William Timmons & Joe Wilson – The Silent Enablers
Part 1 of 3
My Dearest Defenders,
Welcome back! I hope your weekend offered you some measure of peace amidst the ever-growing storm. Friday brought with it another blow to our democracy and the rule of law, a grim reminder that vigilance is not optional. And Sunday, for many, was a day of celebration for mothers and motherhood—but I want to also acknowledge those for whom this holiday is painful or complicated. I see you, I cherish you, and if no one else has told you today: you are important.
As promised, today we begin our three-part series: The Palmetto Problem. Here, we examine what we at Lady LiberTea call South Carolina’s Top 5 Least Wanted. These are individuals who have weaponized power not in the service of the people, but for self-preservation, political posturing, and silent complicity. What earned #5 and #4 their placement isn’t the noise they make—it’s the void they leave.
#5 Joe Wilson: The Perpetual Backbencher
Joe Wilson, who has represented South Carolina's 2nd District since 2001, is best known for a single moment: shouting "You lie!" at President Obama in 2009. A decade later, that remains the defining headline of his political career. For a man with over 20 years in Congress, the absence of legislative achievement is staggering.
Wilson has shown no initiative in proposing meaningful legislation, instead perfecting the art of political bob-and-weave while rubber-stamping party-line votes. His most recent affront? Silent support of a House budget resolution that could slash $880 billion from Medicaid over the next decade—a move with devastating consequences for South Carolina's most vulnerable.
Take a glance at his website. It resembles a booking agent's portal more than a congressional resource, complete with links to schedule speaking engagements or attend his upcoming "events." Nowhere does it list healthcare as a policy priority—not even a passing mention. This, despite the fact that he and our #4 entry represent the largest population of Medicare-eligible constituents in the state.
Even more galling: Wilson touts his support for veterans, with 350,000 of them living in South Carolina. Yet he has said nothing about proposed cuts to the Veterans Affairs budget, which will directly impact healthcare and benefits for hundreds of thousands. As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, his silence isn’t just negligence—it's betrayal. Instead, he continues accepting sizable campaign donations from defense contractors. As long as the Pentagon keeps raking in dollars, Wilson appears content to ignore the very veterans whose service built his career.
#4 William Timmons: The Invisible Man of the Upstate
If Wilson is a ghost, Timmons is a shadow. Never seen, never felt, and gone with any dimming of the light.
Representing the 4th District, William Timmons built his campaign on promises of reform. But once in Washington, he quickly aligned himself with party leadership, offering constituents nothing but silent compliance. His failure to speak up has become a pattern of behavior.
His website proudly highlights his voting record—so we took a look. What we found was a consistent pattern of voting in favor of party directives, including support for the budget resolution that opens the door to $880 billion in Medicaid cuts. Given Medicaid's significant share under the Energy and Commerce Committee's purview, the damage to his constituents will be real and immediate.
As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Timmons also backed legislation that removes limits on predatory bank and credit card fees. At a time when South Carolinians are struggling, he chose Wall Street over Main Street. And when it comes to defending democracy? Silence. Not a peep of concern over executive overreach by the former President—or what this author would more accurately describe as tyrannical, illegal acts.
His praise for the military and veterans rings hollow when you realize he has done nothing to fight VA cuts. He represents both Spartanburg and Greenville, home to 14 accredited colleges and universities, and yet he’s done nothing meaningful in support of education. No pushback, no initiatives, no leadership.
Timmons, who proudly claims to be both a JAG officer and a small business owner, voted against legislation that would have eased tariffs on international goods—a direct blow to the business owners he claims to represent. His public approval of Pete Hegseth’s mishandling of classified information should offend any military officer. As a JAG, he knows better. His silence when fellow JAGs were fired speaks volumes. He didn't defend them, because defending them would have required integrity.
Timmons ran on reform. Instead, he sold us silence. And that silence has become complicity.
Conclusion: Silence Is a Choice
Not all betrayals come from dramatic speeches or inflammatory tweets. Sometimes, the deepest damage is done through calculated silence.
William Timmons and Joe Wilson are not bomb-throwers or headline-grabbers. But make no mistake: their quiet consent enables every assault on your healthcare, your rights, and your future. Their silence is not neutrality. It is approval. And it is damning.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said:
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
I think it is high time we look at the silence of our elected officials. Back Bench Joe and Invisible Timmons would have you believe that they are friends, representing you in Washington. A friend, a real friend, is someone who speaks on your behalf, even when it is not comfortable or convenient. In their silence they show us who they are, and make it clear, they are not our friends.
Shortly, the legislative session will be ending and they will be back here in their districts evading voters as best they can. Make sure you are letting them know just how much their silence bothers you, and that it has cost them your vote. Make your voice heard. Use the 5 Calls app to contact your representatives directly (especially if you are represented by one of SC’s Least Wanted). Demand answers. Demand action. Demand better.
Until our next bold move,
— Lady LiberTea
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Because silence isn’t just complicity—it’s a betrayal.
Truth with bite. Tea with backbone.
— Lady LiberTea