Political activists had been warning Democratic voters in South Carolina about Jay Stamper, who’s vying to be their candidate for U.S. Senate, since the newcomer to the state first started campaigning in March 2013. He has a questionable past, they said, and Stamper could be another fake Democrat plant whose only goal is to aid the Republican Party, they cautioned.
Information leaked at the South Carolina Democratic Party’s recent annual convention confirms those suspicions.
In Jan. 2013, prior to moving to the state, Stamper contacted a Republican campaign consultant about his interest in the race by personal message on Facebook, calling himself a ?Rand Paul/tea party constitutional conservative(.)? A few weeks later, and possibly after learning the number of primary opponents already challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, Stamper announced his bid, but as a Democrat.
At a May 3 meeting before the convention formally opened in Columbia, S.C., county party chairs were informed by state party officers that they could endorse his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Brad Hutto, provided each county party’s bylaws didn’t restrict primary race endorsements. During the convention later that day, an image of Stamper’s ?constitutional conservative? message was briefly displayed on projection screens.
Stamper’s Facebook post to the consultant, who maintains anonymity by deletion of all relevant names from the message, was an inquiry pertaining to campaign work.
Because of his clouded history of political pranks and felony convictions, active Democrats in the state were quick to question the validity of Stamper’s campaign. That may have triggered his tactical response, however; Stamper publicly stated that SCDP was rejecting him due to his declaration of liberal stances in comparison to a moderate candidate in a different race.
Facebook accounts promoting Stamper, using names insinuating affiliation with Democratic organizations, were questioned by party members for their postings of incorrect information about primary opponent Hutto. The party members were subsequently blocked from commenting on those Facebook pages. Multiple Twitter accounts, using names such as ?GunSenseSC? and ?ACAproud,? were briefly operated, issuing only pro-Stamper and anti-Hutto comments.
In the last two weeks, Stamper’s released a video claiming the state Democratic Party holds a conservative stance on progressive issues; it’s against gay marriage, is pro-life, and sides with the NRA, he says in the video. He made the same comments, along with claims that SCDP is trying to ?distance itself from President Obama, his positions, and his accomplishments,? in a Facebook posting.
Aiken County’s Democratic Party labeled him (as well as 2nd District candidate Phil Black, who ran for the same office before as a Republican) ?not a Democrat? on its website prior to the state party’s suggestion.
South Carolina’s record of fake Democrats with apparent goals of aiding Republican candidates and incumbents goes back to at least 1972, and includes?Alvin Greene’s 2010 campaign, which caught global media attention.
Edited/Published by: SB
