CLICK HEADLINE FOR ENTIRE POST… Since this is being posted around lunch time, let’s take a break from issues and talk about something we can all agree on, good food! – by Communications Director Brian DeRoy
One fun thing about working for Joe Wilson’s campaign are the similarities between the campaign trail and hunting down a
One of the most unique radio shows comes straight out of Allendale. Carl Gooding is a legend on the Lowcountry airwaves. In a day of radio consolidation and cookie-cutter radio formats, WDOG radio is truly the big dog of local radio.
Joe Wilson became Gooding’s guest host today. Gooding’s “Chit Chat” show isn’t exactly a buttoned-up format. Callers are not screened, and the topics can be all over the place.
Chances are many members of Congress would never want to wade into a radio show that basically has no rules. Joe Wilson has a career of being accessible to the public, he’ll never be accused of hiding out. Joe handled any and all topics today, ranging from the mosque proposed to be built by the World Trade Center site, to taxes and social security.
Roxanne Wilson popped in briefly to show a little support and we quickly snapped a pic before she became camera shy. Joe even red a couple of commercials including giving the menu at a local lunch buffet. Joe joked that the value price of $6.95 would cost $16.95 if the buffet were in Washington D.C. Stay tuned to the blog, we’ll put up a video with highlights of the “Chit Chat” show with Joe later on.
Wednesday afternoon on the Joe Means Jobs Bus Tour began with a stop at Anthony’s Restaurant in Barnwell where Joe pitched in serving the customers lunch.
It was then off to Williston and a visit to Dixie Narco. Who knew that many of the vending machines you see in stores and businesses come from right here in the Palmetto state. Dixie Narco has a large plant in Williston and it became even bigger thanks in part to Joe Wilson. When the company was considering either expanding the plant or closing it, Joe and his staff shifted into high gear. The end result, company officials realized doing business in South Carolina was good for business and they moved an operation from St. Lous to Williston.
Joe wrapped up Wednesday in Orangeburg with a visit to the CPM Credit Union. We couldn’t find him a bright lime green sportcoat or shirt to match the employees, but it was a good experience to see a member-focused operation. Plus, some workers even took a minute to get their pictures with Joe’s tour bus.
As this is being written, we begin our fourth day of the tour by having breakfast at Jasper’s Porch in Ridgeland. Thanks for checking out the blog, we’ll have more on the Joe Means Jobs Bus Tour.
Ever wonder when you buy a soda or a bag of chips from a machine, where the machine is made? Well, Joe has the answer; right here in South Carolina. Because of Joe’s work, Dixie Narco expanded operations at the plant, relocating from a facility in St. Louis. Yes, when we say Joe Means Jobs, we mean it.
A big thanks to Ray Miller and the family at Miller’s Breadbasket in Blackville. Miller’s usually doesn’t open for breakfast, but they made a special exception to welcome the Joe Means Jobs Bus Tour.
Ray served up some great grits, toast and shoo-fly pie. If you didn’t know, the ingredients in shoo-fly pie include a syrup-based filling and no, there are no flies in it!
The nest stop was Aiken’s H&D Stables. The owners take care of showhorses that compete across the country. But today, their guest was no showhorse, they put Joe Wilson to work.
Joe got to feed a recently retired showhorse, Dutton. As the pictures show, it appears as though Dutton appreciated the snack.
The Joe Means Jobs bus then rolled down to Barnwell County to celebrate the grand opening of Horsehead Zinc Recycling. The facility will add 60 jobs to the area. WACH-TV’s Arielle Riposta talked with Joe about the event and his work to help secure the company to the area.
We’ll have another update after lunch, which will be at Anthony’s Restaurant in Barnwell. Joe will help serve up lunch at the popular eatery.
Joe Wilson’s Joe Means Jobs Bus Tour is going strong. Tuesday Joe focused on Lexington County. Here’s a video of a couple of the many tour stops.
This is certainly the busiest time of the year for Congressman Joe Wilson, as he tirelessly travels around South Carolina speaking with citizens from all walks of life.
The popular “Hometown Cookouts” are a real hit, as folks are able to share their ideals with Joe over a full plate of grilled hot dogs or steaming BBQ. The insights gained from functions such as these are a vital part of the process in understanding what the people expect and want out of their government
You can’t go the Batesburg Leesville area without a stop at Shealy’s BBQ. Heck, judging on the size of the place, people from far and wide pay Shealy’s a visit. Shealy’s is yet another example of a small business which could sure use a tax cut and less government red tape to deal with.
Joe spent time before lunch getting a grand tour and he helped out in the kitchen. Joe’s favorite will always be the chicken livers, and the country cooking at Shealy’s is a must-visit for all of Joe’s bus tours. Joe loves chicken livers so much, would you believe he shared some with the lovely Roxanne Wilson while he proposed to her. (Folks, we just can’t make this stuff up, chances are he might be the only member of Congress who was chowing down on chicken livers while doing something so important as a marraige proposal.)
If you’ve ever wondered how they get just the perfect amount of mustard-based BBQ sauce on a big tub of BBQ, Joe knows. Plus, he got to use a boat oar to mix up the hash. Keeping with Joe’s “Cut the Fat” theme, he insistend the meat was lean and all the fat was trimmed out. Chances are Joe could do a thing or two to the federal budget if he had a boat oar!
The next afternoon stop was to Grace Animal Hospital in Lexington. Joe visited with practice owner Dr. Tim Loonam. Dr. Loonam is a veteran of the Iraq war, serving as a veternarian with the U.S. Army (yep, that makes him a “vet, vet:”… sorry, we couldn’t resist. Joe got a tour of one of the most modern vet facilities in the Midlands. Joe also shared stories with Dr. Loonam about his visits to Iraq and Afghanistan.
For Joe’s job at Grace Animal Hospital, he helped Dr. Loonam with a wellness check on two dogs, including a great dane. Joe also thanked the staff for the help with the critters, since his own dog Brisco was nursed back to health several years ago after getting hit by a car.
Joe and the crew on the bus then traveled to US Foodservice in Lexington. Joe served as “food inspector,” going through boxes of fresh food to ensure the quality. US Foodservice is undergoing an expansion, adding even more Jobs to the Second District.
The final stop of the day was to Lexington’s Prysmian company. The company makes fiber optic cable for companies around the world. Next time you’re watching cable TV or are on the phone, the cables bringing you the information may have come from our own backyard of Lexington.
The Joe Means Jobs Bus Tour continues on Wednesday. Joe will start his day in Blackville at the popular Miller’s Breadbasket. From there he’ll visit small businesses in Barnwell, Aiken and Orangeburg Counties. Check back on the blog or at Joe’s Facebook page for more updates on the Joe Means Jobs Bus Tour
Day number two of the Joe Means Jobs Bus Tour started at a local Midlands favorite, the new Lizard’s Thicket restaurant on Highway 1 in Lexington. Joe served up some coffee to patrons and chatted it up with WLTX-TV.
The next stop was NuCor in Swansea. This company manufactures steel buildings for locations all across the country. Joe did more than just tour the facility, they put him to work. Joe got to dip pieces of steel into a big vat of primer and then hang the pieces on hooks that were moving. Joe then took time to talk with employees and answer some questions. One worker asked about the “cap and trade” bill. Joe says the idea is really a national energy tax which is intended to force people to use less electricity by taxing it. In reality, Joe says boosting utility costs will only make it more difficult for companies like NuCor to do business. Bottom line, “cap and trade” is a job killer, and that’s not what the Joe Means Jobs Bus Tour is about.
Joe’s next top was Mooneyhan’s Auto in West Columbia. Joe took a little time to chat with photojournalist Rich Wandover of ABC Columbia. Then it was onto the job of the day, take off a tire and do a brake inspection. Joe said he’s changed several tires, but never an impact wrench (the thing that makes that cool noise, you’ll know it when you hear it, just watch a NASCAR race)
Joe would like to pass on his condolances to owner Bill Mooneyhan and the entire Mooneyhan family. Mr. Mooneyhan’s mother just passed away and was not able to join us. Bill’s auto shop has been a West Columbia business leader for more than 20 years and as Joe always says, small business owners are the people who fuel our economy and Bill Mooneyhan is a great example of a leader in the community.
Our next update will feature Joe at the popular Shealy’s BBQ, and then onto some other Lexington County businesses for the afternoon tour of the county.
A busy first day on the road for Joe and his supporters on the bus. Here’s a video wrap-up of the day’s events.
