Lindsey Graham gets combative over GOP future
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/12/art.graham.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Lindsey Graham spoke at the South Carolina Republican convention on Saturday."](CNN) - A combative Lindsey Graham got into a sharp back-and-forth with some audience members at the South Carolina GOP convention on Saturday as he made the case for an open-tent Republican party.
According to The State newspaper and video posted on YouTube, the South Carolina senator told the convention he wants to build a party that can compete in Pennsylvania and Connecticut as well as in his home state.
“You’re a hypocrite!,” one man in the audience yelled.
“I’m a winner, pal,” Graham retorted. Moments later, after saying he wants to the party to reach out to independent voters, he said: “Winning matters to me. If it doesn’t matter to you, there’s the exit sign.”
The crowd in Columbia also featured some Ron Paul supporters who offered several libertarian resolutions during the convention that were rejected by the state party.
During his speech, Graham told the audience, "Ron Paul is not the leader of this party." That remark drew a few jeers, with several people yelling, "Yes he is!"
“I’m not going to give this party over to people who can’t win,” Graham responded.
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Has Senator Graham forgotten his constant sidekick during the election. His memory seems to be slipping like McCain's!!
The Democrats seem to be winners. Time to change sides Lindsey!
It's not so much what he said, it's that he had to say it at all. And it's not so much his message as how it was received – badly, and in friendly territoy to boot.
TO American Libertarian, similarly, no one is afraid of Fox News as journalism, we are many of us terrified, however, of its unapologetic bias in its efforts to BE the news, rather than REPORT it. They are like The Daily Show with John Stewart except they don't acknowledge they are fake news and they aren't intentionally funny. That. my friend, is indeed frightening to those of raised on uncle Walter (Cronkite) who remember how it is supposed to be.
I don't like Sen. Graham, like several others in his party, he thinks if you disagree with him youare wrong. The base of the republican party can not carry them back to the White House. I agree with James Carville, who said, "The party could be out of power for the next forty years". I think the party was damaged during the Bush Administration and people will change as they fill necessary.
Look I agree with Senator Graham:. However, the GOP cannot get on their own members in Congress if they oppose the party line in some votes. Look ar the Northeast not one Republican in the group.
Graham is just another RINO.
I am a Democrat, but you have to admire this guy for trying to expand the Republican Party. So long as it is the party of the narrow and the extreme, it will fail.
These Republicans are a very entertaining group...LOL
Lindsey Graham is a hypocrite who (1) says he wants a big tent party, and (2) wants to exclude Ron Paul supporters from the GOP. Yes, those Ron Paul supporters who have the "radical" belief that a government under the Constitution, i.e. a smaller government, where the federal government doesn't do everything, government debt is reduced, and state governments have more autonomy. The same radical beliefs of Jefferson that founded our country.
to Trang:
Steve in Charleston is right: The current "Republican" party are not really Republicans.
Nowdays they have pretty much the same economic policies and military policies as the Democraps. They talk about limited government, but they're just as bad as the Dems.
Ron Paul is the true conservative and should be the leader of the GOP.
to Lindsey Graham:
You are not in the position to "give" the party to anyone. The American people are waking up. They are seeing that you and your ilk are squandering our liberties with no regard for the Constitution. Get ready to say goodbye in 2010.
Ron Paul is the most Sane of the Insane GOP.
“I’m a winner, pal,” Graham retorted. Moments later, after saying he wants to the party to reach out to independent voters, he said: “Winning matters to me. If it doesn’t matter to you, there’s the exit sign.”
Winning that political power is all that matters in the GOP. Win at all costs even if America fails.
Where does Graham and Boehner get their plastic hair? They must shop at the same plastic hair store. Yick.
Steven in Charleston – Well Said.
Lindsay Graham is an effeminate ninny.
Have you noticed? The Repubicans can't seem to even agree with each other. The GOP is circling the drain.
The GOP will start to heal when these clowns are voted out of office!
You can pull the handled now...it's time to flush the GOP!
It's funny that Graham can't find time to reconcile and work together with democrats OR republicans for that matter.
His distaste for cooperation between American's is going to usher the downfall of the Republican party and the conservative movement.
How about not giving the party over to IDEAS that can't win? The philosophy of neoconservatism can't win.
The only reason he would be saying over and over, Ron Paul is not the "leader" is because Ron IS leading the way for Individual Liberty, Personal Responsibility and Constitutionally Limited government, unlike all these republicrat goofballs doing the oppisite of what they say every time. The Paul's on the other hand are consistent and practice what they preach. The repubs are dying and the Paul's are thriving! I will keep supporting them and the future of the party is Randall "Rand" Paul starting with Kentucky! R3volution!
Thats right Lindsey I want you to close your eyes and click you heels together and repeat threes times"Ron Paul is not the leader of the Republican party'.Maybe if you wish hard enoiugh it might come true-not'