The Week's Top 6 Stories In SC Politics: Faith, Football, Fighting On Facebook

The past week's top stories (we say) in SC politics.

1. It's football, for God's sake!

The Freedom from Religion foundation is taking on Clemson University football. The group that demands separation of church and state says Tiger coaches are proselytizing their players in a public school.

Read more about Swinney's approach to faith and football.

Swinney is being accused of, in essence, conveying an "its my way or the highway (to hell)" message in recruiting.

We, as serious journalists, are compelled to dispel the following myths about Clemson football:

- Howard's Rock is not from Mt. Sinai

- Danny Ford did not part Lake Hartwell

- The fight song was never changed to Amazing Grace

But yes, they work out in the shadows of Death Valley and there was a real baptism between the sidelines there once.

Thr two things most sacred in South Carolina? God and football. Check out this revival:

2. Un-friend-ly behavior on Facebook

As the head of state DSS faced a Senate panel over the deaths of children, the governor and one of the senators went after each other on Facebook.

The spat reveals a once-happy political friendship turned hostile. It's interesting in the light of the conversation in #1 (above) that the spat centered on whether Koller is atheist.

Gov. Nikki Haley is clearly unhappy with Sen. Katrina Shealy for calling out her hand-picked DSS Director Lillian Koller. Shealy returned the love.

Shealy said she is waiting on a call becaise "Someone owes me an apology."

No senator, someone owes us an apology.

3. Changing lanes

Gov. Nikki Haley's in-party challenger for her job decided that the primary was a waste of time and money. Greenville businessman, former legislator and judge Tom Ervin left the GOP ballot and is running as an independent petition candidate.

This week, he told South Carolina Radio Network, "I want to meet as many South Carolinians as possible.

4. Chesterfield jail and spa

A jury is sending a South Carolina sheriff to jail for using his office (and detainees) for lots of personal gain. In return, inmates could have parties, TV's, guns, trips and fine food.

Read more about the charges.

We are now looking into whether under Sheriff Sam, more local folks tried to go to jail than in any other time in history.

5. The numbers game

The numbers added up for Gov. Nikki Haley this week, as the Winthrop Poll and Rassmussen Polling showed increasing support for her while the state's jobless rate continues to plummet. She also bested her opponents in her fundraising tally.

This worsens the odds for her challengers, but there is always a chance for anything in politics.

Democrat Vincent Sheheen and independent candidate Tom Ervin may have to come up with more ways to get voters' attention.

6. More like Colorado than you might think

In the non-partisan poll mentioned above, South Carolinians were asked if they thought doctors should be allowed to prescribe actual marijuana for medical purposes to treat their patients, 71.6% of all those polled said they should, while registered voters responded yes 66.7% of the time.

However, you can only inhale if you are sick, they say. Nearly 6 in 10 oppose the legalization of marijuana for personal use.

But the snack food lobby is still trying...