Since the first African-Americans were forced to come to the New World in 1619, America has had an issue with race. Considered inferior, and in most cases, not even people, they were kept in bondage for generations.
The founding of our nation pivoted on a selective inclusion of enslaved individuals. Even as a bloody war got…
Democratic values promote equality and opportunities for all Americans
By Bev Bitzegaio
Looking back on our country’s 245-year history of equality and opportunities for women offers an interesting perspective of how far we have come and how far we have yet to go.
The 19th amendment granting women the right to vote was ratified by the states…
By Bob Gatty
The Horry County Democratic Party is urging citizens to demonstrate their support for common sense gun regulations by wearing orange during the June 4-6 weekend and by attending a “Display Orange” rally on Sunday, June 6 in opposition to gun violence. National Gun Violence Awareness Day is June 4.
The rally will take place…
By Steve Hamelman
Senator Tim Scott began his party’s response to President Joe Biden’s address to Congress on April 28, 2021, by calling the president “a good man” whose “speech was full of good words.”
The first compliment could be applied in turn to the senator from South Carolina. His personal character seems spotless.
Not so the second…
By Alex Flores
On April 20, 2021, a measure of accountability was served in America when former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all 3 charges in the death of George Floyd by a jury that was a reflection of America.
Like so many Americans we watched for 9 minutes and 29 seconds in…
By Bob Gatty
The Horry County Democratic Party (HCDP) is charging into the future with a new leadership team determined to attract new voters and candidates and elect them to office.
“Hopefully, we will be able to accomplish many good things, but the main thing is that we have to be inclusive. We’ll take any Republican…
By Bob Gatty
Republicans are showing no inclination to change their priorities. Gun rights and gay bashing are still right there at the top of their lists.
That was evident last week when obsession with gun rights and intolerance for members of the LGBTQ community appeared to be enough for 172 Republicans to vote against the…
By. V. Susan Hutchinson
Representative Tom Rice (SC-7) is inviting constituents to come out for Coffee with Congressman Tom Rice on Tuesday, March 23 from 3pm to 4pm at Chapin Library in Myrtle Beach.
Tom Rice is giving Horry County residents a chance to challenge him on his voting record these past few months, although it…
By David Higham
Horry County Government
HORRY COUNTY COUNCIL EXPANDS BUDGET: The Council voted 11-1 on February 2 to approve a planned spending increase, raising the overall budget by $22 million to a total of $481 million. A third reading of the ordinance will be required before the changes become official. With this expanded budget…
By V. Susan Hutchinson
This week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, which bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Surprisingly three GOP representatives voted to pass the legislation; however, the rest continued to show their disdain for the rights of the LGBTQ community, especially those who are transgender.
Some of…
By Barbara Sloan
On May 8, 1966, a rainy Mothers Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke to a mostly African-American audience in the small town of Kingstree, SC in Williamsburg County. The Williamsburg County Voters League sponsored the gathering of about 5,000 people where King spoke about the importance of voting.
“Let us march on…
By Bob Gatty
Eight generations ago, a young woman was forced aboard a slave ship bound for America. Her name was Hanna Hemingway, and today her great grandson, seven times removed, Cedric Blain-Spain, is a prominent leader in the Horry County community and Democratic politics.
In an interview commemorating Black History Month, Blain-Spain shared some of…
By John Bitzegaio and V. Susan Hutchinson
On January 28, 2021, President Joe Biden took two actions related to healthcare. By signing the Executive Order on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act as well as issuing a Memorandum on Protecting Women’s Health at Home and Abroad, Biden is already following through with his commitment…
By Leslie Kerr
Within the first three weeks of his administration, President Joe Biden has signed 25 executive orders, including the “Buy American Act,” which was a key point in Biden’s campaign for the presidency as he promised to bolster American manufacturing.
Revitalizing the manufacturing sector, which accounts for approximately 12 percent of the American economy,…
By Steve Hamelman
Give credit to Benjamin Ryan Tillman, Jr., for one thing. As Governor (1890-1894) and then United States Senator from South Carolina (1895-1918), he never tried to hide his total commitment to white supremacy. In fact, he reveled in it.
So did his supporters.
For nearly 30 years as the Palmetto State’s most powerful man,…
By Bob Gatty
President Biden’s sweeping action on climate change could well be the first step towards ending the threat of new offshore drilling in the Atlantic, including off the coast of South Carolina.
However, Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC-7), who says he opposes drilling of the South Carolina coast, said Biden’s overall initiative “goes too far.”
In…
By V. Susan Hutchinson
Who are the real patriots in America? Based on the definition of a patriot as “one who loves and supports his or her country”, the answer should be so obvious even the Republican Party could figure it out. But they have redefined the word patriot to suit their own purpose and…
May God Bless our new President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris
By David Higham
Editor’s Note: After pausing for the holiday months (November and December), and with the beginning of the new year, I have retired the monthly “Legislative and Issue Update” and replaced it with a monthly piece called “Vote Update”. As…
By Steve Hamelman
The Man
John Robert Lewis was one of the greatest representatives in congressional history. His achievements were legion, his record of activism peerless.
In 1961 he was an original Freedom Rider.
In 1963 he was one of the speakers at the March on Washington where Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his “I Have a…