Moderate Republican, “baby face” Senator Lindsey Graham was heckled at a South Carolina town hall meeting. One tea-bagger told Graham he had “betrayed” conservatism and made a “pact with the devil” by working with Democrats, and asked when Graham would switch parties. Responding, Senator Graham said he is not going anywhere and instead would like to grow the party. He defended his conservative credentials on abortion and guns, and called out Libertarians like Congressman Ron Paul who believe that President G.W. Bush is a war criminal. “We’re not going to be the party of angry white guys,” Graham said to loud “tea-bagging” shouts.

Elsewhere, the Republican Party has sent a warning to Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, for helping pass the health reform bill in the Senate. They have threatened to punish Snowe by not supporting her for the position of ranking minority member on the senate commerce, science and transportation committee when that position becomes open. The message is clear – Moderate Republicans will face the music if they do not toe the line of the angry right.

————————————————————————————————————————————————-

————————————————————————————————————————————————-