Is Alvin Greene a Republican plant?
Congressman James Clyburn thinks that Greene, the unlikely victor in a South Carolina Democrat primary, was paid to run for office. Could it be true?
The incredulity over Alvin Greene's surprise win in the Democrat primary for South Carolina's Senate seat shows no sign of abating. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D—SC) openly accused the unprepossessing 32-year-old, who won without holding a single campaign event, of being a political pawn: "There were some real shenanigans going on," Clyburn told a radio talk show. "I don't know if he was a Republican plant; he was someone's plant." Greene has denied this, saying his victory was due to "word of mouth." Could there be any truth to Clyburn's allegations? (Watch Keith Olbermann drill Alvin Greene about his past)
This is a set-up engineered by those good ol' SC boys: Greene's victory means "only one thing," says Devona Walker at AlterNet. "Someone rigged the Democratic primaries down in Dixieland." The "good old boys" in South Carolina proved they were willing to stoop to dirty tricks with the ugly Nikki Haley affair. "I'm just wondering how long it will take for Greene to crack under the pressure."
"The curious case of Alvin Greene"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Why would anyone run a plant against sure-thing Jim DeMint? The idea of the "plain-spoken" Greene being a plant raises more questions than answers, says Allahpundit at Hot Air. For one, Republican Jim DeMint is a "mortal lock to be re-elected" in South Carolina, so why would you "risk all the bad publicity and possible criminal repercussions" of rigging the election?
"Another trainwreck: Olbermann interviews 'America's candidate'"
Wouldn't you choose a more convincing plant? Even if you did want to run a plant against DeMint, says Jim Geraghty at the National Review, would you really "entrust Alvin Greene" — accused of a felony and hardly media friendly — to pull off a "grand conspiracy"? For that matter, "would you trust Alvin Greene to water your plants while you're away?"
"It's not easy being Greene, but apparently he wins easily"
We're inventing conspiracies to explain his behavior: Judging from his extraordinarily vague interviews with the media, says Adrian Chen at Gawker, "there seems to be literally nothing to Alvin Greene." Maybe we're trying to fill in that well of "nothingness" with "our own conspiracy theories," when the only truth behind Greene's candidacy is he's "just some random dude" who accidentally won a Democrat primary.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Another name for the Gulf of Mexico | May 17 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons feature a new Air Force One, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and 'undocumented' immigrants.
-
5 jumbo-sized political cartoons about Qatar's 'gift' to Trump
Cartoons Editorial cartoons feature artists' takes on Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East.
-
Broccoli and cashew stir-fry recipe
The Week Recommends This nutty dish is a satisfying vegetarian option
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy