The Republican Party of Charleston, South Carolina has voted to censure Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) for working with Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) on cap-and-trade emissions legislation. This is getting a fair amount of play, as the whole notion of purging moderates and bipartisan sympathizers from the GOP is a big deal these days.
But it's a whole range of positions that the Charleston GOP hits Graham for taking: support for TARP and John McCain's comprehensive immigration bill (which failed in the Senate last year, though Graham gave an impassioned speech on its behalf, telling his colleagues, "we're not gonna get it any better than this!") are both thrown in as well.
In fact, Graham "in the name of bipartisanship -- continues to weaken
the Republican brand and tarnish the ideals of freedom, rule of law,
and fiscal conservatism," the Charleston GOP resolution says, also
voicing skepticism of global warming science.
Graham is a political pragmatist. He's not a moderate in the mold of
Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME)--he's more
conservative than they are--but he seems to enjoy bucking the pressure
to conform to conservative norms, sort of in the vein of his close
friend, John McCain. He freely takes jabs at anti-Obama protesters and
some of the purity-driven facets of the conservative movement.
Here's the full resolution, as passed by the Charleston GOP:
Whereas, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (SC) and John Kerry (MA) have called for a bipartisan bill dealing with "climate change" via a "Cap & Trade" energy bill;
Whereas, the basis of Cap & Trade - global warming caused by carbon emissions - is still in doubt as evidenced by the past decade of cooling temperatures;
Whereas, the people of South Carolina can ill afford the job-killing Cap & Trade bill's ripple effects on our state's economy and on personal energy bills;
Whereas, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham supported TARP and has shown a willingness to discuss nationalizing U.S. banking institutions;
Whereas, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has shown a condescending attitude toward his constituents by calling them "bigots" when they oppose his stance on amnesty for illegal aliens;
Whereas, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has stated on many occasions that his primary concern is to "be relevant";
Whereas, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham continues to hold the Republican Party hostage and undermines Republican leadership and party solidarity for his own benefit by joining the "Gang of 10" and the "Gang of 14";
Whereas, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham - in the name of bipartisanship - continues to weaken the Republican brand and tarnish the ideals of freedom, rule of law, and fiscal conservatism.
Therefore, let it be resolved: The Charleston County Republican Party Executive Committee respectfully requests, with sincere sadness that the South Carolina Republican Party withdraw their resolution commending U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and that the Charleston Country Republican Party censure U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham for many of the positions he has taken that do not represent the wishes of the people of South Carolina, such as: passing a "Cap & Trade" energy bill, bailing out banks, and granting amnesty for illegal aliens.
Will it still be called "Scozzafavaed" after they do it to him, or will it be known as "Graham'd"?
The motto of these "conservatives" should be "We'd rather lose an election with someone we agree with 100% than win with one we agree with 80%". Because that's what they're setting themselves up to do.
'Will it still be called "Scozzafavaed" after they do it to him, or will it be known as "Graham'd"? '
Speaking a South Carolinian, I would prefer to look at it as him having been hoisted on his own petard. But, in honor of Mr. Graham, I would also settle for calling it being "crackered." Because that is what it boils down to.
And Dorothy said, "Socialists, terrorists and Obamacare, Oh My! Socialists, terrorists and Obamacare, Oh My! Socialists, terrorists and Obamacare, Oh My........
With Graham, it'll be called being "Crist'ed." Because that's exactly what's happening here. Just wait for the photos of him kissing a black guy next, just as they did to Crist.
Wow! Censure someone that might help your own cause by gaining the trust of the opposition? What's that southern phrase "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar"? To me, it looks like Senator Graham is trying to help his voice be heard by working with the democrats, making sure his input is in the bills, which also ensures that when he has an objection, the dems would listen more closely to it than, say, John Boener.
It's sad when people think a Senator's job is to push party ideology and priorities in absolute terms, rather than seek to be at the table and have as much impact as possible. If he's ousted and replaced with a party hack, South Carolina deserves to gain the irrelevance that person would deliver.
After the (disgraceful) impeachment of President Clinton, I never thought I'd see the day when I actually thought Lindsey Graham was a voice of reason and moderation. But compared to the dysfunctional, politically autistic, suicidal loony-tunes that pass for the mainstream GOP these days, that's exactly what he's become. I'm surprised the Charleston GOP'ers didn't also mention that Senator Graham had the gall to vote "yes" on the Justice Sotomayor confirmation. - you know, the racist New York Latina woman who thinks she's better than white guys? Unfortunately for Senator Graham, if he doesn't toe the line on some of these things, the South Carolina Republican Party may actually be able to find some wingnut on the right to take his spot. At least Olympia Snowe can probably stand up to the goo-goos in Maine and either survive a primary challenge or just go the "Independent" route and get re-elected that way.
I think this is an excellent move in the overall 'we want to be a inconsequential regional party representing one small faction of America and then go the way of the Whigs' strategy.
Now, Obama needs to start producing jobs to help push this strategy along.
Lindsey Graham should have left the GOP with Arlen Spector. He is more of a "blue dog" Democrate than a Republican. I applaud the movement to censure him.
His personal vendetta against Ron Paul has back fired on him. I would choose Ron Paul's conservitisim, over Sen. Graham's vision of the direction the GOP.
Ron Paul makes me proud to proclaim "I'm a Republican". Lindsey Graham, makes me want to disassociate myself from the Republicans. Ron paul is bringing people to the republican party. Lindsey Graham is just another neo con. He thinks signing on with the global warming and amnesty for illegals, will appeal to a broader base of voters. He is wrong, and the Ron Paul wing of the GOP will take his seat in the senate when his term is up.
Ron paul is the leader of the Republican party {or at least he should be} and "Ron Paul Republicans" will not be dismissed and ignored anymore. We will fight to bring respectability and true conservatisim back to the Republican party.
RON PAUL 2012 !!!!!