Another censure resolution for Lindsey Graham
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
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I find it troubling and very sad that our elected officials are not allowed to vote their conscience. The voters are going to have to vote these people out of office and pwer who keep trying to keep loyalty to the parties instead of the voters. The Independents and the Moderates from both parties MUST TAKE A STAND! I don't always agree with Lindsey Graham, but I do respect him. The Republican Party is being dominated by some very radical people.
"Damn it to hell! There will be no moving the country forward as long as a Democrat is in charge." Sincerely, The South Carolina Republican Party
There goes the GOP again, eating one of their own. I wish more politicians, both Democrat and Republican, like Senator Graham would vote for issues on their beliefs and not on party lines. Keep it up Senator Graham!!!
Mr. Graham,
Stay out from those Idiots and do what is write for the American
people for their needs , get out from the party of "NO" and run as an Indipendent.......................Keep it up and support Mr. President
The GOP is a sorry, sorry, sorry political party.
Don't fly of the handle about the GOP and Senator Graham liberals! You Dems treat Senator Ben Nelson in the VERY same way! I read chants of traitor from both sides when these Senators think and vote independently of their parties! The expectation for party purity exists in BOTH parties! You're in dreamland if you think otherwise!
A politician who doesn't walk lock-step with the right or the left! What a concept! Being censured by the South Carolina Republican party, sounds like a good thing to me Lindsay! You must be doing something right...er or left?
I like the Senator. Just because he's not in lock step with the GOP doesn't mean he's not a good conservative Republican senator. He puts country and people first as everyone in Washington should.
The Republican party of 2010: intolerant, censorious and fanatical. Even a conservative like Graham is not ideologically pure enough enough simply because he supported the president a few times.
It's time to acknowledge that today's Republicans have no business being anywhere near the seats of power. They are a danger to democracy.
Can't we put the Republican Party in a "Timeout" until they learn to play nice?
The Republican Party has abandoned Lindsey Graham, not the other way around. He is one of the few Moderates left in the Senate.
Wait wait, so this is a guy who is elected to his office and isn't playing party lines?
Man, I thought all republicans were useless: If this guy hasn't actually done anything wrong other than show support for the Executive Branch than He is the best Politician ever.
So this is how the "BIG TENT" works? People cant have mind of their own?
Sounds like the censure is actually a Badge of Honor for Graham, one of precious few Repugnant senators who is making an effort to do right by the country, rather than to blindly follow the party's obstructionist line.
What makes the Badge of Honor of even more significance is that it comes from South Carolina, the heart of anti-American Repugnant hypocrisy.
Apparently the GOP has forgotten that they represent CONSTITUENTS. Not the Party.
At least there's one Gop'er Senator that's willing to open his mind to helping the people. Those darn republicans are the dumbest people I've ever seen. If they're not going to be a part of the solution, they need to take a back seat, and let progress move forward.
Soooo, Senator Graham is being censured for cooperating with the sitting president for helping to move this country forward? He is being censured for actually earning his paycheck by working? Okayyyyy. Thank you Sen. Graham for NOT being one of the Rethugs, but being a working politician. This man along with all other Republicans who are trying to move this country forward deserve to be reelected. Why? Because the are actually living the Rethug campaign slogan "Country First".
Out of all the crazy, xenophobic, racist, right wing Republicans I do respect Graham. At least he has brain, and will not let GOP tell him what to do. I respect people like that. Republican party became a bunch of anti-Obama, anti-progress, anti-American party. American people want dialog, not "NO" vote to every single reform. No one respects the NO-party anymore. Shame on Republicans for going after this reasonable man, that they should be proud of.
Good for you Senator Graham! More elected officials should vote according to what they feel is the right thing rather than how the party would like them to vote. Kudos!
Are the Republicans ever going to represent the American people or is this still a game.
So what are they saying, if you're a republican, you MUST vote with them or you're going to be censored??? Is this the type of government that american's want or need? I guess they're trying to tell Senator Graham that if he doesn't vote according to them, they'll just write a resolution dispelling him from the Republican party. These are some selfish people.
My suggestion for Sen. Lindsey Graham is to resign from the Republican Party and then become either Democrat or Independent. He should state publically and honestly his reasons for doing so. It is not the Republican Party that I have problems with, it is what they have become; ultra-right-wing-neo-conservatives who are hell bent on taking over Congress AND the Executive Branch of the United States of America. All I can say, is heaven help us all if they succeed in their great crusade. Other reasonable moderate Republicans should resign from the Republican Party as well thus becoming Democrats or Independant. The GOP-Tea Party said they wanted to 'purge' the not conservative enough Republicans. Do it for the good of your country and do it now.
So, apparently Graham is doing something right (along with Charlie Crist)?
When is the GOP going to realize that this redneck, pie in the sky libertarian, wacko tea party movement is pushing them into the minority fringes of politics?? I'm not sure this is more David Duke's GOP and less Ronald Reagan's.
a South Carolina GOP county party committee...........Sen.Graham, to hell with the conservatards,vote for what is right for WE, THE PEOPLE.
What do you expect from South Carolina?
If we are to solve any of our national problems, somebody's got to start working with somebody!