“I stand before you today to speak for those victims who get caught up within the system. I speak for the common man from which I spring who is often a victim. I speak for the weak and the unprotected who is often a victim and I speak for the women who are often victims. In our government and society, we place our life, our liberty and financial well being in the hands of the judicial system. Because of that awesome responsibility, we expect the people elected to those offices to meet the highest standards possible. I submit and I contend that this candidate does not meet those high standards. I have nothing to say about the individual as an individual, as a family member, church member, what have you. I want to speak to the actions of this candidate and I will only speak to those things that are public record.

On the newsstand today, in every newsstand in this State, in this country and across the sea, there is an article in Redbook magazine which represents 17 of the most sexist judges in the United States. Six of them have one-third page pictures. Unfortunately, two of those pictures are of South Carolina’s judges. One of those pictures happens to be of our candidate. South Carolina spends millions of dollars every year to raise and put before the world the merit of our State. We don’t deserve… We didn’t deserve at all and should not stand for any action that creates publicity of this sort. One can say that this is an isolated case. I submit that that is not an isolated case. I want the records of public records of court cases. In 1988, a public official was found guilty of a crime that carried of up to 5 years. Our candidate of today’s sentence was no time, no fine and no probation. In 1989, a public official was found guilty of a crime that carried up to 226 years. The sentence of our candidate was three years. Well, that is old history. Let’s jump a little closer to now. In 1992, a public official was found guilty of a crime that carried up to 165 years in prison. The sentence was 300 hours of community service. But, the crowning cases and the ones that I think broke the camel’s back was less than twelve months ago. On March 4 of 1993, a man, a sex offender, a common man, pleaded guilty to a crime of peeping tom. He received up to one year jail sentence. Four days later, a public official appeared in this man’s court pleading guilty or no contest to molesting 15 women in his official duties. One woman was ordered to kiss his exposed penis. Well compared to the peeping tom who looked through a window at a woman, one would think that this person would have gotten 20 to 25 years. You know what his sentence was – 400 days of community service and a $500.00 fine. I am appalled that any man, especially a judge, has the opinion that women in South Carolina are worth $35.00 a piece or 35 days of community service. I could comment on other cases, but I won’t, I think I have made my point. Somewhere, along the line, the judgement of this candidate went wrong. I don’t believe people with this public record should be allowed to sit in judgement on the people of South Carolina. This is a most important vote. I believe the vote will send a very clear strong message to the people of South Carolina that this Body demands and will not stand for actions of this sort by the people we put in such positions. I would be unable to leave this Chamber today and look my wife, my daughter, my granddaughter in the eye and say that I voted yes for this candidate. I ask you to vote no and remove this individual from the bench. Thank you.”