This man actually lost his re-election bid for
governor, but ultimately rid his state of casino gambling.
Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley knows
the cost of sticking to his principles. In his 1998 re-election bid for
governor, political analysts projected an easy victory for the wildly popular
Beasley whose approval ratings were in the 90s. But Beasley didn’t anticipate
the financial resources mustered by the gambling lobby that eventually helped
to defeat him. While Beasley lost the race, he won the battle and saw
gambling banished from the state.
Here is his story.
Kentucky Citizen: Would you tell us how you got
started in politics?
Gov. David Beasley: I was a junior in college when
I first ran for the state house in 1978. I told my mom one day that I thought
about running for the House, even though I never voted or wasn’t even
registered to vote. Her response was, "Don’t get involved in that dirty,
corrupt line of work." I thought about her words and said to myself that if
everybody had that attitude, all we’d have are no-good people in office.
Kentucky Citizen: You then served in the state
house from 1979-1992 and quickly rose through the House leadership, becoming
the youngest Majority Whip and youngest House Speaker Pro Tem in the United
States. Then you served as governor from 1995-1999. Throughout your tenure in
public service, were you always opposed to gambling?
Gov. David Beasley: I opposed it for quite some
time, and was very vocal against it in the House. I began [rethinking issues
in a different light] after I came to the Christian faith.
Even though I grew up in church I never gave Christianity
much consideration. I was a cultural Christian. I tried to refute the Bible
and Christianity for a year… but failed. Once I became committed to the
faith, I asked, "Lord what do you want me to do? How does my faith relate to
government, family?" Then I became concerned about other issues.
Kentucky Citizen: Is your opposition to gambling
based on your Christian views?
Gov. David Beasley: No, opposition should not be
based solely on a religious view. It needs to be looked at from economic,
social and political perspectives. It will hurt businesses, corrupt
government and it will victimize the poor. With gambling you see families
suffer, moms leaving kids out in cars in the heat (while they gamble),
children’s parents going into casinos and losing family wealth. You see
felonies, arson and car theft increase related to gambling. It’s amazing the
number of people who would come out of the woodwork after I gave a speech
against gambling. They’d approach me afterward and share their stories.
Kentucky Citizen: In your re-election bid for a
second term as South Carolina’s governor, your advisors told you to avoid the
gambling issue until after the election. Why didn’t you listen to them?
Gov. David Beasley: I believe that you should not
only always do what’s right, but to do it when it’s right to do it, and when
you do it, do it in the right way. My re-election bid was assured and there
was almost no way I could lose. But the gambling industry was fearful of what
might happen to their industry.... and poured perhaps 15-20 million dollars
of illegal contributions into my opponent’s campaign. The state was in shock
after I lost. This may have [had something to do] with the South Carolina
Supreme Court’s ban on [slots] across the whole state.
Kentucky Citizen: At that time, video poker was a
$2.3 billion-a-year industry in South Carolina. Official estimates indicated
that the gambling lobby legally donated at least $3 million (out of a total
of $6 million) to your opponent’s campaign. Were you surprised at the power
of the gambling lobby?
Gov. David Beasley: My poll numbers were in the
90s. My opponent was a political unknown. But the gambling industry poured in
millions against me, more than what was recorded. This is a cash business.
They would skim money off the top and give it to local political leaders.
Kentucky Citizen: Gambling expansion is a major
issue in Kentucky’s gubernatorial race this year and legislative races next
year. What is your advice to the candidates?
Gov. David Beasley: Kentucky will pay a horrid
price if [video lottery terminals (VLTs)] are brought into the state. This is
the crack cocaine of gambling. It will destroy the moral fiber and integrity
of Kentucky government. Once they become entrenched they’ll start doing
business with legislators.
Once you legalize an industry that victimizes the poor
what is your rationale for legalizing other vices: prostitution, drugs etc.?
Why not regulate and tax it? Just look at Deadwood, South Dakota and
Gulfport, Mississippi.
I would tell the candidates to look in their hearts for
what’s truly good for the people of Kentucky, short-term and long-term. It’s
bad policy for Kentucky. Don’t be a politician, be a statesman. Do what is
right for families and children.
Editor’s note: Nine months after Gov. David Beasley left
office, video lottery terminals (VLT’s) were banned by the South Carolina
Supreme Court. Some observers say a backlash against the gambling industry
and their undue influence on the election precipitated the court’s ruling.
Others suggest that the gambling industry’s reckless behavior sowed the seeds
for its own demise; skyrocketing bankruptcy, child abuse and neglect, and
crime were left in its wake.
After 16 years of a proliferation of gambling devices,
South Carolina is now VLT free, not just because of its Supreme Court, but
because the court of public opinion finally realized that the most important
bottom line is not measured in dollars and cents, but in real lives.
