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.”
Without the South there would be no Reagan legacy.
Agreed, I think that many 'true' conservatives still associate the Republicans with Reagan/Goldwater type conservatism, but the honeymoon phase pretty much has to be coming to an end here, and I suspect that when the next democrat takes the white house, there will be an epic battle over where to take the republican party.
I don't know much about Miller, other than what I see on the national news, which usually only gives him attention when he's bucking the democratic party line. When you say that he's just as squishy as any pseudo-conservative, I have no doubt it's true. Just thought it was funny that he was the first in my head.
"...there is no Republican Party today. Just a mockery of the word"...........You may have a point there!!!
I would classify big government supporters like you as the liberal, especially with you sucking up to socialists like Jefferson Davis as you do.
I am not for big government and never have been so i don't know where you're getting that. In my opinion for government to function properly you must "starve the rats". In my economics class that is the exact termonology I use.
President Bush is. If you don't agree with that then why are you criticizing me for criticizing him?
And you should really read up on the rebellion. When it comes to intrusive government few could match Jefferson Davis.
So in other words a big intrusive government, constitutional violations, and government takeover of industries is OK so long and you can cook up a reasonable excuse?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.