Berkeley GOP: No Graham censure

Berkeley County Republicans aren't necessarily any more pleased with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham than those in Charleston County, but they did reach a different conclusion about whether it made sense to censure him for his stands on energy, immigration and other hot topics.

Instead of holding a censure vote, the party voted Monday to pass resolutions urging Graham, and other members of South Carolina's congressional delegation, not to vote for an energy bill with cap-and-trade or carbon-tax provisions and not to support any immigration reform that would give amnesty to those already in this country illegally.

Berkeley County GOP Chairman Tim Callanan said party members thought censuring Graham would be a meaningless gesture.

"I guess the strategy we're looking at from now on, whether it's a state or federal issue, if it's an important enough issue, we're going to go on record and let the elected officials know where we stand," he said. "If they vote against us, they'll know they're voting against what rank-and-file members of the Republican Party think is the right thing to do."

Last year, Charleston County's GOP Executive Committee censured Graham because members were fed up with his cooperation on a bipartisan energy bill, his support for the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program and his comments on immigration reform. Lexington County Republicans later followed suit.

Callanan said the 55 Republicans who showed up for Monday's Berkeley County meeting, including some 27 executive committee members, wanted a different approach. Callanan said Graham was expected to hold a conference call with county party leaders Tuesday evening.

In his reply to Charleston County Republicans, Graham said he has a "common sense conservative approach," and added, "I will not stop from seeking bipartisan solutions to the many challenges our country faces."

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.