Robert Ford, South Carolina wingnut, takes flight

Robert Ford, a Democratic state senator from South Carolina, is one of those people you hear about and wonder "What rock did this guy crawl out from under?"

Reportedly, he is planning to run for governor. Omigod!

Here's what he's done lately. Ford introduced a bill in the South Carolina General Assembly that reads thusly:

Section 16-15-370. (A) It is unlawful for a person in a public forum or place of public accomodation wilfully and knowingly to publish orally or in writing, exhibit, or otherwise make available material containing words, language, or actions of a profane, vulgar, lewd, lascivious, or indecent nature.

(B) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.


Ken, at popehat.com says this:

"Robert Ford is an ignorant censorious dick. ...

"Sit back for a moment and admit the breathtaking scope of that. I'm pretty sure Ford just proposed to make it illegal to put on any play with profanity in it. Or to sell a book with profanity in it. Or to hold up a sign with profanity in it. Or to have a conversation in a restaurant featuring profanity. Or to show a movie, hand out a flier, write a letter with profanity in it. And that's leaving aside the ludicrously vague and overbroad categories of 'vulgar,' 'lewd,' 'lascivious,' or 'indecent.' What the hell do those mean? ...

"Robert Ford just made it a felony to teach, or give a kid to read, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Catcher in the Rye, most of the works of William Shakespear, and -- fuck it, this list is pointless. Most of the Western canon arguably violates this law. Just don't read, kids. You can still aspire to be a state senator." ...

"Someone needs to acquaint Robert Ford with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, branding it on his ass if possible. ...

"So Ford, if not an abject ignoramus, is an oathbreaker. By offering for a vote a law that is patently unconstitutional under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution (not to mention Article 1, Section 2 of the South Carolina Constitution), Ford has defied his oath or preserve, protect and defend those guarantees."


Couldn't have said it better myself!

Ken's entire article is here. The bill, in all its asinine glory is here.