Senator Graham alienates members
By lilwonders
@lilwonders456 (8214)
United States
May 26, 2009 9:29am CST
At the south carolina state GOP convention Senator Graham ticked off a lot of people. In his speech he verbally bashed Gov Sanford. Calling him a Libertian (like it was a bad word and an insult). He said "Ron Paul does not run or speak for this party". He basically said that any libertian or constitutional leaning memebers of the republican party need to leave. Including the general members not just hte elected ones. He said I am not a libertian and I an not a constitutionalist. I am a republican. Meaning if you want to be in the party you have to be like him. When one person objected to what he had to say he told him "I'm a winner (meaning he won his election) and there is the exit". Talk about an arrogent jerk. He basically spent his speech belittling anyone who was not exactly like him.
Needless to say it caused a big old stir among the audience. Whoever said state conventions are boring were wrong. THe state head of the party is now in the position of what to do about it. Her platform is the "big tent" theory. Where all conservatives are welcome no matter their leaning. In fact she gave a speech to that effect earlier in the event before Senator Graham came up to give his speech.
I think Graham has put a nail in his coffin. He may have won his last election. I do not see a lot of republicans in south carolina supporting him in his next one.
It is on youtube if you want to see it.
What do you think about Graham's comments? What should be done about him? How should the State GOP respond to his comments?
2 people like this
3 responses
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
26 May 09
My former Governor, Mike Huckabee during the Presidential campaign call the Club for Growth the Club for Greed. What is the Club for Growth's crime, they support free market solution.
For what ever reason libertarianism is not allowed in the Republican party. If the GOP does not want me in their party then fine. I think all those that Republicans that consider themselves libertarian leaning should bolt the party.
As to Sen. Graham was he ever a Republican. Excluding what he think, does anyone in South Carolina really think that he champions their values and beliefs? Sen. Graham's comments remind me of those old Whig party members before 1856 when a new party called the Republican party killed them. Those Whig candidates keep saying that the Whig party did not need all of those abolitionist running the party. The abolitionist bolted the party and formed their own party and the rest is history.
The State GOP response should be that Sen. Graham's view are of his own and does not express the views of the South Carolina GOP. I would even like to hear from Gov. Sanford firing back.
1 person likes this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
26 May 09
Gov. Sanford did fire back. That is what made the convention so interesting. There were pretty well tearing into each other. You would have thought the convention would have been about bring all conservatives together. ANd that is what Sanford said. But Graham came out all arrogent and stupid. Basically saying it's my way or the highway. I personally would like to see him take the highway. He is a RINO.
He is mad at Sanford for rejecting the bailout money and a few other things. Sanford actually believes in fiscal responsibility. Graham would not know what the word meant if it reached up and bit him on the butt. I hope the party runs someone against him the next election. Graham needs to go.
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
27 May 09
This moron could create a big mess. I still call myself a republican for now, but libertarians and constitutionalists to me are largely what the Republican party was "supposed" to be aside from clear differences such as foreign policy. The republicans in congress have largely become "democrat lite". What republicans need to do is embrace and work with libertarians, constitutionalists, and people like Ron Paul who share many of the same values to get the party back on track.
Graham's a moron and fortunately, doesn't speak for the party. The bigger problem is that democrats could jump on this and call him the leader of the republican party the way they did Limbaugh and Cheney.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
27 May 09
You are so right. And for the most part the rest of the state's party is taking the approach of the "big tent". But Graham is a Rino. He feels threatened by the increased numbers of ron paul supporters and people with more libertarain and constitutional leanings joining lately. The party is changing here. And it is not changing how Graham wants. I hope to goodness that he does not get the suppport of the party in the next election. He needs to go. He is what is wrong with the republican party.
