Gov. Nikki Haley took office last week on the steps of the Statehouse surrounded by a dark cloud of scandal. Haley acknowledged this cloud, saying it had shaken the soul of the state.
Just that moment, former State Senator Robert Ford was pleading guilty to four counts of misuse of funds. After leaving the courtroom, Ford declared defiantly, “I ain’t no damn crook.”
That seems to be the prevailing attitude about ethics in South Carolina politics these days — there is no shame and no common sense.
Last fall, Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell resigned after pleading guilty to six counts of misusing campaign funds. Nikki Haley’s first Lt. Gov. Ken Ard pled guilty to seven counts after he resigned. Her predecessor Mark Sanford paid the largest fine in state history to settle an investigation against him.
Haley herself was investigated for ethics violations. Although she was cleared in some and settled others, opponents have continued to hammer her for being another dirty politician in the vein of all the others of the last few years in the state.
Given her issues, it was a breath of fresh air that Haley herself sounded the call for major reform in her inaugural address.
“The people of South Carolina deserve more from us. They deserve honest service,” she said.
It sounds simple, but it seems to have been forgotten by the top politicians in this state. She cited her administration’s “duty to restore to the people of South Carolina their faith in their government.”
Not everyone was so impressed.
"She’s like Barry Bonds talking about reforming performance enhancing drugs in baseball,” said Todd Rutherford, the House Minority Leader.
I think, however, that her past questionable history makes it impressive that she is willing to take on this issue. Rather than antagonize the legislature like Sarah Palin did in Alaska, or remain defiant like Robert Ford, she is seeking meaningful change despite the inevitable attacks that will come her way.
It remains to be seen whether any significant reforms will come of Haley’s rhetoric. Ethics reform has died in the legislature recently and it will not sail through the current session.
However, by calling out politicians — including herself — Haley has shown that she is acutely aware of the wave of corruption that has washed over South Carolina. She sounds ready to do something about it.