You gotta love Stephen Colbert. The South Carolina native who brings us "The Colbert Report" weeknights on Comedy Central has offered to bridge the gap in the cost of the South Carolina Republican Primary.
We can't tell if he's kidding (unlike when we watch his show) but it's worth considering, although what he called his no-strings-attached offer comes -- of course -- with strings attached.
His first offer, according to a guest column he wrote for The State newspaper, was $400,000, if the state GOP would name the primary "The Colbert Super PAC South Carolina Republican Primary." He also wanted a non-binding referendum for the people of South Carolina to decide if corporations are people.
(Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney declared it so; Colbert wants to see what the people of his home state think.) Past state primaries have been party-run and party-paid affairs, using money raised privately. But in-2007, the General Assembly passed a bill requiring the State Election Commission to run presidential primaries, although the parties kept the privilege of setting the primary dates and other details.
During the first half of this year, Gov. Nikki Haley opposed the legislature's effort to keep the funding of the GOP primary in the budget. Haley wanted private funds used; legislators overrode her veto.
It's estimated the primary will cost $1.2 million. The state GOP is supposed to pay the balance left after the state's contribution of $680,000. But, objecting to that plan, four South Carolina counties filed suit. When a judge declared their suit legitimate, the party found itself once again responsible for about $500,000 -- and declared it wouldn't pick up the tab, other than the candidates' filing fees of $25,000 each.
Enter Colbert.
We read his guest column several times, seeing his tongue firmly in his cheek in some paragraphs, yet finding at least one that is all too true: "... Last week I saw that the South Carolina GOP has reneged on funding any part of the primary, save for the legal minimum percentage of candidate filing fees, leaving the financially strapped counties on the hook for $500,000. That's money that counties need for emergency services, infrastructure repair and to complete the wall to keep out North Carolinians."
OK, we're sure he didn't mean that last part. Maybe.
But he made a good point about naming the primary after him in exchange for funding: "We would finally raise democracy to the same level as the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and Kardashian weddings."
Politics does seem about that dignified sometimes, doesn't it?
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