theGrio

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Living
    • Health
  • Inspiration
    • Good News
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • The Dish
  • News
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Black History

Red, Black & Blue

  • thanksgiving-travel-16x9.jpg

    Holiday safety tips

  • Meagan Good

    Good staying celibate

  • obama-and-choom-gang-16x9

    Obama's pot history

  • 2) I Am Legend (2007): In arguably one of his greatest dramatic performances, Smith held the screen virtually all by himself for most of this apocalyptic thriller's running time. He plays a military scientist who may or may not be the last man on the planet.  A scary good time at the movies.

    Will Smith's top 10 films

theGrio Q & A: SC Senate candidate Alvin Greene

by Earl Ofari Hutchinson | June 12, 2010 at 7:42 PM
Comments
Print
South Carolina Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Alvin M Greene, holds his own personal copy of his campaign flyer he used to show people he campaigned in Manning, S.C. Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

In an extended interview, South Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Alvin Greene discussed his shocking primary win on the The Hutchinson Report. Greene spoke about the impact of his win on state and national politics, his campaign plans, his relations with the Democratic party, charges that he’s a GOP plant, and calls for him to drop out of the race because of felony obscenity charges.

Greene’s controversial campaign and primary win has stirred national attention and sent shock waves through the Democratic party. This Saturday, he spoke with Earl Ofari Hutchinson along with contributing host Pedro Baez, in one of his most lengthy live interviews to date. Here are some excerpts from the conversation.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON: Some have said, “Where did Alvin Greene come from? Is Alvin Greene is a put up by the GOP?” How do you respond to those who say that?

Alvin Greene: I’ve always been a Democrat. I’m a Democrat, and I’ve always been a Democrat.

HUTCHINSON: Jim Clyburn, the first thing he said is, “I want a federal investigation.” When you heard Jim Clyburn say that, what was your response?

GREENE: I don’t have anything to say about that. My campaign is about jobs, education and justice. We want better education. We want justice in the judicial system.

HUTCHINSON: Tell us a little bit about … your background, yourself, on a personal level?

GREENE: I’m 32 years old. I was born in Florence, South Carolina. I grew up in Manning, South Carolina, where I currently live now. I’m a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political science. I’m an Air Force and Army veteran. In the Air Force, I was stationed at Shaw Air Force base in South Carolina. And I’m nine months out of the United States Army. And I’m the best candidate for the United States Senate in South Carolina.

HUTCHINSON: Why did you decide to run?

GREENE: To make a difference.

HUTCHINSON: Let’s discuss your campaign platform … The justice system. Why was that one of the areas you chose to emphasize as part of your platform and campaign?

GREENE: We want the punishment to fit the crime and we spend more than two times of our taxpayer dollars on inmates than students. We just have to get our priorities in order here in South Carolina and across the country.

PEDRO BAEZ: Alvin you’ve indicated on another part of your platform that you want lower gas prices. If elected, how would you propose to do this?

GREENE: We could have an energy bill. What we can do is we can look at alternative forms of energy. Wind. Solar. We can explore our resources on earth for energy.

HUTCHINSON: Carol Fowler, chair of the South Carolina Democratic party has said you should withdraw … Your response to that, Alvin?

GREENE: The election was certified as of 3pm Eastern Standard time as of Friday, June 11, So that’s old business … I’m in for it all the way now.

HUTCHINSON: Have you reached out to the state Democrats for support? Have they reached out to you>

GREENE: I’m still trying to seeking state and national and support that I need and am entitled to. I’m the party’s nominee.

BAEZ: Has there been any word from President Obama about your victory?

GREENE: None that I know of.

HUTCHINSON: The prospects of knocking out Jim DeMint — and also debating him, engaging him — how are you gearing up for that, Alvin?

GREENE: I’m trying to get a September debate. One hour on a major network, live. Focusing on the issues is how I’m going to run the campaign. Jobs. Education.

HUTCHINSON: Do you now have a campaign committee are you soliciting endorsements?

GREENE: I’m organizing my campaign now for the general election. I used my personal money during the primary. And I was self-managed during the primary. But I’m still organizing for the general election and trying to find people.

HUTCHINSON: There is a considerable African-American press and also a number of African-American elected officials in South Carolna. Have they come forth and offered any support so far?

GREENE: I’ve heard from a few organizations. Paper organizations. Not much. I haven’t heard much.

BAEZ: Young adults, between the ages of 18 and 26, have they started to rally to your candidacy?

GREENE: Yes, I get a lot of calls every day from across the country, all over the world. About how inspired they are about their campaign. They want to do anything they can to help.

HUTCHINSON: Do you feel that you really made a statement to the establishment: I can in fact win, I can in fact run a campaign without millions and millions (of dollars).

GREENE: Yes it did. That’s what I heard entering the primary, going into it. They were like: How are you going to do it, you don’t have a hundred million dollars … I’m hearing that right now in the general election. In the end, we don’t add up the money in the bank. It’s votes that count. It’s not about money in the bank. It’s votes and issues.

The Hutchinson Report airs on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles on Saturdays at Noon.

Filed in: News, Politics | Related Topics: Alvin Greene, Democratic Primary, Jim Clyburn, Politics, South Carolina
  • Top Stories in Politics

    • Obama’s pot history Obama’s pot history
    • Obama struggles with low-income whites Obama struggles with low-income whites
    • Woman claims she dressed like Obama for Berlusconi Woman claims she dressed like Obama for Berlusconi
    • Romney hires veteran black strategist Romney hires veteran black strategist
    • Obama honors veterans during Memorial Day weekend
    • Obama photo remains in West Wing
    • Florida voters support ‘Stand Your Ground’ law
    • Rangel on black America’s truest heroes
  • New Stories on theGrio

    • How Harry Truman desegregated the military How Harry Truman desegregated the military
    • How WWII vets helped lead the civil rights fight How WWII vets helped lead the civil rights fight
    • Rangel on black America’s truest heroes Rangel on black America’s truest heroes
    • Remembering America’s black war heroes Remembering America’s black war heroes
    • Beyoncé performs for first lady, Malia and Sasha
    • Rape conviction overturned: Now what?
    • Rap Genius: Top 5 rap lyrics of the week
    • Hidden WWII film could aid today’s vets
  • LIKE TheGrio

  • Hot on Facebook

  • Category Cloud

    Atlanta Black History Business Chicago Detroit Education Entertainment Health Inspiration Living Los Angeles Miami Money News New York Opinion Philadelphia Politics Reviews Service and Activism Slideshow Sports TheGrio's 100 TheGrio's 100 Women Top Stories Travel and Leisure Video Washington DC
  • More from theGrio

More Stories on theGrio

Top News

Politics

  • In this Jan. 23, 1942 black-and-white file photo, Major James A. Ellison, left, returns the salute of Mac Ross of Dayton, Ohio, as he inspects the cadets at the Basic and Advanced Flying School for Negro Air Corps Cadets at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala. Sixty years after President Truman desegregated the military, senior black officers are still rare, particularly among the highest ranks. (AP Photo/U.S. Army Signal Corps, File)

    Rangel on black America's truest heroes

  • Obama honors veterans during Memorial Day weekend

  • Woman claims she dressed like Obama for Berlusconi

  • Florida voters support 'Stand Your Ground' law

» Read More in Politics

Business

  • © olly - Fotolia.com

    Black Enterprise celebrates largest black companies

  • Facebook unveils Instagram rival

  • Donna Summer album sales up 3,277 percent

  • 5 resources for black entrepreneurs

» Read More in Business

Living

  • thanksgiving-travel-16x9.jpg

    Holiday safety tips

  • Good staying celibate

  • School to distribute condoms at prom

  • 'He tucks me in,' first lady says of president

» Read More in Living

Inspiration

  • 20120528-003600.jpg

    How Harry Truman desegregated the military

  • How WWII vets helped lead the civil rights fight

  • Remembering America's black war heroes

  • Tuskegee Airman grants b'day wish

» Read More in Inspiration

Entertainment

  • In this Friday May 25, 2012 photo provided by Parkwood Entertainment, Beyonce performs at Revel in Atlantic City, N.J., for the resort's premiere. (AP Photo/Parkwood Entertainment, Robin Harper)

    Beyoncé performs for first lady, Malia and Sasha

  • Rap Genius: Top 5 rap lyrics of the week

  • 50 Cent endorses marrige equality

  • Meet the breakout star of 'Battleship'

» Read More in Entertainment

News

  • This May 24, 2012 file photo shows Brian Banks reacting in court after his rape conviction was dismissed in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

    Rape conviction overturned: Now what?

  • Hidden WWII film could aid today's vets

  • Kyrie Irving poses as 'Uncle Drew' in new Pepsi ad

  • Backlash against African migrants in Israel

» Read More in News

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Living
  • Inspiration
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Help
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with TheGrio
  • About
©2010 NBCUniversal
Powered by WordPress.com VIP