Another Mangy Blue Dog Bites The Dust

I first came across South Carolina state Rep. Ted Vick when I was investigating right-wing Democrats who joined the Koch brother's and Murdoch's shady anti-democracy outfit ALEC. Vick was one of his state's ALEC leaders. I guess I wasn't the only one looking. The Blue Dogs found him too and backed his bid for Congress. Aside from endorsing him and getting "ex"-Blue Dog Steve Israel to add his race to the DCCC Red-to-Blue page-- a signal to wealthy donors who can't think for themselves that the DCCC wants contributions to flow in certain directions-- the Blue Dogs started sending him cash. Their corporately funded PAC sent two $5,000 checks on December 20. Individual Blue Dogs sent checks as well, like Heath Shuler who sent $1,000 on March 28. Even though there are far, far, far more fertile districts for the DCCC to contest in November, Israel went along with his Blue Dog buddies and added SC-7 to the Red-to-Blue "Emerging Districts" list. There's just something about a Blue Dog man that Steve Israel just can't ignore.

When I complained to the DCCC that Vick is an anti-Choice, anti-gay, ALEC reactionary, I was told he had just quit ALEC. And he had-- after years of loyal service. Why is the DCCC backing candidates with records like Vick's? Can you imagine them going to wealthy donors in California and New York are saying, "Look at these wonderful right-wing candidates we have for you to finance. They're as anti-Choice as any Republican. And they hate the LGBT community with the same fervor. And look at these voting records! No one will ever be able to say they're any less conservative than a Republican! Chip in." No, of course the DCCC doesn't do that. They just lard up their Red-to-Blue page with people who fit that description. It's almost come to the point where if someone is added to the Red-to-Blue list, you have to double check and triple check and see what's wrong with them.

Now in Vick's case, you don't have to check too far. They don't make Democrats much worse-- although the corrupt New Dems managed to connect to San Diego crook Juan Vargas-- than ole Ted, who calls himself a "pastor," by the way. And Pastor Ted, as pastors do, got caught in a scandal with a young woman this week. Friday morning-- damage control having failed-- he quit his race for Congress. The Blue Dog was arrested, driving drunk with a 21 year old drunken woman he had picked up in a bar in his car. No, I'm not talking about Ken Calvert; Calvert admits he's a Republican so, of course he behaves this way.

Democratic state representative and 7th Congressional District candidate Ted Vick was arrested Wednesday night in Columbia and faces multiple charges.

According to the Alivin S.Glenn Detention Center’s website Vick, D-Chesterfield, is charged with speeding, DUI, and a weapons charge.

A young woman, a student at USC who had several drinks with Vick, was also in the car at the time, according to a police report obtained by WLTX-TV.

That police report said Vick, who is listed as a pastor on his website, was taking the intoxicated 21-year-old woman home.

The two met at a Five Points bar, according to reports.

An employee with the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center says Vick is out of jail. The employee was not able to release bond information.

“I very much regret any embarrassment I’ve caused for my family, friends and supporters. My family comes first to me and I’m going to spend time with them and consult with my pastor. Politics will have to wait,” Vick said in a statement issued by his campaign manager Lachlan McIntosh.
 
Vick's website touts him as a married family man and a pastor and recently released a television advertisement highlighting his family values.

Well who ever heard of a political sex scandal that didn't involve some hypocrite championing "family values" (right-wing short hand for homophobia)? We haven't heard from Mrs. Vick yet but Pastor Ted has pulled his campaign ads off the air, withdrawn from the race and... issued a statement about his innocence. (Apparently he's still running for reelection as a state rep., which he was doing simultaneously with the congressional run. No word if he's rejoined ALEC yet.)

“After spending time with my family, my pastor and my friends, I have decided to end my campaign for the United States Congress.” Vick had apologized for his actions Thursday.

“I will humbly seek re-election to the State House in November,” his statement on Friday said. “If re-elected I will continue to work across party aisles to seek consensus and progress.”

Vick had been the Democrat’s fund-raising leader in the campaign for the largely coastal, Republican-leaning district.

...Vick is slated to run unopposed for S.C. House District 53 in the Democratic primary, after challenger Phil Powell was among candidates removed by the S.C. Supreme Court following a statewide ballot controversy.

Republican Richie Yow will appear on the ballot in November as the GOP House 53 nominee.

Vick, 39, was stopped by Columbia police at 1:12 a.m. Thursday on Devine Street in Columbia for driving 44 mph in a 30-mph zone, a police report shows.

The officer smelled alcohol, but Vick declined to take a field sobriety test or a breath analysis, the report states.

When Vick was taken to the county jail, a corrections officer discovered a Kel-Tec .380-caliber pistol in a front pants pocket.

Vick did not tell the arresting officer or the corrections officer that he was carrying a firearm. A state concealed weapons permit Vick had in his wallet had expired in 2007 – five years ago.

He is charged with DUI, speeding and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Great work, Steve Israel... the man who will go down in history as an even worse DCCC head than Rahm Emanuel, who planted the seeds for the John Boehner speakership. Time to send the DC Dems a message?

Coincidentally, porn star Jenna Jameson was also arrested for driving drunk. She's never been a member of ALEC and hasn't been embraced by the Blue Dogs or DCCC and isn't a family values hypocrite. She's not running for office either-- but I'd vote for her before I'd even consider someone like Ted Vick.