Under Pressure from Tea Party Activists, Charleston GOP Censures Graham

[cal04]

Under Pressure From Tea Party Activists, Charleston GOP Censures Lindsey Graham For Bipartisanship

On Monday, the Charleston County Republican Party’s executive committee “took the unusual step” of officially censuring Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The local GOP committee admonished Graham for stepping across party lines to work with Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) on a bipartisan clean energy bill and other pieces of legislation. The censure stated that Graham’s “bipartisanship continues to weaken the Republican brand and tarnish the ideals of freedom.”

Part of the fury from the right against Graham is being spurred by the oil and coal industry. The oil company front group “American Energy Alliance” has blanketed South Carolina with ads smearing Graham for seeking to address climate change.

The pressure against Graham has also stemmed from his criticism of hate radio and Fox News host Glenn Beck. “Only in America can you make that much money crying,” said Graham, mocking Beck in early October. Beck has responded with a slime campaign against Graham that he typically reserves for liberals. The leader of the Charleston Republican Party, Lin Bennett, is also a member of Glenn Beck’s 9/12 organization in South Carolina. According to its website, the Charleston GOP claims to work closely with tea party groups and Beck’s 9/12 activists in selecting its favored candidates.

Will Graham be able to stand up to the angry backlash being cultivated by far right voices and entrenched corporations interests? At a Graham town hall in Greenville last month, activist Harry Kimball of “RINO HUNT” protested by constructing a display that portrayed Graham, as well as other GOP moderates, being flushed down a toilet:

KIMBALL: This is for every RINO who has failed to represent us. (the toilet represents)flushing them, flushing them.

Watch it:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/11/graham-censure-climatechange/

[AllentownJake]

1. Funny if democrats pick up a seat in South Carolina

of course at the end of the day it is South Carolina...pitty Sherman didn't burn the entire place.

[jaysunb]

2. Things are heating up !

:popcorn:

[mitchum]

3. They are going to out Gomer Graham

count on it

[NecklyTyler]

4. Civilization is being threatened by global warming, and the Republicans politicize the issue

In order to get a handle on carbon pollution, we first need to sequester the Republicans, and then pass President Obama's environmental legislation. The bill before the Senate needs to be passed with or without support from the Republicans

[zbdent]

5. I think it's hilarious that the GOP can claim Graham as a RINO ...

as far as I know, hasn't Graham been pretty damned loyal to the party and Der ... er ... President Bush43 ... what ... he dipped his toe into one situation where he went against the extremists in his party? And now, he's a RINO ... :eyes:

[Atticus]

6. This is how much the other side values "bipartisanship".

And, we Democrats value bipartisanship because---because---how was that again?