Alleged Sex Scandal erupts among two libertarian Republicans

From Eric Dondero:

This is a painful blog post to make. About as painful as when we reported here a year ago, on Wisconsin State Rep. Jeff Woods a former Libertarian Party member, turned Republican, getting busted on his second DUI charge, or when we had to first report definitively on Mark Sanford's affair with an Argentine woman. But report on this we must.

As many are aware reading the political news sites these past couple days, there's been allegations of infidelity made against Nikki Halley, now frontrunner for South Carolina governor. The allegations are being shot down rather quickly. Halley has of course, unequivocally denied everything.

Halley has long been considered a libertarian Republican. And she is clearly identified with what's called the "Mark Sanford libertarian wing of the SC GOP."

Now we learn that the allegations have been made by another libertarian Republican.

From the Sun-News:

Haley "categorically and totally" denied the allegation by Will Folks, a controversial former spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford. Folks now blogs and has done paid public relations work for politicians -- including Haley

Former rock band member's blog "sometimes accurate; sometimes not"

Folks has an "edgie" punk rock persona. He leads what's been called a "moderately successful" alternative rock band called Dead Agent Caper. More:

Folks is a controversial figure in S.C. politics. He first came to notice after Mark Sanford tapped the former rock band bass player as his spokesman. In 2005, however, Folks pleaded guilty to criminal domestic violence. Since then, he has built FITSnews.com into an influential blog among South Carolina politicos, particularly libertarian-Republicans, including the Sanford-Haley wing of the GOP.

The site frequently taps anonymous sources to publish otherwise unverifiable rumors, sometimes accurately and sometimes not. Much of the rest of the site covers sports or the latest celebrity photos cribbed from entertainment blogs. Folks shrugs off accusations that he is paid to publish certain stories on his blog.

There's been internet rumors that he's on somebody's payroll. I wouldn't be at all surprised.

Ironically, this could all end up benefiting Halley, by giving her a huge groundswell of sympathy vote. Notably, both Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin are standing by her side, and have backed her up on this 100%.

In one way, it might even be a welcome sign for libertarian Republicans: A sign that we've grown so large and influential that we now have our own fiery internal battles and even (non)sex scandals.

UPDATE!

Our friend Stacy McCain at TheOtherMcCain has uncovered some rather creepy details of Will Folk's past relationships or more accurately non-relationships with Republican female campaign staffers. Article: "OMG: Did You See What Haley Accuser Will Folks Wrote About Ashley Herzog?"