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<p>... in the Whitehouse, in Congress, in the Supreme Court</p>

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<h2><span style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">Privacy Policy</span></h2><h2>1. Introduction</h2><p>John Vincent for Congress (“we,” “our,” or “the Campaign”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting any personal information you provide while using our website <a href="https://www.vincentforcongress.com/">VincentForCongress.com</a>. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information.</p><p>By accessing or using our Website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use our Website.</p><h2>2. Information We Collect</h2><p>We may collect the following types of information:</p><h5>A. Personal Information You Provide</h5><p>When you interact with our Website, you may voluntarily provide personal information, including:</p><ul><li><p>Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.</p></li><li><p>Donation Information: Contributions made through our donation platform, including payment details (processed securely through third-party services).</p></li><li><p>Event Registration Information: If you sign up for events, volunteer opportunities, or campaign updates.</p></li><li><p>Communication Preferences: Information about how you prefer to be contacted.</p></li></ul><h5>B. 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Data Security</h2><p>We take reasonable precautions to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. However, no website or electronic transmission is completely secure. We encourage you to use caution when sharing personal information online.</p><h2>8. Your Rights and Choices</h2><p>You may:</p><ul><li><p>Opt-out of campaign emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any email.</p></li><li><p>Request access to or deletion of your personal information by contacting us at <a href="mailto:info@vincentforcongress.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">info@VincentForCongress.com</a></p></li><li><p>Update your contact preferences at any time.</p></li></ul><h2>9. Third-Party Links</h2><p>Our Website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., donation platforms, social media). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. Please review their policies separately.</p><h2>10. 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<p><span style="color: var(--color-bg2-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-bg2-text);">The only way we can win against the special interests and dark money is to unite together! People over Politics!</span></p><p>Within a few minutes you should receive a verification email that you must complete and reply to us before we can publish your name or your organization's name on our Victory Wall!   </p>

<h1>Thanks for the Endorsement</h1>

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<p><em>"I pledge to never accept  donations from corporate political action committees."</em></p>

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<p><span style="color: var(--color-bg2-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-bg2-text);">Our campaign is People-Driven so every voice matters.   The only way we can win against the special interests and  dark money is to unite together!    People over Politics!</span></p>

<h1><span style="color: var(--color-bg2-text-accent-secondary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-bg2-text-accent-secondary);">Thank you so much!</span></h1>

<h1>National Fiscal Policy</h1>

<p><strong>Intro to the testimonials</strong> can be written here.</p>

<h2>Public Figures</h2>

<h6>Jaime Harrison</h6>

<h6>Marilyn Hemingway</h6>

<h6>Dr. Gloria Tinubu</h6>

<h6>Brad Mcdonald</h6>

<h6>Shirley Vaught</h6>

<h6>Sylvia Wright</h6>

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<p>"I’m a proud husband, father, U.S. Navy career veteran, and a successful small business owner running for Congress in South Carolina’s 7th District."</p>

<h1>Hi, I’m John Vincent.</h1>

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<p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Your neighbor who flies a Trump flag is <strong>NOT</strong> your enemy. Our <strong><em>real</em></strong> enemies are the power-brokers who benefit from dividing Americans against each other, and the spineless politicians who are selling us out for a little taste of that power.</span></p>

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<h2>The General Election is November 3</h2><h4>from 7 am - 7 pm</h4><p>Early voting starts October 19th and ends October 31st | Monday - Saturday 8:30 am until 5:00 pm<br></p><p>Voter registration deadline is October 3rd</p><p><strong><em>Find out more info and register to vote at </em></strong><a href="https://scvotes.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>scvotes.gov</em></strong></a></p>

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Dozens of local organizations and leaders are standing together!

<h2>Community Organizations</h2>

<p>Empowers women of all ages and walks of life through support, information, and advocacy to strengthen democracy in our communities</p>

<h6>of North Myrtle Beach</h6>

<h4>VOICE</h4>

<p>"We overwhelmingly endorse John Vincent. He cares deeply about the people in our district, and wants to serve everyone."</p>

<h6>non-partisan community political organization</h6>

<h4>Indigo Indivisible</h4>

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<h1>Volunteer</h1>

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<h2>Endorsements</h2><p><strong>Endorsements matter</strong> in elections because they demonstrate that a candidate's values are shared by those we trust in our community. When neighbors, community leaders, and organizations publicly stand behind a candidate, it sends a powerful message: this is someone worth fighting for. That collective voice is the foundation of a winning ground game.</p><p><strong>#PeopleOverPolitics</strong> means putting our community's trust at the center of this campaign. We're proud to be building a coalition of public figures, organizations, public figures, and everyday South Carolinians who are ready to say, "I encourage everyone I know to vote for John!"</p><p>Just below, you'll find the endorsements we've received so far—and this is just the beginning. We're adding new voices from across <strong>#SC7</strong> every day.</p><p>Want to add your name to the Vincent Victory Endorsement Wall? Fill out the form at the bottom of this page or send us an email at <a href="mailto:endorsement@vincentforcongress.com">endorsement@vincentforcongress.com</a>. Together, we're showing what happens when <strong>#SouthCarolina</strong> puts people over politics.</p>

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<p><strong>"</strong><span style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary)"><strong>The same sense of duty</strong></span> that drove me to defend our nation in the Navy now compels me to fight for YOU in our Great 8 Counties. Washington has failed us—but together, we WILL restore common sense and deliver the future our families deserve."</p>

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<h2>National and State Organizations</h2>

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<h1><span style="color: var(--color-bg2-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-bg2-text-accent-primary);">People Over Politics</span></h1>

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Read below for some of our top priorities

<h2>Headline text here</h2>

<h4>Making Life Affordable</h4>

<h4>Jobs, Small Business, Farms, and Schools</h4>

<h4>Healthcare and Veterans:<br>Keeping Our Promises</h4>

<h4>Accountability and a Balanced Budget</h4>

<h3><strong>Time to Put People Over Politics</strong></h3><p><strong>Our campaign's top priorities:</strong></p><p></p>

Priorities List

<h2>Thank you so much!</h2><p><strong>Our campaign depends on you.</strong> We will reach out to you shortly.</p><p>We currently are in need of:</p><ul><li><p>Social media followers who can join groups in their area of interest (like Veterans, Gen Zers, Seniors, nurses, etc.) and repost our policy messages, then report back.</p></li><li><p>Students who can help organize discussion events for John</p></li><li><p>Creatives who can put their skill to work for the campaign</p></li><li><p>Fundraising host</p></li><li><p>Staff at public events, like the No Kings rally and community festivals</p></li></ul><p><strong>When you receive our call or email, please let us know any special skill you have that can help our campaign.</strong></p>

<h4>John Vincent for Congress SMS Terms of Service</h4><p>Updated February 4, 2024</p><p>&nbsp;IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ THESE John Vincent for Congress SMS TERMS AND CONDITIONS (“TERMS”) CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING UP FOR THE [BUSINESS NAME] TEXT MESSAGING PROGRAM. BY SIGNING UP FOR THIS TEXT MESSAGING PROGRAM, YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY AND BE BOUND TO THESE TERMS, and you expressly consent to receive text messages, as applicable, from [Business Name], at the telephone number(s) that you provide.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>1. Program Overview:</strong></p><p>Welcome to the John Vincent for Congress SMS service! By opting in, you agree to receive periodic SMS messages from John Vincent for Congress. These messages may include alerts, updates, promotions, notifications or other relevant information related to our services.<br></p><p><strong>2. Message Frequency:</strong></p><p>Message frequency may vary. You may receive up to 1  messages per week from us.<br></p><p><strong>3. Costs:</strong></p><p>Standard message and data rates may apply. Please consult your mobile service provider for details on any fees that might be applicable.<br></p><p><strong>4. Customer Support:</strong></p><p>For assistance, please contact our customer service team via email at info@vincentforcongrress.com or by calling (877) SC07-WIN;  (877) 720-7946.</p><p><strong>5. Opt-Out Instructions:</strong></p><p>To stop receiving SMS messages from us, reply, “QUIT” or “STOP” to any message.</p><p>Upon receipt of your request, you will no longer receive messages from John Vincent for Congress. <br></p><p><strong>6. HELP Information: <br></strong>For additional information, text “HELP” to (877) SC07-WIN or contact us at(877) SC07-WIN.<br></p><p><strong>7. Terms and Conditions Updates:</strong></p><p>We may update these terms from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our website, and your continued use of the service will signify your acceptance of these changes.</p><p><strong>8. Privacy:</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Your privacy is important to us. Please refer to our <a href="/30777719-749c-45cf-990f-779990f60696">PRIVACY POLICY</a> for more information on how we protect your data.</p>

<p>Every movement starts with people who are willing to stand up and say: <strong><em>"I believe in this."</em></strong></p><p>If you believe South Carolina's 7th District deserves a representative who puts <strong>people over politics</strong> — someone who will fight for affordable healthcare, quality schools, good-paying jobs, and the dignity of every community in our district — we want to hear from you.</p><p><strong>Add your name to our endorsement wall today.</strong></p><p>Whether you are an individual, a community leader, a business owner, or an organization, your endorsement sends a powerful message: that change is coming to SC-7, and you are part of it.</p>

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<h1>Privacy Policy</h1>

Meet John Vincent

<h2>Thank You from Team Vincent!</h2><p><strong>Your generous contribution</strong> validates our vision for a campaign powered by the people, not special interests.</p><p>While our opponent received less than 3% of his contributions from everyday voters donating $100 or less, Vincent's campaign is built on a vastly different foundation. Your donation - whether $5 or $500 - proves that real change comes from real people who believe in Vincent values.</p><p>John Vincent pledges to not take money from special interest and corporate PACs.  Every dollar you contribute strengthens our voice for transparency, community engagement, and genuine representation. </p><p>Together, we're building a victorious grassroots movement that puts people over profits and voters over corporate interests.</p><p><strong>Thank you for being part of Vincent's vision for authentic, accessible leadership.</strong></p>

<h1>Issues</h1>

<h2>The Hidden Crisis of Seasonal Employment</h2>

<p><strong>Prepared By: The John Vincent Campaign<br>Update: November 17, 2025<br>Version: 1.0</strong></p><h2><strong>EXECUTIVE SUMMARY</strong></h2><p>South Carolina's 7th Congressional District, home to the Grand Strand and one of the nation's premier tourism destinations, faces a paradox: the very industry that drives our economy leaves thousands of working families in crisis every year. While tourism brings prosperity to our region, the seasonal nature of hospitality employment creates a cycle of economic instability that threatens the foundation of our communities.</p><p>The Core Problem: Families working in tourism and hospitality—our district's largest employment sector—face months without work, inadequate healthcare, and wages that cannot keep pace with rising housing costs. These are not statistics; these are our neighbors, the people who serve our visitors and make the Grand Strand the destination it is today.</p><h2>THE SCOPE OF THE CRISIS</h2><h4>Tourism's Dominance and Its Double Edge</h4><p>The Grand Strand's tourism industry generates billions in annual revenue and employs tens of thousands of residents. Hotels, restaurants, attractions, and retail establishments depend on seasonal workers to meet summer demand. But when Labor Day passes and the crowds thin, these same workers face a harsh reality:</p><ul><li><p>Months without steady income as businesses reduce staff or close entirely</p></li><li><p>No employer-provided health benefits during off-season layoffs</p></li><li><p>Depleted savings from trying to stretch summer earnings across twelve months</p></li><li><p>Forced reliance on SNAP and other government assistance just to feed their families</p></li></ul><h4>TOURISM &amp; HOSPITALITY BY THE NUMBERS</h4><p>The statistics reveal both the industry's impressive scale and its fundamental vulnerabilities:</p><h5>Employment Impact:</h5><ul><li><p>24% of all jobs in Horry County are hospitality-based—37,238 out of 157,162 workers (source: Tourism Works for the Grand Strand)</p></li><li><p>82,000+ jobs supported by tourism throughout the Grand Strand (direct and indirect) based on 2024 JobsEQ data </p></li><li><p>Accommodation &amp; Food Services is the second-largest industry in Horry County with 21,653 employees, trailing only Retail Trade (22,814)</p></li><li><p>SC-07's total workforce stands at 318,000 people, with tourism representing a significant portion of employment</p></li></ul><h5>Economic Scale:</h5><ul><li><p>$13.2 billion in visitor spending in 2024, up 5.3% from $12.5 billion in 2023 (source: DK Shifflet Visitor Volume &amp; Spending Study)</p></li><li><p>$26 billion+ total economic impact when accounting for indirect and induced effects</p></li><li><p>18.2 million visitors came to the Myrtle Beach area in 2024</p></li><li><p>66% of sales tax revenue in Horry County comes from visitors (source: Visa data)</p></li><li><p>$59.3 million generated in Horry County Hospitality Fee taxes in 2024</p></li></ul><h5>Other Industry in SC-07 Comparisons: </h5><ul><li><p>Health Care &amp; Social Assistance: 43,549 workers</p></li><li><p>Retail Trade: 42,049 workers</p></li><li><p>Manufacturing: 34,364 workers</p></li></ul><h5>Unique Regional Characteristics:</h5><ul><li><p>80 golf courses generate $1.6 billion and support 13,000+ jobs (2024 study)</p></li><li><p>157,000+ accommodation units across 425 hotels—on par with Las Vegas</p></li><li><p>2,000+ restaurants serving the tourism market</p></li><li><p>60 miles of beaches forming the core attraction</p></li></ul><p><strong>2024 Performance: </strong>The tourism industry showed strong growth in 2024, with visitor spending increasing 5.3% year-over-year. This growth came despite national headwinds like inflation and geopolitical tensions that softened tourism in other U.S. destinations. The Grand Strand's family-friendly attributes and strategic marketing gave it a competitive edge.</p><p><strong>The Seasonal Paradox:</strong> While CCU economists estimate that 80% of local tourism jobs are year-round, full-time, this statistic masks the reality that many of these "year-round" positions experience dramatic seasonal fluctuations in hours and income. A "full-time" restaurant manager might work 60 hours a week in summer but see hours cut to 25-30 during winter months, with corresponding income reductions.</p><p><strong>Sources: </strong>Tourism Works for the Grand Strand, DK Shifflet Visitor Volume &amp; Spending Study, Data USA, Horry County Government, S.C. Department of Revenue, Coastal Carolina University economic studies</p><h4>The Housing Affordability Crisis</h4><p>The mathematics of survival in SC-07 are brutal:</p><ul><li><p>A minimum wage worker must work more than 100 hours per week just to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the Grand Strand</p></li><li><p>This calculation doesn't include food, transportation, utilities, healthcare, or childcare</p></li><li><p>Meanwhile, the construction boom focuses on vacation rentals and second homes, not workforce housing</p></li><li><p>Year-round workers are being priced out of the communities they serve</p></li></ul><h4>The Healthcare Gap</h4><p>Tourism and hospitality jobs rarely offer comprehensive health benefits. For seasonal workers, the situation is even more dire:</p><ul><li><p>Families go months without any health coverage</p></li><li><p>A single emergency room visit can wipe out an entire summer's savings</p></li><li><p>Chronic conditions go untreated because workers cannot afford preventive care</p></li><li><p>Parents delay their own medical needs to pay for their children's care</p></li></ul><h4>The Education Trap</h4><p>The lure of immediate income in tourism creates a devastating cycle:</p><ul><li><p>Young people drop out of high school or skip tech school or college for quick-money tourism jobs</p></li><li><p>Without skills or credentials, they remain trapped in low-wage, seasonal work</p></li><li><p>The cycle repeats with the next generation</p></li><li><p>Our district loses the skilled workforce needed for economic diversification</p></li></ul><h2>REAL FAMILIES, REAL STRUGGLES</h2><p><strong>Marylou's Story:</strong> A single mother working as a hotel housekeeper earns $12/hour during peak season. She works 50-60 hours per week from May through September, saving every dollar she can. By November, her hours drop to 15 per week. By January, she's usually laid off, but she holds out hope her employer will keep her on this year with minimal hours.&nbsp; She relies on SNAP benefits to feed her two children and has delayed dental work for three years because she cannot afford the $800 procedure. Last winter, her son broke his arm, and the $3,200 emergency room bill consumed her entire savings. She was one unexpected expense away from eviction.</p><p><strong>The Rodriguez Family:</strong> Both parents work in restaurants—he as a line cook, she as a server. Combined, they earn about $45,000 during the busy season. They have no health insurance. Their teenage daughter showed promise in school but dropped out at 16 to work at a beachwear shop, seduced by the immediate paycheck. Now 19, she's stuck in the same cycle as her parents, with no clear path forward.</p><p><strong>James's Reality:</strong> A 58-year-old maintenance worker at a resort has worked in hospitality for 35 years. He has no retirement savings, no pension, and no health insurance outside the summer months. He's developed diabetes but cannot afford consistent medication or doctor visits. He knows he should retire but cannot afford to stop working. He represents thousands of older workers in our district facing the same impossible choice.</p><h2>THE POLICY SOLUTIONS</h2><p>John Vincent believes that the people who make our tourism economy possible deserve dignity, stability, and opportunity. His comprehensive plan addresses both immediate relief and long-term transformation:</p><h4>1. Raise the Minimum Wage</h4><ul><li><p>Increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, indexed to inflation</p></li><li><p>This ensures that full-time work provides a living wage, even during slower seasons</p></li><li><p>Reduces reliance on government assistance programs</p></li><li><p>Stimulates local economy as workers have more purchasing power</p></li></ul><h4>2. Expand Healthcare Access</h4><ul><li><p>Support Medicaid expansion in South Carolina to cover the healthcare gap</p></li><li><p>Create a public option for seasonal workers during off-season months</p></li><li><p>Establish community health centers specifically serving hospitality workers</p></li><li><p>Mandate portable benefits that follow workers between seasonal jobs</p></li></ul><h4>3. Invest in Workforce Housing</h4><ul><li><p>Federal incentives for developers who build affordable, year-round rental housing</p></li><li><p>Restrict the conversion of residential properties to short-term vacation rentals in high-impact areas</p></li><li><p>Create a workforce housing trust fund using a small percentage of tourism tax revenue</p></li><li><p>Establish rent stabilization measures to prevent displacement of long-term residents</p></li></ul><h4>4. Transform Education and Training</h4><ul><li><p>Expand Pell Grant eligibility for part-time students and non-traditional learners</p></li><li><p>Create apprenticeship programs in partnership with Horry-Georgetown Technical College</p></li><li><p>Establish "earn while you learn" programs that allow hospitality workers to gain credentials without losing income</p></li><li><p>Develop career pathways from entry-level tourism jobs to management and skilled trades</p></li><li><p>Partner with local businesses to create year-round employment opportunities in emerging sectors</p></li></ul><h4>5. Stabilize Seasonal Employment</h4><ul><li><p>Incentivize businesses to maintain year-round staffing through tax credits</p></li><li><p>Create a seasonal worker unemployment insurance program with extended benefits</p></li><li><p>Support economic diversification to reduce over-reliance on tourism</p></li><li><p>Attract industries that provide stable, year-round employment</p></li></ul><h4>6. Strengthen Worker Protections</h4><ul><li><p>Ensure fair scheduling practices that give workers predictable hours</p></li><li><p>Mandate paid sick leave so workers don't choose between health and income</p></li><li><p>Protect workers from wage theft and tip skimming</p></li><li><p>Strengthen collective bargaining rights for hospitality workers</p></li></ul><h4>THE OPPOSITION'S FAILURE</h4><p>For too long, our representatives have celebrated tourism revenue while ignoring the workers who generate it. They've:</p><ul><li><p>Blocked minimum wage increases while cost of living soared</p></li><li><p>Refused Medicaid expansion, leaving 300,000 South Carolinians without coverage</p></li><li><p>Prioritized developers and vacation property owners over working families</p></li><li><p>Cut funding for education and workforce development</p></li></ul><h4>WHY THIS MATTERS NOW</h4><p>We are currently in the off-season. Right now, thousands of families in our district are:</p><ul><li><p>Stretching their last paychecks from summer</p></li><li><p>Choosing between rent and groceries</p></li><li><p>Avoiding doctor visits they desperately need</p></li><li><p>Wondering how they'll make it to spring</p></li></ul><p>This isn't a future crisis—it's happening today, in our communities, to our neighbors.</p><h4>JOHN VINCENT'S COMMITMENT</h4><p>John Vincent understands that a strong economy must work for everyone, not just those at the top. He believes:</p><ul><li><p>Every job should pay a living wage</p></li><li><p>Healthcare is a right, not a privilege</p></li><li><p>Housing should be affordable for the people who make our communities run</p></li><li><p>Education is the pathway to opportunity</p></li><li><p>Workers deserve dignity, stability, and respect</p></li></ul><p>John will fight in Congress to ensure that the families who power our tourism economy can build stable, secure lives in the communities they serve.</p><h4>CALL TO ACTION</h4><p>The choice is clear: we can continue down the path of economic instability and working poverty, or we can build an economy that works for everyone. John Vincent is ready to lead that fight.</p><p>"We don't have to accept an economy where hardworking families live on the edge of disaster. We can do better, and we will." — John Vincent</p><p><br></p>

<p>Become a Vincent Voice and vigorously advocate to prospective Vincent Voters in your vicinity.</p><span class="image image-base image-left" style="width: 25%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/4ef04a91-f7e0-4ae7-b399-5a079e97e308/1e7e2344-caba-496d-bcc9-f66310d186eb/1e7e2344-caba-496d-bcc9-f66310d186eb.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C500%2C500&amp;w=1500" alt="Vincent Vibe Volunteers" caption="Catch the Vincent Vibe" align="left" alignwidth="25" variant="base"></span><span class="caption" style="">Catch the Vincent Vibe</span></span><p>We're seeking Vincent Visionaries to innovate in our social media ventures: video creators, visual artists, vibrant photographers, and virtuoso graphic designers to generate Vincent Viral moments.</p><p>Vigorous Veterans can help with public events and venue visits across our vibrant community.</p><p>If you're willing to host a fundraiser, you'll join our Valued Vincent Vanguard - our most vital supporters driving this victorious venture forward.</p><p>Ready to validate Vincent's Vision? Volunteer today and help us achieve Vincent Victory!</p>

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<h2>Be a Vincent Volunteer</h2>

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<p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text)"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text)">W</strong>e can't wait to meet you at these Public Events. John also welcomes invitations to your club, church, or community event </span>—<span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text)"> just <a href="mailto:events@vincentforcongress.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a> and provide the details.</span></p>

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<p><strong>South Carolina Deserves Better!  </strong>The people of our Great 8 counties are warm-hearted and diverse. &nbsp; But many fear that they are losing their stake in the “American Dream”.&nbsp;   While I have never wanted to be a politician, these are not normal times.  Again, <span style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary)">I rise to the call to defend</span><u>:</u>  our People, our Constitution, our Country.</p>

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<h2>Why am I running for Congress?</h2><p><strong>South Carolina Deserves Better! </strong>The people of our Great 8 counties are warm-hearted and diverse. &nbsp; But many fear that they are losing their stake in the “American Dream”.&nbsp; While I have never wanted to be a politician, these are not normal times. Again, I rise to the call to defend<u>:</u> our People, our Constitution, our Country.</p><h2><strong>A Lifetime of Service and Leadership</strong></h2><p>John Vincent is more than a candidate—he is a proven leader equipped with the experience and character to represent the people of South Carolina’s 7th District with integrity.</p><h6>His Personal and Professional Journey</h6><small><span class="image image-base image-left image-tilt-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/4ef04a91-f7e0-4ae7-b399-5a079e97e308/26e9c4ac-7d72-4532-9006-eb1ec4b3ccb6/26e9c4ac-7d72-4532-9006-eb1ec4b3ccb6.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1080%2C1080&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="base"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span><p>John is the proud son of a middle-class family. John’s father, the son of an immigrant from the Azores, was an educator who became assistant superintendent of local schools.&nbsp; John’s father also worked a second job at night at a restaurant as a maitre d’ in order to pay for his children’s higher educations - including undergraduate degrees, five master's degrees, and two PhDs. &nbsp; His relentless work ethic, humility, commitment to education, and sacrifice for family fundamentally shaped John's character.</p><p>Fulfilling his childhood passion for the ocean and a call to serve, John joined the U.S. Navy and dedicated 20 years to military service. He progressed through the ranks to achieve the distinguished position of Command Master Chief, a senior enlisted leader responsible for the welfare, training, and morale of service members.</p><p>Much of his career was spent in the high-pressure environment of submarine operations. He later led a large, multi-branch command across seven bases and five military branches. This leadership role required strategic thinking, crisis management, and advocacy—a record that directly translates into his ability to fight for constituents in Washington.</p></small><p></p><p></p><small><h6>Leadership Development</h6><span class="image image-framed image-right image-tilt-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/4ef04a91-f7e0-4ae7-b399-5a079e97e308/ad80c943-e2d5-4585-aa0f-056bc60e1aef/c74f5957-9788-473d-8580-fcbf8d34bf60.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C3339%2C3072&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span><p>After retiring from the Navy, John became a top leadership development consultant with the prestigeous Gallup organization advising major corporations. He then founded his own uccessful small business focused on leadership development and service-based consulting. His work supported public servants, including municipal leaders, fire and police departments, and nonprofits across the nation.</p><h6>A Partnership with Deb Vincent</h6><p>Central to John's story is his wife, Deb Vincent. Together, the couple authored The Submarine Way, an Amazon best-selling book about interdependent collaboration and inclusive leadership under pressure—a skill honed in the Navy and now applied to governance and public service. Their partnership is foundational to John’s campaign and reflects a team built on mutual respect and a shared mission to uplift others. Deb is not only a spouse but a partner in service and leadership.</p><p>When not at hard work, John and Deb can often be found at the beach !</p></small>

<p>The basic needs of this district have been ignored for too long. Working families, family farmers, and small business owners alike are being left behind.</p><p><strong>Our campaign is unified by four clear commitments, and each one comes straight from what I hear across the Great 8.</strong></p><p>This election is a job performance review, and the people of the 7th District are the boss. Here is the work I am asking you to hire me to do, for every family from the shores of Myrtle Beach to the farms of the Pee Dee. Every priority below comes straight from what I say on the trail and what our neighbors are living through right now.</p>

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<p>Backgrounders explain how our campaign formss specific policy and the leadership experience that John applies that determine his stance. Check back often, as these documents will evolve as issues rise to district, state and national importance.   To comment or obtain more information, send us an email  Policy@VincentForCongress.com.</p>

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<p>MAGA incumbent Russell Fry is backed by <em>DC insiders</em> and <em>corporate lobbyists. </em><strong>John Vincent is backed by neighbors</strong> across our Great 8 counties. Every dollar you give today goes straight to work flipping SC-07. <strong>Are you with us?</strong></p>

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<h4>National and State-Level Employment Crisis</h4><h5>Nationwide Job Losses Surge in 2025</h5><p>The Administration touts a "rosy" economy, citing the stock market as proof. While that might be good news for the wealthy, the job market reveals the true state of affairs for working families.</p><p>A severe economic downturn has taken hold across the United States in 2025, marked by a dramatic rise in job losses. According to data from Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas, U.S.-based employers have announced more than 1.17 million job cuts so far this year—<strong>the highest level of layoffs since the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020</strong> [<a href="https://thehill.com/business/5633232-2025-layoffs-highs-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Layoffs so far in 2025 highest...</a>]. This represents a 54% increase compared to the same period in 2024, underscoring a rapidly deteriorating labor market [<a href="https://fortune.com/2025/12/09/forever-layoffs-job-security-k-shaped-economy-white-collar-recession-challenger-glassdoor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'Forever layoffs' hit a recess...</a>]. The November 2025 report alone detailed 71,321 job cuts, continuing a trend driven by economic instability, cost-cutting measures, and corporate restructuring [<a href="https://www.challengergray.com/blog/challenger-report-71321-job-cuts-on-restructurings-closings-economy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">71321 Job Cuts on Restructurin...</a>]. These nationwide job losses are not isolated incidents but signs of systemic economic challenges affecting workers in every sector and region.</p><h2>The Closure of Tyson’s Lexington Plant: A Devastating Blow to a Single-Employer Town</h2><p>One of the most impactful single-site layoffs in 2025 occurred in Lexington, Nebraska, where Tyson Foods announced the closure of its beef processing plant, eliminating approximately 3,200 jobs [<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/21/nebraskans-lament-tyson-decision-to-close-lexington-plant-with-3200-workers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nebraskans lament Tyson decisi...</a>]. The plant, one of the largest employers in the region, supported a city of just 11,000 residents, making this closure an existential economic threat to the community [<a href="https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/12/14/tysons-beef-plant-closure-in-nebraska-to-impact-town-ranchers-nationwide-out-west-roundup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tyson's beef plant closure in ...</a>]. Tyson attributed the shutdown to record-high cattle costs, which rose by nearly $2 billion in fiscal year 2025, and a projected $600 million loss in its beef division [<a href="https://cap.unl.edu/news/understanding-tyson-lexington-plant-closure-what-it-means-cattle-producers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Understanding the Tyson Lexing...</a>].</p><p>The decision has triggered widespread criticism. Local leaders, workers, and union representatives have condemned the closure, noting that Tyson’s profits in the beef packing sector actually surged following the announcement [<a href="https://www.centralnebraskatoday.com/2025/12/09/the-impact-is-real-and-devastating-dan-osborn-criticizes-tysons-decision-to-close-lexington-facility/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'The impact is real and devast...</a>]. The United Food &amp; Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) issued a statement criticizing the decision and warning of significant ripple effects across cattle producers, ranchers, and supply chain workers nationwide [<a href="https://www.ufcw.org/press-releases/ufcw-statement-on-closure-of-lexington-ne-tyson-foods-beef-plant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">UFCW Statement on Closure of L...</a>]. State and local agencies have begun mobilizing assistance programs, with over 740 former Tyson workers already enrolled in unemployment and retraining services [<a href="https://www.1011now.com/2025/12/05/over-740-tyson-workers-turn-state-assistance-lexington-plant-shutdown-nears/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Over 740 Tyson workers turn to...</a>]. This case exemplifies how mass layoffs in critical industries can devastate entire communities, especially those dependent on a single employer.</p><h2>Policy Failures and Missed Opportunities in Workforce Protection</h2><p>Despite the increasing frequency and scale of mass layoffs, federal policy remains insufficient to protect communities from economic collapse triggered by corporate restructuring. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide 60 days’ notice before a plant closure or mass layoff affecting 50 or more workers [<a href="https://edd.ca.gov/en/jobs_and_training/Layoff_Services_WARN/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Worker Adjustment and Retraini...</a>]. However, this federal law does not restrict the percentage of employees that can be laid off at one location, only mandating notification.</p><p>In contrast, several states have enacted stronger “mini-WARN” laws. For example, Washington’s new mini-WARN Act, effective July 27, 2025, lowers notice thresholds and removes the single-site limitation, offering broader protections to workers [<a href="https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2025/07/washingtons-mini-warn-act-goes-into-effect-on-july-27-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Washington's Mini-WARN Act Goe...</a>]. California also recently strengthened its WARN Act with SB 617, signed into law on October 1, 2025, expanding notice requirements and closing loopholes exploited by corporations [<a href="https://www.pbw-law.com/how-the-end-of-californias-2025-session-sets-the-new-standards-for-employers-in-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">End of California's 2025 Sessi...</a>]. Notably, California and Washington employ thresholds based on percentages of the workforce. Under these laws, layoffs affecting more than 33% of employees at a worksite can trigger enhanced notification and mitigation obligations, even if the absolute number of workers affected is below federal thresholds [<a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/5525-S.E%20HBR%20APH%2025.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5525-S.E HBR APH 25</a>].</p><p>A proposed national policy reform would adopt a similar percentage-based cap: restricting corporations from laying off more than 33% of employees at any single location without prior government review and mandatory economic impact mitigation. Such a policy would prevent abrupt closures in vulnerable communities like Lexington and Florence County and compel employers to consider long-term economic consequences alongside short-term financial decisions.</p><h2>South Carolina’s Manufacturing Sector Faces Mounting Challenges</h2><p>South Carolina, a state historically reliant on manufacturing and global trade, is facing a sharp decline in industrial employment in 2025. Multiple factories across the state have shut down or reduced operations due to market volatility, supply chain disruptions, and federal policy uncertainty.</p><p>Recent WARN notices reveal a pattern of layoffs:</p><ul><li><p>PL Developments, a pharmaceutical manufacturer in Piedmont, laid off 114 workers by October 2025 [<a href="https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/business/pl-developments-manufacturing-layoffs-pharmaceuticals-greenville/article_8508fa07-11e3-4d2d-9374-5492bc97d971.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PL Developments laying off emp...</a>].</p></li><li><p>Queen City Plastics in Fort Mill eliminated 42 jobs due to operational cuts [<a href="https://www.heraldonline.com/news/business/article312855232.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Queen City Plastics to lose 42...</a>].</p></li><li><p>A manufacturing facility in Gaston County is expected to lay off 296 workers by year-end [<a href="https://www.wbtv.com/2025/11/03/nearly-300-layoffs-coming-with-factory-gaston-county-set-close/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nearly 300 layoffs coming with...</a>].</p></li></ul><p>Even larger employers have been affected. Nestlé announced a 4,000-headcount reduction in manufacturing and supply chains, though it remains unclear whether this will impact its Gaffney, South Carolina, facility [<a href="https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2025/10/17/nestle-layoffs-impact-gaffney-south-carolina-plant-what-know/86750058007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Will Nestlé layoffs impact Sou...</a>]. Volvo temporarily halted production at its Lowcountry plant due to parts shortages, though operations resumed shortly after [<a href="https://scdailygazette.com/2025/05/30/volvo-suspends-production-at-sc-plant-citing-parts-shortages/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Volvo temporarily suspends pro...</a>]. According to USAFacts, 1.0% of South Carolina’s workforce was laid off or discharged in July 2025—a rate consistent with ongoing job losses across the manufacturing sector [<a href="https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-are-laid-off-each-month/state/south-carolina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How many people are laid off i...</a>].</p><p>Worse still, the $1.6 billion electric vehicle (EV) battery plant planned for Florence County—one of the most anticipated economic development projects in the Southeast—has been on hold since June 2025. The company cited “policy and market uncertainty,” including federal tariffs on critical battery components and shifting EV incentives, as key factors in halting construction [<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/21/nebraskans-lament-tyson-decision-to-close-lexington-plant-with-3200-workers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nebraskans lament Tyson decisi...</a>]. This project was expected to create between 1,600 and 1,700 high-paying jobs, and its suspension represents a profound setback for regional economic growth.</p><h2>Congressional Inaction and Policy Hypocrisy</h2><p>Instead of advocating for policies to stabilize South Carolina’s manufacturing economy and prevent large-scale layoffs, U.S. Representative Russell Fry has publicly praised the very federal actions contributing to economic instability. Fry celebrated recent tariff policies as a “major win” on national news, despite these same policies being cited by companies as reasons for delays and shutdowns [<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/21/nebraskans-lament-tyson-decision-to-close-lexington-plant-with-3200-workers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nebraskans lament Tyson decisi...</a>]. This contradiction highlights a disconnect between congressional rhetoric and the real-world economic struggles faced by South Carolinians.</p><p>A full trade war, driven by aggressive and unpredictable tariffs, could cost South Carolina:</p><ul><li><p>86,000 jobs</p></li><li><p>$7.5 billion in lost wages</p></li><li><p>$15.2 billion in Gross Domestic Product<br>[<a href="https://thehill.com/business/5633232-2025-layoffs-highs-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Layoffs so far in 2025 highest...</a>]</p></li></ul><p>These losses would disproportionately impact the state’s manufacturing, agricultural, and export-dependent industries.</p><h2>The Case for John Vincent: A Plan for Economic Stability and Worker Protection</h2><p>John Vincent, a Navy Command Master Chief with 20 years of service, is running for Congress to restore leadership grounded in accountability, stability, and long-term planning. Vincent’s platform offers a clear alternative to the current economic chaos:</p><p>✅ <strong>Eliminate random, ever-changing tariffs</strong> that destabilize supply chains and discourage investment in American manufacturing.<br>✅ <strong>Introduce a national cap on mass layoffs</strong>, modeled after California and Washington’s 33% threshold, to protect single-employer towns from economic collapse.<br>✅ <strong>Expand employer tax credits</strong> to incentivize wage increases and worker retraining during transitions.<br>✅ <strong>Secure fair market access</strong> for South Carolina’s farmers and manufacturers to ensure global competitiveness.<br>✅ <strong>Rebuild infrastructure and protect coastal and rural communities</strong> vital to the state’s tourism and agricultural industries.</p><p>Vincent’s military background instilled a disciplined, mission-focused approach to leadership—qualities desperately needed in a time of economic uncertainty.</p><h2>Call to Action: Demand Better Leadership</h2><p>When families are choosing between prescriptions and gas, when veterans wait months for care, and when small businesses struggle to survive, partisan grandstanding is not leadership—it is failure.</p><p>John Vincent is ready to serve.</p>

<p>The Administration touts the "rosy" economy pointing to the <strong>stock market</strong> as evidence. Perhaps for the rich, but for working families, the <strong>job market </strong>tells the real story.</p>

<h4>1.17 MILLION AMERICAN JOBS LOST IN 2025</h4>

<p>Alleged Illegal U.S. Naval Strike and the Betrayal of Military Ethics: A Report on Leadership Failure and Accountability</p><h2>The Incident: A Second Strike on Survivors in International Waters</h2><p>Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Navy conducted a military operation off the coast of Venezuela on September 2, 2025, targeting a vessel suspected of narcotics trafficking <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_United_States_military_strikes_on_alleged_drug_traffickers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10</a>. While counter-narcotics interdiction operations are authorized under specific legal frameworks, what followed has ignited national and international controversy: a reported second strike on survivors found clinging to wreckage in the water after the initial attack.</p><p>Multiple news outlets, including CNN and NBC News, confirm that the U.S. military carried out a follow-up strike after the first attack failed to kill all individuals aboard the boat <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/28/politics/us-military-second-strike-caribbean" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">9</a>. The Washington Post reported that two survivors were seen holding onto debris before a second strike was ordered, resulting in their deaths <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/white-house-admiral-approved-second-strike-boat-venezuela-was-well-within-legal-2025-12-01/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">6</a>. This escalation—from disabling or capturing suspected traffickers to deliberately targeting survivors in distress—falls under intense scrutiny for potential violations of the Law of Armed Conflict.</p><h2>The Legal Framework: Why Targeting Survivors Is a War Crime</h2><p>The U.S. Department of Defense’s Law of War Manual explicitly prohibits attacks on individuals who are no longer combatants due to shipwreck, injury, or surrender. The manual states: <strong>“For example, orders to fire upon the shipwrecked would be clearly illegal.”</strong> This principle is universally cited across legal analyses as a fundamental rule rooted in both customary international law and treaty obligations, including the Geneva Conventions.</p><p>Jurists and military law experts agree that such an order is so blatantly unlawful that it cannot be justified under any exception—whether in armed conflict or during peacetime law enforcement operations <a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/experts-explain-what-the-law-says-about-killing-21217298.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">34</a>. As noted by experts cited in outlets like <em>Time</em> and <em>Just Security</em>, service members have a legal duty to refuse such orders, and superiors who issue them may face criminal prosecution <a href="https://www.justsecurity.org/125948/illegal-orders-shipwrecked-boat-strike-survivors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">29</a><a href="https://time.com/7337735/pete-hegseth-boat-strike-caribbean/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">38</a>. The principle is clear: no order overrides the prohibition against murder.</p><h2>Key Figures and Their Roles in the Escalation</h2><h4>Pete Hegseth: Authorization of Lethal Force</h4><p>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is cited in multiple sources as having issued a verbal order to "kill everyone" on board the suspected drug vessel <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/28/hegseth-kill-them-all-survivors-boat-strike/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">25</a>. The Washington Post reported Hegseth issued a directive for a full-kill mission during the first strike, and when survivors remained, a second strike was carried out in compliance <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/white-house-admiral-approved-second-strike-boat-venezuela-was-well-within-legal-2025-12-01/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">6</a>. Hegseth, appearing on Fox News, defended the operation as necessary in a “war on drugs,” stating, “Biden coddled terrorists; we kill them” <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-defends-lethal-strikes-against-alleged-drug-traffickers-biden-coddled-terrorists-we-kill-them" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">24</a>. ABC News further reports that Hegseth declined to comment on whether he authorized the killing of survivors <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hegseth-declines-comment-report-boat-survivors-killed-result/story?id=127951385" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">22</a>.</p><p>Critically, Hegseth admitted watching the strikes in real-time via a live video feed, a detail that underscores direct civilian oversight and personal involvement in operational decisions <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/28/hegseth-kill-them-all-survivors-boat-strike/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">25</a>.</p><h4>Admiral Frank Bradley: The Operational Executor</h4><p>U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Frank Bradley is identified as the military commander who authorized and executed the second strike. According to PBS News and The Hill, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes,” clarifying the chain of delegation <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-white-house-holds-briefing-as-lawmakers-support-review-of-trumps-boat-strikes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">49</a><a href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5628986-admiral-bradley-pentagon-directive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">54</a>. Following the initial attack, Admiral Bradley reportedly ordered follow-up strikes that eliminated all survivors and ensured the wreckage sank <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/us/hegseth-drug-boat-strike-order-venezuela.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">12</a>.</p><p>While Bradley acted as the operational commander, legal liability does not absolve a superior civilian official—especially one who set a tone of extermination.</p><h4>Karoline Leavitt: Deflecting Blame and Shielding Political Figures</h4><p>In multiple press briefings in December 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the authorization of the second strike but consistently framed Admiral Bradley as the decision-maker <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYLLHlNmRZU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">52</a>. While acknowledging Hegseth’s authorization, her public statements emphasized Bradley’s role, defending him as “well within legal authority” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXKnlG_tPUU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">48</a>.</p><p>This rhetorical strategy has been widely criticized as an attempt to “throw the admiral under the bus”—a tactic where a uniformed officer is publicly scapegoated to protect political appointees and administration leadership. By naming Bradley as the one who “ordered the strike” while soft-pedaling Hegseth’s explicit “kill everyone” directive, Leavitt shifted public focus away from the policy originators toward the executor—a move with profound implications for military morale and civil-military relations <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/white-house-admiral-approved-second-strike-boat-venezuela-was-well-within-legal-2025-12-01/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">46</a>.</p><h2>The Impact on Military Personnel: A No-Win Situation</h2><p>U.S. service members are trained to follow lawful orders, but are also taught that <strong>obedience to illegal orders is itself a crime</strong>. The U.S. military code, including the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), mandates that troops challenge orders that violate the laws of war <a href="https://www.justsecurity.org/125948/illegal-orders-shipwrecked-boat-strike-survivors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">29</a>.</p><p>In this case, those tasked with carrying out the second strike were placed in an impossible ethical and legal dilemma:</p><ul><li><p>Disobey the order and face disciplinary action or court-martial for insubordination.</p></li><li><p>Obey and potentially commit war crimes for which they could be prosecuted.</p></li></ul><p>This “no-win” scenario is a failure not of the troops, but of leadership. The burden of clarity lies with commanders and civilian leaders to issue lawful, moral directives. When political appointees like Hegseth signal extreme lethality—and the White House then deflects blame onto uniformed leaders like Admiral Bradley—it erodes trust in the chain of command and demoralizes the force <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-briefs-members-of-the-media-nov-12-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1</a>.</p><h2>John Vincent’s Outrage: A Veteran’s Perspective on Leadership and Accountability</h2><p>John Vincent, a former Command Master Chief in the U.S. Navy and congressional candidate running on a platform of integrity, service, and accountability, has expressed profound outrage over this incident. His campaign materials emphasize respect for veterans, ethical leadership, and restoring honor to public service [Campaign Brief_ 20261128 - John Vincent For Congress.pdf].</p><p>From Vincent’s perspective, this episode exemplifies a pattern of disrespect toward the military:</p><ul><li><p>The administration uses the Navy as a tool for political messaging but fails to uphold the legal and ethical standards the military swears to defend.</p></li><li><p>When controversy arises, the uniform is blamed—not the policymakers.</p></li><li><p>Veterans are hailed in speeches, but their values are violated in practice.</p></li></ul><p>As Vincent would argue, “Supporting our troops” is not about symbolism. It means ensuring the orders they follow are lawful, the leadership they serve under is ethical, and accountability flows both upward and downward—especially to those in civilian command roles who initiate action from behind a desk.</p><p>By protecting Hegseth and spotlighting Bradley, the White House signals that political loyalty outweighs military honor—a toxic precedent for future operations <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-white-house-holds-briefing-as-lawmakers-support-review-of-trumps-boat-strikes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">49</a>.</p><h2>Conclusion: Leadership, Not Uniforms, Is What Failed</h2><p>The Venezuela boat strike of September 2, 2025, is not merely a military operation gone wrong. It is a case study in how political leadership can compromise the foundational ethics of the armed forces. The order to kill survivors in the water violated the DoD Law of War Manual <a href="https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/experts-explain-what-the-law-says-about-killing-21217298.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">33</a><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/12/01/pete-hegseth-military-orders-boat-mark-kelly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">39</a>, and the subsequent response by the White House—led by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt—exposed a disturbing willingness to sacrifice military leaders to shield political figures.</p><p>True support for service members means providing <strong>clear, legal, and moral orders</strong>—and holding the highest officials accountable when those standards are breached. Admiral Bradley may have pressed the button, but the order originated from a climate of permissiveness created at the top.</p><p>As investigations continue and bipartisan scrutiny mounts <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lawmakers-skeptical-alleged-hegseth-kill-orders-venezuela-issue-stark-warning" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">28</a>, one point remains unassailable:<br><strong>The Navy didn’t fail. The leadership did.</strong></p>

<p>Alleged Illegal U.S. Naval Strike and the <span style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">Betrayal of Military Ethics</span>: A Report on Leadership Failure and Accountability</p>

<h4>Is Hegseth Guilty of War Crimes</h4>

<p><strong>Community event in North Myrtle Beach demonstrates growing momentum behind Vincent campaign</strong></p><small><p>NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC — The John Vincent for Congress campaign hosted its "Fight for Democracy Festival" this weekend at the Mad Gator Grill in Barefoot Landing, drawing a record crowd that far exceeded expectations. The event, which was initially projected to attract 200 attendees, welcomed over 350 registered participants with many more joining without formal registration.</p><p>"The tremendous turnout at our Fight for Democracy Festival demonstrates that voters in South Carolina's 7th Congressional District are hungry for authentic representation and ready for change," said John Vincent, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress. "People from all walks of life came together not just to hear political speeches, but to celebrate our democratic values as a community."</p><p>The three-hour festival featured live musical performances by vocalist Genesis and folk singer Mike Bailey, and a DJ creating a vibrant atmosphere on the spacious back deck of the Mad Gator Grill. Attendees enjoyed food, music, and fellowship while engaging with candidates running for various offices throughout South Carolina.</p><p>Several prominent candidates addressed the enthusiastic crowd, including:</p><ul><li><p>George Blumenthal, candidate for SC House District 104</p></li><li><p>Brandon Brown, candidate for U.S. Senate</p></li><li><p>Dr. Jermaine Johnson, current SC House Representative for District 52, who is exploring a run for Governor</p></li><li><p>Kathy Redwine, candidate for SC House District 108</p></li><li><p>Sylvia Wright, candidate for SC Superintendent of Education</p></li></ul><p>In his keynote address, Vincent emphasized the importance of one-on-one conversations in rebuilding democratic participation. "Don't hate your Trump-flag-flying neighbors – they're just late realizing they're being conned. &nbsp; &nbsp; The real enemies are the super-wealthy trying to get Americans to turn on each other and their spineless political minions who fail to stand up for us, like Congressman Russell Fry who would rather hide out with his Mar-a-Lago buddies in exclusive fundraisers than face his constituents in town halls," Vincent told the crowd.</p><p>The event concluded with Vincent being joined on stage by his wife Deb and family to enthusiastic applause.</p><p>"The energy we witnessed at this event confirms what our campaign has been seeing on the ground for months," said Deb Vincent.&nbsp; "Voters are tired of being ignored by Representative Fry and are ready for a congressman who will fight for families, veterans, and common-sense solutions."</p><p>The Vincent campaign plans to build on this momentum with additional community events throughout the district in the coming months.<br></p></small>

<p><strong>Community event in North Myrtle Beach demonstrates growing momentum behind Vincent campaign</strong></p><p>NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC — The John Vincent for Congress campaign hosted its "Fight for Democracy Festival" this weekend at the Mad Gator Grill in Barefoot Landing, drawing a record crowd that far exceeded expectations.</p>

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<h4>"FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY FESTIVAL" DRAWS RECORD CROWD OF 350+</h4>

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<p>South Carolina's 7th Congressional District, home to the Grand Strand and one of the nation's premier tourism destinations, faces a paradox: the very industry that drives our economy leaves thousands of working families in crisis every year. While tourism brings prosperity to our region, the seasonal nature of hospitality employment creates a cycle of economic instability that threatens the foundation of our communities.</p><p>The Core Problem: Families working in tourism and hospitality—our district's largest employment sector—face months without work, inadequate healthcare, and wages that cannot keep pace with rising housing costs. These are not statistics; these are our neighbors, the people who serve our visitors and make the Grand Strand the destination it is today.</p><h2>THE SCOPE OF THE CRISIS</h2><h4>Tourism's Dominance and Its Double Edge</h4><p>The Grand Strand's tourism industry generates billions in annual revenue and employs tens of thousands of residents. Hotels, restaurants, attractions, and retail establishments depend on seasonal workers to meet summer demand. But when Labor Day passes and the crowds thin, these same workers face a harsh reality:</p><ul><li><p>Months without steady income as businesses reduce staff or close entirely</p></li><li><p>No employer-provided health benefits during off-season layoffs</p></li><li><p>Depleted savings from trying to stretch summer earnings across twelve months</p></li><li><p>Forced reliance on SNAP and other government assistance just to feed their families</p></li></ul><h4>TOURISM &amp; HOSPITALITY BY THE NUMBERS</h4><p>The statistics reveal both the industry's impressive scale and its fundamental vulnerabilities:</p><h5>Employment Impact:</h5><ul><li><p>24% of all jobs in Horry County are hospitality-based—37,238 out of 157,162 workers (source: Tourism Works for the Grand Strand)</p></li><li><p>82,000+ jobs supported by tourism throughout the Grand Strand (direct and indirect) based on 2024 JobsEQ data</p></li><li><p>Accommodation &amp; Food Services is the second-largest industry in Horry County with 21,653 employees, trailing only Retail Trade (22,814)</p></li><li><p>SC-07's total workforce stands at 318,000 people, with tourism representing a significant portion of employment</p></li></ul><h5>Economic Scale:</h5><ul><li><p>$13.2 billion in visitor spending in 2024, up 5.3% from $12.5 billion in 2023 (source: DK Shifflet Visitor Volume &amp; Spending Study)</p></li><li><p>$26 billion+ total economic impact when accounting for indirect and induced effects</p></li><li><p>18.2 million visitors came to the Myrtle Beach area in 2024</p></li><li><p>66% of sales tax revenue in Horry County comes from visitors (source: Visa data)</p></li><li><p>$59.3 million generated in Horry County Hospitality Fee taxes in 2024</p></li></ul><h5>Other Industry in SC-07 Comparisons:</h5><ul><li><p>Health Care &amp; Social Assistance: 43,549 workers</p></li><li><p>Retail Trade: 42,049 workers</p></li><li><p>Manufacturing: 34,364 workers</p></li></ul><h5>Unique Regional Characteristics:</h5><ul><li><p>80 golf courses generate $1.6 billion and support 13,000+ jobs (2024 study)</p></li><li><p>157,000+ accommodation units across 425 hotels—on par with Las Vegas</p></li><li><p>2,000+ restaurants serving the tourism market</p></li><li><p>60 miles of beaches forming the core attraction</p></li></ul><p><strong>2024 Performance: </strong>The tourism industry showed strong growth in 2024, with visitor spending increasing 5.3% year-over-year. This growth came despite national headwinds like inflation and geopolitical tensions that softened tourism in other U.S. destinations. The Grand Strand's family-friendly attributes and strategic marketing gave it a competitive edge.</p><p><strong>The Seasonal Paradox:</strong> While CCU economists estimate that 80% of local tourism jobs are year-round, full-time, this statistic masks the reality that many of these "year-round" positions experience dramatic seasonal fluctuations in hours and income. A "full-time" restaurant manager might work 60 hours a week in summer but see hours cut to 25-30 during winter months, with corresponding income reductions.</p><p><strong>Sources: </strong>Tourism Works for the Grand Strand, DK Shifflet Visitor Volume &amp; Spending Study, Data USA, Horry County Government, S.C. Department of Revenue, Coastal Carolina University economic studies</p><h4>The Housing Affordability Crisis</h4><p>The mathematics of survival in SC-07 are brutal:</p><ul><li><p>A minimum wage worker must work more than 100 hours per week just to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the Grand Strand</p></li><li><p>This calculation doesn't include food, transportation, utilities, healthcare, or childcare</p></li><li><p>Meanwhile, the construction boom focuses on vacation rentals and second homes, not workforce housing</p></li><li><p>Year-round workers are being priced out of the communities they serve</p></li></ul><h4>The Healthcare Gap</h4><p>Tourism and hospitality jobs rarely offer comprehensive health benefits. For seasonal workers, the situation is even more dire:</p><ul><li><p>Families go months without any health coverage</p></li><li><p>A single emergency room visit can wipe out an entire summer's savings</p></li><li><p>Chronic conditions go untreated because workers cannot afford preventive care</p></li><li><p>Parents delay their own medical needs to pay for their children's care</p></li></ul><h4>The Education Trap</h4><p>The lure of immediate income in tourism creates a devastating cycle:</p><ul><li><p>Young people drop out of high school or skip tech school or college for quick-money tourism jobs</p></li><li><p>Without skills or credentials, they remain trapped in low-wage, seasonal work</p></li><li><p>The cycle repeats with the next generation</p></li><li><p>Our district loses the skilled workforce needed for economic diversification</p></li></ul><h2>REAL FAMILIES, REAL STRUGGLES</h2><p><strong>Marylou's Story:</strong> A single mother working as a hotel housekeeper earns $12/hour during peak season. She works 50-60 hours per week from May through September, saving every dollar she can. By November, her hours drop to 15 per week. By January, she's usually laid off, but she holds out hope her employer will keep her on this year with minimal hours.&nbsp; She relies on SNAP benefits to feed her two children and has delayed dental work for three years because she cannot afford the $800 procedure. Last winter, her son broke his arm, and the $3,200 emergency room bill consumed her entire savings. She was one unexpected expense away from eviction.</p><p><strong>The Rodriguez Family:</strong> Both parents work in restaurants—he as a line cook, she as a server. Combined, they earn about $45,000 during the busy season. They have no health insurance. Their teenage daughter showed promise in school but dropped out at 16 to work at a beachwear shop, seduced by the immediate paycheck. Now 19, she's stuck in the same cycle as her parents, with no clear path forward.</p><p><strong>James's Reality:</strong> A 58-year-old maintenance worker at a resort has worked in hospitality for 35 years. He has no retirement savings, no pension, and no health insurance outside the summer months. He's developed diabetes but cannot afford consistent medication or doctor visits. He knows he should retire but cannot afford to stop working. He represents thousands of older workers in our district facing the same impossible choice.</p><h2>THE POLICY SOLUTIONS</h2><p>John Vincent believes that the people who make our tourism economy possible deserve dignity, stability, and opportunity. His comprehensive plan addresses both immediate relief and long-term transformation:</p><h4>1. Raise the Minimum Wage</h4><ul><li><p>Increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, indexed to inflation</p></li><li><p>This ensures that full-time work provides a living wage, even during slower seasons</p></li><li><p>Reduces reliance on government assistance programs</p></li><li><p>Stimulates local economy as workers have more purchasing power</p></li></ul><h4>2. Expand Healthcare Access</h4><ul><li><p>Support Medicaid expansion in South Carolina to cover the healthcare gap</p></li><li><p>Create a public option for seasonal workers during off-season months</p></li><li><p>Establish community health centers specifically serving hospitality workers</p></li><li><p>Mandate portable benefits that follow workers between seasonal jobs</p></li></ul><h4>3. Invest in Workforce Housing</h4><ul><li><p>Federal incentives for developers who build affordable, year-round rental housing</p></li><li><p>Restrict the conversion of residential properties to short-term vacation rentals in high-impact areas</p></li><li><p>Create a workforce housing trust fund using a small percentage of tourism tax revenue</p></li><li><p>Establish rent stabilization measures to prevent displacement of long-term residents</p></li></ul><h4>4. Transform Education and Training</h4><ul><li><p>Expand Pell Grant eligibility for part-time students and non-traditional learners</p></li><li><p>Create apprenticeship programs in partnership with Horry-Georgetown Technical College</p></li><li><p>Establish "earn while you learn" programs that allow hospitality workers to gain credentials without losing income</p></li><li><p>Develop career pathways from entry-level tourism jobs to management and skilled trades</p></li><li><p>Partner with local businesses to create year-round employment opportunities in emerging sectors</p></li></ul><h4>5. Stabilize Seasonal Employment</h4><ul><li><p>Incentivize businesses to maintain year-round staffing through tax credits</p></li><li><p>Create a seasonal worker unemployment insurance program with extended benefits</p></li><li><p>Support economic diversification to reduce over-reliance on tourism</p></li><li><p>Attract industries that provide stable, year-round employment</p></li></ul><h4>6. Strengthen Worker Protections</h4><ul><li><p>Ensure fair scheduling practices that give workers predictable hours</p></li><li><p>Mandate paid sick leave so workers don't choose between health and income</p></li><li><p>Protect workers from wage theft and tip skimming</p></li><li><p>Strengthen collective bargaining rights for hospitality workers</p></li></ul><h4>THE OPPOSITION'S FAILURE</h4><p>For too long, our representatives have celebrated tourism revenue while ignoring the workers who generate it. They've:</p><ul><li><p>Blocked minimum wage increases while cost of living soared</p></li><li><p>Refused Medicaid expansion, leaving 300,000 South Carolinians without coverage</p></li><li><p>Prioritized developers and vacation property owners over working families</p></li><li><p>Cut funding for education and workforce development</p></li></ul><h4>WHY THIS MATTERS NOW</h4><p>We are currently in the off-season. Right now, thousands of families in our district are:</p><ul><li><p>Stretching their last paychecks from summer</p></li><li><p>Choosing between rent and groceries</p></li><li><p>Avoiding doctor visits they desperately need</p></li><li><p>Wondering how they'll make it to spring</p></li></ul><p>This isn't a future crisis—it's happening today, in our communities, to our neighbors.</p><h4>JOHN VINCENT'S COMMITMENT</h4><p>John Vincent understands that a strong economy must work for everyone, not just those at the top. He believes:</p><ul><li><p>Every job should pay a living wage</p></li><li><p>Healthcare is a right, not a privilege</p></li><li><p>Housing should be affordable for the people who make our communities run</p></li><li><p>Education is the pathway to opportunity</p></li><li><p>Workers deserve dignity, stability, and respect</p></li></ul><p>John will fight in Congress to ensure that the families who power our tourism economy can build stable, secure lives in the communities they serve.</p><h4>CALL TO ACTION</h4><p>The choice is clear: we can continue down the path of economic instability and working poverty, or we can build an economy that works for everyone. John Vincent is ready to lead that fight.</p><p>"We don't have to accept an economy where hardworking families live on the edge of disaster. We can do better, and we will." </p><p>— John Vincent</p>

<p>South Carolina's 7th Congressional District, home to the Grand Strand and one of the nation's premier tourism destinations, faces a paradox:<strong> the very industry that drives our economy leaves thousands of working families in crisis every year. </strong>While tourism brings prosperity to our region, the seasonal nature of hospitality employment creates a cycle of economic instability that threatens the foundation of our communities.</p>

<h4>The Hidden Crisis of Seasonal Employment</h4>

<p>What an AMAZING day. We started with the 200+ people on the sidewalk in</p><span class="image image-framed image-left image-tilt-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/4ef04a91-f7e0-4ae7-b399-5a079e97e308/caefc4f9-4a00-45c5-81a0-b6e9c42772db/caefc4f9-4a00-45c5-81a0-b6e9c42772db.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C500%2C500&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none"></span></span><p> Conway SC. Hundreds of cars coming by horns blasting in support of the protest. Younger, older, black, brown, white, gay, straight you know AMERICANS. The vibe was so positive. Total commitment to fighting this chaos yet upbeat and so FUN.</p><p>Chapin Park in Myrtle Beach was AWESOME. Probably close to 1000 people. AMERICAN’s in steadfast support and commitment to our constitution, our flag and our fellow Americans.</p><p>From ALL reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to American flags paraded </p><span class="image image-framed image-right image-tilt-left" style="width: 47.5%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/4ef04a91-f7e0-4ae7-b399-5a079e97e308/a2eb393f-19a2-4024-84ba-0526c5c3fd43/a2eb393f-19a2-4024-84ba-0526c5c3fd43.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C683%2C512&amp;w=1500" alt="No Kings Crowd in Myrtle Beach" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="47.5" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none"></span></span><p>everywhere. From kids running around to the masters of the rail over there cheering and leading hundreds and hundreds cars to honk those horns in support.</p><p>We even had some ANTIFA puffy animals dancing (this part was terrifying!)</p><p></p><span class="image image-framed image-left image-tilt-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/4ef04a91-f7e0-4ae7-b399-5a079e97e308/3497c95d-820b-4e3e-9447-6bd3a5a25b2e/3497c95d-820b-4e3e-9447-6bd3a5a25b2e.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C256%2C271&amp;w=1500" alt="Veterans at NoKings Myrtle Beach" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none"></span></span><p>I really LOVED an impromptu picture with my fellow Vets. Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. From Airborne to submarines. Rangers to Raiders. Marines, Air Force, Army and Navy.</p><p>HATERS???? No just regular folks who choose our Constitution over a weak, dangerous leader. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/john.g.vincent?__cft__[0]=AZVy1Wi_R6RxFVRJ1iMLvUQR5pS5rjjgSyVqJGViUREHUmyzZp_MG8pzhQPHQfx4WCLpaicc97duwshFohVuszMIHsvESlsoZDmWpn5cX_QQbFNjNNn8A2yRcwe0EUjTbEngIvRWFLkImrw1Vbsw7mB8&amp;__tn__=-]K-R"> </a></p>

<p><strong>What an AMAZING day. </strong>We started with the 200+ people on the sidewalk in Conway SC. Hundreds of cars coming by horns blasting in support of the protest. Younger, older, black, brown, white, gay, straight you know AMERICAN’S. The vibe was so positive. Total commitment to fighting this chaos yet upbeat and so FUN.</p>

<h4>No Kings in Conway & Myrtle Beach</h4>

<p><strong>By John Vincent</strong></p><p>This Thanksgiving week, I've been thinking about that first winter in 1621.</p><p>The Pilgrims were starving. They didn't know how to survive in this new land. It was the Wampanoag people – Squanto, Massasoit, and others – who showed them how to plant corn, where to fish, how to make it through the harsh New England winter.</p><p>The Wampanoag didn't have a formal healthcare plan for the Pilgrims. They didn't form a committee to study the problem. They didn't wait for the perfect policy solution.</p><p>They just made sure their neighbors survived.</p><p>That spirit of community, of neighbors helping neighbors survive and thrive – that's the America I know. That's the America that gave my family everything.</p><p></p><h2>When Did We Lose Our Way?</h2><p>But somewhere along the way, our leaders forgot that spirit.</p><p>Last week, I met Sarah, a single mom in Marion. She told me she's skipping meals so her kids can eat. Not occasionally – regularly. In the richest country in human history.</p><p>Another family shared that they're cutting their Thanksgiving dinner back this year. Not by choice, but because grocery prices in our district have continue to rise. They learned first hand that the Walmart deal that our President cited as evidence of lowering cost - well not so much. Fewer Items. Downsized Items. Brand Swaps.</p><p>Meanwhile, our President spends ridiculous sums on White House renovations, new private jets, and bailing out Argentina with $20 billion in cash. So much for America first. All while Republican strip healthcare protections from 20 million Americans – with no replacement plan ready.</p><p><strong>Americans aren't dumb.</strong></p><p>You know what you're paying at the grocery store. You know what your insulin costs. You know what happened to your rent. Your lived experience doesn't match their talking points, and you're right to trust what you see with your own eyes.</p><p>This isn't about partisan politics. This is about misplaced values. This is about leaders who have lost touch with the people they're supposed to serve.</p><p>Our founders would be ashamed. But they'd be proud of what we're building together.</p><h2>What I'll Fight For on Day One</h2><p>We have the resources to ensure no one goes hungry. We have the wealth to guarantee everyone has healthcare. We just lack leaders with the political will to make it happen.</p><p>Here's what I'll fight for from Day One:</p><p><strong>✓ Cap insulin costs at $35/month for everyone</strong> – not just seniors. If other countries can do it, so can we.</p><p><strong>✓ Restore and expand the Child Tax Credit</strong> – which cut child poverty by 40% before Congress let it expire.</p><p><strong>✓ End taxpayer-funded corporate subsidies</strong> – while working families struggle to afford groceries.</p><p><strong>✓ Protect Social Security and Medicare</strong> – no cuts, no privatization, no raising the retirement age.</p><p><strong>✓ Make healthcare a right, not a privilege</strong> – starting with a public option and prescription drug price negotiations.</p><p>These aren't radical ideas. They're common sense. And they're what the Wampanoag would have done – make sure everyone survives and thrives.</p><h2>What I'm Thankful For</h2><p>Despite the challenges we face, this Thanksgiving I find myself deeply grateful.</p><p><strong>I'm thankful for </strong>every person who has offered words of encouragement, told&nbsp; me their stories , and believed we could build something better.</p><p><strong>I'm thankful for </strong>the small business owners across this district who've shared their fears about their rising costs – the real struggles, not the talking points. &nbsp; And many of those same businesses are helping to&nbsp; provide those in need with Thanksgiving meals.</p><p><strong>I'm thankful for </strong>every volunteer who's given generously with their time. You are the heart of this campaign.</p><p><strong>I'm thankful for </strong>every contributor. You fuel this campaign and without you, we go nowhere.</p><p><strong>I'm thankful that people are waking up.</strong> Our message is breaking through because it's the truth. You're tired of being gaslit, tired of being told everything is fine when you can see with your own eyes that it isn't.</p><p><strong>And I'm thankful for you</strong> – for taking the time to read this, for caring about our community, for believing that government can and should work for everyone.</p><h2>The America Worth Fighting For</h2><p>This campaign isn't funded by corporate PACs or special interests. It's powered by people who believe, like our founders did, that government should work for everyone – not just the wealthy and well-connected.</p><p>That first Thanksgiving wasn't about the powerful helping themselves. It was about community. It was about survival through cooperation. It was about people</p>

<p> This Thanksgiving week, I've been thinking about that first winter in 1621.</p>

<h4>This Thanksgiving, Let's Restore the Spirit That Built America</h4>

<h5>🚨 TRUMP JUST TOLD US EXACTLY WHY RUSSELL FRY IS ACTIVELY PROMOTING A BILL STALLED IN THE SENATE</h5><p>On Monday, March 9th, at his Doral Country Club in Florida, speaking directly to Republican members of the House at their legislative retreat, Donald Trump answered that question for us.</p><p>His answer should alarm every single voter in South Carolina's 7th District.</p><span class="image image-framed image-left image-tilt-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/4ef04a91-f7e0-4ae7-b399-5a079e97e308/40086721-6c1a-46e2-96cf-54c73a1e4d38/40086721-6c1a-46e2-96cf-54c73a1e4d38.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C448%2C600&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span><p>But first — let's tell the full story. Because the timeline matters.</p><p><strong>⏱️ 2024 — THE ORIGINAL SAVE ACT IS BORN</strong></p><p>Republicans in the House introduced the original SAVE Act in 2024, during the final year of the Biden administration.</p><p>The bill imposed a documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement — birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers — just to register to vote. No funding to help people get documents. No phase-in period. No exceptions for people who had voted their entire lives.</p><p>The bill immediately drew attention for one reason above all others: it disproportionately targeted <strong>married women</strong>. Nearly 80% of married women in America have birth certificates that don't match their current legal name — because they took their husband's name. Under this bill, those women would face new bureaucratic barriers just to register to vote.</p><p>The bill stalled. But Republicans didn't give up.</p><p><strong>⏱️ JANUARY 2026 — RELAUNCHED. BIGGER. MORE DANGEROUS.</strong></p><p>In January 2026, Republicans relaunched the bill as the SAVE America Act — and made it significantly worse:</p><small><p>▪️ Kept the proof-of-citizenship requirement targeting married women and 21 million other Americans </p><p>▪️ Added a photo ID requirement on top of the citizenship documents ▪️ Made election officials <strong>criminally liable</strong> for honest mistakes </p><p>▪️ Eliminated online voter registration in all <strong>42 states</strong> that currently offer it ▪️ Ended mail-in voter registration — including for <strong>military serving overseas</strong> </p><p>▪️ Required <strong>monthly voter purges</strong> based on error-prone government databases </p><p>▪️ Required states to hand voter rolls — including <strong>Social Security numbers</strong> — to the Department of Homeland Security</p><p></p></small><p><strong>⏱️ FEBRUARY 11, 2026 — RUSSELL FRY VOTES YES</strong></p><p>The SAVE America Act passed the House by a razor-thin <strong>218–213 vote</strong> — almost entirely along party lines.</p><p>Russell Fry voted for it. He called it <em>"a national responsibility."</em> He said it was about making sure <em>"only U.S. citizens vote in U.S. elections."</em></p><p>What he didn't say: <strong>noncitizen voting is already illegal.</strong> It is already a federal crime, punishable by imprisonment and deportation. The Heritage Foundation — the conservative organization that wrote Project 2025 and actively promoted this very bill — maintains a database of every documented election fraud case going back more than <strong>40 years</strong>. Their own data shows noncitizen voting in federal elections is vanishingly rare — a handful of cases per election cycle out of hundreds of millions of votes cast.</p><p>The Brennan Center for Justice confirmed independently that noncitizen voting occurs at less than <strong>one-thousandth of one percent</strong> of all votes.</p><p>There was no crisis to solve. Fry voted for it anyway.</p><p><strong>⏱️ THE SENATE BLOCKS IT — THE BILL APPEARS DEAD</strong></p><p>The SAVE America Act moved to the Senate — and stalled. Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed there were not enough votes to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold. There was not even enough Republican support to eliminate the filibuster for this bill.</p><p>The legislation appeared dead.</p><p></p><p><strong>⏱️  FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH —  FRY POSTS IN SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT IT  ANYWAY</strong></p><p>He defended it, promoted it, called it "common sense."</p><p>His actions left me with a nagging question: <em>Why support  a bill that appeared dead in the Senate?</em></p><p></p><p><strong>⏱️ MONDAY, MARCH 9TH — TRUMP ANSWERS THE QUESTION</strong></p><p>On Monday, March 9th, at his Doral Country Club in Florida — speaking directly to House Republicans gathered for their legislative retreat — Donald Trump stepped to the microphone and told us exactly why.</p><p>Here are his words. Read them carefully:</p><p><em>"If you get this, your midterms... they won't be able to cheat. And the people are demanding it. Every time I go out — Save America, sir. Save America Act. We want the Save America Act, sir. That's all they talk about. And if you send it up — you're going to win the midterms at levels that you can't even believe. And you're going to win every election for a long time — until somebody really screws things up."</em></p><p>Read that again.</p><p><strong>"You're going to win every election for a long time."</strong></p><small><p>Not: <em>"Elections will be more secure."</em> </p><p>Not: <em>"Voters can have confidence in the results."</em> </p><p>Not: <em>"We will protect the integrity of the ballot."</em></p><p></p></small><p><strong>"You're going to WIN. Every election. For a long time."</strong></p><p>That is not the language of election security.</p><p>That is the language of <strong>permanent political power</strong>.</p><p></p><p><strong>⏱️ AND THEN TRUMP ISSUED AN ULTIMATUM</strong></p><p>He announced that he will <strong>refuse to sign any other legislation</strong> until the SAVE Act reaches his desk.</p><p>Not the economy. Not healthcare. Not veterans' benefits. Not the border. Not infrastructure. Not prescription drug prices. Not a single thing that affects the daily lives of the people of SC-7.</p><p><strong>Nothing</strong> — until he gets the bill that he just told House Republicans at Doral will let them "win every election for a long time."</p><p>And he went further still. Trump made clear that if the Senate will not pass the SAVE Act — if Congress will not deliver it to him — he is prepared to <strong>implement it through executive order</strong>. Unilaterally. Without a vote. Without Congress. Without you.</p><p>The President of the United States is:</p><p><strong>1.</strong> Holding the entire legislative agenda of the country hostage to get a voter suppression bill </p><p><strong>2.</strong> Threatening to bypass Congress entirely if they don't comply </p><p><strong>3.</strong> Telling House Republicans — in a room at his own Doral golf club, to their faces — that this bill will let them win elections permanently</p><p>This is not governing. This is a <strong>power grab</strong> — and it is happening in plain sight.</p><p></p><p><strong>📌 NOW THE QUESTION ANSWERS ITSELF</strong></p><p>Why did Russell Fry post about a stalled bill?</p><p>Because it was never really stalled in the minds of Trump and his allies. It was always coming back. Trump confirmed it on March 9th — in his own words, in a room full of House Republicans at his Doral Country Club.</p><p>Fry wasn't posting about the SAVE Act because he believes in election security. The evidence — the Heritage Foundation's own fraud database, the Brennan Center's research, decades of court rulings — all confirm there is no noncitizen voting crisis to solve.</p><p><strong>Fry was posting about the SAVE Act because he is part of the plan.</strong></p><p>The plan Trump just described in plain English at Doral: pass a bill that makes it harder for certain voters to participate — and "win every election for a long time."</p><p></p><p><strong>📌 WHO ARE THOSE "CERTAIN VOTERS"?</strong></p><p>Let's be specific. Because the SAVE Act doesn't target voters randomly. It targets voters <strong>strategically</strong>.</p><p><strong>Married women</strong> — nearly 80% have birth certificates that don't match their current legal name. Women vote in higher numbers than men. Women have been breaking toward Democrats since 2016. The SAVE Act creates barriers specifically for them.</p><p><strong>Young voters</strong> — less likely to have passports, more likely to have moved recently, more likely to be registering for the first time. Young voters have been trending Democratic. The SAVE Act creates barriers specifically for them.</p><p><strong>Rural and low-income voters</strong> — less likely to have passports, less likely to have easy access to government offices, less likely to be able to take unpaid time off work to drive to a government office. The SAVE Act creates barriers specifically for them.</p><p><strong>Military families</strong> — who move every 2–3 years and rely on mail-in registration. The SAVE Act eliminates that option for them.</p><p><strong>Naturalized citizens</strong> — Americans who earned their citizenship — who could be wrongly flagged and purged from voter rolls by error-prone monthly database checks.</p><p>These are not random groups. These are groups that Republicans have identified as threats to their electoral dominance. And the SAVE Act is engineered to make their votes harder to cast.</p><p></p><p><strong>📌 WHAT COMES NEXT — AND WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW</strong></p><p>Voting rights attorney Mark Elias — who has litigated more election law cases than anyone in America and who founded Democracy Docket, the nation's premier election law news outlet — has laid out exactly where this goes.</p><p>Trump follows a predictable progression:</p><p><strong>Rhetoric → Extreme rhetoric → Courts → Executive action → Worse.</strong></p><p>We have seen this play out with immigration. Rhetoric. Then extreme rhetoric. Then court battles. Then paramilitary forces in the streets of American cities.</p><p>On the SAVE Act, we are now moving from rhetoric into executive action. Trump told House Republicans that he will issue an executive order to implement the SAVE Act's provisions unilaterally if Congress doesn't pass it.</p><p>But here is what that legal battle sets up: a permission structure for Trump to escalate further. Steve Bannon has already publicly called for ICE agents <strong>surrounding polling locations</strong>. The seizure of ballot boxes. The intimidation of voters at the polls.  Threateing election workers.</p><p>This is not speculation. This is the documented pattern of this administration — now being applied to American elections.</p><p>And Russell Fry is not just watching. He is cheering it on.</p><p><strong>📌 THE BOTTOM LINE — FOUR THINGS WE NOW KNOW WITH CERTAINTY</strong></p><p><strong>1. The SAVE Act was never about election security.</strong> Noncitizen voting is already illegal and vanishingly rare. Trump's own words at Doral on March 9th confirm the real goal: <em>"Win every election for a long time."</em></p><p><strong>2. Russell Fry is not a bystander. He is a participant.</strong> He voted for the SAVE Act. He promoted it on Facebook after it stalled in the Senate. He is signaling to Trump and to his party that he is on board with the plan — not representing the voters of SC-7.</p><p><strong>3. The voters targeted are YOUR neighbors. Possibly you.</strong> Married women. Young voters. Rural families. Military families. Naturalized citizens. These are the people of SC-7 that the SAVE Act is designed to silence.</p><p><strong>4. This fight is not over.</strong> Trump made the SAVE Act his number one legislative priority at Doral on March 9th, issued an ultimatum to Congress, and threatened to act unilaterally by executive order. This is coming back. The only question is whether SC-7 will have a representative who fights for your vote — or one who helps take it away.</p><p><strong>✅ WHERE I STAND</strong></p><p>I support South Carolina's existing voter ID law. It is reasonable. It works. I will always support common-sense measures that protect both election security and voter access.</p><p>But the SAVE America Act is not a common-sense measure. It is a voter suppression scam — designed not to protect elections, but just one of many Republican attempts to rig them.</p><p>I oppose it. I will fight it. And I will never vote to make it harder for the people of SC-7 to have their voices heard.</p><h5>Russell Fry made his choice. He chose Trump's plan over your vote.</h5><h4>In  November 2026, you get to make yours.</h4><p>People Over Politics.</p><p>🌐 <a href="http://VincentForCongress.com">VincentForCongress.com</a></p><p>#VincentForCongress #SC7 #PeopleOverPolitics #ByeByeFry #SouthCarolina #VotingRights #SAVEAct </p>

<p>🚨 TRUMP JUST TOLD US EXACTLY WHY RUSSELL FRY IS ACTIVELY PROMOTING A BILL STALLED IN THE SENATE</p><p>On Monday, March 9th, at his Doral Country Club in Florida, speaking directly to Republican members of the House at their legislative retreat, Donald Trump answered that question for us.</p>

<h4>The SAVE Act SCAM - The Truth Revealed</h4>

<h4>Statewide Primary Election</h4>

<p>John Vincent is running unopposed in the Democratic Primary, but our allies need your support. Vote!</p>

Statewide Primary June 9 @ 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

<h6>George Blumenthal, KathyRedwine, and Sylvia Wright</h6><small><p>MYRTLE BEACH, SC - John Vincent, candidate for South Carolina's 7th Congressional District, today announced his endorsement of three exceptional candidates running in key state races: George Blumenthal for SC House District 104, Kathy Redwine for House District 108, and Sylvia Wright for State Superintendent of Education.</p><p>Vincent said, "George and Kathy have really stepped up to challenge incumbents who have never been challenged. They are both exceptionally qualified and will do an exceptional job when elected. Sylvia, also exceptionally qualified, is the hardest working candidate anywhere. Nothing shows how hard she will work for the education of our children more than how hard she is working to WIN."</p><p>Vincent praised Blumenthal for his commitment to bringing fresh leadership to District 104. Blumenthal's background in community service and dedication to addressing local infrastructure needs align perfectly with Vincent's platform of fighting for families and common-sense solutions.&nbsp; Blumenenthal is a seasoned attorney with a robust background in litigation, including civil and criminal law.</p><p>Kathy Redwine earned Vincent's enthusiastic support for her bold vision for House District 108. Her professional experience and deep understanding of the district's health care challenges make her an ideal advocate for working families in the state legislature.</p><p>In endorsing Sylvia Wright for State Superintendent of Education, Vincent highlighted her tireless dedication to improving South Carolina's educational system. Wright's comprehensive plan to support teachers and enhance educational opportunities for all students resonates with Vincent's commitment to investing in the future of South Carolina families.</p><p>"We cannot win without people like these willing to put life on hold to do what must be done. Please support them, as you are supporting me," Vincent added.</p><p>Vincent's campaign continues to focus on fighting for families, supporting veterans, and addressing government dysfunction. His endorsement of these candidates reflects his commitment to building a stronger South Carolina through dedicated public service at all levels of government.</p></small>

<p>George Blumenthal, Kathy Redwine, and Sylvia Wright </p><p>MYRTLE BEACH, SC -  John Vincent, candidate for South Carolina's 7th Congressional District, today announced his endorsement of three exceptional candidates running in key state races: George Blumenthal for SC House District 104, Kathy Redwine for House District 108, and Sylvia Wright for State Superintendent of Education.</p>

<h4>JOHN VINCENT ENDORSES CANDIDATES IN KEY RACES</h4>

<p>Join John, Deb, and the whole campaign team as we celebrate our Constitutional Rights.   </p>

<h4>NO KINGS Protest</h4>

<p>Join Matt and the Vincent Volunteers Crew will be at the protest celebrating our Constitutional Rights.  <a href="https://brandfolder.com/indivisibleproject/nokings" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click Here</a> for to Print your own Signs.</p>

Marion County Candidate Forum

<h6><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Clean up Washington and make it live within its means.</span></h6><p><strong>Washington is broken because too many politicians serve their party and donors rather than the people who elected them. I am going to bring the same accountability I brought to every command I led, and I am going to make the federal government live within its means, the way every family here has to.</strong></p><h5>Cleaning Up Washington</h5><ul><li><p>Enact real term limits: six terms in the House and two in the Senate.</p></li><li><p>Ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks so they cannot profit off the offices we lend them.</p></li><li><p>Overturn Citizens United and require full transparency for every campaign contribution.</p></li><li><p>Restore Congress's constitutional authority over war. The Constitution is clear that Congress declares war, not one person, and I will never rubber-stamp military action Congress has not authorized.</p></li></ul><h5>A Balanced Budget</h5><ul><li><p>Stop the 57 percent increase in the defense budget and cut wasteful, obsolete military spending so we can fund priorities here at home.</p></li><li><p>Launch a multi-year, department-by-department review to cut redundancy and waste, the way a Republican Congress and a Democratic White House once worked together to balance the budget in 2000.</p></li><li><p>Close tax loopholes for the largest corporations and individuals earning more than 10 million dollars a year, which would raise roughly 75 billion dollars annually, much of it to fund hiring credits for small businesses in low-income communities.</p></li><li><p>Fight for a Balanced Budget Amendment so Washington stops spending money it does not have.</p></li></ul>

<p><strong>Clean up Washington and make it live within its means</strong><br></p><p>Washington is broken because too many politicians serve their party and donors rather than the people who elected them. I will bring the same accountability I brought to every command I led: real term limits, a ban on congressional stock trading, and an end to the dark money that drowns out your voice. And I will make the federal government live within its means, the way every family in this district already has to.</p>