EDITORIAL: Bauer's comments raise ire, solve nothing

By: | SCNow
Published: February 04, 2010

Southern Florence County struggles with the problems of poverty and stray animals, but the two should never have been equated with each other.

S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who is running for governor, said he didn’t mean to offend anyone with his comments and that he is a victim of the media in this case.

Here’s one of his remarks: “You’re facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don’t think too much further than that.”

Bauer said he was using a metaphor, but three little words — “or a person” — really seem to make his statements seem quite literal.

He might not have meant to offend anyone, but southern Florence County should be full of people who are upset about his comments. Free and reduced-price lunches go to 87 percent of students in Florence School District 3, according to the district’s Web site.

It’s one thing to call out people who are abusing government assistance. People who work hard and refuse to take such assistance have a right to be upset with those who manipulate the system.

Rhetoric such as Bauer’s might raise ire on both sides of the issue, but it does nothing to cure the social problems that lead to the “cycle of dependency” of which he spoke.

More people than ever are facing hard times financially, and people genuinely need help. Our politicians shouldn’t belittle or dehumanize these people by lumping them in with the shortsighted crowd that’s apparently on a mission only to spawn.

Every child deserves the opportunity to get an education, regardless of family background or social status. And it seems cruel to make remarks that could suggest a child shouldn’t receive an “ample food supply” if parents are irresponsible.

The bottom line is that high-profile politicians such as Bauer know their words will be parsed, and they should be more tactful as a result. Our lieutenant governor should apologize fully and cut his losses, regardless of how many people agree with the sentiment behind what he was saying.

Just like the “cycle of dependency” needs to be broken, so does the cycle of South Carolina politicians embarrassing our state.