Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Poll: 67% Of South Carolina Voters Believe "Only People Are People"
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jan 10, 2012
Modified Jan 10, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jan 10, 2012
Modified Jan 10, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last month, Stephen Colbert's Super PAC, Americans for A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, attempted to sponsor South Carolina's GOP primary with a $500,000 donation. "Of course, I can’t offer that kind of no-strings-attached-money without getting something in return," Colbert wrote in an op/ed for The State, and in exchange for the money, he asked that his name be placed on the ballot and the primary itself, and that voters also be asked about corporate personhood. Alas, the state's GOP declined to take the bait, but PPP polled voters anyway: 33% of likely voters think that "corporations are people," while 67% believe "only people are people." Look for Jim DeMint to be unseated by Senator Bojangles in 2016.
This question of corporate personhood was settled once and for all [pdf] by The Supreme Court of Anthony Kennedy the United States, but it was Mitt Romney reminding a few protesters this summer that fanned the flames of this total non-issue.
According to the PPP Colbert would finish fourth in the primary with 5% of the vote, beating Jon Huntsman. Sure, the state has an open primary that allows Democrats to vote, but lets see Huntsman's daughters tweet their Dad out of this one.
As New Hampshire's primary voters gear up for today's contest, Romney, who is maintaining a commanding lead in the polls, is being criticized for telling a group yesterday, "I like being able to fire people who provide services to me" while making a point about his beliefs on health insurance. He utters the line at the 1:30 mark.
It's unclear why the CPU in Romney's skull chose this particular choice of words, particularly with his esteemed record of profiting off the still-warm corpses of corporations. But hey, he helped...uh...Staples! Who doesn't like Staples?
Tagged
2012 election
citizens united
corporations are people
mitt romney
money equals speech
stephen colbert
super pacs
supreme court
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 1:16 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 2:04 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .