South Carolina Congressman, Jeff Duncan, hosted a Faith & Freedom BBQ for Upstate locals on Monday August 25th.  The event was held at the Anderson Civic Center in Anderson, SC and included special guest appearances from many of the state’s Republican candidates for the upcoming November elections, as well as a special visit from the famous Florida State Senator, Marco Rubio. The Republican guests included incumbent Governor Nikki Haley, the Republican Lt. Governor candidate Henry McMaster, and State Senator Lindsey Graham. 

Duncan kicked off the event by inviting Roy Costner IV, a Liberty, SC native, to bless the food.  Costner is an upstate hero after a video of his commencement address went viral on YouTube. The video showed Costner ripping up his prepared commencement speech, leading to his reciting of the Lord’s Prayer.

Congressman Duncan continued the event with a tribute to U.S. Veterans, including a playing of all the US Armed Theme Songs. Many veterans showed their love for the particular branch they served, but South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner, Hugh Weathers, united all under the singing of the 4th verse of the National Anthem. 

The Congressman invited the Republican Lt. Governor Candidate, Henry McMaster, to the stage, where he spoke briefly about how South Carolina has been moving under Nikki Haley’s leadership. He assured the audience of the great team of Republican candidates this year and spoke highly of its robust platform.   

After a few more remarks from Jeff Duncan, he turned it over to Governor Nikki Haley, where she reflected on growing up in rural South Carolina under two first generation American parents. Haley spoke of how they came here to give her a better life, and the struggles and successes they all went through.       

The Governor transitioned her message from her childhood and reflected on her last four years as governor. She started off by saying how many in America think that the “American Dream” is dead, but how those that say that haven’t been to South Carolina. An excited crowd applauded her as Haley shared the statistic for the decrease in unemployment from 11.5% in 2011 to a current 5.3%. She explained that this decrease was due to a variety of factors, which included a push for policy change in the state legislature, a focus on bringing jobs to South Carolina’s rural areas and an effort that helps pair those currently unemployed with companies in the state that are in need of their skills.    

Haley closed as she spoke of the efforts of Republican Governors across the nation to successfully decline both the federally mandated Obamacare and an increase to Medicaid spending. Haley, whose husband and brother serve in the U.S. Armed Services, gave her support for veterans as well as her disgust for the lack of treatment all veterans have received in the VA hospitals across the nation. Before she exited the stage, Nikki Haley emphasized the support all Republican Candidates need in the November elections, especially for the Republican Lt. Governor Candidate Henry McMaster.    

Lindsey Graham was called upon next. He presented a similar message to McMaster and Haley, but his speech was geared more toward taking care of the veterans and a call to action in the Middle East. He emphasized the growing problem of ISIS and the Islamic Caliphate. Graham described his disgust with the attack on Christians and other ethnicities that are persecuted by ISIS.   

Jeff Duncan took over after Graham explaining that his purpose in Washington was for three things: “Jobs, Energy and our Founding Fathers.” He told the crowd how he explained his message to other Republican congressmen in Washington at a recent meeting. He told them the focus of his ideas and said they could remember it as “JEFF,” his first name.  

The event was closed with remarks from Florida’s Star Senator, Marco Rubio. The Senator’s message identified closely with that of Nikki Haley’s, where he spoke of his parents being first generation Americans and the struggles his Grandfather went through to provide for his family. His message though, was interrupted multiple times by a group of pro-immigration activists who call themselves the DREAMers. This included many instances of shouting in the middle of Rubio’s speech, which caused chaos among the crowd. The Anderson audience did not like the young activist’s efforts, as they were booed and escorted out. He explained that he sympathizes with the activists, but that America has been one of the most generous nations in the world.    

In his speech, Rubio spoke about education saying, "I don't know why we have stigmatized vocational and career education. We need more programs that help people graduate from high school and get ready to go into one of these (skilled labor) professions."    

Rubio echoed SC Senator, Lindsey Graham’s message of a the need for a strong America saying, "When America steps back from the national stage, it is chaos." He added that world conflicts can not go with out a reasonable intervention, "Does that mean that we should be involved in every conflict? Of course not… Only America can play that role. In the absence of us playing that role, no one does, and crisis ensues."