Libel or Bribery?

A couple of months ago, “Spartanburg Spark” posted a comment on our “About Us” page. He/she wrote, “You should post more often. I like what I’ve seen so far.”

We’re appreciative of the thoughts, but with all of the blogosphere’s other stops, we didn’t want this to be one that inundated political participants with posts when the need wasn’t there.

Well, today the need is there.

According to a discussion thread started yesterday on the Spartanburg Herald-Journal’s web site (the screen capture above is included for reference in the event the thread is removed), screen name “Common Sense Politics” accuses Senate District 11 candidate Mike Gardner of sponsoring a “push poll.”

The author quickly admits that Gardner’s campaign doesn’t have the financial means to conduct such a poll, so he’s contradicting his own statement and acknowledging that the poll isn’t Gardner’s.

He then accuses Gardner of stealing his opponent’s campaign signs and most importantly accuses him of “trying to bribe police officers to raise money for your campaign.”

The thread offers a lot of back and forth between “Common Sense Politics” and “Apron.”

Why is this so interesting and something that amounts to much more than an innocuous rambling discussion thread?

Here’s why.

“Apron” is self-identified as “RSB” or Rick S. Beltram, Chairman of the Spartanburg County Republican Party.

Beltram, in this thread discussion refers to “Common Sense Politics” or “CSP” as “Michael” which is never refuted by CSP.

Reviewing past discussions between “Apron” and “CSP” over various political subject threads, we learn that the “Michael” Beltram refers to is Michael Reese, son of Senator Glenn Reese who faces Gardner in the November general election.

According to the Herald-Journal on March 19, 2008, Michael “helps out with his father’s campaigns.”

One of two things is going on here.

Either Gardner is attempting to bribe law enforcement officers, or Glenn Reese family members (and by association, his campaign) have crossed from political attack to libel.

If law enforcement officers are on the take or if Gardner is trying to bribe them as Michael Reese contends, State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Reggie Lloyd and/or 7th Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy should initiate an immediate investigation and prosecute violators to the fullest extent of the law. We don’t need dishonesty in areas protecting the public trust, and the election is less than a month away.

If Reese’s allegations are fabrications created solely to cast a negative light on Gardner, his accusations fall under the category of libel.

The Herald-Journal should then remove the discussion thread and Senator Reese should condemn his son’s actions and remove him from any official or unofficial campaign capacity.

Of course none of that would prevent Gardner from filing suit to protect his reputation against the libelous accusations.

That’s the truth.