Conley tries to pull off major upset
Democrat says he takes Jeffersonian approach
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bob Conley doesn't argue when someone suggests he has more in common politically with former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul than with his own party's leaders.
The Post and Courier
Bob Conley
Conley's populist, America-first rhetoric is also similar to another politician from Horry County: former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride, who announced his own plans to run for the Senate but didn't get on the ballot.
Conley previously ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for an Indiana state House seat and supports Republican positions on abortion and same-sex marriage. He also said he wants to secure the United States-Mexico border and deny amnesty to those who are in this country without proper permission.
And he supports the Fair Tax, a sweeping plan to replace all federal taxes with a national sales tax.
Conley also said he wants to push for energy independence and supports offshore drilling, an issue that has received support from his Republican opponent, incumbent Lindsey Graham.
"If the people of South Carolina want to drill offshore, the federal government shouldn't stand in the way of that," Conley said.
BOB CONLEY
PARTY: Democrat.
BIRTHDATE: Sept. 6, 1965.
FAMILY: Single.
EDUCATION: B.S. in civil and mechanical engineering from Tri-State University, attended graduate school at University of Toledo.
OCCUPATION: Professional engineer, pilot and flight instructor.
PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: None.
SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: "That they have a constitutionalist as an alternative to Lindsey Olin Graham. I am a true Jeffersonian Democrat."
NAME A SPECIFIC GOAL: "The specific goal is to win the U.S. Senate."
But he couldn't be more different from Graham when it comes to foreign policy. Like Paul, Conley supports removing all U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We continue to call for a redeployment and an end to these crazy occupations and this empire which is really bleeding America dry," he said.
Conley, a pilot and flight instructor whose 1960s-era crew cut has earned him the moniker "Flat Top Bob," said he is proud that his campaign cannot easily be pigeon-holed.
"I think we're putting together a really interesting and diverse coalition, and it really is a return to Jeffersonian principles," he said. "We're going to talk to people of every stripe and background: Democrats Republicans, Libertarians, vegetarians."
Conley has raised less than 1 percent of that money that his Republican opponent has raised. Most of that money has been spent on gas as Conley estimates he and his driver have logged about 15,000 miles since July, enough miles to crisscross the state 60 times.
He said he would love to debate Graham in person, but the only debate on tap is one that SCETV has scheduled for Oct. 29. "He's ashamed to come down here and face the people," Conley said of his opponent.
"Once we get outside urban areas in South Carolina, our message resonates very well with the rank and file," he said. "It's only what you would call the establishment or the elitists who have been taking issues with us."
Conley was almost as quick to condemn South Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler for her recent comment that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's primary qualification for the vice presidency was "seems to be that she hasn't had an abortion ..."
This kind of behavior hasn't endeared him to the party's rank and file. Conley's Democratic primary opponent, Mount Pleasant lawyer Michael Cone, said he won't vote for Conley on Nov. 4.
"He wouldn't know the first thing about connecting with Democrats, having never been a Democrat," Cone said. "All of his ideas about liberals have been fed to him by radio talk show hosts."
But Conley is confident of his chances on Nov. 4.
"We're still going to knock this boy out," he said.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or rbehre@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 25 comment(s)
Posted by Riptide on September 22, 2008 at 5:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I’m little uneasy with his views on the war but other than that, his position on the other issues are pragmatic. I hope it’s not a lot of talk but knowing Graham’s record on illegal aliens it appears I’ll be voting for this guy.
Real wages has gone down over the last 8 years and the biggest factor for this is the illegal aliens issue. Bush, the liberal democrats and the RINOs are responsible for this assault on the working people of this country.
Posted by moonpie on September 22, 2008 at 6:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we never should have went to Iraq and didn't like the idea from the get go but once there how can we afford to lose?
Out with Graham and for me it's only because of amnesty he tried to push down our throats! Mr Conley you need to run ads in his strong hold areas. Your campaign is nothing with 40 days remaining? If your gonna run, then run!
Posted by LadyM on September 22, 2008 at 7:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck Bob, You have my vote. The surge did work and Bob's stance on illegal immigration is strong. We need someone in the Senate that will actually do something for the American citizens of SC, not big business and LaRaza. We have to get rid of Grahamnesty now or we will regret it in the near future. He is no conservative and his only goal is to support big business and the h*ll with what his constituents want. He has proven this time and time again. If you really care about SC and want to see us survive as a sovereign nation, then vote him out while you still have a chance. I'm a Repulican that will vote for the best person for the job, and that isn't Grahamnesty!
Posted by DoaMM on September 22, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Since America is a Republic, I have the opportunity to vote for someone who will REPRESENT me in Washington D.C.
I don't want Graham in there offering amnesty for ANYONE just to get more authentic tacos around here and I don't want Conley in there pulling out too quick like a High School senior on prom night.
I'm on the fence for now. I have, what, 42 days to decide? Hmmm...
Posted by zoomru on September 22, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHAT ????
UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!!
A Blatant example of the lack of TEETH in reporting and to beat ALL ..an example of how PARTY officials care nothing of the CITIZENS !!!!
Mount Pleasant lawyer Michael Cone, !!......YOU, IDIOT ! You call yourself a lawyer !!??? OMG ! I won't be calling you. DO YOU KNOW WHY ???
BEND OVER...and I'll Tell YOU !!
Michael.. you said....
"He wouldn't know the first thing about connecting with Democrats, having never been a Democrat," Cone said..."
You numbskull...you don't think that BOB and Democrats are all paying 4 Dollar .....GAS !!!! Well...for your information "Cream-y" CONE...all citizens of this state including yourself are bending over royally to foreign OIL...bucko!
You bet your Bottom DOLLAR that when BOB wins this election that he better VOTE with some COMMON ..SENSE !!!
If South Carolina citizens know what is good for them, they will vote for CONLEY and then hold his feet to the CAROLINA...FIRE !!
It is the attitudes that YOU, James "GRAND MASTER FLASH" Clyburn, Mrs. Fowler and Roberto Ford display that have gotten US all where we are !!!
Posted by Weeeee on September 22, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Grahamnesty gets re-elected = 24 hour roadside taco stands!
Posted by palmettotree on September 22, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow such hatred for Graham. I know that he is an idiot and I am not voting for him either but when I was reading the comments I got a feeling of anger coming from everybody.
After reading this article I am definitely leaning towards Conley. Actually at the polls my first instinct is to vote for anyone against Graham. but how can you change the mind of others in such a short time? I voted for Witherspoon the last time and I didn't really know anything about him.
Posted by zoomru on September 22, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Citizens of this fine STATE...........
Look at all the newspapers in the STATE today or for the Past couple of weeks and you will see WHY our politicians think they can get AWAY WITH ..ANYTHING !!!
OUR NEWSPAPERS DON'T COVER WHAT THEY DO FROM DAY TO DAY OR WEEK TO WEEK !!!
THIS IS NUTz !!!!!
BoB ...you better come out with SOME ...PASSION ! In this so called debate !!!
We ...ARE ...FED ...UP !!!!!
Posted by guidedbystewart on September 22, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://aimhighwithbob.com/
At least that site is not trashy.....
Posted by eyfigueroa on September 22, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just remember, the only vote wasted is one not cast.
Too many of you look to a national political party to submit your fealty. And look what it’s gotten us.
Vote your conscience. Vote your convictions. Vote with thought and not with some misguided allegiance.
Conservatives vs. liberals? All labels. What we need to consider is the inherent convictions and policies of individuals and not the 'chances' they will be elected.
That's why so-called 3rd party candidates don't always do that well. Voters agree with the platform, but feel that a vote for these candidates is wasted. They then throw their support behind the 'lesser of the two evils' and the vicious cycle continues.
I firmly believe that Conley is on the Dem ticket solely to get support and to garner votes from people who will not vote 3rd party regardless of the platform.
A shame really, I feel that Conley is no more a true Democrat than he is a Republican. He will be a breath of fresh air in congress. Hopefully he will get the financial and logistical support needed to be Lindsey Graham.
I for one will help him anyway I can.
Posted by VMI90 on September 22, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I loathe Graham immensely. Conley to me is definitely the lesser of two evils- at least he was against that fiasco in Iraq.
Posted by eyfigueroa on September 22, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
...support needed to BEAT Lindsey Graham.
http://aimhighwithbob.com/
Posted by zoomru on September 22, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jane.....
Let's not forget radio and ....TV !!
Heaven forbid they let an angry voter on AIR !!
Heaven forbid we show a politician getting ..HEAT from a VOTER ??!
Heaven forbid we show a politician being a LEADER ??!
Posted by wjhamilton3 on September 22, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I find it odd that someone who is allegedly a Democrat has nothing to say about universal health care, global warming, reproductive choice or most of the other major elements of the Democratic national platform. There is nothing here about a Democratic position on the financial bailout or tax policy. I can't find anything about these issues on his website either.
I think Republicans should run for the Republican nomination. I understand how he got on the ballot as a Democrat. I suppose we'll need to be sure something like this doesn't happen again.
It doesn't seem fair to the Democrata or the Republicans. Shouldn't this guy be running on some wierd, right wing third party spot? We've got several of those on the ballot.
As a progressive Democrat, I'm disappointed with Grahams positions on many issues. I was hoping I could vote for a progressive Democrat in November. I certainly can't vote for this weird Republican in Democrat's Clothing.
Isn't he what the Constitutional Rights party is for?
Posted by zoomru on September 22, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jane........
Please report to the office of Charles Rowe down at the POST.
You are his assigned "Guardian Ink Angel" ....Jane Fonda would be PROUD !!!!!
Jane......"Cowgirl UP!" Show us what you can do with a WHIP!
Lord knows James "Grand Master Flash" Clyburn....doesn't !!
Posted by zoomru on September 22, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jane........
I knew you would enjoy that!!!!....
Ha!
Posted by palmettotree on September 22, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anybody listen to 1250 WTMA and if you do have they mentioned Conley? Has anybody contacted the djs to see if they can get the word out? I like to listen to it but can't get the station in at my house nor anywhere near my house. So I only listen to it in the car. :(
Posted by mkris on September 22, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jane, you are just plain wrong. Socailized medicine in the rest of the world does work. And in fact if you want private coverage it is still available. It is costing this country too much to compete with countries that have it.
Posted by wjhamilton3 on September 22, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just spent a week in Canada. We talked to a lot of people about health care in Vancouver and Toronto (really different places). Sometimes they have to wait at clinics, but generally they were very pleased with their care. If you have an emergency, or serious chronic medical problem, they system can deliver a very impressive response.
We met someone in Toronto who's wife was about to give birth to triplets. When that was known early in the pregnancy, their case was transferred to a special unit in the Toronto Hospital where a mulitple birth specialist took over with the support of specialized nurses. This man and his wife weren't Canadian citizens, but that apparently didn't matter. All three new Canadians were born healthy and fine. Mom and Dad will be Canadians soon as well. They love thier country, but bitch about the taxes like everyone else.
When I told them the birth of my son here cost me about Two Thousand dollars, they were astonished.
If you are in serious trouble and really need help, the Canadian Health system lands on the problem and you don't end up bankrupt.
We got similar reports from France, Italy and Costa Rica, all of which now have better health care systems than the US bease on international studies. We've been to all three and spent lots of time talking to, dining with and visiting the neighborhoods of the natives. The French eat best. The Italians enjoy life more. The Coast Ricans were happiest.
However you are free to believe whatever you hear on the radio. It helps to go to decent countries if you want to learn something. The whole world is not like some Mexican resort island.
Posted by jsks on September 22, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you think a majority of people on this board and from SC are going to listen to you discuss health care in an intelligent way? Most of these folks think Obama's plan is socialized medicine and haven't even read his plan. I too have talked with folks around the world and they cannot beleive that we are one of the most powerful industrialized nations in the world, yet American citizens are sometimes left without decent health care, yet all the Republicans will tell you that government intervention is the worst thing that can happen, then hope that the Feds bail them out of the current economic crisis we are in... so there 401Ks and stock options don't go up in flames.
Posted by zoomru on September 22, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BOB......
AIM .....HIGH !!
BUT..
SWING ...LOW !!
Take Lindsey ..OUT at the knees with ...ENERGY !!! ALL..FORMS !!
You..BOB...are a winner !!
YOU..are the SAMSONITE... GORILLA !! You know exactly what to do with Graham's ....Political LUGGAGE !!!
Bob...its time for a bombing RUN..!! Do you know where to point the NOSE of your PLANE??
Posted by mkris on September 22, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jane,
People from England and Canada come here for elective surgery. They don't want to wait for elective surgery and treatments. As to your Dane, Denmark has a good system, and taxes are high. But it is not for healthcare. It is for thier retirement, health insurance, disability, social security child leave, child care and other programs that this country doesnt provide its citizens. You didn't say if he had turned in his Danish public pension - my guess is that he didn't.
Posted by jsks on September 22, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jane,
I have insurance. I work full time and I pay taxes and can you believe it, I am a Democrat. Your argument doesn't make any sense. 85% of medical procedures are considered routine. That's what I am referring to. Yes, people from all over the world come here for ADVANCED medical care but that's not the main point of universal health care.
Of course, you assume I was speaking for myself, but I wasn't. I was actually thinking about other American's who pay taxes, work hard but cannot afford health insurance. Should they just move to another country so they can receive some basic care? This is where your argument falls apart. Part of the reason our insurance premiums are so high is because people without insurance visit the emergency rooms. ER visits are 3X's as expensive as regular visits and with 40 million American's without health insurance, you do the math.
Jane, you should really put yourself in someone else's shoe's and really think about the policy from a non-partisan viewpoint. The only thing I heard from you was Republican talking points that make no sense.
Posted by jeff61 on September 22, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I may end up voting for horse face,,, I think he needs to get a new head shot.
Posted by mizar5 on September 22, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Conley has my full support. It sounds as if the majority of those commenting support him... Let's show it. Would you invest just $5 to defeat Graham?? Can you give more? got to http://aimhighwithbob.com/ and press the blue button. (Before you decide on an amount, consider another six years with Lindsey...)
Also, view this video by Charleston's Southern Avenger:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWqxvgxDH...