Influential Democrats Blame GOP For 'Disappointing' Session

Influential Democrats blame elected Republicans for a "very disappointing" legislative session wrapping up in Columbia, according to the inaugural Blue Palmetto survey.

Eighty percent of respondents described the session as "very disappointing." Eight percent deemed it "somewhat disappointing." Eight percent also called it "somewhat successful." No Democrats called it "very successful."

Sixty-five Democrats from the Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston areas were asked using an automated survey tool what they thought of the work in the State House this year. Thirty responses were collected.

Unlike influential conservatives, , Democrats blamed Republican lawmakers in general.

More than 45 percent said Republicans in the State House were to blame. Twenty-five percent blamed Gov. Nikki Haley. And 20 percent said there was enough blame to go around — to Republicans and Democrats, in leadership and not, as well as Haley.

Democrats found few specific bills that they were happy to see pass this session. In fact, many respondents declined to name any significant pieces of legislation that passed or failed to pass in the recent session.

Some respondents, when provided an opportunity to comment, expressed frustration at the impact of redistricting efforts that had alllowed Republicans to keep comfortable power and to complain about the lack of positive outcomes from the legislative session.

"Redistricting has created an atmosphere where the Republicans only have to appease the most conservative members of their party which makes any common sense legislation virtually impossible," one survey-taker responded.

"Just as it is every year, it was a total waste of time and resources, where the people of SC got screwed by politicians who care about their own self interests, rather than the needs of our state," another said.

The Blue Palmetto Surveys are not a scientific random sample of any larger population but rather an effort to listen to a swath of influential local Democratic activists, party leaders and elected officials in South Carolina.

All of these individuals have agreed to participate in the surveys, although not all responded to this week's questions. Surveys were conducted between June 19 and 22, 2012.

Patch will be conducting Red Palmetto and Blue Palmetto surveys throughout 2012 in hopes of determining the true sentiment of conservatives and liberals on the ground in South Carolina.

If you are an activist, party leader or elected official and would like to take part in a weekly survey that can be completed in just a few minutes, please email Regional Editor Chris Winston at chris.winston@patch.com.

Blue Palmetto Roster: Tyler Jones (Democratic consultant), Carole Benson (Charleston County Democratic officer), Richard Hricik (Charleston County Democratic Party Chair), Rose Grant-Davis (Charleston Democratic Party officer), Catherine Walsh (Charleston County Democratic Precinct officer), John Brisini (Charleston County Democratic Precinct officer), Jimmy Tobias (candidate, U.S. House of Representatives, SC District 4), Eric Graben (chair, Greenville County Democratic Party), Dexter Reaves (candidate, Greenville County Sheriff), Lachlan McIntosh (campaign consultant), Melissa Watson (Berkley County party chair), Barbara McGowin (former S.C. Senate candidate), Walid Hakim (SC House 88 candidate), Will Urquhart (campaign manager for Walid Hakim), Joe McEachern (House member, D-77), Chris Sullivan (former candidate, D-77 House), Gwen Kennedy (Richland County Council), Torrey Rush (Richland County Council, candidate D-7), John Painter (former Pickens County Democratic Party Chairman ), Denise Painter (Democrat), Michael Whack (Democratic consultant), Charlie Hale (Democratic consultant), Kitt Grach (Democratic party member), Andrea de Santis (Democratic party member), George Hopkins (Democratic party member), John Polk (Democratic party member), Mimi Dias (Democratic party member), J.A. Moore (Democratic party officer), Rob Groce (marketing consultant), Masihur Rahman (Dorchester County Democratic Party assistant treasurer), John Kauth (Dorchester County party member), Bobbie Rose (Democratic candidate for 1st Congressional District), Dianne Urig (Dorchester County party member), George Tempel (former chair for the Charleston Democratic Party), Joan Mazulewicz (Dorchester County party member), Marilyn Schultz (Dorchester County party member), Richard Hayes (Dorchester County Democratic Party chair), Miriam Birdsong (county council candidate), Jane Pulling (Dorchester County party member), Joel Jones (Dorchester County party member), Audrey Clark-Pounder (Dorchester County party member), Andrew Preston (Dorchester County party member), Clayton Seufer (Dorchester County party member), Debbie Lodge (Dorchester County Democrat), Mathew Profit (Dorchester County Democrat), Sarah Watson (executive director, The Auntie Karen Foundation), Antjuan Seawright (president/CEO of Sunrise Communications), Boyd Brown (Former SC House Representative), Doug Dent (Democratic consultant), Jeff Dishner (State Senate 8 Candidate), Sam Johnson (Third Vice Chair for Richland County Democrats), Joyce Dickerson (Richland County councilwoman), Paulette Ledbetter (Richland County Democrats member and executive committee person for St. Andrews Middle precinct), M.R.M. Parrott (Founder of Lexington Blues), Listervelt Middleton (Richland County Democrats, chair).