Joe Wilson

Wilson, Duncan address crowd in N. Augusta

Courtesy Aiken Standard

By BILL BENGTSON
North Augusta bureau

NORTH AUGUSTA — Heavy hitters in South Carolina’s Republican ranks explored some friendly territory Saturday afternoon, holding a campaign rally at the North Augusta Community Center.

Seeking support while helping distribute hamburgers and hot dogs was Rep. Joe Wilson, currently serving the 2nd Congressional District, which includes part of Aiken County as well as much of the state’s southwestern corner. He also appeared on stage with State Rep. Jeff Duncan, the Republican nominee to succeed Rep. Gresham Barrett, who serves the 3rd Congressional District.

Wilson presented the event as a “hometown cookout,” with emphasis on two particular slogans: “Joe Means Jobs” and “Cut the Fat,” reflecting his support for cutting both unemployment and government waste.

Duncan, addressing the assembly, added to the first slogan, suggesting “Joe and Jeff Mean Jobs” as an appropriate theme. He described himself as a believer in “Reaganomics” – the principles of lower taxes and less regulation, among other guidelines.

The Clinton resident also described himself as a strong booster of what some have called “the fair tax,” which is described in promotional material as a plan to abolish “all federal personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare and self-employment taxes and (replace) them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax administered primarily by existing state sales tax authorities.”

Duncan described the Constitution as “the foundation of every decision I’ll make in Washington, D.C.,” and said government should not engaged in such activities as the recent partial acquisition of General Motors.

Wilson, a Springdale resident, made similar comments, describing himself as a booster of “limited government and expanded freedom.” Both candidates expressed their support for Arizona’s recent state-level efforts to fight illegal immigration and for a balanced-budget amendment.

He also drew applause by challenging the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. “We can work to repeal ‘Obamacare,’ which will kill 1.6 million jobs. … We know that we can repeal the government takeover and immediately replace it with health-insurance reform.”

Wilson and Duncan both have local activity in the next few days. Wilson’s Saturday schedule also included visits in Williston and Neeses, and his plans for today include stops in Irmo and Blythewood.

Courtesy: Aiken Standard