This is a personal endorsement.
“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” - Margaret Thatcher
I am calling for all Independents to vote in the Republican Presidential Preference Primary on Saturday, Feb. 24, and I urge them to vote for our native daughter, Nikki Haley.
Because, you see, a strong showing by Haley would show Donald Trump and, more importantly his advisers, that the politics of racial division are not going to work long-term. I don’t care what Nikki’s first name is. I don’t care what president Obama’s middle name is. I don’t care that you take a page out of Hilter’s playbook and accuse migrants of poisoning the blood of our country, when your own wife is an immigrant. I don’t care about Nikki’s blue dress. I don’t care about your racial dogwhistles.
You need to stop, and be Presidential.
No more of this social media, from Wednesday night AFTER he was declared a “winner”:
"Nikki 'Birdbrain' Haley is very bad for the Republican Party and, indeed, our Country. Her False Statements, Derogatory Comments, and Humiliating Public Loss, is demeaning to True American Patriots.”
"Anybody that makes a 'Contribution' to Birdbrain, from this moment forth, will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp. We don’t want them, and will not accept them, because we Put America First, and ALWAYS WILL!"
That is not what I want from a President of the United States. During his “victory speech” in New Hampshire, the 45th President of the United States turned to a sitting United States Senator and gave him basically a “come here, boy” call to the microphone. Reminded me of The Rat Pack and Sammy Davis Jr.
A vote for Haley by Independents would send her into Super Tuesday with at least a fighting chance for an upset. That would be when a wide variety of states can express their preference — not just three - and relatively white states, at that. People of color really haven’t had a chance to weigh in on presidential selection on the Republican side, yet, except for Tim Scott.
South Carolina comes with its back story. Trump has said the reason he elevated Haley from Governor to U.N. Ambassador was to get Henry McMaster elevated from Lt. Governor to Governor. Now McMaster is expected to return the favor. How did all those SC People get to New Hampshire anyway - fly? McMaster’s already fulfilled one obligation - he made it so that Trump could announce his candidacy for re-election 600 days before the first vote without having to pay for a venue - the Former President used the building in Columbia formerly known as “the people’s house.”
And, don't even get me started on EV (electric vehicles).
So this is what I propose, all those SC People on stage with Trump insist to the campaign staff on a 30-minute sit-down with the Former President in a back room at Maurice’s Barbecue, and just lay it out. Face-to-face, and not in a perfect phone call.
You’ve won the primary.
Now pivot to the general election - start by speaking less about vengeance and more about policy.
The only policy initiative we’ve heard from Trump is to build 10 new, sanctuary cities. He read somewhere, or somebody told him, that Saudi Arabia is building a brand new high-tech city in the middle of its capital - so the New York businessman and real estate mogul (for now) proposed “one better”; but first we better get that 14 Trillon dollar federal deficit under at least a little bit of control.
Saudi Arabia got money.
United States owe money.
The sanctuary cities policy and the policy that turned millionaires into billionaires will not help struggling Americans like me and those living in the poverty pockets of South Carolina even one little bit.
So stop with the name calling. Stop with the talking out loud in court. Stop with the “crisis at the border” while preventing a bill from passing congress, and TELL US the policies you will champion to make our lives better. This is why Trump will not debate, he doesn’t have any - yet, South Carolina, let’s help him find some.
If Nikki Haley’s Quixotic run to The White House, the true People’s House, can make Trump do this - listen a little, run a campaign like a real President, and liven up his 90-minute campaign rally rants (I figure 90 percent of the people who support Trump have never listened to one of his rally “speeches” start to finish, he’s constantly complaining about “turn on the microphone” because people aren’t listening, but rather talking and sleeping), and give the message from the teleprompter without these side tangents - negotiating slavery, Nikki’s control of the capitol police, gas stoves and low flow toilets and menthol cigarettes — then she will have done our nation a great service.
And You, Independent Voters of South Carolina, can help that happen. Remember, Saturday, February 24, usual places, bring your driver’s license.
More:
Vic MacDonald is Editor of The Clinton Chronicle, and an Independent voter. In June 2025 he will observe 50 years as community journalist. Reach him at 864-833-1900 or news@clintonchronicle.net. This is a personal endorsement, and it is not reflective of The Chronicle’s editorial stance, which for years has been not to endorse any particular candidate or party.
“A woman is like a tea bag - you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
