Posted on Mon, Jun. 09, 2008
Graham speaks along Strand
By Robert Morris
rmorris@ thesunnews.com

Two different crowds of Republicans in two Grand Strand counties saw two different sides of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday.

In Myrtle Beach, they saw Graham, the hawkish surrogate for Republican Presidential nominee John McCain. In Pawleys Island, they saw Graham, the sitting senator fighting to remain the Republican nominee in Tuesday's primary.

"I'm almost secondary in this speech," Graham said to an audience of about 100 people at Planet Hollywood in Myrtle Beach. "My biggest concern is we're about to make a change in the White House at one of the most critical times in our domestic and international lives."

Graham was fresh off a morning talk show appearance pitted against U.S. Sen. John Kerry, whom Graham called "the most liberal Senator in the Senate until [Democratic nominee Barack] Obama knocked him out of that spot." Graham praised McCain and criticized Obama on the war in Iraq, tensions with Iran and Obama's opposition to the Bush tax cuts, accusing the Illinois senators of class warfare.

"When I hear 'tax cuts for the rich,' it just makes my blood boil," Graham said. "John McCain and Lindsey Graham, we don't believe in two Americas. We believe in one America where some people are doing better than others, and we want to help every American."

By the time he reached a packed room at Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort, however, Graham was more focused on his own re-election, opening with detailed descriptions of his stances on Social Security and immigration. With fewer workers paying into the Social Security system, Graham advocated increasing the retirement age, reducing benefits by $10 per month and allowing personal investment accounts.

On immigration, Graham proposed replacing Social Security cards with tamper-proof IDs so employers can easily identify citizens and taking away business licenses from anyone who hires an illegal immigrant.

"Until you can control jobs, you're not going to fix this. You can build a 50-foot high fence, and there'll be 51-foot ladder or there'll be a tunnel going under the wall," Graham said.

Birthright citizenship, he said, is targeted by many immigration opponents but guaranteed by the Constitution, and would take 67 senators to repeal, so a promise to end it is meaningless.

"Telling people what they want to hear when there's no truth to it is the worst thing a politician can do," he said, reminding the audience the Senate is controlled by Democrats, so passing any bill requires compromise.

Graham never directly referenced his primary opponent, former Republican National Committeeman Buddy Witherspoon. He did acknowledge, however, the immigration issue is the reason he has primary opposition.

"Our election Tuesday is going to be looked at nationally because it's all about me and immigration. It's really not about me or immigration - it's about me willing to do things that are hard and reaching across the aisle at times," Graham said. "I'm going to win on Tuesday, not because of what I'm against, but for who I represent and what I'm for."

Among Republicans, Graham's two approaches found different responses. In Myrtle Beach, Paula Setzer of Deerfield said Graham's willingness to work with Democrats troubles her.

"I'm afraid of the compromise that might come about," Setzer said, though she was unaware Graham has an opponent.

Her husband, Bill Schweitzer, said his primary vote would go to Witherspoon.

"But if it comes down to [Graham] and a Democrat, I'll have to vote for him," he said.

In Litchfield, however, Harry Stullenbarger said he agreed with everything he heard.

"I'm a DeMint and Graham fellow," Stullenbarger said. "I think he reflects exactly what the man on the street believes."

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/l ... 79800.html