A Candid Chat With T-Rav

Thomas Ravenel is a lot of things. He’s the former Treasurer for the state of South Carolina. He’s a former felon — indicted on federal cocaine distribution charges. He’s a bonafide reality TV star for his role on Bravo’s Southern Charm. And now at 52 years old, he’s a father, a husband, and an Independent candidate for the United States Senate. Ravenel will be speaking to the West Ashley-James Island Business Association (WAJIBA) on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the Holiday Inn Riverview (round Holiday Inn), located at 301 Savannah Hwy. The public is invited to attend the luncheon, which begins at at 11:30 a.m.
West Of had a chance to chat with the controversial Senate candidate last week. He was very open about his past, his mistakes, about his instant reality TV stardom, and about his future in politics. Here is some of that conversation.
WEST OF: What prompted you to want to get back into the political realm?
Thomas Ravenel: I decided to challenge Lindsey Graham because I believe the federal government is becoming far too powerful and is usurping our freedoms. Policies supported by Senator Graham have been a part of that federal overreach. His support for the expansion of the military-industrial complex, protectionist trade practices that hurt American businesses and consumers, support of the funding for Obamacare and for liberal Justices Kagan and Sotomayor, raising taxes on millions of Americans, voting to raise the debt ceiling six times and voting against Sequester — not because it cut too little money but because it cut too much — are all examples of federal overreach in which that Lindsey Graham has been complicit.
WO: You’re past legal troubles are no secret. What did you learned from that experience?
TR: I’ve learned quite a bit. I’ve learned the system is very unfair to minorities. I’ve also personally learned that there is a major price to be paid for standing up to the political establishment if you’re not going to play ball with it. That’s what happened here, make no mistake.

I told those in power I wasn’t going to vote for their wasteful spending as State Treasurer, and sure enough that’s when everything happened the way it did. Of course, I gave them the rope they needed to hang me by exercising bad judgment, so I bear responsibility, too.
I won’t ever be in that position again because the issues I’m advancing and the people I aim to represent deserve better. I’ve apologized for the poor judgment I showed, served my sentence, and corrected my behavior. The same cannot be said for Lindsey Graham. He continues to make the same mistakes over and over again, costing more of other people’s blood and other people’s money. In the end, my personal life is my problem, but Lindsey Graham’s public life is your problem. 
WO: What do you say to people who think your run for office is just a stunt for Southern Charm?
TR: The rumors about my motivations for entering this race likely come from the political establishment that fears my candidacy because I owe it nothing and therefore cannot be controlled by it. I intend to wage a serious, vigorous, grassroots-based campaign and point out how my views contrast sharply with those of the incumbent. The people of South Carolina deserve better than the current representation they have in D.C. I know I’m not the perfect messenger, but Washington is so badly broken. It’s going to take someone who can’t be bought to fix it, someone who doesn’t need their money or power. Neither of the two establishment parties are doing anything but making government worse. It’s going to take an outsider — even one with some imperfections — to correct the damage all these insiders with their perfect backgrounds have done. 
WO: What are the main pillars of your campaign and what do you hope to change in Washington if elected?
TR: My campaign pillars are freedom and free markets. Our country was founded on these notions but we’ve lost our way. So much of what’s wrong with Washington could be fixed if we just got government out of places where it doesn’t belong and got it to stop incentivizing dependency. That’s why I’m proposing specific cuts as well as a fundamental rethinking of society’s relationship to government, which extends to regulations at home, interventions in other countries and our most basic individual freedoms.
I want to reduce the size, scope, and tax bite of the federal government so our economy can grow and all Americans, on every rung of the economic ladder, can prosper. Inch by inch, we must reclaim the government our founders intended us to have – a government that protects liberty and promotes prosperity for all.
If elected, my first order of business will be to review all of the federal grant-in-aid programs to see what can be eliminated and what can be block-granted back to the states. It makes no sense for us to send our money to Washington and then get some of it back tied up in red tape.
WO: How has Southern Charm changed your life? Do you think the fame you’ve gained through the show will help or hurt your run for public office?
TR: It’s definitely been positive for me. I believe the show is a good thing for my message because there are now people who will hear about these important political issues and how those issues are affecting their freedoms and their livelihoods. People care about issues. As I’ve said, my personal life is my problem. Lindsey Graham’s public life is everybody’s problem. 
Thomas Ravenel will speak at WAJIBA on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 11:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Riverview (round Holiday Inn), located at 301 Savannah Hwy. The luncheon is $10 for WAJIBA members and $20 for non-members and includes a lunch buffet. For more information visit www.wajiba.org or email wajibiz@gmail.com.