Senator Lindsey Graham, along with Senator John McCain, have angered many conservatives of late with their tag-team criticism of Rand Paul’s now highly regarded filibuster efforts, and their repeated reach-out campaign to the Obama administration. Senator Graham is now facing the very real prospect of dealing with a challenge to his nearly 20-year reign in the U.S. Senate…
(Senator Lindsey Graham and other moderate-liberal Big Government Republicans are facing increasing dissatisfaction from within the Republican Party)
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EXCERPT (gaypatriot.net)
It is with mixed feelings that I announce my resignation this morning from the gay conservative group GOProud that I helped found in 2009. I was recently elected Vice Chairman of the organization in order to concentrate on expanding GOProud’s chapters and grassroots strength nationwide.
Last week, speculation grew in South Carolina and on social media outlets about my interest in challenging incumbent US Senator Lindsey Graham who has been in Congress for 18 years.
In the spirit of transparency and honesty, I informed my fellow GOProud board members that I could not dedicate the time to the organization while I seriously considered the effort it will take to challenge Senator Graham in the 2014 Primary.
…If I believe I could provide a serious alternative to Senator Graham for the voters of South Carolina, and I can find the financial and moral support to join me in that effort, then I will take those next formal steps needed to do so. LINK
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The above letter comes from powerful South Carolina political activist Bruce Carroll, founder of that state’s GOProud organization – a conservative group representing gay Republicans in that state. This possible challenge comes on the heels of the influential Club for Growth’s press release indicating its desire to see Graham removed from the Senate in 2014. Club for Growth views Senator Graham as too liberal when it comes to things such as taxes and the growth of government.
If Mr. Carroll were to stage a challenge to Senator Graham, it would be a difficult task, even with Graham’s growing number of dissatisfied South Carolina voters. Graham enjoys a strong fundraising operation, and certainly considerable name recognition.
What is important to note though is the movement within the GOP by those once viewed as fringe members, who are now openly challenging the status quo. This is what was laid out to us months earlier by Republican Insider – and it is becoming increasingly clear that process is now fully underway. After two failed attempts to gain the White House, and a Republican Party devoid of a clear message for far too long, a new generation of conservatives are now willing to push back against the Old Guard and re-assert the party as a real and viable choice for Americans who don’t wish to continue marching down the path of Obama-Pelosi-Reid Socialist Big Government.
Now for those few of you who may be resisting the idea of an openly gay man opposing the ultra-macho Lindsey Graham (note: sarcasm), I would ask that you peruse the following excerpts from an interview conducted with Mr. Carroll recently which indicates Carroll is in fact more conservative in regards to the role of government and the pursuit of freedom and liberty than Lindsey Graham has ever been:
JM: What kind of criticism and adversity have you faced personally being both gay and conservative.
BC: Since I “came out” at age 25 (I’m now 44), I’ve constantly been told that the Republican Party wants to kill me, imprison me, strip me of rights and kill me. Oh, I said that last one already. Seriously, this vitriol that I’ve heard from left-leaning gays is in direct contrast to my personal experience in Republican politics since 1983. Sure, there are close-minded people — but that is not an exclusively conservative domain. My role as “GayPatriot” has been to try to bridge the gap between conservatives and gays who are pro-American and support returning our nation to its core constitutional principles.
JM: It seems that people, especially millennials, have this mindset that it’s impossible to be both gay and conservative. Whenever they see someone who is gay and conservative, or African American and conservative, those individuals seem to be met with some rather harsh criticism. Why do you think that is?
BC: It think it is part ignorance, part projection. I have never been called a “faggot” either directly or indirectly by ANY conservative. But that is the first word that comes out of the left-leaning gay political types. Plus “kapo,” “quisling,” or “Jew working for Nazis.” I’ve heard it all from the liberals. I just laugh and return fire with facts about how the Democratic Party has taken gays for granted for their campaign money. After all, Barack Obama was an “anti-gay bigot” based on his views of marriage — until six months ago. Come on!
JM: When was the moment when you said, “oh hey, I’m a conservative?”
BC: Probably when Ronald Reagan won in 1980. I was 12 that year and starting to understand the world and politics more than when I was a kid. I saw Reagan as emblematic of what America was all about. He was tough, principled and never apologized for our nation. When Reagan passed away in 2004, I stood in line for hours at the U.S. Capitol so I could pay my respects to him as he lay in state. A reporter asked me that day why I was there. ”Simple,” I said, “for me, Ronald Reagan will always be MY president.”
BC: I’m conflicted on this question. A brand new Gallup survey within the last 30 days showed that less than 4% of Americans self-identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered (LGBT). So on the one hand, I believe in freedom and liberty for all. But on the other hand, how is it that we have become held hostage as a nation by the tyranny of the minority interest groups? It astounds me.
JM: The best way the GOP should combat this idea is to do what President Obama promised and has not done — unify the nation as AMERICANS. Those radical, left-wing gays will never be happy, but over 50% of LGBT Americans say they are moderate-to-conservative. The GOP should just focus on communication and policies that benefit all Americans, and that will help gays and lesbians as well.
I don’t need a president tapping me on the head to give me self-esteem.
JM: Did you see President Obama’s “evolution” on gay marriage a little too convenient?
BC: Completely. It actually is disturbing that anyone believes his “evolution” was anything more than a crass attempt to save his fundraising efforts (many of his top bundlers are gay) which were tanking at the time of his sudden “enlightenment” on gay marriage.
…I also hope that Obamacare will be repealed. It is a big drag on our job creators, individual families and our national debt. New estimates this summer from CBO show that Obamacare will cost $2.6 TRILLION over 10 years, not the $900 BILLION that Obama promised. We have got to remove this yoke from around the American economy. LINK
Yes, that is what they do, compartmentalize people into specific groups, followed by conditioning the public with politically correct propaganda, and then finally, divide and conquer.
The founding fathers did not envision as such, for it is written at the top of the constitution, We The People.
We are watching the sheeple remain blissfully docile and silent as the country goes to hell in a straw basket. The People’s White House should be open for it is our White House in that we are not a monarchy.
Kind of ironic given that it’s pretty much common knowledge that Lindsey Graham is an in-the-closet homosexual … not that there’s anything wrong with that!
Hey Graham: you and McCain and all the rest of the statist RINOs should at least have the intellectual honesty to simply just change parties (i.e., pull an honorable version of an Arlen Specter) …
“pull an honorable version of an Arlen Specter”…
I believe it should be illegal to have “honorable” and “Arlen Specter” in the same sentence.
As for Graham’s military career as a Air Force JAG officer, it leaves much to be desired. His RINO decisions are about as squeamish as his handshakes. Here’s an article that I always wondered why “Linny” was voted out last time. I mean, come on! 61 to 2 vote!!!
A South Carolina reader e-mails: “Thought you’d be happy to see this!”
From: Greenville County Republican Party
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 10:24 AM
Subject: Greenville GOP – Resolution of Rebuke of Senator Lindsey Graham
Greenville County Republican Party
Tuesday August 3rd 2010
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All,
Last night, the elected officers of the Greenville County Republican Party presented a “Resolution of Rebuke of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham” to the Greenville County GOP’s Executive Committee. By a vote of 61-2, the Executive Committee approved the Resolution.
The Greenville County GOP Executive Commitee is made up of individuals from across Greenville County who are elected at the precinct level. On the Executive Committee, every precinct has one vote.
Below is the Resolution as it was approved:
GREENVILLE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
“RESOLUTION OF REBUKE of SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM”
WHEREAS, United States Senator Lindsey Graham has cast votes in the United States Senate in favor of TARP, which all but guarantees an increase in the national debt and expansion of the federal government.
WHEREAS, Senator Graham has voted in favor of two of President Obama’s nominees to the United States Supreme Court, who possess questionable qualifications and very liberal beliefs that are contrary to the United States Constitution.
WHEREAS, Senator Graham has promoted amnesty for illegal aliens, and continues to promote this premise under the guise of “Comprehensive Immigration Reform”.
WHEREAS, by these and other votes, Senator Graham has abandoned the Republican platform:
. Limited Government;
. Capitalism and the Free Market System;
. Original Intent of the Constitution;
. The Appointment of Conservative Federal Judges and Justices to the United States Supreme Court; and
. Fiscal Responsibility.
AND, WHEREAS, both locally and nationally, Senator Graham has repeatedly demonstrated contempt and arrogance towards those members of the Republican Party who support these core Republican beliefs;
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.
FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED that Senator Graham will no longer be invited to attend and participate in meetings or other events sponsored by the Greenville County Republican Party.
RESOLVED this 2nd day of August 2010 at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Greenville County Republican Party Executive Committee.
This resolution passed as proposed, without amendment, by a vote of 61-2.
This is the third such censure of Graham passed by South Carolina GOP organizations this year. GOP party committees in Lexington and Charleston counties have also passed similar resolutions.
The ultimate censure, of course, will take place at the ballot box.
I have thought that he should just come out already. And please let this challenge happen. He NEEDS TO GO.
Why do the Republicans constantly run someone with a major flaw? Mitt Romney (a Mormon, and govt. run healthcare originator) and now guys like this. I’m sorry Mr. Carroll, the conservative base is NOT going to be receptive to an openly gay man. Run a conservative that is NOT in blatant violation of one of the Bible’s major vices.
This is the Cialdini comparison and contrast principle personified. Do you want your target to choose Choice A? well then show them Choice B and Choice A will look like a wise choice in comparison.
Give us a person that believes in conservative principles AND happens to be married to a member, or have an SO that is a member of the OPPOSITE sex. Maybe the populace is becoming more accepting of gay people, but we aren’t there yet, more people on both sides of the aisle are opposed to it, even in liberal hotbeds like CA. Most likely a significant portion is NOT going to change their mind by next year and it’s imperative that Obama is rendered a lame duck in 2014 before we lose all of our freedoms.
The GOP is not running him.
He is running himself. that’s why there are primaries.
What do you want?
To ban him because he is not “notflawed”, to use your term?
Do you realize this is leftist speech?
Was thinking the exact same thing as you cobra. The guy sounds pretty conservative as far as spending and limited govt goes so that makes him a lot more appealing to be a member of the Senate than Lindsey Graham who has turned into a total big government republican.
This may be a plot by Graham to save his own hide. If a God fearing conservative challenges Graham in the primary, Graham might be saved if he split the anti-incumbent vote in half.
And I’m sure I’m not the only one noticing how just about all of the tactics laid out by R.I. during their interviews with UM are now playing out right in front of us. Hope they win out. McCain and his kind are not going to let go of their hold over the GOP easily though.
Bruce is one of my favorite people on twitter. He’s very conservative/libertarian, has a great sense of humor, and will not hesitate to verbally punch a liberal in the face for idiocy. If I could move down there to vote for him I would.
Make my day, Bruce! Primary Grahamnasty and beat him!