As a writer and commentator on politics, modern culture, current events and human behavior, I try to achieve a healthy balance in where I put my focus, both for my sake as well as that of those reading. There’s a certain salacious edge to some stories that tweaks my wicked side, compelling me to skew in something satirical; others inspire me or touch me in ways that merit memorializing. Then there are those subjects that defy understanding; that stupefy and make incredulous those of us paying attention to our fellow human beings. Those stories are covered as cautionary tales, intended to shine some clarity on something or someone in need of exposure…maybe to drive the cockroaches back under the cabinets.

That would be this story.

Meet Todd Kincannon. Beyond having a crappy website to promote his law practice, he was the General Counsel and Executive Director of the South Carolina Republican Party for awhile, had some unseemly troubles over a “sexting” scandal, and appears to have two Twitter accounts, one that’s “official” – @ToddKincannon – and one that’s called @ToddKBackup. Here’s a Tweet blithely tossed into the Twit-verse from his @ToddKincannon account during the Super Bowl game on Sunday:





I know…made my stomach flip, too.

Some have said the Tweet’s been removed; I don’t know. But, as we do know with the Internet, once it’s out there….

If you actually do have the stomach to flip over to either account (both seem to feature robust and repulsive responses to this Tweet) you can gauntlet through a feed roiling with so much hate, ignorance and bigotry you’ll start thinking the slave ships should be coming in any time soon. I don’t know if it’s the south, the Republican party, or just the kind of bottom-feeders that bottom-feeder Todd Kincannon attracts, but the vile insensitivity toward Trayvon Martin and his family becomes a theme for this cabal of hyenas…and old instigator Todd appears to be right in there swinging with the worst of them.

Is it really Todd Kincannon of GOP South Carolina notoriety? Has he been hacked? You tell me. The picture is Todd and the 140-character blurb reflects the same information on both pages; if the Tweet isn’t his, he’d be a flaming idiot not to know about it and comment in horrified rebuke. But no…his responses indicate his collusion – which confirms he is a flaming idiot.

Which brings me to my ultimate point. We live in a country populated by some crass, hate-filled people who have a “missing chip” when it comes to the higher-toned concepts of peace, love and understanding. And I don’t mean to harp, but when the Republican party cries out that they’re being unfairly tarnished with the brush of racism, it’s examples like Todd Kincannon and his “followers” who make clear the brush is squarely and accurately aimed. It sickens the larger slice of the American public who do have a conscience and sense of humanity, but based on the slathering, teeth-gnashing tweets and retweets to Kincannon’s heinous remark, it’s clear we’re a country still poisoned by the toxic amongst us.

Don’t forget that. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. And, not to get too grand about it (ain’t nothing grand about the likes of Kincannon), it’s important to direct the beam on it all, to help see it and acknowledge it’s there. Because as “The Art of War” tells us:

If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles …

We’ve still got some hefty battles in front of us for the soul of this country. Always good to know who and what we’re fighting.

[By the way, if you’re the feisty sort who likes to give a little back to guys like Kincannon, you can always Tweet your comments, or you can go to his law firm’s Facebook page to offer some feedback and … there’s a number there: (877) 992-6878. When I called a recording picked up and happened to mention, “If you are a reporter, please include your deadline and the topic of your story.” I didn’t bother with a message – leaving it here instead – but I’m sure anything you’d like to convey would be welcomed. Todd seems like a pretty easy-going kinda guy.]

UPDATE: Kincannon later defended his tweets to Huffington Post, saying:

“The left has decided that Trayvon Martin was just this perfect little angel. He was a thug. He tweeted about drug use. This guy, he was a criminal, and the left has decided to make him some sort of martyr. That is what I don’t understand. I stand for free speech and I stand for honest speech, and I think more people need to use it.”

Right, Todd…you keep telling yourself that. And your really swell followers. It might work on them.

Follow Lorraine Devon Wilke on Twitter, Facebook and Rock+Paper+Music; for her archive at Addicting info click here; details and links to her other work: www.lorrainedevonwilke.com.