Orangeburg County Democrats say their party has the answers to high oil prices and the declining economy. And they think the country is ready to listen to them.

Even more, they believe traditionally Republican South Carolina could choose a Democratic presidential candidate in the fall.

State Sen. Brad Hutto told his fellow Democrats Thursday that while, "They tell us we live in a red state," more Democrats turned out for their presidential primary than Republicans did for theirs.

"What that tells me is we almost might be blue," he said.

Whether the Democrats have Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama at the top of the ticket, or a combination of the two, "We're going to have somebody at the top of the ticket who will fire people up," he said.

Hutto and the county's other top Democrats fired up the crowd at the Orangeburg County Democratic Convention, held at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. Candidates handed out literature, officers were elected and officials prepared the party faithful for the upcoming election.

Sixth District Congressman Jim Clyburn, the House majority whip, picked up on the theme of the evening: What it means to be a Democrat.

"We are but the sum total of our experiences. ... What it means to be a Democrat is to honor and respect those experiences," he said. "We can respect each other for who and what we are."

Later he added, "People usually think Democrats can't get their act together. They don't realize we're a microcosm of America."

That means taking care not only of the oil companies, but the people who use the oil, he said. When George Bush became president, gasoline was $1.46 a gallon, he said. Now it's $3.22 a gallon.

Last year, Exxon made $40 billion, Clyburn said. "Why is a corporation that made $40 billion last year still getting subsidies when people can't afford gasoline?"

Democrats took some of those oil profits and directed them toward finding alternate energy sources, he said. "We know we are where we are in Iraq today because of oil," and because the two top men in the White House are oilmen.

And while the Republicans controlled Congress, there was no increase in the minimum wage, he said. Then the Democrats took control and "They had the good sense to elect me majority whip and we raised the minimum wage."

Democrats also reduced student loan costs and, over the president's objections, ensured the stimulus package included rebates for those who make too little to pay taxes, those on Social Security and disabled veterans, Clyburn said.

"We would not back down," he said. "You will get your checks because the Democrats made sure you're getting it."

Clyburn expects a second stimulus package will be passed. This one should also include a summer jobs program, he said.

"You want to make sure money gets into the economy soon? You give a 17-year-old check for $500," he said.

And the jobs aren't going to be make-work jobs, he said. Addressing Branchville Mayor Tim Cooner, he said, "Mr. Mayor, we're going to need summer jobs in Branchville this year to clean up after the tornado."

"All of us have something to give. All of us can contribute," he said.

During the convention, Betty Henderson was re-elected chair of the county Democrats. Other officers elected were Danny Covington, first vice chair; Edward Fludd, second vice chair; T. Dionne Ulmer, third vice chair; Yvonne Crum, secretary; Gloria Jenkins, assistant secretary; Gerald Davis, treasurer; and Beatrice Johnson and John Shuler, executive committee members.

T&D City Editor Gene Crider can be reached by e-mail at gcrider@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5570.

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