Prominent South Carolina Conservative Offers Support For Graham

A prominent South Carolina conservative offered support for Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday after a local Republican party censured the senator for working with Democrats.

Katon Dawson, the former state party chair, and a recent candidate for Republican National Committee chairman, said that while he understands the anger felt by Charleston County Republicans, Graham was just, well, being Graham.

"What has the base so upset was that any time you partner up with a Hillary Clinton and John Kerry or, god bless him, Ted Kennedy, you have a problem on your hands," Dawson told the Huffington Post. "But I know Lindsey. He is cagey and crafty. People forget that he grew up in the back of a pool hall and that his daddy sold liquor. People forget that.

"There is a price to pay back home when you partner with John Kerry," Dawson added. "There is a price you pay when you have photo ops with Hillary Clinton. But Lindsey has always been willing to pay that price."

"I understand both sides," he said. "I truly do."

Dawson's defense, however qualified, certainly will be welcomed by the Graham camp. On Wednesday, the senator found himself censured by the local party for weakening the Republican brand.

Dawson, who is a decidedly conservative figure inside party ranks, reminded local officials that -- for all his bipartisan mushiness -- Graham had actually secured some important policy victories.

"At the end of the day what we are looking for is offshore drilling for natural gas and Lindsey got that in the bill," said Dawson of the climate legislation being considered.

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The former party chair also noted that Graham's work brokering a compromise to maintain the filibuster in the Senate (which was much bemoaned by conservatives when it happened in 2005) now seemed downright prescient.

"I give Lindsey his due," Dawson said. "He said, 'Guys, let me tell you, we aren't always going to be in charge and we will be real sorry if we change these rules.' And he was right."

Memories in conservative circles are short, however. And Graham currently is a target of choice for much of the tea-party crowd.

Graham's best friend in the Senate is John McCain, another Republican pol who took a bit of pride in rankling his own party's leadership.

"We have two U.S Senators in South Carolina who will balance each other out. We have Jim DeMint who will always be a conservative," said Dawson. "And we have Lindsey. Lindsey marches to the beat of a different drum. He is of the McCain camp variety for sure.

"If you look under the dictionary, 'South Carolina Maverick' there is Lindsey's picture," Dawson added. "Lindsey is from a state where center right is not a comfortable place to be but I understand what he is saying."

Comments

[thepoliticalcat]

Is anyone else wondering if that "grew up in a pool room and his daddy sold liquor" comment is a backhand? Because Ms. Lindsey has got to be so not lovin' that, now that he's rubbin' shoulders with the rich and powerful and picking the pockets of the citizenry. That said, it's kinda entertaining to watch the ideological purists of the party (who really are the extreme fringe of rightwingnuttia) devour those who willingly climbed into bed with them so long ago to keep the reins of power.

[JohnJeter]

Ms. Southern Yankee Belle - You 'n' me, we got WAY too much in common. Fannin' you now.

[jeremyfive]

Interesting.

Since the close of the civil war, South Carolina Republicans seem to specialize in high treason ("You lie!") and foreign affairs (Argentina?).

An independent thinker? That's a new one for South Carolina.

[bluguy8]

YOU GO GIRL !

[whiskeytangofoxtrot451]

Does this mean Palin is going to campaign for his primary opponent now?

[maryyooch]

""But I know Lindsey. He is cagey and crafty. People forget that he grew up in the back of a pool hall and that his daddy sold liquor. People forget that."

Seems as though dear Sen. Graham forgot that, too. Being such a hard core rethuglican't, he's always voting for the rich to become richer and more powerful, and he votes against anything that would help the middle class and poor.
It's never a good idea to forget where you come from once you've made it. Especially these people who claim that they're Christians. They have taken Jesus' message and warped it beyond belief.

[zest]

Lindsey is going to get "purged".

[azdirk]

Actually Graham was wrong in 2005. Cloture allows the minority party to rule.

[sposton]

I particularly liked:

"People forget that he grew up in the back of a pool hall and that his daddy sold liquor. People forget that."

What's the meaning of this? ;-)

[Whitley2009]

Oh, gosh darn! Is Lindsey leaving the Charleston Republican Party holding the tea bag?

Fer sure. You becha!

[gosolar]

Wow I am so glad I don't live in South Carolina. Although, I do live in Arizona, so it's not really that big of a step up.

[justoverit333]

I almost moved there but Florida is just as bad.

[brt929]

You notice the states with the greatest numbers of retirees are the reddest?

[kwoodberryesq]

This is South Carolina!!! The closer you get to Charleston, the worse it becomes...

[Cryostatic]

Wait. Republicans are mad at Graham for working with democrats to come to a compromise on policy?

Imagine, working together to come to a mutually beneficial agreement. That's so much less effective, obviously, than being pigheaded and insisting that you get your own way in every regard, all the time.

[alfo]

LET'S SEE NOW,THIS IS THE PARTY OF ZERO TOLERENCE,NO COMPROMISE,& IF I CAN'T HAVE MY WAY I'LL TAKE MY BALL & GO HOME. COUNTRY FIRST OF COURSE,BUT MY COUNTRY MY WAY.

[SuiginTou7]

Remember, this was where the first shot was fired to start the Civil War. Compromise isn't one of their strong suits.

[Whitley2009]

First things first. I want to see the birth certificates of all those Republicans in the Holy City.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

It's ironic to think 30 years ago all these partisan hard core Republicans where racist partisan hard core Democrats, (Dixicrats) new label same spoiled contents.

[ezgoingal]

First off, the heading on this article: "Prominent" SC Conservative". There are any??? Also, doesn't sound like much of an endorsement when he Graham was given a left-handed sort or compliment. "His Daddy running liquor and ole Lindsey was hanging out while growing up in the back of a pool hall". And, then coming out and stating, (which all already figured out) that Lindsey is "cagey and crafty". With "friends" like that, well....Sounds like the Rethug party got back at Lindsey in this way for stepping out of line.

[DoctorJohn]

Claiming his father sold liquor and he grew up in the back of a pool hall is a high southern compliment in his neck of the woods. Now if it had been said that the good Senator Graham was well educated and that he knows how to work and play well with others, that would have been a real insult in the palmetto state.

[mamacat]

Scozzafava and Graham do not seem like moderate Republicans to me, although Ms. S's stance on women's rights was mainstream.
What I meant to say is that from where I am sitting, it looks like the Night of the Longknives, GOP style. The radical right are simply eliminating their competition, not because that competition is liberal, but because it is not looney enough for them.