Columbia vandals belong on the trash heap of history

The year 2009 has not been a great one for South Carolina politics. Mark Sanford’s trip on the Argentina trail kicked off a second half to 2009 that was strange to say the least. Two small town mayors made headlines, with the Mayor of Atlantic Beach getting arrested yet again, and the Mayor of Wellford having a strange policy of police not chasing suspects and even stranger press remarks. Then, of course, there was Joe Wilson’s “you lie!” yelled at President Obama.

Political realities led VUI to call Steven Benjamin likely the next Mayor of Columbia. Well, apparently Benjamin’s status did not set well with some. The State newspaper and other media sources are reporting that the Columbia City Hall was vandalized recently with racist graffiti that used the n word and the word die.

That graffiti is unacceptable. While it might seem to be just the latest bizarre twist in South Carolina politics, such graffiti goes beyond normal political discourse. A racial slur is bad enough. Using the word “die” brings it to another level. Calling for the death of a politician, or a pundit for that matter, goes against the heart of what a free democracy is all about.

Those who vandalized Columbia’s City Hall committed a criminal act. Law enforcement should investigate the matter fully and bring those who committed the act to justice. VUI condemns the vandalism without any reservation. Those who engage in such racism, and try to intimidate, do not represent Columbia. They do not represent South Carolina. They do not represent America. They do not represent conservatives or Republicans. Instead they represent a narrow band of bigots whose proper place is on the trash heap of history.