July 1, 2010 4:57 PM

Lindsey Graham: Tea Party will "Die Out"

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Republicans ,
Tea Party
(Credit: CBS/ Chris Usher)

In the past year, many Republican lawmakers have sought the support of the conservative Tea Party movement. But Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, bucking his party once again, is predicting the movement will "die out."

"The problem with the Tea Party, I think it's just unsustainable because they can never come up with a coherent vision for governing the country. It will die out," Graham said in an interview with the New York Times magazine. "We don't have a lot of Reagan-type leaders in our party. Remember Ronald Reagan Democrats? I want a Republican that can attract Democrats."

Graham added, in a comment sure to rile some in the GOP: "Ronald Reagan would have a hard time getting elected as a Republican today."

In the current hyper-partisan atmosphere in Washington, Graham is one of the few Republicans willing to work with Democrats on hot-button issues like comprehensive energy legislation and immigration reform. In April, he called the controversial Arizona immigration law -- which has galvanized both liberals and conservatives -- unconstitutional. He has signaled he could vote to confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court and even chided his Republican colleagues for labeling liberal icon Thurgood Marshall a "judicial activist."

Graham's willingness to cross partisan lines has won the ire of Tea Partiers and other hardline conservatives. Republicans in South Carolina have even officially censured Graham for his work with Democrats on issues like immigration.

"Everything I'm doing now in terms of talking about climate, talking about immigration, talking about Gitmo is completely opposite of where the Tea Party movement's at," Graham told the New York Times.

The senator described a contentious meeting he had in his office with a group of Tea Partiers. Graham said he asked them, "'What do you want to do? You take back your country -- and do what with it?'"

"Everybody went from being kind of hostile to just dead silent," he said.

In the story, Graham said that Republicans who will likely be elected in this year's midterm elections will be "more like me, not less like me" -- though he made an exception for at least one Tea Party-backed candidate, Nevada's Sharron Angle.

"Now, this lady from Nevada?" Graham said. "Probably not."

During a Tea Party rally this spring, a speaker said Graham was working with Democrats out of fear that they would out the lifelong bachelor as a homosexual. Graham smirked at the mention of this incident, the Times reports.

"Like maybe I'm having a clandestine affair with Ricky Martin," he said. "I know it's really gonna upset a lot of gay men -- I'm sure hundreds of 'em are gonna be jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge -- but I ain't available. I ain't gay. Sorry."


Add a Comment See all 62 Comments
by Joystaveley July 23, 2010 12:24 PM EDT
He's another RHINO. And as far as his anti-tea party sentiments go, he doesn't seem to realize that the tea party movement is made up of citizens who want less government, lower taxes, free markets, and more accountability. It may be hard for politicians to understand, but we don't want government handouts. Our government has grown way too big and way too powerful. We won't go away, no matter how much Mr. Graham wishes we would.We are not going backwards. We are regaining control of our lives!
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by ron6978 July 15, 2010 7:07 PM EDT
What is Lindsey Graham afraid of. The TEA Party iks about what Graham should be about. Less government, less spending, less taxation, and more freedom. Is Graham afraid of losing his do-nothing job? I think so, and his party will not support him either next time he comes up for re election.
All are welcome at TEA party rallies, even politicians from both sides of the aisle. Come on down, face the trouble you have caused and why we are fighting to keep you from destroying America
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by nathandrew July 6, 2010 2:58 PM EDT
To those of you Tea Baggers complaining about our taxes, we have one of the lowest tax rates in the world. And our tax rates are basically the same as Bush's. So where were you when the white man was in charge? All of a sudden when it's a black man who is "taking your money" he's taking too much? No one with a percentage of a clue what is going on with the economy can take you guys seriously.
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by Joystaveley July 23, 2010 12:28 PM EDT
With the Bush tax cuts, everyone benefited at all levels. We are complaining now because effective January 1, 2011 those better tax rates will be gone, or were you unaware of that! As far as other countries go, look at Greece! America is not and should not be like any other country. We work hard here and make our own way. If you want Socialism, try Europe, or better yet, Greece!
by mmvale July 6, 2010 8:04 AM EDT
The tea party is a way for average Americans to voice their views. Congress and the president do not listen to us so we have to have a way to tell them how we feel. We don't want 2,000 page bills that no one understands. We want honest debate about important issues that will change our lives.
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by facelessdrone2005 July 9, 2010 2:14 PM EDT
Yeah, but unfortunately you can't fit a health care bill into a news item on Fox. Sorry, it's complicated. Deal with it. And if you sincerely want honest debate, that's great, now tell your conservative buddies. The Republicans in Congress think debate means filibuster and the teabaggers are still hung up on "you're either with us or against us." That's not debate, that's abuse.
by Joystaveley July 23, 2010 12:33 PM EDT
Not sure what facelessdrone2005 is talking about, but you can't debate a bill if you don't know what's in it, and you can't know what's in it if it's still being written while you are voting on it! That is what happened in the Health Care Bill. The problem Democrats and Republicans is that they are just voting the party line and not voting what the American people want. The Tea Party people don't have that problem. We are fighting for principal. That is so much more up front than what is happening in Congress!
by Noah_Whey July 5, 2010 9:30 PM EDT
Now appearing in the role of Arlen Spector - Lindsay Grahamnesty.
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by xfiler93 July 5, 2010 6:38 PM EDT
dont understand this guy. He will be out of office long before the Tea Party is gone that is for sure. Wierd.
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by les_gvt July 5, 2010 5:36 PM EDT
I am a conservative that happens to be gay, so I could care less about his self denial, what I care about is he is a RINO, go ahead and take Snowe, Collins, Mc amnesty all to the Democrats with you, after November, they will need you to maintain control of the Senate
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by jjrn13 July 5, 2010 1:20 PM EDT
Oh I am absolutely certain it is Lindsey Graham's deepest wish that the TP will die out by his next election cycle (2014). I'm sure hope springs eternal in his heart that we will disappear. Graham, we're not going anywhere. If the TP, those of us who represent and have become the voice of the vast majority of the American people, are no longer a force to be recond with by 2014, then BHO and his destructive agendas will have prevailed and,frankly, there will be little to speak in defense of. In Obama's world, he is king, we are his subjects, we toil for his spending pleasures, he would silence us on talk radio, he would silence us and dump us down on the Internet. In short, he would be ruling with an iron fist.
Those such as Graham who has decided we have no clear goals, who still maintain we are a group disconnected and misinformed vastly underestimate the American people. We haveno more patience with lies, deceptions, rhetoric and hyperbole. More importantly, we are done with career politicians...those who point a dampened finger to the political winds and blow for all appearance sake in that direction...then do as they dammed well please.
We are done with people like Graham who correctly points out vital flaws with people like Sotomayor, exposing her as a bigot, an activist judge who seeks to, not interpret law, but create them...and then vote in favor of her proclaiming, "elections have consequences." We shall see what consequences he faces in 2014.
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by kbworkman July 5, 2010 12:11 PM EDT
I guess Lindsey isn't a student of history.

When the people are satified that they are being listened to grass root movements dsiolve and the PEOPLE go about their lives.

It is only the special interest movements need to stay around all the time because they need to keep themselves looking important. That is their daily lives.

When the PEOPLE become unhappy they band together. The special interest groups try to convince everyone that they are nut cases but it won't work. We know who the nutcases are and there are more of us than them.

We aren't gone, but watching. We have lives to lead and a country to try to keep running without any encouragement or help from the government.

We also will remember when it comes time to vote. Politicians can lie very well. In good times people don't pay that much attention but in the bad times we have much better memories.
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by MikeinIdaho July 5, 2010 11:34 AM EDT
Can ANY of you argue the merits (if you can) of Obama's policies, or is carping about the Tea Party and it's "members" all you have? Just asking!
So far, it's small minded arguments from small minded people! But then, this IS CBS, isn't it.
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