Graham gets a little heat from Tea Party crowd in Bluffton
By KYLA CALVERT
Published Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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When U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham arrived at the Bluffton library to address constituents Tuesday, about 25 Tea Party members were waiting on the building's steps with signs calling for no amnesty for illegal immigrants and no cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions.

The protesters joined about 100 more people waiting inside to hear Graham. They applauded when he entered, but some also lobbed angry questions and accusations at several points during the hour and a half he addressed the crowd.

Graham opened his town-hall-style meeting by asking attendees what they believe are the biggest problems facing the world. Graham said, "Iran with nuclear weapons is the one I would pick."

A quick chorus of "cap and trade" and "illegal immigration" erupted from the audience.

After discussing the dangers he sees with a nuclear-armed Iran, Graham said, "Until my time is up in politics, I am going to talk about the hard things."

An audience member said the senator should "be conservative and quit reaching across the aisle."

Graham has been under attack from some conservatives for his role in helping shape an energy bill with Sens. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, and Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut. Graham withdrew from negotiations over the bill in April. The version introduced by Kerry and Lieberman includes a "cap and trade" provision, which limits emissions from electric utilities and industrial plants. Companies that emit more pollutants than allowed can buy credits from companies that do not use all of what they are entitled to under the law.

A successful energy policy, according to Graham, would "take energy independence and combine it with capping carbon emissions in an industry-friendly way."

"I'm going to have to compromise to get what I want," he added.

Another audience member opposed compromise on illegal immigration. One woman asked Graham why all illegal immigrants in the U.S. can't be deported.

Graham said there are not enough votes in Congress to support mass deportation, and deportation alone would not solve the problem.

"We need to secure our borders and make sure employers have a system that works for verifying Social Security numbers," he said.

He accused the Obama administration of using the immigration issue to drive a wedge between Latinos and the Republican Party. After applauding Tea Party members' contribution to supporting conservative candidates, Graham said that if the party "wants to be in the game in the future, we have to be conservative and welcoming."

One man took offense to the comment, saying, "The Tea Party is not exclusive. Anyone is welcome who is conservative and wants the country to function." He added that conservatives do not need to change their message, but need to do more to control national debate.

Despite tense moments, the audience gave Graham hardy applause when he ended the event by saying, "I would ask you to vote for me, but that's up to you. Pray for me."

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