In less than a month (10 June, 2008) South Carolinians have a chance to reject a sitting Senator. The notable ally of Kennedy and McCain has shown that he is the opposite of the majority in the navel of Southern Conservatism. The history of the Palmetto State has to be the most colourful among the several States. South Carolina has never been without its internal problems, but neither has it ever been considered a friend of Washington.
It’s senior Senator, Lindsey Graham, has shown himself to be just that: a friend of the Washington establishment. Quin Hillyer of the American Spectator calls him The Worst Republican Senator:
South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham is a flop. He pretends to be a conservative, but sells out conservatives and insults them while doing so. . . .
He praises liberals, but reserves particular venom for conservatives who disagree with him. The most infamous example came at a speech to the utterly radical Hispanic group La Raza — it was bad enough that he spoke to them, much less what he said — when he described what he would do to opponents of the awful immigration proposal he helped Ted Kennedy craft: “We’re going to tell the bigots to shut up.” The idea that only a bigot could oppose the Kennedy amnesty plan was a recurring theme with Graham: On This Week, he told George Stephanopoulos that opponents were like those in earlier years who put up signs that said “No Catholics, no Jews, no Irish need apply.”
Not only are his statements erroneous, but they are downright insulting. He’s even lied saying that ‘when South Carolinians are fairly informed about the immigration reform proposal, there is majority support for it,’ [source] also implying that South Carolinians are ignorant and need his explanations.
SOUTH CAROLINA
A Rasmussen Report poll conducted of 724 likely Republican voters in South Carolina on December 16th found:
- 24% (a plurality) rank immigration as the most important issue in determining their vote in the presidential election.
A Rasmussen Report poll conducted 702 Likely Republican Voters in South Carolina on November 20th found:
A Rasmussen Report poll conducted 404 Likely Democratic Voters in South Carolina on November 20th found:
Continuing in that spirit, he has insulted Southern people by implying that the Southron dialect and accent is not correct English. I would advise the Senator to recant the insult and thoroughly examine linguistic developments in America. Would he insult the Gullah culture of the Low Country as well?
McCain’s ‘Mini Me’ is one of the foremost proponents of the anti-First Amendment McCain/Feingold legislation which takes from the financial freedom of private citizens and/or candidates. Mr Graham has said that ‘money is not speech.’ He is incorrect. Ask any TV executive. Broadcasting (a form of speech) IS money. Free-flow of money and speech go hand in hand.
Graham has proven to represent the Washington establishment to the People of South Carolina, but has failed to adequately represent the People of South Carolina in Washington.
We need other options.
Filed under: Palmetto State, Politics (General) | Tagged: Election, Immigration, Politics, Senate, South Carolina
Thanks for the link. I fear Graham’s reelection is a done deal. The voters are just to apathetic to pay much attention. Graham has betrayed this state and this country numerous times but he’ll almost certainly be reelected. I’ll vote for Buddy Witherspoon in June but should Graham win the nomination I’ll vote for a Democrat before voting for him. There is zero chance I’ll every vote for Graham again. The same goes for McCain!
I’ll be voting for Buddy as well. He has the reputation of a formidable character.
I agree that the apathetic voter is one symptom of the problem. The other is what I can only refer to as voter amnesia. They quickly forget the times when thousands of letters were sent and phone calls were made to Mr Graham’s office regarding his ‘gang of 14′ and the ‘incomprehensible immigration deformed’ legislation dubbed by many, ‘Grahamnesty’.
There are others running for his office as well. Remember, if he doesn’t get more than 50% of the vote, there will be a run-off between the top two. Also, assuming that his supporters are the same as McCain’s, then that’s only 33% of Republican voters. In spite of my optimism, it is extraordinarily difficult to unseat a Senator. He did replace Strom Thurmond.