Another censure resolution for Lindsey Graham
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/08/03/art.graham.0720e.gi.jpg caption =" Sen. Lindsey Graham was censured by yet another GOP state county party Monday night."]Washington (CNN) – Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who often finds himself out of step with the most conservative elements of his party, was censured by yet another GOP county party committee Monday night.
In recent months, Graham has been censured by GOP party committees in Lexington and Charleston counties. On Monday, the Greenville GOP Executive Committee passed a censure resolution by a vote of 61-2.
"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Greenville County Republican Party hereby issues this formal rebuke of Senator Graham for his cooperation and support of President Obama and the Democratic Party's liberal agenda for the United States," the resolution reads.
The resolution says Graham will no longer be invited to participate in meetings or other events sponsored by the Greenville County Republican Party, and alleges Graham has "abandoned the Republican platform."
As evidence, the resolution cites Graham's votes in favor of TARP, his stance on immigration and his vote in favor of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Graham has said he will also vote for Elena Kagan, President Obama's second nominee to the high court.
"While some of our friends in Greenville may not want to meet with Senator Graham, his door will always be open to them. Senator Graham respects those who disagree with him, but he strongly believes we need to keep an open dialogue," Graham spokesman Kevin Bishop said Tuesday in a statement to CNN.
Bishop went on to note that two of the Greenville County GOP's policy complaints were supported by former President George W. Bush, and that the same party committee censured Graham in 2007.
"In this last session of Congress, Senator Graham has voted with the Republican leadership over 92 percent of the time. And according to the American Conservative Union, he has a 90 percent lifetime conservative voting record. As to his votes on TARP and his support for immigration reform, on both issues he was following the leadership of our Republican President George W. Bush," Bishop said.
In January, the Lexington County Republican Party's censured Graham for supporting the 2008 financial bailout and working towards a compromise on cap-and-trade legislation.
At the time, Graham defended his conservative credentials.
"I have tried my best to be a conservative that can grow and build this party," Graham said, according to The State newspaper. "They have no desire to do that – I do."
- CNN's Peter Hamby contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
- How Xi and Putin's new friendship could test the US
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Your Trump questions answered. Yes, he can still run for president if indicted
- Michigan GOP faces backlash for tweet tying gun reform to Holocaust
- Trump attorney to testify Friday in Mar-a-Lago classified documents investigation after losing appeal
- NY hush money grand jury will reconvene Thursday
So, the republicans think it is necessary to vote the party line or else?
What a suprise–didn't the Nazi party do the same thing to its members–do NOT think for yourself that is what the party will do for you!
The Democrats don't want him either!
The GOBP really knows how to alienate their people. Just because Sen. Graham is not a neo-con right wing lunatic, they want him out of the party. There will be no room for negotiation if the republicans kick all of their moderates out.
True Republicans.... Censure a man who is working for all of the country, and not just a lockstep senseless minority.
graham needs to go because he is really a liberal rino like spectre.
Graham has "abandoned the Republican platform."
So, to all you klansmen down there in Krackerville, SC he should be bull whipped – if not lynched – for supporting a black POTUS too.
Only a backwoods "good conservative christian" re-thug-lie-cant could think like that....
So the Republican Party whines about there being no bipartisanship yet when someone acts bipartisan they censure them?
A Republican who supports Obama? That is most certainly heresy.
"abandoned the Republican platform."
So if Republicans don't walk in lock step with their party at all times they're no longer welcome. Their message is one of absolute loyalty to the party line and compromise is not an option. This will continue to push any moderates out of the party. I don't see how this will attract the independent voters. This trend will be the demise of the GOP.
You're in good company Lindsey, the mob crucified Jesus because they didn't want to hear THE TRUTH directly from Yahweh.
Let me get this straight. If a republican supports anything the President of the United States does they're considered traitors by the Republican party? And these people call themselves patriots.
and I am sure these morons complain when the left are not working in bipartisan fashion (i.e. agree to everything we do and abandon all of your beliefs). The day the left and democrats just marginalize these losers for what they are will be the day the left can actually get something done and do good for our country.
Typical Republican Party, If you don't follow lockstep with the party platform, you are not a good American. That's why their tent is so small. Unlike Democrats who have a wide open tent and allow both conservatives, liberals and moderates to represent us. Shame on the county Republican committee. This is America, not Russia.
GOP has fallen OFF THE CLIFT!
Abandoned what Republican Platform - the one that was in effect from 1994 thru 2006 that ran up huge debts, created the largest government agency in history (Homeland Security), devised the Patriot Act that has defeated many of our fundamental freedoms, set up tax cuts for hte wealthiest 1% of Americans that cost the country $2.3 Trillion, did nothing about immigration, enacted UNFUNDED Medicare Prescription Drug bill that cost taxpayers another $1.2 billion in debt .... the list goes on - you mean that Republican Platform he is bucking against? Good for him.
And this is democracy? It is a right down shame you get censored if you don't talk, walk, and think like someone else even if most of your views are similar. Lindsay Graham should tell them where they can stick their resolution. This is further proof that you must be a devote follower of the republicans or else you will be punished. When is someone going to truly stand up to these nut cases and take back your democracy? What is hilarious is that republicans try and paint President Obama as Hitler or a control freak and he is absolutely nothing like the republican party nuts. These people would kill if they were told to do so by the republican party, God have mercy on these fools!
Wow,at least he is a man of courage and conviction,unlike the rest of the chicken littles in his party.How dare he not goosestep with the gestaupo in his party of teabag fools?
Got to love it as the Repubs eat their own.
Graham is a good legislator, and I'm a moderate Democrat, and these guys should leave him alone and get over their SORE LOSERISM! Get beyond the partisanship, as Graham has, and focus on the REAL ills of our country.
Sad. Although Graham is supportive of a vast majority of his party's most irrational anti-Obama positions, he is censored for debating and listening. The personality quality we should demand of all our elected officials, reasonableness, is itself a disqualification in South Carolina's Republican party.
The Republican party is really the gift that keeps on giving. They cry about partisanship in DC, but then centure a member of their party when they work with the Dems. What an inept group of people.
Lindsey is just fabulous!
Ah, that both sides of the aisle had this man's integrity...
Wow. Censure Graham because he voted for TARP? I know the news travels slow in SC, but TARP was Bush's baby (although the Dems did change it to provide some accountability).
I guess we should be happy that Greenville is being honest. There is no interest in doing anything for the country, only opposing everything and everybody that Obama supports.
Rebuke for Graham because of his support for the President Obama and the Democratic agenda. They cite one issue vote (supporting Bush), and two SCOTUS nominees who just aren't controversial, no matter how hard the republicans try.
Unless the voters reject this republicans versus the country, we're in for much more of a bad ride.
Would you let this man legislate, please........ In case you have not notice, this country is in serious trouble. We need responsible leaders from the right and the left to get this country together again. Tea Party nuts need not to apply.