Alvin Greene is "Someone's Plant," Should be Investigated, Clyburn Says

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Democrats ,; Campaign 2010

(Credit: South Carolina Democratic Party)

Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) is suggesting that the circumstances of Alvin Greene's victory in the South Carolina Democratic Senate primary Tuesday are suspicious and should be investigated by the U.S. Attorney's office.

The world of politics was caught off guard by Greene's victory -- and was further shocked yesterday when news surfaced that the unknown, 32-year-old, unemployed veteran faces pending felony charges.

Questions immediately arose about the legitimacy of Greene's candidacy. While Greene insists he is the real deal, Clyburn, a high-ranking Democrat from South Carolina, is still skeptical.

"There were some real shenanigans going on in the South Carolina primary," Clyburn said this morning on the liberal Bill Press radio show, the Hill notes. "I don't know if he was a Republican plant; he was someone's plant."

Clyburn said the U.S. Attorney's office should investigate whether a third party gave Greene the money for the $10,400 filing fee, a violation of federal campaign finance laws.

"I would hope the U.S. Attorney down there would look at this," Clyburn said. "Somebody gave him that $10,000 and he who took it should be investigated, and he who gave it should be investigated."

The South Carolina Democratic Party has asked Greene to withdraw from the race, but Greene told the Associated Press he's not backing out.

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"The Democratic Party has chosen their nominee, and we have to stand behind their choice," Greene reportedly said. "The people have spoken. We need to be pro-South Carolina, not anti-Greene."

Greene's controversial history does not end with his felony charges. ABC reports that Greene was involuntarily forced out of the Army after a 13-year career that included service as an intelligence specialist and unit supply specialist. Greene told ABC he was kicked out of the Army because "things just weren't working."

If Greene stays in the race, he will challenge Sen. Jim DeMint, a favorite among the Republican's conservative base. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman Sen. Bob Menendez (N.J.) told the Washington Post it did not bother investing in the South Carolina Democratic primary since DeMint is expected to hold onto his seat.

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Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by dencal26 July 10, 2010 11:30 AM EDT: Clyburn is an idiot to say the least.

That?s who bankrolled Greene?s entry fee for the primary,? said Lloyd, whose agency worked with 5th Circuit Solicitor Barney Giese in the investigation. ?The U.S. government and the state of South Carolina funded his filing fee.?; Reply to this comment


by rhend11 June 12, 2010 5:49 PM EDT: I really think the video on the elect alvingreene.com website was more telling as to why people voted for him. Very creative, but the message certainly wasn't written by a plant, and it was extremely anti-incumbent. Maybe that's why people voted for him?; Reply to this comment


by fine1956 June 12, 2010 11:14 AM EDT: Everyone is missing the real qualification question for this man ala Joe Biden. is he clean??? and before I get any left garbage on this, Im calling out Biden's closet bigotry. I can vouch for the Republicans on the right, they shower.; Reply to this comment


by apitaly June 12, 2010 3:56 AM EDT: Well.. I have listened to two interviews with Mr. Greene and I was amazed by his inability to express himself coherently. I saw him walk and breath at the same time so I know that he isn't brain dead. Maybe it is a Prozac or Lorazepam overdose.; Reply to this comment

by moonpie49 June 11, 2010 8:02 PM EDT

Clyburn smells a rat. Hilarious. The same GOP that lost control of the Congress in '06 and wrecked the economy in '08 has wised up enough to outfox the Dems. The same prescient Dems who elevated Obama in '08 have grown so dense they could not sniff out a GOP plant!
If Obama is looking for someone's ass to kick, he might consider Clyburn's and Greene's. Clyburn, you forgot the mantra. It's Bush's fault.

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by rhend11 June 12, 2010 5:49 PM EDT: I really think the video on the elect alvingreene.com website was more telling as to why people voted for him. Very creative, but the message certainly wasn't written by a plant, and it was extremely anti-incumbent. Maybe that's why people voted for him?


by SiouxCitizen June 11, 2010 2:43 PM EDT: What could have been worse? Look the democrats elected Obama, an experienced community organizer and freshman in Congress, with no more knowledge of the man than a questionable birth certificate, no management experience, that got an A in teleprompter. How did it happen? The same democrat voters elected the green candidate based upon hope and change. Go figure :); Reply to this comment


by JohnStuartMill June 11, 2010 11:39 AM EDT: There's a dumb Democrat voter, a smart Democrat voter, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus at a crossroads, with a $100 bill in the middle. Which one gets the $100 bill...?; Reply to this comment


by rannan3 June 11, 2010 8:13 AM EDT: Look for Mr. Green at the next State dinner at the White House -- he'll have no problem getting in there either.

and I love how Clyburn immediately looks for someone to blame -- seems to be the Dems. new mantra.; Reply to this comment


by Otto_Dog June 10, 2010 11:28 PM EDT: Hilarious. Maybe they heard he was up on showing porno to co-eds and they thought,"Hey, he's a Clinton-style Democrat".; Reply to this comment

by jadams76 June 10, 2010 9:45 PM EDT

A sexually perverted felon with no job who comes up with mysterious cash to get elected and wins because of a monolithic black vote. What part does Mr. Clyburn think doesn't sound like a real Democrat?

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by Lee BoobBob June 10, 2010 10:26 PM EDT: How was that so called monolithic black vote even possible if black voters did not know Green was black with no exposure prior to the vote?