Rep. Lonnie Hosey, a proud Democrat in the S.C. House out of Barnwell County. My friend. I respect him. This man served in Vietnam — not by waiting to get drafted but by VOLUNTEERING to answer the call of service for our country. He almost paid the ultimate price TWICE in that God foresaken jungle out there with my late grandfather, Staff Sergeant Franklin Bamberg, Sr., including getting drug out half dead only to spend over a year in a United States military hospital.
He has more courage and commitment to the greater good in his very presence than the S.C. Freedom Caucus does in their collective existence, so I refuse to let any of y’all disrespect him in the name of your bullshit “politics.” Put some respect on his name, his sacrifice, his legacy, and his dedication to service.
If you EVER highlight his name for anything ever again, it needs to be to say “thank you” for everything he sacrificed in the name of America. How’s that for “Freedom.”
The Freedom Caucus has a problem with “Democrats” serving on committees in a “conservative” state. A problem with “Democrats” holding positions in a Republican supermajority state. Whatever. Y’all operate like anarchists and not leaders, that’s why you won’t ever actually accomplish anything of value in politics for the people you represent. I feel bad for your constituents because it’s them who lose out with your antics.
Lonnie has earned the privilege of serving the people of S.C. and his District, including his position on House Ways & Means. You see, he takes his duty and oath seriously — y’all act like sitcom actors 99% of the time.
Y’all really gotta get over yourselves. It doesn’t matter how smart you think you are if your heart isn’t in the right place. Doesn’t matter how “Christian” you say you are if your “faith” lacks Christ-like action — including for and towards those you dislike because of the personal choices they make for themselves.
When one of you was really going through it, someone offered you every resource they had to try and help you — only for you to try to publicly and personally humiliate them later because you “didn’t approve of their personal lifestyle.” Happy to accept the Christ-like ACTION he displayed of helping you in your time of need but you returning it with un-Christ-like JUDGMENT of that very person to save face in politics. Pharisees and scribes…
I am truly sick and tired of the self-righteous, political, hypocritical opportunism the S.C. Freedom Caucus continues to display. I won’t call names, but some of yall didn’t even know how to use the computer at your own desk in the chamber until I — a Democrat — got on bended knee to show you how to operate the dashboard when I didn’t even know you. I guess maybe I was a DEI enabled helper too. Maybe I should have treated you like shit in the name of politics. But then again, Proverbs 3:27 — "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”
You see, the difference between some of us in politics and who some of yall are or have become in the name of politics is simple: Politics should never change character. Power should never displace decency. Principle should never be eroded by publicity.
In 2025, I hope that some of you take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself what kind of elected official do you want to be? No. What kind of PERSON in politics do you want to be.
As the saying goes, if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. A lot of elected officials will once again be tested in 2025…
Sincerely,
A fed up Rep. Justin Bamberg, Esq.
#ThePeoplesRep