Why Now Senator Graham?

Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican from South Carolina, finally spoke wise and encouraging words about the tenor of our national dialog. At last a powerful Republican voice is calling for an end to the insane insults and lies that permeate today's political debate. But will his colleagues accede to his entreaty or will they continue their mischief? What, are you kidding?

Speaking before a conference last week sponsored by The Atlantic, The Aspen Institute and The Newseum, Senator Lindsey Graham said, in answer to a question, "I'm here to tell you that those who think the president was not born in Hawaii are crazy, he's not a Muslim, he's a good man, and let's knock this crap off and talk about the real differences we have."

Senator Graham expressed frustration with both extreme Republicans and Democrats who disseminate misinformation and personal attacks. He went on to blame the lack of civility in today's political arena in part on the voters who elect confrontational representatives to Washington. Senator Graham also blamed the 24-hour news cycle, talk radio and organizations like MoveOn.org.

He was particularly harsh toward Fox News entertainer and gadfly Glenn Beck, saying, "Only in America can you make that much money crying." Declaring Beck does not speak for the Republican Party, he continued, "He is aligned with cynicism and there has always been a market for cynics. But we became a great nation not because we are a nation of cynics. We became a great nation because we are a nation of believers."

However, Senator Graham's criticism of Beck yesterday on Fox News Sunday had a different slant. "I'm not saying he's bad for America," the Senator said, "You have got the freedom to watch him if you choose. He did a pretty good job on ACORN. What I am saying is he doesn't represent the Republican Party."

Then he referred to comments Beck made last week to CBS News anchor Katie Couric that he would have voted for Obama over Senator John McCain. "But at the end of the day," Graham said, "when a person says he represents conservatism and that the country is better off with Barack Obama than John McCain, that sort of ends the debate for me as to how much more I'm going to listen."

Pardon me, Senator, I hate to be cynical, but where were you during the silly season this past summer? You know, when Governor Palin accused the president of wanting to create "death panels?" Or when Beck ranted his ridiculous claims about eugenics? Or Rush Limbaugh called the president a Nazi? Or when the "birthers," fanned by some conservative members of Congress, accused the president of not being a naturalized American? Or, perhaps worse, the president was a Muslim born in Kenya?

Senator, why the sudden urge to take the high road? Do you think these senseless attacks are hurting the Republican Party more than President Obama? Or are you now speaking up because Glenn Beck has insulted your best friend, Senator John McCain. Whatever your motives, Senator, I agree it's time to knock this crap off.

Follow Joe Peyronnin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/joepeyronnin

Comments

[cobaltbluedog]

My feeling is that Graham wants to distance himself from the Becks, Bachmanns, Palins, etc. In light of the recent Bill Sparkman case, he probably knows that things are getting out of control and wants to come down on the right side of things. Whatever his motivation, it's a baby step in the right direction.

[CelticMajic]

ok lets review the past 8 years:

• Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee: “I hate the Republican and everything they stand for.” Politics, Dean said, “is a struggle of good and evil. And we’re the good.”
• A New Republic editor wrote an article called, “The Case for Bush Hatred,” which started, “I hate President George. W. Bush.”
• The premier of Michael Moore’s 2004 cinematic agitprop, Fahrenheit 9/11, which accused George Bush of attacking Afghanistan to profit his business friends, was attended by almost the whole Democratic Party establishment.
• The Nazi analogy that these days so troubles the Democrats was a standard trope during Bush’s presidency (remember “Bushitler”?): Democratic Senator John Glen called the Republican campaign rhetoric “the old Hitler business.” Al Gore spoke of “squadrons of digital brownshirt­s.” Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP, said that the Republicans’ “idea of equal rights is the American flag and the Confederate swastika flying side by side.”
• CBS talk-show host Craig Kilborn showed Bush on screen with the caption “SNIPERS WANTED.”

[den1953]

Senator Graham is the designated spokesman for the Republican party after they left the whole summer go by with the vile negative tea parties & birther's , etc. they did not renounce them some of the GOP even supported them. When the election light came on and they saw how much damage that was done to the GOP by falling in step with the likes of Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh they want to distance them self's from the fringe. Well Senator it's to late people have spoken and your GOP party has damaged there reputation with the polls taken and where the Republican party falls i don't see any major changes coming in 2010!

[dynwit]

I don't for one minute believe that elected Republicans are simply "afraid" to speak out against the conservative media pundits and the l 0 o n a t i c fringe. The entire sham was orchestrated by them in the back rooms of Washington, at the urging of their old pal, K @ r l R 0 v e. Now they think they can distance themselves from their own Frankenstein monsters?? Hardly. We see right through you, Republicans.

[SimianNation]

Graham knows that he needs to change his whistle before the 2010 elections, so he is starting early.

[BBackSoon]

I don’t believe any Republicans do anything because of principle and quite frankly few Dems are principled either. It is all about getting re-elected.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Do anything, say anything to get the public to vote for you and then continue with your corporate masters bidding.

[shadow322]

I resent the "Far Right" calling themselves "Conservatives" - It gives true conservatives a bad name. I understand why they do it, but those who I've seen wouldn't recognize a true conservative nor understand the difference.

[tehixe]

Where was he? Searching for his nads. I guess he found them. Here comes the primary challenge now! That's what a Republican gets for standing up to the party leadership and showing intelligence.

[Smithn]

Under the Scorpion & the Frog category: aka: Self-serving S. Carolinia Politician:
Let's not forget Lindsey Graham's full bodied supercilious, condescending questionning of Justice Sotomayor. Carry that image, and not the scorpion, to the voting booth with you.

[Collielady]

Lindsay Graham hasn't seen the light. He's had nine months to discredit the right wing fringe, but he was silent. He's just reading the polls and taking a calculated political stand.

Radical right rhetoric is backfiring, big time. Rethuglicans are nearing extinction and Graham knows it.

[TexasDem0]

Based on past behavior by GOP politicians, I wonder if there’s a serious scandal is about to break and Sen. Graham is back peddling as hard as he can to distance himself from it.

[dfranz]

It's amusing to hear the Republican moderates try to reshape the conversation. It appears that the lates program of hate and mistruths is not winning any fans instead pushing people away from the Republican party.

When it was convienient to be used to stir up the wacky base, silence. Now that they are considering what it will take to get elected, reason rules the day. One or two sane sounding Republicans are not going to start a fire with this crowd nor will it change the minds of those of us who have watched this circus.

[Rog49Thomas]

Moderates?

Republican moderates?

[Franklee]

Yes. I used to be one (Moderate Republican).

Voted for Bush in 2000. By '04, I was pretty grossed out by the re-birth of Nixonian dirty tricks and I voted for Nader. By '08, I was, and remain, a Conservative Democrat. Not all D policies are to my liking, but I refuse to side with a man who says he's a Christian--UMC of all things--and then unleashes a misguide, budget-breaking war for no logical, discernible reason.

Maybe there will be more coming behind me. I can only hope.

[dynwit]

Graham is not a "moderate.­" He's an opportunist who will swing along with whatever breeze happens to be blowing in his vicinity.