"This is not the Republican Party, this is the Libertarian Party"

From Eric Dondero:

The State Republican Party took the unusual step of officially denouncing State Senator Jake Knotts for his comments against probably GOP Governor nominee Nikki Haley. Knotts, who supported a rival candidate for the nomination, called her a "raghead" on a local South Carolina radio show Pub Politics.

Now Knotts is responding by accusing Haley, and current Governor Mark Sanford of being sexually tolerant "Libertarians" who've taken over the GOP.

From The State:

Lexington County Republicans voted to rebuke state Sen. Jake Knotts and ask him to resign his office after he used a racial slur last week against state Rep. Nikki Haley.

Both lawmakers are from Lexington County and the dispute was a feud between old guard Knotts and Haley, who represents the rising conservative wing of the party. Knotts referred to Haley, whose parents are Indian immigrants, as a “raghead” on an Internet political talk show.

Knotts said Thursday night he would not resign, and said the resolution was pushed by supporters of Haley and Gov. Mark Sanford, Knotts’ longtime adversary.

South Carolina State Senator Jake Knotts (R-Lexington) answers a question during a news conference at the Statehouse Friday, June 26, 2009. Knotts confirmed that SLED has agreed to open an investigation into governor Mark Sanford's actions.

“This is not a Republican Party, this is a libertarian party,” Knotts said, noting the group did not censure Sanford last year after he admitted an extramarital affair. “This is nothing but politics. I’m not resigning. I could care less.”

UPDATE!

In a video just breaking Sen. Knotts now says that the Libertarian Party has infiltrated the SC GOP. "This is nothing more than politics coming from the Libertarian Party." See the video of a sweaty Knotts being interviewed at the Eisenhower Republican blog Ikekonic