECTED officials and the citizens of our great nation. Too often we have become discouraged by those who are entrenched in the political world of Washington and Columbia. They have forgotten that they work for the voters! Perhaps because South Carolinians have not often come out in droves to protest, it can be assumed that we do not understand or care about what is happening…but that would be wrong. We do CARE and we will get involved!

Citizens against government waste recently put out the 2009 Pig Book. In this book they identify $19.6 billion dollars worth of pork barrel spending in the 2009 Federal budget. This is shameful and I don’t care if you are a republican, democrat, libertarian or some other party…It is shameful! A portion of this report that caught my attention was an appropriation for $1.8 million in funds which are earmarked for swine odor and manure management research. In his defense of his bill, Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee member Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) attempted to sum up its absurd and ridiculous nature by saying: “I’m sure that David Letterman and Jay Leno will be talking about it because we’ve got $1.8 million dollars to study why pigs smell.” Ladies and Gentlemen, I am no swine research expert but I did grow up on a farm here in the Pee Dee of South Carolina. PIGS smell and they have smelled since they were put on this earth by God. They smell because they are PIGS! What really smells is that the Federal Government is going to waste $1.8 million of our hard earned money in an effort to find out why! This is just one of the many absurd pieces of wasteful pork included in the $19.6 Billion that the Citizens against Government Waste have identified. We must not allow a handful of people and politicians to destroy our country and our children’s futures.

We must no longer allow ourselves to be divided by savvy politicians and media outlets. As we talk to people living in the Pee Dee Area, we are hearing the whispers of a movement that will no longer be afraid of accusations steeped in political correctness with the purpose of dividing and silencing us. We will no longer be patronized and made to believe that we are powerless. Together we can make a difference…and make a difference we will! We will not go silently into the night of socialism and transnationalism. There is a ground swell of people who are bewildered by what is happening in America and South Carolina Government. WE are no longer willing to trust our elected officials with the task of keeping us free from socialism. We are living in a time that will go down in the history books as a chapter in history impacted by phrase “WE THE PEOPLE….” We can and will no longer be silent. I encourage you to stand up and let your voice be heard! As a voter in this county, state and country you deserve both answers and accountability from your elected officials!

Stephanie McLauglin Rawlinson - Candidate for Florence County Representative to the SC Republican Party Executive Committee

My name is Stephanie McLaughlin Rawlinson and I am running for State Executive Committee Representative for the Florence County Republican Party.

The Republican State Executive Committee has the responsibility of the general management of the State Party. We must elect a State Executive Committee Representative with the professional business experience to lead and manage the State party and represent Florence County and its Republicans. Currently I am a licensed real estate developer. I have owned and managed my own real estate firm since 1997 when I graduated from MUSC with a masters in Health Administration. My undergraduate work was completed in 1992 at Presbyterian College where my majors were Business and Political Science. I believe my business background coupled with my education has uniquely prepared me for the position which I seek.

The Executive Committee Representative for Florence County should be actively involved in this community. This person should be listening to those in the community and encouraging their voices and involvement in all aspects of the local Republican Party. When asked “Why should I be involved in the local Republican Party?” the Executive Committee Representative should have a answer prepared, along with a list of opportunities for involvement. You see, every Republican in Florence County has a voice and an opinion. They need to share their ideas and voices and be involved in our local party in some way. Everyone has a gift, talent and ability and it will be my job as your Executive Committee Representative to use these gifts to their full potential. Let me help you find a way to get involved; as Executive Committee Representative, it will be my personal mission to help you get involved. I will take your voices to Columbia and I will bring back the collective voices of the State Party. The sharing of information and ideas between the Florence County GOP and the State Party will be essential to helping the Republican Party progress and lead this county, state and country in future elections.

The use of modern technology is essential to the future growth of the GOP. It is the goal of our slate of candidates to help our party develop uses of technology and modernize the way our local party operates. We will have an open-door policy by which any precinct president or executive committeemen can contact our officers to offer suggestions, discuss ideas or ask questions at any time. We will develop a closed group on Facebook specifically for the executive committeemen and precinct presidents. We will also have a Florence County GOP group in which any Republicans from Florence County can obtain information or contact us. Members of the executive committee will be able to come to these groups and work progressively to share ideas, ask questions and get information. I will assist the precinct organization officers and allow these groups to grow and develop into the organizations they were originally intended to be. We will hold monthly conference calls for all county executive committee representatives and precinct presidents. We will also hold quarterly county executive committee meetings. Precinct clubs and organizations have a function and as your state executive committee representative I intend to make sure these organizations are active and are functioning in their intended capacities in Florence County.

It has been my honor to call Florence, South Carolina home for 38 years. When my relatives from Scotland settled here many generations ago, they described this area as beautiful and progressive. It is my prayer that when my children are 38 they will too call Florence beautiful and progressive. For this to happen, the Republican party must rebuild its base in this community. We must once again develop a stronghold for this party in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina. We seek to improve the future for our families, the Republican Party and the great State of South Carolina. On April 11th, I ask that you support the candidates of ARD, GRIFFIN, SMITH, ROGERS and RAWLINSON at the Florence County Republican Convention. This group of individuals believes in the Florence County GOP and its future under new leadership. Once again, I am Stephanie McLaughlin Rawlinson and I am seeking your support of my candidacy for State Executive Committee Representative.