To borrow a little from my old friend William Shakespeare, "There's something rotten in the state of Denmark South Carolina."

Recently, our good friend, Randy Scott, was arrested on drunk driving charges.  Randy also happens to be a SC State Senator.  I do not believe that he was drunk, and I'd like to tell you why.  I'd also like to tell you that I do not take drunk-driving lightly.  It is a stupid, selfish thing to do.  If I thought for a second that Randy was guilty, I would not be writing this, no matter how sentimental I feel about him and his wife.

(Oh, and just so you know, I've never called Randy anything but "Randy."  It would seem odd to refer to him as Mr. Scott or Senator Scott.  Just don't want you to think I'm being disrespectful.)

First of all, please, if you're interested, read the story for yourself as printed in Charleston's paper, The Post & Courier....

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/apr/22/sheriff_scott_was_belligerent38146/

Also watch the video clips of his taped field sobriety test and his data master test at the police station.

And, here's what I think about all of it...

• Randy appears to stumble at one point during the balancing portion of the test.  Randy had his leg amputated as a teenager.  In all the times I have ever been around him, he stands crookedly, if you will, because he cannot distribute his weight evenly on his prosthetic leg.  It would be impossible for him to walk heel-to-toe or stand in the way the officer required him to without stumbling.
• The officer claims he failed the counting backward portion of the test, but if you listen carefully he counts correctly from 59 to 39.  It's just that the officer asked him to count to 33.  That to me seems like an honest mistake.
• The officer also claims he failed saying the alphabet.  I think I hear an extra R in there, but he says it quickly and clearly.  If I was stopped under suspicion of DUI I would be so nervous that I would faint, let alone be able to say my alphabet without stuttering.
• The article says Randy was belligerent, but he seems cooperative to me.
• He was apparently stopped for driving erractically.  He says he was out checking on his political signs, which is something he is known to do.  It makes sense to me that he was swerving and driving slowly throughout the neighborhood streets in order to shine his lights on his signs.
• I'm not sure I can even talk about the police station footage without seething, so please just watch the clip.  It's ridiculous.
• Randy scored zero on the breathalyzer test and was denied a blood alcohol test.
• I have interacted with Randy many, many times, and what you see in that room is just Randy, not a drunken man.  He actually reads aloud the paper work much better than the attending officer did.
• The only regrettable moment for Randy was his comment about the officers losing their jobs under another sheriff.  However, I would like to point out that by this time, he was rightfully very angry and was being treated unfairly.
• Randy states on the field test that his highest level of education is a GED, which has garnered some shock and criticism.  Randy lost his leg in a hunting accident in the latter part of his high school career, which caused him to not be able to graduate.  I think it admirable that he pursued his GED when he was healthy again.
• We know Randy more personally than politically and have never known him to be a drinker, let alone a heavy one.
• Randy has been criticized before for being "a rich hick with a good ol' boy mentality."  I have no idea what Randy's yearly income is.  What I do know, because I've been there many times, is that Randy lives in a modestly furnished, three-bedroom, ranch style home that was built in the 50s or 60s.  His main source of income is a pest extermination business of which he is the owner and sole laborer.  Randy IS a good ol' boy, but since when is that a bad thing?  That is one thing that, in my opinion, has made him a worthy politician.  He is moral and honest and cares about people.  He is real.  It is why, over a decade ago, Big D and I helped him with his campaign for county council.  It is why he won.  It is why he is now a state senator.
• OK....so I totally know that not all of the above have to do with his drunk-driving charge.  But they are things that have and will come up in the media because of it, and I want to throw in my two cents.

I do not know why Randy was arrested.  The timing seems fishy...just a couple of weeks before a key primary.  The political atmosphere seems fishy too.  It's a known fact in Summerville and the surrounding area that Randy and the Dorchester officials have butted heads on some issues before, dating back to when he was the County Council Chairman.  I can't make an opinionated comment on these things except to just list them as facts.  Well, I guess it is my opinion that it's fishy, and that's all I'm saying about that.

OK, now for the sentimental part.....My family really loves Randy and his wife, Amanda.  Randy donated a generous sum to our youth group as a thank-you for holding campaign signs on election day.  It was an unexpected and appreciated gift.  Randy and Amanda left the comfort of their own home to bring Christmas gifts to my children on Christmas morning several years in a row.  (Annaleigh, to this day, still enjoys the Mary Kate & Ashely video that they bought her and the praying bear brought many smiles to the then-baby Harrison.)  They took time out of a very busy schedule to visit  and comfort my family when my grandmother passed away.  Randy single-handedly rid my home of large Palmetto bugs, for which I'm eternally grateful.

If you are a resident of South Carolina and you're reading this, I just ask that you consider these things before you vote in a few weeks.  If you were already going to vote for Mike Rose for other reasons, then I encourage you to continue to do so.  However, if this media-hyped incident has caused you to change your mind, then I just ask you to see another side of this story and encourage your friends and family to do the same.  I believe that much of this will begin to come out in the media over the next few days and weeks. 

And thanks for reading my non-funny, out-of-character ramblings.  I felt it was the least I could do for, in my humble opinion, an innocent friend.

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Posted by 4sweetums

I hope your friend is cleared. I have seen before fishy stuff like that happen. It is really a pity when adults act in such childish ways.
Blessings,
Dawn

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Posted by MOMflippedisWOW

Wow.
This story takes me back to when my father was running for Mayor of our small town. He was opposed to what the school district was doing to the local schools and had called for the removal of the Superintendant.

He also seemed to get harassed by the local police and his signs kept going missing. My father wasn't elected and the following year the school Superintendant absconded with over a million of the school district's money. Hmmm.

My prayer's will be for a just outcome for your friend. Sound's like some change is needed in the 'good-ol-boy' police dept because a zero reading would mean no charge. (I worked in Law Enforcement for over 13 years btw.)

Keep up the good fight!

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Posted by proverbsmomof3

to stand up for what you believe is an injustice. I agree with you about the whole escapade. Seems pretty fishy to me also. I watched both videos and was shocked at what I saw and quite troubled. And the precinct video is way worse to me. He was asking valid questions and being totally ignored. It was like the testing officer had no clue how to respond. I know I would have been irratated if this had happened to me. As a matter of fact, when I was a 16yo new driver living in Mass. I was pulled over one night because I swerved to miss a cat. The officer said I was driving erratically and made me take all those tests. I was scared to death. Of course I passed them all, but it left an impression. I can just imagine how your friend must have felt. I will be keeping him and his family in my prayers that everything will work out. Again, thanks for stepping out.

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Posted by subbertfamily

that your friend is going through this. I watched both videos. He was not beligerent, just irritated, as I would have been. In fact, he handled it better than I did. His lawyer needs to address some issues. First, after he was read his rights, he should have been that he couldn't call his lawyer until after the test. I had no idea the test started either. Second, not blowing hard enough is not a refusal to take the test. If they really thought he wasn't blowing so it wouldn't register, than they should immediately have gotten a blood or urine test. By not doing that, they have proven (to me at least) that they did not believe he was drunk. At no time, did he appear intoxicated at all. He was not slurring his words, could read well, and recite the alphabet and counting correctly. We are subject to breathalizers almost everytime we drive through the front gate of the base. ITs waved in front of us and all that's required is that we exhale. Tell your friend that we're praying for him. Tell the arresting officer to lay off the doughnuts for a while. I wish I lived in S Carolina!! I would vote for him!!

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Posted by CrossView

I still have friends in South Carolina so I will definitely pass along the information!

It is strangely "coincidental" that this would happen to him at this time. =/

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Posted by teachingmisssmartypants

I'm sorry that this is happening to your friend. Someone we know was recently charged with a DUI. He was at the legal limit (.08) by the breathalyzer, but he insisted on getting a blood test, too. In our state, that is a legal right. The blood work came out at well under the legal limit, and he is going to be cleared. Apparently the breathalyzer can be wrong if you have worked with paints/stains within the previous 24 hours, which our friend had.

Anyway, I hope justice is done in the case of your friend.

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Posted by MayTheyBeMightyMen

Wow! The political process takes new turns every year. I sure hope that the situation is rectified quickly and his good name is restored. :'(

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Posted by icecastle

This is unbelievable! I watched both videos and read the article. I'm soooo glad that this was all caught on tape! It looks to me, and to my husband, who watched with me, like Randy is being railroaded. We will pray for his vindication, and for the Lord to bless his family!

Edited by icecastle on Apr. 24, 2008 at 6:58 PM

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Posted by lahbluebonnet

I thought that was funny that you didn't care for that AI, um, what's her name? I stood next to her and wondered why everyone else was so enamoured with her. It was like a big family reunion or something and I didn't get it.

Anyway, I had major head surgery many years ago and my balance nerve was cut. We have often discussed where if for some bizarre reason I had to take one of those balance tests, I would fail miserably. That is a shame this man's good name is being ruined. I hope you are feeling well soon. Praying for you and your friend.
Blessings,
Laurie

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