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
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It's hard to imagine that politics has reached a new low when a County Committee censures a United States Senator for having the temerity to want to do the right thing.
The Republican Party is taking on the appearance of the "Stepford Party".
Right-wing crazies are at it again!
Lindsey's been a bad boy, he didn't follow the party line. Good for you Lindsey, Many Republicans are getting tired of marching in lockstep; especially when it leads over a cliff.
Wow. ONE GOPer who actually wants to help the country bad enough to "go against" the GOP where he feels it is good.
I think the GOP would be a LOT better off finding what they LIKE in the current plans and adding what they feel would be right, than continuing to stamp their feet and scream no, regardless of what it is.
Never thought I'd say this, but Hang in there, Lindsey.
Lindsey Graham is currently one of the few members of the Republican Caucus actually performing his duties as envisioned by the Framers of our Constitution. The Senate was to be the deliberative and compromising body that kept long term focus on the needs of the Nation versus the short term needs of facing re-election every two years as in the House. Lindsey Graham is one of the Senator's showing the wisdom and stature to be a real leader for this Nation. John McCain used to operate in this manner as well, putting the Nation first, above party politics until changing this year to run to the right in his primary contest. The Framers of the Constitution warned against factions working against the compromise necessary to govern the Nation. We are seeing the dangers of right wing and left wing zealots efforts to undermine the functioning of our democracy. Lindsey Graham understands how the Framers intended our democracy to function, some right wing Republicans from South Carolina do not.
Sen. Graham has repeatedly shown himself as someone who can rise above petty party bickering. Even though he has taken stands that are not in lock-step with the rest of his party, he has always had the best interest of the Country in his speech and votes. During Senate hearings he does not waste time by grandstanding about how great the attendee is or how much he agrees or disagrees with something the person may have said 30 years ago. He asks questions based on why the person is there and if he does not like the answer he didn't receive he will keep asking until he comes to the truth. If his own party wants to censure him, he is more than welcome to move up here to CT. He stands head and shoulders above our local crop or Republicans and would be more than welcome! Even this Liberal Democrat would be proud to support him! I can assure you he would be a damn sight better than our do-nothing Governor, Linda McMahon (our presumptive Republican candidate for Senator) or any of the other Greenwich Millionaires club currently running for Governor, Senator or whatever other job they want!
What a nice way to treat your own party members. Senator Graham seems to be one of about 3 Republicans in the Senate that is actually willing to try and work with the Democrats to get some sort of compromise. Without bipartisan dialogue besides "no, I don't like that", Congress can do nothing. Republicans have no leeway to complain about the mismanagement and low approval ratings of Congress because they are the ones throwing a wrench into the gears of our legislature.
Way to stay narrow-minded, GOP...
No difference of opinion is allowed in the GOP. You know that LG.
I love these purity tests. They are awesome for America. They keep the conservative idealogy out of leadership. Keep it up GOP.
Toss out the moderates. They aren't good enough for you.
Let them censure him until hell freezes over. As far as I am concerned after listening to Senator Graham during congressional hearings multiple times, while I dont share his politics at times, he seems to be a reasonable man who is willing to listen to the other side and make a fair judgement on the matter at hand. I am not surprised some Republicans have a problem with this as they have largely collectively decided when it comes to President Barak Obama to be the party of No. I am grateful for reasonable opposition members like Graham, Snow, and there is one other female Republican senator who seems to have a mind of their own and put country above party. So to the Republican party in South Carolina. I have UNCENSORED Senator Graham. So we are even.
This is so sad. What is wrong with these people?
The GOP is not a human element – but rather a machine. I can at least commend this party for its solidarity and if Lindsey Graham is out of step with it, time to move on (either retire or convert to another party).
This so called committee is full of sick, hateful, stupid, ignorant, rednecks with nothing better to do. Let Graham do his job....and a fine job he is doing.
You GO, Senator Graham! I am a Democrat, but I very much respect your independent thinking and voting your conscience. You are one of the last of the Republican cooperatives, which is very sad for your party. Keep up the good work!
Eating their own again? Keep it up folks. The farther right you slide the less likely you are to win elections. Didn't your Mama teach you all things in moderation?
It seems the GOP party has started the party purity cleansing.
This is exactly why the Republicans are going to find themselves left with only the hard core, uncompromising extreme right core base.
And you can't win with that. I was a republican for almost 40 years until all fiscal conservatism was thrown out the window for social conservatism. When the republican party started trying to mandate by law (their belief of) morals instead of leaving it to the family, church and neighborhood and threw fiscal responsibility out the window, I said goodbye.
Now their "fiscally conservative" when it suits them. Republicans need to stop pointing the finger at Dems about spending when they themselves don't pay for their nonsense.
It's time for a 3rd party. A real candidate, not a rebranded republican or dem. And as for what has become of the tea party, it is nothing more than an arm of the republican party.
What a shame, I supported them when Ron Paul first started it. I don't even recognize the movement anymore. Nothing but a three ring circus now.
The GOP is EXACTLY the same as the NAZIS. If they had their way, they would be killing or deporting minorities just like the Nazis did. I hope they all burn in hell, where they belong.
Truly absurd. I thought that the role of the Government was to work together to create a better country, not to try to get in each others way. The Republican Party: dedicated to bringing the nation to a halt, for personal gain and profit.
So sad to see SC Republicans so far to the right they condemn one of the sanest people in their party right now. The Greenville County GOP is representative of the kind of attitude that is driving moderates out of the Republican party.
He's just a democRAT in republican clothing.
good for sen graham-the kooky right wing and the t-baggers are demanding parties adhere to there marching orders. when one strays from their orders they must be censured. if the constitution disagrees with them then the constitution must be changed. if this be the future can an iraqi type government be far behind?
these people need to be stopped. the freedom rights in the united states as we know them and cherish them are in danger. these people clam to be patriotic but their patriotic stand is only to their determination to control the country and the people who live here.
As long as he doesn't have to run for awhile he might just wait out the crazies. The 'tea party' and the extreme right wing are starting to crack around the edges. It's just a matter of time before they burn out or hide for awhile.
Not content with destroying our economy, the Republicans are now eating their own.
Aren't people who DON"T support the president of the United States still considered traitors–as they were in the last administration?
Neo-Con's want a radical Puritan agenda that is completely out of touch with what mainstream America wants. Privatization of Social Security, Medicare, Education, Energy is NOT what America wants. Go ask Sharon Angle or Rand Paul why they have to run from reporters.