Thread: Graham defends his stance on immigration

Posted on Sun, Aug. 12, 2007
PRESSURE ON SENATOR FROM REPUBLICANS
Graham defends his stance on immigration
RODDIE A. BURRIS
http://www.charlotte.com/280/story/233472.html

After the Greenville County Republican Party voted Monday to censure him, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham was in South Carolina on Tuesday vowing to fight for his seat in Congress.
Graham visited Columbia to renew his stand on the issue that most threatens his 2008 re-election, illegal immigration.

"I can't please everybody, but I can try," Graham told reporters after appearing with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff at the University of South Carolina.

Graham's appearance with Chertoff marked another step in the freshman senator's efforts to quell rabid public criticism over his illegal immigration stance and repair relationships with conservative Republicans.

Conservatives are upset with Graham for pushing a bill, backed by President Bush, that they argue grants amnesty to a projected 12 million to 20 million immigrants living illegally in the United States.

Since the immigration bill's defeat, Graham has been working to get the parts of the bill conservatives favor, such as providing billions of dollars for improved border security, passed.

"The biggest problem was the American people didn't trust that (the Senate legislation) would work -- that it would solve the problem," Graham said.

Taking a page from President Bush's playbook, Graham said last week that illegal immigration is "a national security problem," on par with, and linked to, the war in Iraq and the broader global war on terrorism.

Graham's recent focus on policies conservatives favor hasn't stopped the calls for Republican challengers to step forward to take Graham on in primary elections next year. Internet chat rooms dedicated to conservative politics have taken to calling Graham a RINO -- Republican In Name Only.

But the anti-Graham chatter has not drawn a well-known, well-funded candidate who could pose a serious challenge. One reason Graham hasn't drawn such a challenge is his $4 million campaign war chest, one of the richest in Congress.

Graham thinks his record should please conservatives.

"I think I've been a good senator for the conservative cause," Graham said, noting he plans to stay in the public eye and to run on his conservative record on abortion, federal judges, earmarks and other issues.

State Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, who met with Graham and Chertoff, said Republicans there praised Graham at a county party meeting he attended Monday.

It's those Republicans Graham is talking about when he says there are conservatives in his corner and advocating immigration reform.

"The problem doesn't get solved by saying no (to reform)," Graham said. "That's why I'm going to get back up on the horse. As a U.S. citizen, I feel I owe more to South Carolinians than to say `no.' "

Repair Job

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is taking steps to repair his relationship with conservatives.

1. Calling on his most influential friends. Graham has made recent S.C. appearances with President Bush and Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff.

2. Telling his side of the story. Graham has tried to blunt some of the criticism by defending his stance in glossy campaign literature mailed to likely Republican voters. Graham is pictured with President Bush, and the text emphasizes the senator's work trying to improve border security.

3. Changing the subject. Bloggers, who have taken to calling him "Sen. Grahamnesty," continue to attack him, but Graham has moved on to other issues, such as providing medical leave for families of injured soldiers and helping S.C. businesses sell to foreign markets.

http://www.dumplindsey.org

http://dumplindseygraham.blogspot.com

http://www.charlotteconservative.com/in ... ould-quit/

http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/18/v ... ey-graham/

http://www.recalllindseygraham.blogspot.com

Pack it up. Please

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LindseyGrahamnot4me/


The on below is a support group with no support.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GrahamsGrassroots/

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Repair Job

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is taking steps to repair his relationship with conservatives.

1. Calling on his most influential friends. Graham has made recent S.C. appearances with President Bush and Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff.

2. Telling his side of the story. Graham has tried to blunt some of the criticism by defending his stance in glossy campaign literature mailed to likely Republican voters. Graham is pictured with President Bush, and the text emphasizes the senator's work trying to improve border security.

3. Changing the subject. Bloggers, who have taken to calling him "Sen. Grahamnesty," continue to attack him, but Graham has moved on to other issues, such as providing medical leave for families of injured soldiers and helping S.C. businesses sell to foreign markets.

We can only hope and pray S. Carolina voters do to Sen. Grahamnesty what we are going to do with Sen. Mel Martinez (R) Florida

Eviction notice on election day is what we want and out the door you go looking for depressed wages like the rest of us.

Theres still plenty of time to work on your resume

Originally Posted by AirborneSapper7

security.
We can only hope and pray S. Carolina voters do to Sen. Grahamnesty what we are going to do with Sen. Mel Martinez (R) Florida

Hey Sapper I bet after Castro dies Martinez could find a new job back in Cuba!

wooo hoooo you get Lindsey and we are going after Martinez

Republicans Senators and Congressmen/women need to worry about thier jobs now

Sen (R) Mel Martinez is out the door on the next election (I think 2010) if we cannot recall him first... and we are trying hard

I will not donate 1 penny to the republican party till they pull thier head out of thier 4th point of contact (the buttox) and these idiots are gone from our party

It doesnt matter what Mel does between now and the next election... he is gone.... everybody I talk to is saying the very same thing

I agree (Cuba) is a good place for him to drag (as we said in the military) his goat smelling (backside)

Someone please inform our leadership there is discent in the rank and file

by the way (who in the HE double hockey sticks gave them permission to hijack our republican party