If we had predicted six months ago that the BJU Chairman of the Board, President & Chief of Staff would all be gone today … you would have said we were crazy.
If we had predicted six months ago that the Bob Jones University (BJU)Chairman of the Board (John Lewis), President (Steve Pettit) & Chief of Staff (Randy Page) would all be gone today … you would have said we were crazy.
Well guess what … they are all gone today … but is the reckoning over?
Story Background:
We all recall the great debate about Ellen Weaver’s “master’s degree”. It all started with an obscure requirement passed into law and approved by voters in 2018 that requires the SC Superintendent of Education to possess a master’s degree.
“Per the South Carolina State House, a superintendent of education must hold a master’s degree and have experience in public education. In turn, Weaver enrolled in Bob Jones University (BJU) and is said to have completed 33 hours of coursework in six months’ time.” – WIS News (10/17/2022) [Continue Reading]
Filing for the statewide SC Superintendent of Education office was in March 2022. Weaver was the hands down leading candidate with the most (special interest) money backing her … as well as virtually the entire Republican “establishment” and SCGOP leadership, namely SCGOP Chairman Drew McKissick, which raised questions as to his personal and the SCGOP’s impartiality in the race.
However in April of 2022, it was discovered that several candidates did not have the necessary educational requirements … Ellen Weaver being chief among them. It was then disclosed that Chairman McKissick had certified Weaver as a candidate even though she was not qualified to hold the office at the time.
After discover Weaver did not qualify, Weaver first enrolled in an online master’s degree program at Western Governor’s University. That apparently was not going to work out in time … or the WGU administration was not willing to risk their school’s accreditation for Weaver’s timeline … so she quickly enrolled in a master’s degree program at her alma mater, the very politically active Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC.
The only problem … the degree was (and still is) advertised as a 2-year program. Weaver did not have two years, so “special” treatment was needed, and somehow she obtained the 33 credit hour degree in less than six months.
All along the way there were calls of outrage, but Weaver and the establishment party leaders were not budging. They needed Weaver to win and nothing, including risking the accreditation of BJU, the potential for Weaver being disqualified and a Democrat being installed to that office, nor the risk of BJU leadership losing their jobs was going to stop them.
Ultimately on November 8th, 2022, Weaver defeated her Democrat opponent Lisa Ellis, 55% to 43% in the statewide election.
Post Election Timeline:
However, the election win is not the end of the story.
In December 2022 it was reported that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) had asked BJU to submit a monitoring report after they received complaints about new state superintendent Ellen Weaver’s six-month master’s degree. (The Greenville News – December 12, 2022)
“Both letters, sent [to] the State and Federal Attorney General’s Office, cite a conspiracy to commit fraud [by] Ellen Weaver, Bob Jones University and the State’s Republican Party.” – WIS News (01/14/2023) [CONTINUE READING]
On January 11th, 2023, the SC Democratic Party Chairman Trav Roberston, Jr. sent letters to US Attorney General Merrick Garland and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson asking them to investigate the circumstances surrounding the candidate certification of Ellen Weaver. The letters accused Ellen Weaver, the SCGOP, Bob Jones University & the SACSCOC of conspiracy to commit fraud and circumvent SC Election Law. It is a pretty powerful statement. (HERE.)
“… these organizations conspired to commit fraud and circumvent South Carolina law.” 1/11/2023 Letter to US Attorney General Merrick Garland
On January 19th, BJU President Steve Pettit signed a 3-year extension on his contract. It appeared to most that there were going to be no ramifications for the Ellen Weaver “master’s degree” debacle. (The Post & Courier Greenville – January 19, 2023)
Despite the 3-year contract extension, on March 30th Pettit submitted a letter to the BJU Board of Trustees citing grievances with the leadership of then-board Chairman John Lewis. In the letter, Pettit said he would resign if Lewis remained chair. (The Post & Courier Greenville – April 21, 2023)
On April 6th, Lewis resigned, leaving an open question of whether that move changed Pettit’s status. The resignation (strangely enough) did not change the embattled President’s status, raising questions as to whether the professed grievances were the real reason for both resignations. Pettit left the school effective May 5th.
Later in April, BJU Chief of Staff and SCGOP “Republican” political operative Randy Page left the University for a position as the state director of the pro-Ron DeSantis Never Back Down PAC. (The Post & Courier – April 25, 2023)
Ask yourself, who leaves a job as a university Chief of Staff for a temporary and often revolving door PAC position. … even as a state director? The SC Republican Presidential Preference Primary will be held on February 24, 2024 … so what will Randy do after this job is over? This move raised further questions as to the real reason for Page’s resignation given he is widely believed to be the mastermind behind the Weaver BJU “master’s degree” arrangement.
“Page … told the Greenville News that one could apply for a fast-track course in consultation with the faculty program coordinator.”
“Page … University President Steve Pettit and professors in leadership positions donated to Weaver’s campaign.”
Although the mainstream media is not reporting it yet … the rumor mill in Greenville is that the BJU departures are more related to the Ellen Weaver’s BJU “master’s degree” issue than any personnel differences or temporary political opportunities.
Time will tell … but if you were BJU leadership would you want to announce publicly that these leadership departures were part of a potential crime or an agreed to punishment for the political favoritism shown Weaver? We wouldn’t.
Yesterday we shared with you the CALL TO CONVENTION for the 7 SCGOP Congressional District Conventions coming up in April (HERE). All America FIRST SCGOP State Delegates should REGISTER … and attend!!! Consider it mandatory to #SaveSouthCarolina!!! 😉
Well, guess what … there are 3 1/2 pages of “Rules” about these 7 SCGOP Congressional District Organizations … including details on the conventions.
We won’t repeat the entire Rule 6 here … it is 3 1/2 pages … but click below … read Rule 6 … and let us know if you have any questions or see anything interesting. It is critical to know the RULES!!!
READ RULE 6: “Congressional District Organization” – HERE
$55 MILLION for “real” School Choice READY TODAY!!!
S285 has already PASSED the SC Senate (28 to 9 vote)!!!
S285 is just sitting in the SC House waiting to be passed.
Could be passed, AS-IS, No Changes and be law within a week.
$11,000 scholarships for special needs … not $6,000 like ESA.
$11,000 scholarships for low income … not $6,000 like ESA.
100% Constitutional … not like the ESA.
No Gov’t Strings Attached … not like the ESA.
Approved by Homeschoolers / HSLDA … not like the ESA.
All sides say they support it … not like the ESA.
Nearly UNIVERSAL School Choice!!!
All families up to 400% of poverty are eligible ($124,800 for a family of 4).
ESA Supreme Court Oral Arguments: This past Wednesday March 6th, the SC Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the lawsuit claiming (as we believe) that the ESA / Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
You all recall that a substantially similar ESA program was twice ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL back in 2020 … both decisions were unanimous 5 to 0 opinions … and that point was made very clear by Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty (HERE) as the hearing began. The Chief Justice was unrelenting in his disdain for the ESA program … probably more that a judge should be in open court … but the other Justices were not very easy on the matter either.
Acting Justice, Chief Judge James E. Lockemy (HERE) of the SC Court of Appeals made a huge issue of whether the Superintendent of Education could even administer the program … based on the fact that her Constitutional Duty was to represent Public Schools. That was a new twist, and not a good sign for the ESA pushers.
Watch the 1 hour & 7 minute video of the hearing yourself: HERE
You never know what may happen … and we are sure the “politicians” electing these SC Supreme Court Justices have been working them hard to rule their “monied special interest” ESA bill is legal … but it could very well be that the SC Supreme Court rules this program unconstitutional for a third time.
The 2020 ESA decision was originally heard on September 18th, 2020, with the decision filed on October 7, 2020 … just 3 weeks later. Legislators (and families / schools) need to know before the 2024 legislative session ends in early May, so the clock is ticking.
Surprisingly, very few mainstream media outlets are reporting on this … but you can see what Alexander Thompson of The Post & Courier (HERE) and Seanna Adcox of the SC Daily Gazette (HERE) and Jeffrey Collins of the Associated Press (HERE) had to say about the oral arguments.
PASS S285 – “real” School Choice: S285 has already passed the SC Senate and is objectively “better” than the 100% Government Run / government strings attached ESA program … so why are legislators delaying??? What do we say … #FollowTheMONEY!!!
The 2020 ESA Program using the same ClassWallet (HERE) online portal was ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL as a prohibited “direct” benefit to private schools.
Election Day Countdown (as of 03/11/2024):
Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 5 days (SC Filing Opens)
Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 21 days (SC Filing Closes)
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 92 days (SC Primaries)
Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 239 (ELECTION DAY)
Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by hitting REPLY or emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.
HAVE AN OPINION?
Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!
We have seen A LOT of “Call To Action” alerts going out on social media and via email about defeating H5164 as it includes homeschoolers in the 100% Government Run ESA Program (aka ESTF Program).
Well … that is nice … but realize if we simply get the home school provision removed … THAT IS NOT A VICTORY!!!
If H5164 … the 100% government run school choice program is bad for homeschoolers … it is equally as bad for ALL K-12 education … that includes Private & Christian Schools as well. Right?
It may feel like an “easy” win to remove homeschoolers from H5164 … heck the uniparty may have included homeschoolers just as a “red herring” to give grassroots a perceived (yet fake) win if legislators do ultimately remove homeschoolers.
Stand up for ALL kids … oppose H5164 for the right reasons … for ALL the reasons. Don’t miss the big picture in order to “feel good” about a fake win.
We don’t want 100% government control of our education system … PERIOD!!! 100% government control is the problem … not just the fact homeschoolers are included in this v02 of SC Superintendent Ellen Weaver & her monied special interest (i.e., ClassWallet) ESA / ESTF Program.
#LearnTheirTRICKS!
#FollowTheMONEY!
– PASS S285 –
PASS S285: Whether some folks like it or not … the “only” solution to fighting back against 100% government run school choice is for the SC House of Representatives to pass S285 (HERE). The SC Senate has already passed it … we are just waiting for the SC House to DO SOMETHING … to pass S285 as-is, with not changes … and send it straight to the Governor for signing!!!
The (P)ACE Tax Credit Scholarship Bill is the grandaddy of school choice in our nation … and it is the “only” school program designed to FIGHT BACK against government overreach into our private schools & homeschoolers. Wouldn’t that be a good thing for SC Patriots to have on their side fighting government overreach everywhere?
Why else do you think SC House Legislators on both sides are trying to defeat it? 😉
DEFINITION: red herring (noun), something intended to distract attention from the real problem.
Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 8 days (SC Filing Opens)
Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 24 days (SC Filing Closes)
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 95 days (SC Primaries)
Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 242 (ELECTION DAY)
Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by hitting REPLY or emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.
HAVE AN OPINION?
Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!
As expected, President DONALD TRUMP had a swath or crushing victories in yesterday’s SUPER TUESDAY primaries.
Haley did however win one state … VERMONT … home of Socialist US Senator Bernie Sanders. Like her victory over the weekend in Washington, DC … it’s nothing to be super proud of (HERE).
Nikki Haley’s Campaign went “dark” for hours last night … and this morning they announced she will be suspending her campaign today at 10AM.
Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 10 days (SC Filing Opens)
Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 26 days (SC Filing Closes)
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 97 days (SC Primaries)
Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 244 (ELECTION DAY)
Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by hitting REPLY or emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.
HAVE AN OPINION?
Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!
TRICK #1 – “Red Meat” for the Republican Base: We have seen this “show” numerous times. The SC House establishment will put up a “red meat” bill (i.e., appeals to the Republican base) which likely has ZERO chance of going anywhere in the Senate … but establishment SC House members / leadership can CAMPAIGN on passing some real conservative legislation and point the finger at the SC Senate. It has been done over and over and over through the years … and they did it again last Wednesday with a faux “Universal School Choice” bill, H5164.
Don’t buy it … if they really cared about “school choice”, they would have passed the $55 MILLION (P)ACE Scholarship Bill … S285 … the “real” school choice bill which has been sitting in the SC House Ways & Means Committee since March 28th, 2023 after the SC Senate set it for SPECIAL ORDER and passed it 28 to 9. (HERE)
TRICK #2 – Not all “school choice” is the same: There is 100% government run school choice like the ESA / H5164 … which is bad … and there is free market school choice which is run by independent conservative non-profits with NO GOVERNMENT STRINGS ATTACHED.
When anyone tells you about a “school choice” bill you FIRST question needs to be “who” administers the program? If it is the GOVERNMENT who administers the program … be it the SC State Department of Education … or worse, the SC Department of Revenue … the bill is BAD!!!
Don’t be lazy and say “I just want school choice, I don’t really care what it is.” There is a massive difference short-term and long-term between 100% government run / strings attached ESAs like H5164 … and “real” free-market school choice Tax Credit Scholarships like S285.
TRICK #3 – Fast-tracked Committee Hearings: Well, H5164 was filed out of the blue on Wednesday, February 28th … and it already has a scheduled House Sub-Committee Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 5th (TODAY!!!) … and a Full Committee Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 6th.
Seem a little “pre-planned“??? 😉
TRICK #4 – Everybody supports the bill!!!: Yes, this is when you know there is a real problem and the fix is in. Remember SC First STEPS … another 100% supported, 100% government run leftist program passed in the dark of the night with lightening speed (HERE).
Well guess what … “everybody” supports this 100% Government Run “universal school choice” bill … and when we say everybody, that means SC HOUSE LEADERSHIP and the SC FREEDOM CAUCUS.
Ask yourself … why is the SC House Freedom Caucus supporting a 100% government run anything???
Rep. Adam Morgan & Speaker Smith support H5164? Hmmm …
Why SCFC Supports 100% Gov’t Run Private School Choice?
Folks tell us all the time that it makes no sense that the SC Freedom Caucus would support 100% Government Run ESAs … it is the complete OPPOSITE of what they preach. Well, that is true … “freedom” is not 100% government run.
But the SCFC does support 100% government run school choice … so what gives?
It is real simple … MONEY!!!
SCFC Chairman & 4th Congressional District Candidate Rep. Adam Morgan’s (HERE) family owns an EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING FIRM called Palmetto Fortis (HERE) … and SCFC members Rep. Alan Morgan (HERE & HERE) and Rep. Josiah Magnuson (HERE& HERE) both work there.
As we have shown you before, this ESA program means HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS to monied special interests (HERE) … it hasn’t even started and $4.2 million has already been awarded to just one vendor, ClassWallet (HERE).
Connect the dots friends …
MAJOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST???: Well, these are the questions we have been asking the Morgans and the SC Freedom Caucus up here in Greenville for well over two years with NO ANSWERS. And it is the reason the SC Freedom Caucus has been working with Drew McKissick supporting these “splinter groups” in places like LEXINGTON & Greenville … they don’t want us asking these questions or telling you the backstory.
Think about it … if there was nothing “wrong” going on, wouldn’t the Morgans and the SC Freedom Caucus be willing to discuss the matter???
Lawyer Legislators may be making MILLIONS off of their “special gigs” … but they are not the only ones at the SC State House shaking down taxpayers for their own personal financial benefit.
Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 11 days (SC Filing Opens)
Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 27 days (SC Filing Closes)
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 98 days (SC Primaries)
Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 245 (ELECTION DAY)
Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by hitting REPLY or emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.
HAVE AN OPINION?
Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!
No … wining Washington, DC is nothing to be proud of … whatsoever!!!
But that is what Nikki Haley did over the weekend … winning Washington, DC by 1,274 votes to TRUMP’s 676. TRUMP however cleaned up in Missouri, Idaho and the Michigan Caucuses over the weekend … places where you want to win (as opposed to the SWAMP … Washington, DC).
What we found most interesting however were two quotes …
The first quote came out of the mouth of the Washington DC Republican Party (www.dcgop.com) Chairman Patrick Mara (HERE & HERE) who told Politico “This universe is a little more sophisticated than just about any universe in any other state”. SAY WHAT!?!?!? Chairman Mara continued on stating “I listen to the political podcasts in the morning. I read the newsletters throughout the day. That’s probably, like, half the people showing up at this.” (Politico – HERE).
Does this guy have any self awareness???
The second quote which gets into the political / mental / media manipulation … the Yahoo!News Chief National Correspondent Jon Ward called Washington, DC a state (HERE) … specifically stating Nikki Haley “won her first state in the nominating cycle with a victory in Sunday’s Washington, D.C., primaries.“
Tuesday, March 5th, 2024 – TOMORROW (Super Tuesday)
Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 12 days (SC Filing Opens)
Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 28 days (SC Filing Closes)
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 99 days (SC Primaries)
Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 246 (ELECTION DAY)
Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by hitting REPLY or emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.
HAVE AN OPINION?
Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!
