Posted on 03/08/2005 12:14:35 PM PST by DixieOklahoma
3/7/2005
GOP senator Graham rankles some over comments on Lincoln
By John Byrne | RAW STORY Editor
Senator Lindsey Graham has ignited a new furor in Washington over comments he made over the weekend referring to his state’s difficulty in “getting over” President Abraham Lincoln, with apparent reference to Lincoln’s role in the civil war and the freeing of American slaves, RAW STORY has learned.
“We don’t do Lincoln Day Dinners in South Carolina,” Senator Graham told a Lincoln Day gathering in Tennessee Saturday. “It’s nothing personal, but it takes awhile to get over things.”
According to a Knoxville News Sentinel article published Sunday, Graham entertained an amicable crowd and joked about his predecessor in the Senate, former Sen. Strom Thurmond.
“In theory, I have 50 more years left in the Senate,” Graham remarked.
The article, titled “GOP senator has unifying message,” was picked up upon by the progressive Washington blog DC Inside Scoop.
The Democratic National Committee said Sen. Graham’s remarks were inappropriate and that they echoed comments made by former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS), which resulted in Lott’s removal as Senate leader.
“Joke or not, this is exactly the type of comment that Trent Lott made when he was deposed as leader,” said DNC spokesman Jano Cabrera. “It has no place in public discourse.”
“He should apologize,” Cabrera added.
Sen. Graham’s office was closed and could not be reached for comment Monday evening.
Several Hill offices declined immediate comment, saying they wanted to review Graham’s remarks in full, and that on such a delicate matter, the members in question would have to approve any responses.
Sen. Lott told a 2002 birthday celebration in honor of Sen. Strom Thurmond that he was proud his state supported Thurmond’s pro-segregation 1948 campaign.
“We’re proud of it,” Lott said. “And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years either,” Lott said.
The resulting outcry cost Lott his job as Majority Leader. Lott later apologized, saying racism and segregation were “immoral.”
what are you doing on this site? Who did YOU vote for in 2004? You've been all over the map, supporting big government by being against states rights, then being against big government by supporting states rights. All the while you find a way to bash president Bush. Sounds like a TROLL if you ask me.
Gotta love Oklahoma, where even some of its Democrat Senators have ranked as among the most conservative members.
Well look at the pot calling the kettle black.
All the while you find a way to bash president Bush.
Truth hurt?
Sounds like a TROLL if you ask me.
So who asked you?
yes.
Yeah well screw Lincoln, the Dim party and anyone else who doesn't like what the man said.
I don't celebrate that treasonous jerk's day either.
If it's a dem saying it, it's just a harmless joke. If it's a pub, the heavens will fall if they don't lose their job over it.. and that's if they even actually meant what dims imply.
Both sides just need to shut up.
I would say there is no conservative party today, just a mockery of the word. The Republican party, well, it might just be "back to it's roots" the way certain book-peddling pseudo-historians chime on about the way the R's should be "progressive" and all. Interesting when I think about how the Republicans were formed as a reactionary party, and now it's the Democrats who are trying to apply that model across the board to everything from abortion to gay rights. Their core philosophy seems to be morphing into, "Whatever Republicans say is wrong," while the Republicans are morphing into, "Whatever you say can't be wrong, so long as you vote for us."
Even more interesting is that when you were asking others to name a Southern conservative, the first person to pop into my head??? Zel Miller. Might just be because he gets a lot of press, though.
Under Reagan, 'Republican' and 'Conservative' were synonymous.
Even more interesting is that when you were asking others to name a Southern conservative, the first person to pop into my head??? Zel Miller.
Miller is no more dedicated to true conservative values of fiscal responsibility and smaller government than President Bush is. He just talks a lot.
George Allen, Virginia.
And Virginia's next great Governor, Jerry Kilgore.
There's two.
How did Senator Allen vote on the Prescription Drug Plan? I believe he voted for it, supporting a fiscally irresponsible big government give-away. How did Senator Allen vote on court reform? I believe he voted for it, injecting the federal government into state courts and limiting states rights. Where does Senator Allen stand on the gay marriage amendment and school testing? I believe he is for both, and an increase in federal interference into private lives and state institutitions. What has Senator Allen done to reduce the size of government and reign in spending? Nothing that I'm aware of.
Senator Allen is what passes for a conservative in the South. Which is what I've been complaining about all along.
*yawn*
Of course, saying of a former Klansman - one who recruited others into the Klan - that there is no moment in American history where he would not be welcomed - or words to that effect - is no big deal.
I've noticed that when one tries to talk about conservative values like smaller and less intrusive government, states rights, and fiscal responsiblility that is the usual response from southern Republicans.
If smaller and less intrusive government, states rights, and fiscal responsiblity are not conservative values in your opinion, then what are conservative values?
Not anything. Just the southern rebellion, what the south has done to the Reagan legacy, and what passes for barbecue in the Carolinas.
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