Graham, DeMint differ on strategies for GOP to regain power [the time for choosing is coming]

McClatchy / The Herald, Rock Hill, SC ^ | 2009-10-25 | James Rosen

[rabscuttle385]

WASHINGTON -- The national debate among Republicans over their party's future is nowhere sharper than in South Carolina, where Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint pursue distinctly different visions for restoring GOP primacy at the polls.

Graham and DeMint, who profess to be friends and live within an hour's drive of each other in the conservative Upstate, prescribe conflicting cures for the Republican ailments that led to sweeping defeats in the last two national elections.

Graham, a Seneca Republican elected to his second term last year, says the party must stop alienating young people and Hispanics and start promoting pragmatic, “center-right solutions” to the country's most pressing problems.

. . . . .

DeMint, a Greenville Republican seeking to win a second term next year, believes that young voters and ethnic Americans will flock to GOP candidates if they push plain conservative principles and offer a stark contrast to Democrats.

[Wolfhound77]

You may be right...but not in my state. We have all Rats and Rino (Martinez) that resigned.

[paudio]

Has any well known conservative announced their intention to challenge McCain?

[personalaccts]

Some Republicans blame DeMint for helping compel former Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to switch parties in April — which put the Democrats closer to holding a filibuster-proof 60 Senate seats.

If Rubio and Toomey pull off victories in 2010 Demint will be the “darkhorse” for 2012.

[liberateUS]

It doesn’t appear that Lindsay is too worried about alienating conservatives.

[maggief]

“The overwhelming majority of conservatives and independents appreciate the fact that their elected leaders are trying to solve hard problems,” Graham said.

There is so much wrong with that statement.

[Mamzelle]

Opensecrets.org is your friend. For those candidates you care enough to donate against, also do some research as to who their donors are. You'll find that Graham doesn't care about conservatives because that's not where his money comes from.

I'm not saying donate to him, I'm saying expose who does donate to him.

[mkjessup]

"Graham ... says the party must stop alienating young people and Hispanics and start promoting pragmatic, “center-right solutions” to the country's most pressing problems."

Translation: Lindsey wants to put on some baggy pants hanging off his azz, join the little mall rats while they go looking for trouble, and he'll even wear a Mexican sombrero while he tries to gain their favor. Principles? What principles?

"DeMint ... believes that young voters and ethnic Americans will flock to GOP candidates if they push plain conservative principles and offer a stark contrast to Democrats."

Translation: DeMint is your Dad, he remains dressed respectfully, he'll do what he can to help you based on time honored conservative principles and values, but don't you ever think he's going to condone, let alone join you in smokin' a joint, leering at the babes going by, or any of that adolescent behavior in hopes of being 'accepted' by you or any of your immature and still irresponsible pals.

[Nateman]

McCain...next year!

With nobody else on the ballot in the primary election in Arizona last time around, I'm really looking forward to voting against McCain. I don't care too much about who that other fellow is, just that I have a choice this time and I'm using it.

[Diogenesis]

“We like using you to fill up our Congressional brothels, my friend.

---

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Bravo! Two thumbs up! Succinct and Informative!

I don't think I need to remind Freepers who can, to help out Doug Hoffman?

I can just imagine that the Grand Poo-bahs of the Grand Old Party inside the beltway must be sh*tting bricks at the thought of Hoffman winning and seeing their influence waning as "we the people's" takes on a new meaning.

This is a big one, because it could be the template on how we (from different areas) can work directly to affect the outcome of elections of true conservatives in 2010 and lay the groundwork for (IF WE CAN FIND A CANDIDATE) to take back the W.H. in 2012.

[Rick_Michael]

Conservatives never really alienated me; only some Republicans and most Dems.

[Venturer]

To be or not to be, That is the question.

How far left can I allow the republican party to take me and still remain a member ?

I believe they have just about reached that limit.

[EternalVigilance]

Graham, DeMint differ on strategies for GOP to regain power

This is the problem. The GOP's sole goal is to "regain power." Their lives are devoted to "strategies" for doing that.

And then there are the true patriots, whose goal is that "We the People" would regain their power, and whose strategy is for rebuilding a political system in which that can happen based on the principles laid down by our Founders.

[EternalVigilance]

America's Independent Party

[plain talk]

“center-right solutions”

So Senator Graham - start moving to the center right instead of the center left.

[fieldmarshaldj]

What a nice photo. Looks like Franken (who looks astonishingly like Letterman in the pic) just got up from servicing Twinkletoes Graham.

[MSF BU]

Lindsey; the effeminacy continues.

[Condor51]

One day. Hopefully soon. Senator Lindsey 'Light-in-the-loafers' Graham, is gonna get caught toe-tapping in a Men's Room.

He's already been outed in Gay Mags, he should just 'come out' publicly and get it over with. Off course he'd loose all his military benefits (he's Active Reserve) but so be it.

And then he can openly switch to the Dem Party too. They'd gladly 'embrace him' (snicker)

[NotSoModerate]

Graham lives in the D.C. elitist bubble where political power means everything, and the American people are viewed as cattle. He has no need or interest in rogue cattle. He wants a meek and mindless herd.

[andy58-in-nh]

If you have any principles at all and are willing to express them, you are certain to alienate those who hold to their opposite. If you believe in objective truth and definable reality, you will in time make enemies of those who do not or who seek to deny them.

People who lack principles or beliefs cannot ever attract real enemies. Because enemies of human liberty exist, such ethical flexibility is not a virtue, but a vice.