Bob Inglis
Encyclopedia
Robert Durden "Bob" Inglis, Sr. (born October 11, 1959) is a former U.S. Representative
for , serving from 1993 to 1999, and then again from 2005 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party
. The district includes much of the Upstate
region, including Greenville
and Spartanburg.
Inglis was defeated in the Republican primary in June 2010.
, and grew up in Bluffton, South Carolina
near Hilton Head Island. He earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University
. He went on to obtain his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law
. Upon his graduation from law school, he worked for a number of years as a lawyer in private practice.
, and has spoken against climate change scepticism, offshore oil drilling and warrantless surveillance since returning to the House. In response, Inglis has pointed to his 93.5% lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union and his endorsements from the National Rifle Association and National Right to Life.
On climate change, Inglis said that conservatives should go with the facts, and the science, and accept the National Academy of Science's conclusion that climate change is caused by human activities and poses significant risks, which 95% of climate scientists agree with. Studies conclude that coal power plants are responsible for 23,600 premature deaths in the U.S. per year, and conservatives should hold them accountable, he said, perhaps with a carbon tax on their emissions.
Inglis is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online poker
. He also has supported actions to aid people in war-torn Darfur. In 2006, he co-sponsored H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act and H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. On December 27, 2008 Inglis published an op-ed in The New York Times
in support of a revenue neutral carbon tax
.
In October 2007, before the South Carolina 2008 Republican presidential primary
, Inglis told presidential candidate Mitt Romney
, a Mormon
, "[Y]ou cannot equate Mormonism with Christianity; you cannot say, 'I am a Christian just like you.'" Inglis stated "If he [Romney] does that, every Baptist preacher in the South is going to have to go to the pulpit on Sunday and explain the differences.”
On September 15, 2009, Inglis was one of seven Republicans
to cross party lines in voting to disapprove fellow South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson
for a lack of decorum during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress
.
Liz J. Patterson
. Although the 4th had been trending Republican for some time, Patterson had deep family ties in the district (she is the daughter of former Senator Olin Johnston), and she had won her first two terms under unfriendly conditions for Democrats.
Proving just how Republican this district had become, Inglis was re-elected in 1994 and 1996 with no substantive opposition, both times winning over 70 percent of the vote.
. One of the more heated and covered moments of the race was when Hollings referred to Inglis as a "goddamn skunk." Inglis gave Hollings his second close race in a row, holding the longtime Senator to only 53 percent of the vote. After losing the race, Inglis returned to work as a lawyer, practicing commercial real estate and corporate law. He was succeeded by Jim DeMint
.
, state Senator David Thomas
, college professor and former Historian of the U.S. House
Christina Jeffrey, and businessman Jim Lee.
Following the June 8, 2010, primary election, Inglis was forced into a June 22 run-off election
with Trey Gowdy, who had received a significantly larger number of votes. Although he had "racked up a reliably conservative record" during his six terms in the house, Inglis had been criticized by his primary opponents for Congressional votes, including his support for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
(which earned him the nickname "Bailout Bob") and his opposition to the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
, and was portrayed as removed from the interests of the district. Inglis had attacked Gowdy's conservativism and questioned his support for creating a costly lake in Union County, South Carolina.
In the runoff, Gowdy defeated Inglis in a massive landslide, receiving 71 percent of the vote to Inglis' 29 percent. Following his defeat in the Republican primary, Inglis criticized the Tea Party movement
, which had supported his opponents' campaign, as well as the Republican Party
for courting the movement, stating, "It's a dangerous strategy, to build conservatism on information and policies that are not credible."
, 1992:
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 1994:
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 1996:
United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1998
– Republican primary:
United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1998:
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2004:
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2006:
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2008 – Republican primary:
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2008:
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2010
– Republican primary:
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2010 – Republican primary runoff:
, north of Greenville. He is a member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Greenville.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving from 1993 to 1999, and then again from 2005 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. The district includes much of the Upstate
The Upstate
The Upstate is the region in northwestern South Carolina, United States, also known as The Upcountry, which is the historical term. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the commerce-rich I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. ...
region, including Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
and Spartanburg.
Inglis was defeated in the Republican primary in June 2010.
Early life, education and career
Inglis was born in Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, and grew up in Bluffton, South Carolina
Bluffton, South Carolina
The weather in the Bluffton, SC area is typical of the Southeast with generally mild temperatures from Fall through Spring and a warm and humid Summer. There can be occasionally snow flurries in the winter but that is quite unusual....
near Hilton Head Island. He earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. He went on to obtain his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
. Upon his graduation from law school, he worked for a number of years as a lawyer in private practice.
Committee assignments
In the 111th Congress:- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment
- Subcommittee on Europe
- Subcommittee on the Middle East and South AsiaUnited States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South AsiaThe U.S. House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia is a subcommittee within the House Foreign Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:The subcommittee is one of five with what the committees calls "regional jurisdiction" over a specific area of the globe...
- Committee on Science and Technology
- Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Ranking Member)
- Science Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
Political positions
Inglis's 2010 Republican primary opponents asserted that his voting record in his second House spell was more moderate than his first. He was one of 17 House Republicans who voted for a Democratic resolution opposing the Iraq War troop surge of 2007Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
, and has spoken against climate change scepticism, offshore oil drilling and warrantless surveillance since returning to the House. In response, Inglis has pointed to his 93.5% lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union and his endorsements from the National Rifle Association and National Right to Life.
On climate change, Inglis said that conservatives should go with the facts, and the science, and accept the National Academy of Science's conclusion that climate change is caused by human activities and poses significant risks, which 95% of climate scientists agree with. Studies conclude that coal power plants are responsible for 23,600 premature deaths in the U.S. per year, and conservatives should hold them accountable, he said, perhaps with a carbon tax on their emissions.
Inglis is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
. He also has supported actions to aid people in war-torn Darfur. In 2006, he co-sponsored H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act and H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. On December 27, 2008 Inglis published an op-ed in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
in support of a revenue neutral carbon tax
Carbon tax
A carbon tax is an environmental tax levied on the carbon content of fuels. It is a form of carbon pricing. Carbon is present in every hydrocarbon fuel and is released as carbon dioxide when they are burnt. In contrast, non-combustion energy sources—wind, sunlight, hydropower, and nuclear—do not...
.
In October 2007, before the South Carolina 2008 Republican presidential primary
Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008
The 2008 Republican presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 U.S. presidential election...
, Inglis told presidential candidate Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
, a Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
, "[Y]ou cannot equate Mormonism with Christianity; you cannot say, 'I am a Christian just like you.'" Inglis stated "If he [Romney] does that, every Baptist preacher in the South is going to have to go to the pulpit on Sunday and explain the differences.”
On September 15, 2009, Inglis was one of seven Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to cross party lines in voting to disapprove fellow South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson
Joe Wilson (U.S. politician)
Addison Graves Wilson, Sr., most commonly known as Joe Wilson , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party...
for a lack of decorum during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress
Joint session of the United States Congress
Joint sessions of the United States Congress are the gatherings together of both houses of the United States Congress...
.
Political campaigns
In 1992, Inglis made his first run for elected office when he won the Republican nomination for the 4th District. In the general election, he defeated three-term incumbent DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Liz J. Patterson
Liz J. Patterson
Elizabeth Johnston "Liz" Patterson is an American politician from the Democratic Party. She is a former member of the United States House of Representatives. Her father, Olin D. Johnston, served as Governor of South Carolina and as U.S. Senator from South Carolina.Patterson grew up in Kensington,...
. Although the 4th had been trending Republican for some time, Patterson had deep family ties in the district (she is the daughter of former Senator Olin Johnston), and she had won her first two terms under unfriendly conditions for Democrats.
Proving just how Republican this district had become, Inglis was re-elected in 1994 and 1996 with no substantive opposition, both times winning over 70 percent of the vote.
1998
Inglis vacated the seat in 1998 to run for the Senate against Democratic incumbent Ernest HollingsErnest Hollings
Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings served as a Democratic United States Senator from South Carolina from 1966 to 2005, as well as the 106th Governor of South Carolina and Lt. Governor . He served 38 years and 55 days in the Senate, which makes him the 8th-longest-serving Senator in history...
. One of the more heated and covered moments of the race was when Hollings referred to Inglis as a "goddamn skunk." Inglis gave Hollings his second close race in a row, holding the longtime Senator to only 53 percent of the vote. After losing the race, Inglis returned to work as a lawyer, practicing commercial real estate and corporate law. He was succeeded by Jim DeMint
Jim DeMint
James Warren "Jim" DeMint is the junior U.S. Senator from South Carolina, serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party and a leader in the Tea Party movement. He previously served as the U.S. Representative for from 1999 to 2005.-Early life and education:DeMint was born in...
.
2004
In 2004, DeMint opted to run for Hollings's now open Senate seat instead of seeking re-election to the House. Inglis chose to take his old House seat back. He easily won a three-way Republican primary with 85 percent of the vote, all but assuring his return to Congress. He was re-elected with little difficulty in 2006 and 2008.2010
Inglis faced four challengers in the Republican primary—the real contest in this heavily Republican district. It was the first time he faced substantive primary opposition as an incumbent. The challengers included 7th Circuit (Spartanburg) Solicitor Trey GowdyTrey Gowdy
Harold Watson "Trey" Gowdy III is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. Before his election to Congress, he was the solicitor for the state's Seventh Judicial Circuit, comprising Spartanburg and Cherokee counties.- Early life :He was born in 1964 in Greenville,...
, state Senator David Thomas
David L. Thomas
David Lloyd Thomas is a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 8th District since 1984. His district includes part of Greenville. He is also a partner at the firm Moore, Taylor & Thomas, P.A...
, college professor and former Historian of the U.S. House
Historian of the United States House of Representatives
The Historian of the United States House of Representatives is an official appointed by the United States House of Representatives to study and document its past....
Christina Jeffrey, and businessman Jim Lee.
Following the June 8, 2010, primary election, Inglis was forced into a June 22 run-off election
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
with Trey Gowdy, who had received a significantly larger number of votes. Although he had "racked up a reliably conservative record" during his six terms in the house, Inglis had been criticized by his primary opponents for Congressional votes, including his support for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of , commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system, is a law enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis...
(which earned him the nickname "Bailout Bob") and his opposition to the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
, and was portrayed as removed from the interests of the district. Inglis had attacked Gowdy's conservativism and questioned his support for creating a costly lake in Union County, South Carolina.
In the runoff, Gowdy defeated Inglis in a massive landslide, receiving 71 percent of the vote to Inglis' 29 percent. Following his defeat in the Republican primary, Inglis criticized the Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
, which had supported his opponents' campaign, as well as the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
for courting the movement, stating, "It's a dangerous strategy, to build conservatism on information and policies that are not credible."
Electoral history
South Carolina's 4th congressional districtSouth Carolina's 4th congressional district
The 4th Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in upstate South Carolina bordering North Carolina. It includes all of Greenville, Spartanburg and Union counties and a part of Laurens county. The district is characterized by the two major cities of Greenville and...
, 1992:
- Bob Inglis, Republican – 99,879 (50.34%)
- Elizabeth J. PattersonLiz J. PattersonElizabeth Johnston "Liz" Patterson is an American politician from the Democratic Party. She is a former member of the United States House of Representatives. Her father, Olin D. Johnston, served as Governor of South Carolina and as U.S. Senator from South Carolina.Patterson grew up in Kensington,...
, Democrat – 94,182 (47.47%) - Jo JorgensenJo JorgensenJo Jorgensen was the United States Libertarian Party candidate for vice-president in the 1996 U.S. presidential election, the running mate of presidential candidate Harry Browne. She was also a South Carolina congressional candidate for House District 4 in 1992 receiving 4,286 votes for 2.2%.She is...
, LibertarianLibertarian Party (United States)The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
– 4,286 (2.16%) - Write-in candidateWrite-in candidateA write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
s – 63 (0.03%)
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 1994:
- Bob Inglis, Republican – 109,626 (73.49%)
- Jerry L. Fowler, Democrat – 39,396 (26.41%)
- Write-in candidates – 154 (0.10%)
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 1996:
- Bob Inglis, Republican – 138,165 (70.93%)
- Darrell E. Curry, Democrat – 54,126 (27.79%)
- C. Faye Walters, Natural Law – 2,501 (1.28%)
United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1998
United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1998
The 1998 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings won re-election.-Candidates:*Stephen Brown, Greenville County GOP Chairman*Bob Inglis, U.S. Congressman from the 4th CD...
– Republican primary:
- Bob Inglis – 115,029 (74.60%)
- Stephen Brown – 33,530 (21.75%)
- Elton Legrand – 5,634 (3.65%)
United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1998:
- Ernest Hollings, Democrat – 563,377 (52.70%)
- Bob Inglis, Republican – 488,238 (45.67%)
- Richard T. Quillian, Libertarian – 16,991 (1.59%)
- Write-in candidates – 457 (0.04%)
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2004:
- Bob Inglis, Republican – 188,795 (69.77%)
- Brandon P. Brown, Democrat – 78,376 (28.96%)
- C. Faye Walters, GreenGreen Party (United States)The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
– 3,273 (1.21%) - Write-in candidates – 150 (0.06%)
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2006:
- Bob Inglis, Republican – 115,553 (64.22%)
- William Griff Griffith, Democrat – 57,490 (31.95%)
- John Cobin, Libertarian – 4,467 (2.48%)
- C. Faye Walters, Green – 2,336 (1.30%)
- Write-in candidates – 85 (0.05%)
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2008 – Republican primary:
- Bob Inglis – 37,571 (66.95%)
- Charles JeterCharles JeterCharles Jeter, is an American politician, and business executive. He is known for having founded Team Racing Auto Circuit . He also is the President of Intermodal FCL, Inc. He is a Republican serving his third term as a Huntersville Town Commissioner and is currently a candidate for Mecklenburg...
– 18,545 (33.05%)
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2008:
- Bob Inglis, Republican – 184,440 (60.09%)
- Paul Corden, Democrat – 113,291 (36.91%)
- C. Faye Walters, Green – 7,332 (2.39%)
- Write-in candidates – 1,865 (0.61%)
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2010
United States House of Representatives elections, 2010
The 2010 United States House of Representatives elections, also known as the 2010 midterm elections, were held on November 2, 2010, at the midpoint of President Barack Obama's first term in office. Voters of the 50 U.S. states chose 435 U.S. Representatives. Voters of the U.S...
– Republican primary:
- Trey GowdyTrey GowdyHarold Watson "Trey" Gowdy III is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. Before his election to Congress, he was the solicitor for the state's Seventh Judicial Circuit, comprising Spartanburg and Cherokee counties.- Early life :He was born in 1964 in Greenville,...
– 34,103 (39.22%) - Bob Inglis – 23,877 (27.46%)
- Jim Lee – 11,854 (13.63%)
- David ThomasDavid L. ThomasDavid Lloyd Thomas is a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 8th District since 1984. His district includes part of Greenville. He is also a partner at the firm Moore, Taylor & Thomas, P.A...
– 11,073 (12.74%) - Christina Jeffrey – 6,041 (6.95%)
South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2010 – Republican primary runoff:
- Trey Gowdy – 54,412 (70.66%)
- Bob Inglis – 22,590 (29.34%)
Personal life
When not in Washington, Inglis resides with his wife Mary Anne and their five children on a small farm near Travelers Rest, South CarolinaTravelers Rest, South Carolina
Travelers Rest is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,099 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area. "TR", as the city is known around the area, is just north of Greenville...
, north of Greenville. He is a member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Greenville.
External links
- Bob Inglis for U.S. Congress official campaign site