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Comedian Stephen Colbert’s Sister Wins Democratic Primary in SC — and GOP’s Mark Sanford Advances

Mar. 20, 2013 7:10am Billy Hallowell

CHARLESTON, S.C. (TheBlaze/AP) — There’s a House of Representatives electoral battle in South Carolina that’s everyone’s talking about — and for more than one reason. To begin, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert, always dreamed of a career in politics — and now she has a chance to realize that dream.

And then there’s Mark Sanford, who says he believes in “a God of second chances,” and now the former South Carolina governor has taken the first step toward reviving a political career that was derailed by an extramarital affair.

The race has drawn national attention because of Sanford’s well-known fall from grace and Colbert Busch’s relationship to Steven Colbert, who parodies a conservative political commentator as host of TV’s “The Colbert Report.”

Colbert Busch swamped perennial candidate Ben Frasier on Tuesday to win the Democratic nomination for the seat vacated by Tim Scott, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate to replace fellow Republican Jim DeMint, now head of The Heritage Foundation.

Elizabeth Colbert Busch and Mark Sanford Make South Carolina House Battle an Interesting One

Elizabeth Colbert Busch poses on a street in Charleston, S.C., on Wednesday, February 13, 2013. The sister of comedian Stephen Colbert is one of two Democrats seeking South Carolina’s vacant 1st District congressional seat. There are 16 Republicans in the race. Credit: AP

She says she’s long dreamed of a career in politics. She remembers watching the 1968 funeral of slain U.S. senator and Democratic presidential candidate Robert Kennedy on television with her younger brother Stephen sitting in her lap. That’s when she promised herself that one day she would run for office.

Colbert Busch now faces the winner of the GOP primary runoff in the 1st Congressional District.

“I understand your frustrations and your aspirations. I will never stop listening to you and I am ready to be your voice in Washington,” Colbert Bush told her supporters Tuesday night.

“My pledge is to you. You are my only cause. I will fight to improve your lives and the lives of your children,” she added.

Elizabeth Colbert Busch answers questions from reporters in Charleston, S.C., on Monday, February 11,2013, after she was endorsed by Democratic rival Martin Skelly for an open South Carolina congressional seat. The sister of comedian Stephen Colbert is now one of two Democrats seeking the seat. Credit: AP

As Sanford advanced Tuesday night to an April 2 GOP runoff for an open congressional seat in a southern coastal district, Colbert Busch easily won the Democratic primary to earn a spot on the May 7 general election ballot.

Sanford, trying to mount a political comeback, easily outdistanced the other 15 Republicans in the field Tuesday. But with only 37 percent of the vote, he finds himself in a runoff.

Former Charleston County Councilman Curtis Bostic appeared to be in second place following the voting, but the margin is so narrow – less than 1 percent over state Sen. Larry Grooms – that it will trigger an automatic recount this week. Teddy Turner, the son of media mogul Ted Turner, finished fourth.

Tuesday was Sanford’s first run for office since a 2009 scandal in which he acknowledged an affair. After disappearing and telling his staff he was out hiking the Appalachian Trail, he returned to the state to reveal that he was in Argentina with his mistress. Sanford and his wife Jenny divorced, and he is now engaged to the Argentine woman.

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford addresses supporters in Charleston, S.C., on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, after advancing to the GOP primary runoff in a race for a vacant South Carolina congressional seat. Sanford, trying to make a political comeback, was one of 16 Republicans running in Tuesday’s primary. Credit: AP

“Are you ready to change things in Washington?” Sanford, flanked by his four sons, asked a boisterous crowd at a restaurant in Charleston’s historic district. “I’m incredibly humbled by the outpouring of support we have seen tonight.”

Earlier Tuesday, Sanford said it was “a treat and a blessing” to be back on the ballot. He represented the district in Congress for three terms before he was elected governor, serving two terms.

“We all hope for a second chance. I believe in a God of second chances,” Sanford said after voting Tuesday.

Whether against Sanford, Grooms or Bostic, Colbert Busch would appear to have an uphill battle in the May 7 special election in the strongly Republican district.

Last fall, Mitt Romney won the conservative district by 18 percentage points, although he only beat President Barack Obama by 10 statewide.

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Comments (21)

dwoolvett
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 3:31pm
another family values republican

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Sharon Rose
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:24pm
Well, this will be a no-brainer outcome.

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Secret Squirrel
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:08pm
Jeez, a philanderer vs. a Busch.
But, even baseballers get three strikes, so let the people decide.

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ska532
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:21pm
It needs to be said, as one who is in this district and voting, that Mark Sanford IS NOT the Republican choice YET. There is still a run-off to be had between him and Curtis Bostic. That said, Mark Sanford, God willing, will lose to Curtis Bostic. Especially if those who voted for anyone other than Mark Sanford get behind Curtis Bostic.

So, please, if you live in SC District 1, please go out and vote for Curtis Bostic!!!

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bertr
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 9:52am
There is still hope of getting rid of Sanford in the run off. Many of the people I spoke with here before the vote yesterday were voting pimarly to make sure Sanford did Not win. There were just so many running against him(16)
I linked the results below
http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/Charleston/45560/115541/en/summary.html

I don’t want to paint the picture rosier then it really is tough, many republicans around here could care less if he cheated or not and are die hard for Sanford. Personally, if Sanford does win the republican nomination, loosing the seat wouldnt really seem any worse then Sanford winning. Im not sure how many I speak for on that one, but we may find out

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Locked
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 9:43am
““We all hope for a second chance. I believe in a God of second chances,” Sanford said after voting Tuesday.”

And God is great at granting second chances, Mr. Sanford. All that requires is our best effort to go forth and sin no mo-
“Sanford and his wife Jenny divorced, and he is now engaged to the Argentine woman.”

Oops. Well at least it’s not like you spent tax payers money and then lied abo-
“After his affair was revealed in June 2009, Sanford first claimed, “There’s been a lot of speculation and innuendo on whether or not public moneys were used to advance my admitted unfaithfulness. To be very clear: no public money was ever used in connection with this.” After a reporter used the Freedom of Information Act to seek records of what public funds were used to pay for Sanford’s trip to Argentina, Sanford eventually chose to reimburse taxpayers for expenses he had incurred one year earlier with his mistress in Argentina” (source: wikipedia).

Oh boy.

Folks, the fact that this is the best candidate the GOP has to offer in an election should be raising some flags that something is seriously wrong in the party. I don’t necessarily disqualify him because he had an affair… but when he was doing it on our dime, and was caught lying about it, that should be a wake-up call that he’s probably not the guy we want in power.

God grants second chances; but voters hopefully won’t be fooled twice.

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FightingBear
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 9:08am
Character matters….Just say no to Sanford.

How can South Carolinians be so foolish?

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- kaydeebeau
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:46pm
  Exactly my thoughts – How can a State elect Jim DeMint and Lindsay Graham at the same time Or Trey Gowdy and Tim Scott and consider Colbert’s sister or Sanford? boggles the mind. Really shows the “Sybil” nature of SC voters
  
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Gonzo
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 8:34am
The ego on some of these guys is just unbelievably inflated. Do you think the state won’t survive without you Sanford? Get a life!

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- redfish52
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 9:18am
  I don’t care if the Governor and Tiger Woods had a three way with the Queen of England…what I do care about is that this extreme Progressive Liberal not be elected to the Senate. Mark Sanford might be the worst husband, father alive but he is still a Conservative and was a very good Governor….ask the people of N. Charleston how they were able to get Boeing to build there.
  
  Report this comment
- bertr
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 9:57am
  @redfish52
  If you can’t even be trustworthy with your own spouse on a scale this big, do you have integrity at all?
  That’s pretty much the closest relationship that can be forged in this life. Sometimes marriage doesnt work, but in those cases running off to argentina to visit a mistress is not a proper way to handle that. And if your dishonest with your own family, how can I trust you to be honest with Anyone else?
  
  Not caring if our leaders have any intregrity is partly how we got here.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 10:57am
  Redfish, if you don’t want her elected, it might be a good idea not to run a proven liar against her. Don’t you think?
  
  Report this comment
- JRook
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:27pm
  @redfish52 “Those two thresholds would have to be met by 2016 in order for the company to cash in on an estimated $450 million incentive package from state and local governments in South Carolina.” Well I guess it was because of his honesty, trustworthiness and great negotiating skills. Although perhaps the $450 million payoff had something to do with it. And that is exactly what tax breaks and business development grants are…. payoffs. If states spent half that money on improving their universities, school systems, infrastructure, etc. perhaps companies would want to relocate there. But it is certainly easier to payoff companies for future political support and perhaps a lobbying job after you leave office.
  
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termyt
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 8:26am
I’m sure this is a great day for her. I bet she’s always wanted to be known as “Steven Colbert’s sister.”

Is that what they will have on the ballot so people recognize her?

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- Marine25
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 8:41am
  No, I think beside her name on the ballot will be “disgraced former govenor used millions of tax-payer dollars to commit adultery in Argentina without any regard for a spouse and three sons at home or any shame about lying about it to the entire nation”. Wait, sorry, that’s the other guy.
  
  She will beat him because it is likely a good portion of the 66% of primary voters who voted against Sanford would NEVER vote for him after what he has pulled. Busch is well-known and successful in Charlston.
  
  The Republicans give away another seat because the nut-job base nominates the wrong guy in th primary. Win or lose the GOP serves another few months as national laughingstock.
  
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Kregneva
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 7:59am
You can trust Mark, take that to the Bank. He will be faithful till the end.

This Bush woman is another story, like the last Pope she may or may not finish her term. She will probably use the win to quit mid-term and become a famous political comedian lady, and there are enough of those already.

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- SimpleTruths
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:37pm
  …to quit mid-term and become a famous political comedian lady.
  
  You’re talking about Sarah Palin right?
  
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 7:54am
Sanford, please fade away into the sunset, preferably move to South America. And, stay out of politics. In this case you most assuredly will make sure another Colbert will constantly be in the news.

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- Popp40
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 8:21am
  That could be the Democrats plan. Have him run so they will have an easy victory over the Republicians. I can already see the attack ads they will play against him. We need people of character to run not people who can’t even be faithful to the one you marry.
  
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- Marine25
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 8:44am
  Popp 40
  The Democrat’s plan? lease turn off Limbaugh and read a book or a newspaper just once.
  There were 16 candidates on that ballot and right wingers voted for this guy. Jindal said it best, Republicans have got to stop being the party of stupid.
  
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- SimpleTruths
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:47pm
  POPP40
  So you believe the Democrats have so much power that they can rig the primary to have him win so they can defeat him in the general election? Wow that’s some powerful people. Of course it begs the question of why would they need to do that? If they can put the ‘fix’ in against 15 contenders, rigging the general election should be child’s play.
  
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