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PROFESSOR MAY BE RUNNING ‘QUOTES FOR HIRE’ RACKET AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
When former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich allegedly tried to sell a U.S. Senate seat, he was brought down by the “pay to play” scandal. Well, here in South Carolina, we have an equally venal racket that some would call “pay to say.”
The Palmetto Scoop has found some interesting information indicating that Clemson University political science professor Dave Woodard appears to be a scholar for sale — a quotable gun for hire.
It seems all you have to do is pay him and he will praise you in the press. And if you don’t pay him, watch out.
Time and time again, Woodard’s name pops up in news stories as a scholarly, objective analyst and observer of the political scene, with his opinions bolstered by Clemson’s prestigious brand. He will offer extravagant praise for some candidates and savage put downs for others.
And reputable news organizations — national and local reporters, both in print and broadcast media — continue to fall for his shtick. But he never discloses that he often has a financial relationship with the individuals he’s discussing. And as time goes by, he becomes more and more flagrant.
Just last week, Woodard was quoted in the Seneca Daily Journal-Messenger bashing Sen. Lindsey Graham while praising Sen. Jim DeMint.
“Moderates generally don’t do well in SC,” Woodard said. “The electorate here likes people who are more ideological… Look at Jim DeMint, he is waltzing to re-election without any opponent, and is likely to win overwhelmingly.”
Nowhere does the article note that Woodard was on DeMint’s payroll. Nor did it point out that Woodard even co-authored DeMint’s 2008 book “Why We Whisper: Restoring Our Right to Say It’s Wrong.” Nor does it point out that, once upon a time, when Woodard did polling for Graham, he gave him high praise.
But when Graham stopped paying him as a consultant, Woodard suddenly became his biggest and harshest critic.
On his published curriculum vitae, Woodard even brags about being a paid consultant for numerous political clients, including DeMint, Congressman Gresham Barrett and others.
He has been especially favorable to Barrett, whose disclosures show Woodard has been paid more than $3,100 for consulting with the Congressman’s campaigns.
Not surprisingly, in a July 2009 article in the Daily Journal-Messenger, Woodard minimized the significance of the poor reception Barrett received at a Tax Day Tea Party rally where he was booed for having voted for a massive $700 billion federal bank bailout.
Woodard boasted that Barrett had “quickly rebounded” from that event and “is showing a very broad appeal.” The reporter identified Woodard as a Clemson “political scientist specializing in conservative and Southern politics.”
Columbia’s The State newspaper also frequently falls for Woodard’s conflicted credentials.
In an article discussing the forthcoming campaign for governor, Woodard again lavished extravagant praise on his candidate. Barrett, he said, was “in the catbird’s seat” in the race for governor. “He has been building for this for some time and a lot of chips have fallen his way,” Woodard said.
Again, no mention of his financial interest in Barrett.
Woodard can also be useful to his clients on the negative side, when he attacks opposing candidates, which he often does with equal enthusiasm.
In December 2008, for example, in the Charleston Post Courier, Woodard’s “unbiased” opinions were fired at Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, one of Barrett’s rivals for governor.
Woodard accused Bauer of operating an illegal website selling Christmas goods and services to benefit his campaign.
“Even if it’s legal in South Carolina, it’s suspect at best,” Woodard said. “This has all the trappings of the Illinois governor thing. You are really giving something of value and expecting some sort of favor in turn. You couldn’t do this with the Federal Election Commission.”
The Post and Courier also gave Woodard a forum on its pages to defend Barrett’s vote in Congress first against and then for the bank bailout. Posing as an objective political scientist from Clemson, Woodard had this to say:
“I know this vote by Gresham against leadership was very, very hard on him because he has formed a lot of alliances with conservatives up there,” Woodard said. “I think… this will kind of be forgotten, but I think it will send the message that he’s not afraid to stand up to the big boys.”
But Woodard doesn’t just fool the media, he also reportedly takes it a step further.
A source told TPS that he has tasked his students with making phone calls for public opinion surveys and writing campaign plans for clients like 4th Congressional District candidate Trey Gowdy, who paid Woodard $2,900 in July. TPS was also told by a source that Woodard’s grade book “looks kindly on students who volunteer for his clients.”
So, how can Woodard be quoted by reporters as a Clemson University expert source on the very campaigns he’s secretly paid to promote? Even University of South Carolina professor Don Fowler, a staunch Democrat, is always identified as a partisan supporter of the candidates and causes he represents, rather than as an objective observer of the political scene.
Has Dave Woodard abused his power as a professor? And in the process is he abusing the good name of Clemson University? The last time I checked, reputable universities don’t allow their “scholars” to sell quotes and opinions to the highest bidder.
I will look further into brother Woodard’s secret life as a paid political consultant. More to come…
“Clemson’s prestigious brand”
In what circle of Hell?
Are you paid anything from anyone associated to Sen. Graham?
Amem Snead.
Good reporting, Scoop. It is amazing that he has been quoted in so many stories without his finanicial ties to candidates being at least pointed out. Hopefully, based on your investigation, future news stories in the MSM will not repeat this error.
Prof. Woodard is the one who convinced Sen. DeMint and Rep. Wilson not to co-sponsor the FairTax Act, which would eliminate the tax on income (including Social Security), investment and businesses and get our economy going again.
I can’t imagine Fogle writing this piece if Woodard worked with Henry McMaster, Rex Rice, or any other clients of Richard Quinn and Associates…
[...] as he’s known in South Carolina, Adam Fogle. In a poorly sourced and potentially libelous attack on a professor at Clemson University , little-known blogger Adam Fogle demonstrates once again that Hell hath no wrath like a paid hack [...]
RE: “…with his opinions bolstered by Clemson’s prestigious brand.”
You must be kidding! “Clemson” is a “prestigious brand” of university, as a Yugo is a prestigious brand of automobile.
Of course, anyone who is a booster of Jim (The Demented) DeMint, the favorite of right-wing-Christian nut cases, is to be suspected of the most heinous acts of dissembling and mendacity.
I’ll admit to being a bit fond of Clemson orange on the gridiron, but then I’m a native son of Pickens Co. As for Clemson being “prestigious brand” politically… Well, maybe in parts of South Carolina.
On the subject of Graham vs. DeMint: I’m sick to the teeth of these RINOs in Government. Every bit as sick as I am of those wanting to tie the GOP to the apron strings of the Religious Right come ‘hell or high water’!
What this nation needs, IMHO, is a true Conservative Constitutionalist. Even if you don’t agree with my politics, (and you are most welcome not to, this being America), I think we can all agree that such garbage as professor Dave Woodard appears to be getting away with is completely unacceptable. If there is no legal action that can be brought to bear then Clemson Univ. should certainly look into relieving Prof. Woodward of his position.
Mark “Bull” Jones
Mobile, AL
Graham Hack Attacks DeMint Supporter:
http://www.redstate.com/smdavis/2009/11/16/graham-hack-attacks-demint-supporter/
“Kettle, meet Pot. Or, as he’s known in South Carolina, Adam Fogle. In a poorly sourced and potentially libelous attack on a professor at Clemson University , little-known blogger Adam Fogle demonstrates once again that Hell hath no wrath like a paid hack scorned.”
In the interest of full disclosure, Woodard is one of my former professors. That said, a couple of points:
1. You mention Woodard’s “secret life” as a paid consultant, then back up the claim by quoting from his *published* vita. Which is it, Mr. Fogle? Is his work as a consultant secret or published? Isn’t it the job of the reporter quoting him to disclose whatever information is relevant about the person being quoted?
2. You mention that Woodard has worked for DeMint and co-wrote a book with him (apparently in secret). However, Senators DeMint and Graham are not running against each other, are they, Mr. Fogle? How then is your mention of it relevant to the story?
3. In one of your closing paragraphs, you make some insinuations about Woodard tying grades to work for favored political campaigns. You should be more careful about “unnamed sources” when making such potentially libelous statements.
Do you think his flipping on Graham had anything to do with Graham’s flipping on the Republicans? MANY people have withdrawn their support for Mr. “I-don’t-work-for-the-people-of-South-Carolina-I work-for-the-people-of-America” whose last name is “if-you-don’t-like-it-you-can-leave.”
[...] here and read the article for yourself. Try not to get drawn into a pissing contest by some of the [...]
Lindsay Graham the John McCain wanna be, although I can’t think of any good reason to want to be like John McCain.
Adam Fogle,
You better have a good attorney on retainer or a significant insurance policy covering libel claims. Irresponsible “reporting” at best.
I happen to have Dr. Woodard as a professor and would like to call BS with everything relating to him in this story as a professor. He is a great professor who grades fairly and unbiasedly. In my class alone we have 4 teaching assistants who would definitely know if the grading system was flawed or rigged. This is horrible reporting Fogle and you should be apologizing for making claims based on “a source.” Are you kidding me? I am a freshman and know not to go off of one unnamed source with no one to even back the statement up. My high school paper wrote stories more concrete and truthful than the “Scoop.”
You wrote: We were also told by a source that Woodard’s grade book “looks kindly on students who volunteer for his clients.”
You can’t get much more libelous. Good luck with that…
must we forget that Woodard has been arrested multiple times including once for beating up a student in a Clemson University parking lot! Woodard is a poor educator and should be resign from the university…he is a HACK!!!
You straight up got called out dude.
Good luck with the lawsuit coming your way
Maybe they’ll feel sorry for you, Adam and not sue you.
I hate that you finally got noticed by a real website and it was totally negative.
Most of all, I hate the fact that you and Quinn and Gaham DESERVE IT!!!!
isn’t it Graham who’s attitude is ’so sue me?’
best of it to all concerned but I do not see South Carolina benefiting from these senators and most of the Congress –
GO JOE WILSON –
Pray for Obama – - Psalms 109 vs. 8 ” Let his days be few; and let another take his office. “
[...] about Lindsey to all comers. The Palmetto Scoop made a fascinating little discovery today, linking Woodard to DeMint. Naturally the extreme right is castigating the Palmetto [...]
Really McLovin?? Pay to Say?? When a senator sells out the people who elected him and with whom he has an obligation to represent, I believe one has the right to disagree with him. Woodard is one of the best teachers I have had the pleasure to take at Clemson. And as for secret political consultant career, I’m quite sure it is obviously stated in his description on the Clemson political science website that he is a political consultant..It’s no secret
http://business.clemson.edu/polisci/faculty.htm
Get your facts right before practicing such false speech
I agree with the Professor on Jim DeMint, and someone should clue in Senator Lousey Graham that he’s being used by the Republicans for the Environment and others to further their goals that will raise our energy (electrical rates) sky high and kill jobs and industry in South Carolina; all in the name of “The Environment. By the way where are all the Wind Mills going to be built in SC?
Um, wow. This would meet the standard for libel,I think. You just accused Woodard of academic fraud.
Good luck with all that.
I love all the reactionary Demintards who come on here knowing nothing about sc and nothing about woodard and then throw around libel claims.
1. Nothing in this article is libelous. Fogel quoted a source and has a right to do it. Plus everything he wrote is true.
2. woodard would be crazy to try to sue over it bc he would lose and be embarassed in the process.
Um, Mr. “shade tree lawyer,” I could very easily “quote a source” who says you’re a dog-raping turd burglar. That makes it not libel? Good to know.
The only person guilty of “pay-to-say” here is Fatty McGee Fogle, who is obviously taking money from Richard Quinn’s clients, like Lindsey Graham, and using the money to fellate them online.
@turd, Saying I rape dogs is something i can prove false.. Plus, i’m not a public figure like Woodard or fogel so there’s less burden of proof on me. What Fogel said though Woodard has to disprove which would be difficult. It only takes one paper from one student who volunteered for his people that looks suspect and Fogel can defend his statement.
[...] Monday, TPS reported that professor Dave Woodard was “a quotable gun for hire” — giving frequent [...]
This is just a low-level smear job by a small-minded wannabe! I still have not figured out where all the “secretes” are coming from. All of the facts about Woodard’s connections are in the publich domain for all to see, including the newspapers and TV stations who regularly quote him. It’s up to them to state his contacts and connections! And, those high dollar consulting fees of $2900! Hey Fogle, at least uncover consulting fees in the tens of thousands. Then, maybe we would stop yawning at your hard hitting “facts”!