Brown is in back pocket of Christian Coalition

You might think Rep. Henry Brown is a lockstep Republican, but did you know he literally was in the back pocket of religious extremists?

Brown, 67, is cousin of Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition - - one of the most fanatic organizations in the country. In fact, Brown and Combs are so close that he gave her a start in politics, as related in an Aug. 23 profile in The (Charleston) Post and Courier:

"Combs' addiction to politics began with her first phone calls. Cousin Henry Brown, now a congressman, decided to run for Hanahan City Council in the early 1980s. Combs made campaign phone calls for him from her house.

"'One thing led to another. Once you get involved in politics and understand how it works, it's so simple,'" Combs says.

Just last month, Brown was touting the Christian Coalition agenda on the Capitol Steps.

So much for a representative of all the people. Henry Brown -- representative of a chosen few (the ones he chooses).

Brown: Rich kid on block stifling competition

U.S. Rep. Henry Brown already has $435,000 in the bank - - two thirds of what he spent to win congressional seat in 2000. The 70-year-old politician has got so much money this time around that he likely will stifle real competition, a sad state for democracy.

"Henry may not even have to campaign," College of Charleston political scientist Bill Moore told the Associated Press. "Henry is unlikely to have a major Democratic challenger this time around."

Bob Batchelder of Socastee, who ran against Brown in the GOP primary last year, has announced he would run again in the GOP.

More from the story:

"Moore said Brown's incumbency and money make him virtually unbeatable.

"'Henry Brown could not be defeated in a Republican primary'," barring some major scandal, Moore said.

"Incumbency brings name recognition and national political action committee money, Moore said."

Batchelder skewers Brown on trade

In an Aug. 13 op-ed in the Myrtle Beach Sun News, Republican Bob Batchelder castigates U.S. Rep. Henry Brown for voting to steal American jobs and give them to foreigners.

First, Batchelder notes the SC Republican Party platform deplores the loss of jobs to overseas companies and supports "a sound and strong import policy that insures a fair and level playing field." But, says Batchelder:

"Action: Recently passed legislation supported by our own U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., that expands present trade agreements to China and beyond, directly resulting in jobs being taken out of the United States.

"In manufacturing, during the past 36 months, more than 3.5 million jobs have gone overseas. In South Carolina, the job loss during the past year is 14,800. These losses are a direct result of unfair trade laws our officials have approved....

"The example of a return to sound fiscal management has been set at our state level. We should follow this example and demand better leadership from our national leaders."

Thanks again Henry for all you don't do to help hard-working Americans.

Brown starts taking more junkets

Henry Brown hasn't met a free trip that he hasn't loved.

Two years ago when it wasn't an election year, Congressman Henry Brown had a field day taking trips with taxpayers footing the bill. Over seven months in 2001, Brown went a joyride on a Navy submarine, a junket to China and, now, a junket to Alaska and a taxpayer-funded trip to Africa. Read more.

Now he's at again. According to Aug. 10 issue of The State newspaper, Brown is heading to the Dominican Republic with the Dominican Association of Free Zone Industries, which promotes trade between U.S. and the Caribbean democracy.

The globe-trotting congressman lives on.

You can tell him, but will he listen?

U.S. Rep. Henry Brown made a big deal in July about how he wants to listen to your ideas. He spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to promote his name through a printed "Congressional Issues Questionnaire" that went to every address in his district from Myrtle Beach to Kiawah Island.

But it's unlikely it will make any real difference to a congressman who votes in lock-step with the Republican Party. In one question, for example, he promotes one of his favorite causes, old-fashioned nuclear power. He encourages people to tell him whether the country should "fully utilize our domestic oil producing capabilities as well as use other resources such as nuclear energy" or have the government fund renewable sources.

Isn't this just a way to get people to answer the former so he can use it as input to drill in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or to build old-technology nuclear power plants.

Anyway, you can respond to the survey online - - tell Henry what you think. We fear, however, he'll have blinders on.