By Paul Gable
Gov. Nikki Haley’s recent trip to Atlantic Beach continues to garner negative headlines for South Carolina’s top elected official.
The governor failed in her attempt to have a “frank” discussion with the Atlantic Beach Town Council about ending the Memorial Day Bikefest.
After a short opening address by Haley in which she reportedly promised to help Atlantic Beach return to its glory days of pre-integration prosperity, Haley was met with silence from town officials.
However, that was not all that occurred during the meeting.
According to a report by the Myrtle Beach Herald, Haley’s staff ordered an Atlantic Beach police officer remove Democratic Party representative Kate Sarna from the meeting.
Sarna was reportedly filming the proceedings when she was told by Atlantic Beach police officer Sgt. John Jackson that she had to leave the building.
According to the Herald report, when Sarna questioned whether she was causing a disturbance or other problem, Jackson said, “We were told by the governor’s people to remove you.”
That begs the question what right did the governor’s staff have to order the removal of a citizen from a public meeting?
The answer, of course, is none.
And the just following orders mantra by the officer involved has been debunked since Nuremberg.
I’ve long suspected the U.S. Constitution does not apply in South Carolina and the actions of the governor’s staff and Atlantic Beach police seem to confirm that suspicion.
What is Nikki Haley and her staff afraid of?
Speak Up…