Arthur Ravenel, Jr., has got to be glad that May is over. It was a very bad month for the Charleston realtor, former Congressman, former State Senator, former candidate for Governor of S.C., and current Charleston County School Board member. His son, Thomas Ravenel reported to federal prison to serve a stretch for possession of cocaine charges he picked up after he (Thomas) had been elected S.C. Treasurer. Now, according to the Charleston "Post and Courier", "a group of about 30 community leaders led by the NAACP" wants "Uncle Arthur" to resign because Ravenel allegedly threatened the job of current Superintendent of Schools, Nancy McGinley, allegedly telling her he'd gotten rid of one "bitch" (apparently referring to former Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson), and he could get rid of another (presumably, McGinley). African-American members of the School Board were not altogether pleased at the speed with which McGinley, who is "Euro-American" was appointed to replace Goodloe-Johnson, who is African-American, as Superintendent. So, why this out-pouring of support now for McGinley? Er, might have more to do with Ravenel than with McGinley.
This is not Uncle Arthur's first rodeo. Wikipedia's entry on Ravenel includes the following:
"Ravenel is a member of Moultrie Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and is a supporter of the Confederate flag being flown at the South Carolina statehouse. He provoked controversy at a rally for the flag in 2000 when he referred to the NAACP as the “National Association for Retarded People”.[2] Ravenel upset even more people after he apologized to mentally handicapped people for comparing them to the NAACP. Many called for the Charleston bridge to be renamed.[1]
Ravenel once said that his fellow white congressional committee members operated on "black time", which he characterized as meaning "fashionably late"."
I'm guessing "politically correct" is not printed on Ravenel's business cards. Geez... Did I mention that Charleston has a really cool International arts festival?
4 comments:
Yoikes! He is always welcome in Tampa, where the Sons of the Confederacy purchased a chunk of land by the intersection of our tow Interstates in hopes of placing the world's largest Confederate Flag on display.
How much you 'spect Gator Catcher Phil pitched in?
Well, I reckon that depends on the gator season, but I've seen a few whilst I was running, so, I bet he tossed in low 4 zeroes.
Even Phil can't get all of them, I guess.
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