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 states difficulty in getting over President Abraham Lincoln, with apparent reference to Lincolns role in the civil war and the freeing of American slaves, RAW STORY has learned.
We dont do Lincoln Day Dinners in South Carolina, Senator Graham told a Lincoln Day gathering in Tennessee Saturday. Its 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. Grahams remarks were inappropriate and that they echoed comments made by former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS), which resulted in Lotts 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. Grahams office was closed and could not be reached for comment Monday evening.
Several Hill offices declined immediate comment, saying they wanted to review Grahams 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 Thurmonds pro-segregation 1948 campaign.
Were proud of it, Lott said. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldnt 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.
Here we go... another endless FR debate. Round up the usual subjects.
"South Carolina is too small to be a Republic, and too large to be an insane asylum." -- James Petigru, 1860
Proving once again that in addition to all of their other character deficiencies, lefties have no sense of humor.
I admired Graham during the impeachment proceedings against Boy Clinton, however, since being elected to the Senate he seems intent on currying favor with the elites by calling for tax increases and seemingly siding with Sen. Specter on judicial nominations. Graham, at this rate, will be a single-term Senator.
I'm not a Southerner, but I can't see anything that could be considered even remotely offensive about his comment. This is a controversy?
who gives a $hit, the civil war has been over for nearly 140 frikin years!!!
Move on!!!!
"Senator Lindsey Graham...referr[ed] to his states difficulty in 'getting over' President Abraham Lincoln, with apparent reference to Lincolns role in the civil war and the freeing of American slaves."
I'm going to guess here that the Senator isn't mad that Lincoln freed the slaves, but that he completely devastated the South in doing it. Don't forget that Sherman's basic war strategy was to burn down any building standing south of the Mason-Dixon line.
Get over it
Get over it
It's gotta stop sometime, so why don't you quit
Get over it, get over it
And them Georgian's still got their panties in a bunch!
Lindsay Graham MAY want to be a little careful---I don't know how his fellow Republican senators feel about him, but I know that a lot of FReepers---me especially,---have not been real happy with him lately---
He has been waaaaaaaaay too squishy and Rino-y, so I won't be as quick to excuse him as I might say a John Cornyn remark---
I, too, would like to read the total speech before making up my mind on this---
Great googly moogly! The DNC can bite the cheese. He was joking, and the joke had nothing to do with race. In case these people don't remember anything about history, there was a war. South Carolina was on one side and Abraham Lincoln was on the other. That's what he was joking about.
The sustenance supplied to the armies of the south was in large part agricultural products. Destroy that produce and you shorten the war by depriving those armies of the means of existence. Shortening the war saved lives.
I think a lot of southerners have some Irish blood in them.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Even worse, Scotch Blood and Welch blood also
"who gives a $hit, the civil war has been over for nearly 140 frikin years!!!
Move on!!!!"
Having been born in NC and lived 18 years in SC, now residing in GA, I couldn't agree more!
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, fan, huh?....lol
Wouldnt surprise me, Vicksburg's Conferderate commander surrendered to the city's Union besiegers on July 4th.
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