RNC COMMITTEEMAN: SCGOP CHAIR COMMITTED TO INCLUDING PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, ALL RACES

One of the rising stars of the South Carolina Republican Party is putting to rest unwarranted accusations that State GOP Chairman Katon Dawson is a racist — an unfortunate attack on Dawson, who is running for Republican National Committee chair.

RNC Committeeman Glenn McCall, an African American, defended Dawson in a letter to members of the RNC over exaggerated claims that the chairman was a member of the “all-white” Forest Lake Country Club in Columbia.

My support for Katon is not based solely on the fact we both come from South Carolina. I’m supporting Katon because I know first-hand what he’s done as state chairman to make the South Carolina Republican Party more inclusive, and what he’s done as a private citizen to oppose racism in our state. [...]

Katon left no stone unturned on his way to building a stronger state party. Under his leadership, minority involvement increased dramatically. Katon sent a clear signal when he chose Ron Thomas, an African-American, to work as his first Political Director, and his commitment to an inclusive party has paid off.

In 2004, Republicans in Lexington County elected an Indian-American woman, Nikki Haley, to serve in the State House, making her one of only two Indian-American Republicans in any State House in the country at the time. This year, South Carolina elected its first black Republican, Tim Scott, to the State House since Reconstruction, and in May, my peers honored me by electing me to serve on the Republican National Committee.

Katon’s success in making the South Carolina Republican Party stronger by making it more inclusive is clear. Unfortunately, what may not be as clear is Katon’s commitment to inclusion and his opposition to racism as a private citizen. Allow me to set the record straight on something you may have heard about.

A few months ago, a local newspaper wrote an article about a country club where Katon was a member. The article pointed out that the club did not have any minority members. There was some confusion about whether or not it was club policy or a longstanding deed that prohibited minority members — none of that really matters. What matters is this: Katon Dawson tried to change the club’s practices to allow minority members. When he realized that things were not likely to change, Katon resigned his membership.

Sadly, Katon’s opponents are trying to use the fact that he was a member of this country club to disqualify him from serving as RNC Chair.

It shouldn’t. I believe it won’t.

I see what Katon did as evidence of his commitment to including and involving people from all walks of life and all races. Katon took a stand for what was right. He stood up in front of his friends at the club and told them what they were doing was wrong, and when they refused to change, he decided to leave. I’m not saying that Katon deserves a medal for the courage he showed that day, but I do think this one incident revealed the depths of Katon’s personal commitment to inclusion. [Glenn McCall]

I know both of these guys personally and consider them to be two of the best Republicans this state has to offer. I’m at the top of that list, of course, but they aren’t too far behind.

So I strongly encourage everyone else in the race for RNC chair, however heated it may be, to read McCall’s letter and tell their supporters to give it a rest. These smear tactics only reiterate the reasons Republicans got crushed on Election Day.