The Real Mark McBride

[BOB BAXBY]

Well, I guess it's time for me to post a blog on here. What better to talk about then the man this whole web site is about...Senator Mark McBride? Well maybe we ought to slow down a bit. He wont be Senator till we send Lindsey packing (no pun intended Lindsey) for home in November.

I have known Mark longer than anyone in here including his lovely wife and my good friend Laura. I can truly say that I know of no other man with as strong of a moral conviction or a general knack to just do the right thing. No mater what the case is. When we were growing up and I am ashamed to even admit this, but as all kids do on occasion the Devil would get into me and would want me to stray from the straight and narrow righteous path. Nothing serious. I too am a pretty good person myself. But there Mark was to say; "now Bobby that’s not the right thing to do and you know that." Like any good friend I would say, “you are such a goody two shoes, I am not sure why we even get along so good." Between the, "was that a nice thing to say? And would you want someone to do that to you?" It wasn't long till I realized that even though he was pretty much a dweeb, he was a really good person and I would do well to follow his lead a little.

As we became closer friends, working together at The Gulleyfield Restaurant. I being a football player at Myrtle Beach High School, thought maybe as I went to the gym I just maybe could put some muscle on that 6' something boney, lanky basketball playing body of his. Well, I found out it would be easier to solve world peace, but he put a lot of effort into it, so I didn’t give up on him. I think I maybe added about 10 lbs to him and he was so proud.

I came to be very close to his family for not only because of Mark, but for other reasons we won’t talk about in here. Mark became more like a brother. And his Mom and Dad, rest their souls became like my own parents. I learned a great deal about a lot of things from Mark and his family. I was there when we lost his mother and holding his dads hand when they both lost their battle with cancer. I lost good friends and family on those days.

When Mark was the Mayor of Myrtle Beach, I often told him as he would battle the City Council, The Gay Rights groups, Boroughs and Chapin and even The NAACP. Mark some times you have to bend a little bit to keep the peace. He would look me in the eyes and say this isn't in the Cities best interest and I don’t care who likes it or doesn't like it. He does everything in his life with the same attitude and I have no doubt that he would represent the great State of South Carolina with the same vigor and valor.

Mark is a great Husband, a loving father and my best friend. I would stand behind him in any endeavor he decides to go into. He has three wonderful children whom I love as if they were my own and they are great little people, all to the fact that they were raised by two very special people.

Mark and Laura have been through some very difficult times in the past few years and it took a lot of prayer and consideration for them to run this campaign. Mark came to me one day not too long ago and told me, “I think this is what God wants me to do” and far be it from me to interfere with anything my Lord and Savior should want anyone to do, I said I will be on board with you as far as this thing takes us.

So to put an end to this before it becomes the “Yellow pages” I will just say,” trust me when I say that Mark McBride Is the best thing that can happen to South Carolina.” And I am sorry for Lindsey Graham. There is a new sheriff in town and his name is MARK McBRIDE!!!!!

[Sabot]

Bob, a great post. I certainly have not known Mark McBride for near as long as you, but I too have seen the Mayor in action.

Much like the former Republican Presidential candidate, Mark will always be the Mayor, to me.

Great post, and thanks for sharing that.

[Laura McBride]

Man, you are awesome and from me, Mark, Struthers, Mills and O'Neil...THANK YOU. Thank you for your friendship, brotherhood, loyalty, common bond through our Lord Jesus Christ, and many, many other things too lengthy to list here. LOVE YOU BOB!