Repblican Candidate: Lindsey Graham

Lindsey Olin Graham is an American politician and member of the Republican Party, who has served as a United States Senator from South Carolina since 2003, and has been the senior Senator from South Carolina since 2005. Lindsey Graham is not married and has no children.

On the Issues:

Staunch Conservative

Abortion:

• Protect the sanctity of life. (Aug 2008)
• Ginsburg would get rejected today for outspokenness on Roe. (Jan 2006)
• Federal crime to harm fetus during an assault. (Apr 2001)
• Voted YES on restricting UN funding for population control policies. (Mar 2009)
• Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
• Voted NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
• Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
• Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
• Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
• Voted YES on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
• Voted YES on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
• Voted YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
• Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Rated 100% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance. (Dec 2006)
• Prohibit transporting minors across state lines for abortion. (Jan 2008)
• Prohibit federal funding for abortion. (May 2011)

 On the Economy:

• Dollar-for-dollar offset: cut spending to raise debt ceiling. (Jan 2013)
• Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
• Voted YES on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (May 2009)
• Voted NO on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Feb 2009)
• Voted YES on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
• Allow $3 on 1040 form to pay off National Debt. (Sep 2000)
• Balanced Budget Amendment with 3/5 vote to override. (Jan 2009)
• Supports the Cut-Cap-and-Balance Pledge. (Jan 2012)
• Disapprove of increasing the debt limit. (Jan 2012)
• Supports balanced budget amendment & line item veto. (Sep 1994) 

On Social Security:

• Voted YES on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
• Voted NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
• Create personal retirement accounts within Social Security. (Jul 2000)
• Rated 20% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Rated 9% by ARA, indicating a pro-privatization stance. (Jan 2013)
• Reduce taxes on Social Security earnings. (Sep 1994) 

On Civil Rights:

• Support the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. (Aug 2008)
• Voted NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. (Feb 2013)
• Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
• Voted YES on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998)
• Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)
• Rated 0% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
• Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
• Rated 11% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
• Amend Constitution to define traditional marriage. (Jun 2008) 

On Gun Control:

• Voted NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets. (Apr 2013)
• Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains. (Apr 2009)
• Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership. (Sep 2007)
• Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. (Jul 2005)
• Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)
• Voted YES on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. (Jun 1999)
• Rated A by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record. (Dec 2003)
• National cross-state standard for concealed carry. (Jan 2009)
• Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty. (Sep 2013)
• Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC. (Mar 2007)
• Allow firearms in National Parks. (Feb 2008)
• Apply concealed carry permit to all other states where legal. (Feb 2009)
• Dangerousness, not mental incompetence, limits gun rights. (Mar 2009) 

On Drugs:

• Voted YES on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
• Voted YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC. (Oct 1999)
• Voted YES on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests. (Sep 1998)
• Enhance interdiction by criminalizing unflagged submarines. (Jul 2008) 

On Education:

• Voted NO on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Oct 2007)
• Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
• Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
• Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
• Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
• Voted YES on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
• Let schools display the words "God Bless America". (Oct 2001)
• Supports requiring schools to allow prayer. (Jan 2001)
• Rated 27% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
• Sponsored $110M per year to teach abstinence in public schools. (Feb 2013)
• Sponsored denouncing the Common Core State Standards. (Feb 2014)
• Supports a Constitutional Amendment for school prayer. (May 1997) 

On Energy and Oil:

• Greenhouse gas is a problem; but EPA shouldn't regulate it. (Feb 2012)
• Voted YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. (Apr 2011)
• Voted YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax. (Apr 2009)
• Voted YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade. (Apr 2009)
• Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
• Voted NO on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China. (May 2008)
• Voted NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
• Voted YES on making oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. (Jun 2007)
• Voted NO on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
• Voted NO on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR. (Nov 2005)
• Voted NO on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas. (Oct 2005)
• Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). (Jun 2005)
• Voted NO on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
• Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
• Voted NO on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
• Voted NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001)
• Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. (Aug 2001)
• Voted NO on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000)
• Rated 17% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
• Open the Outer Continental Shelf for oil & gas leasing. (Jun 2008)
• Gas tax holiday for the summer. (Apr 2008)

 On The Environment:

• Green diesel regulations cost $367 per truck per year. (Jan 2014)
• Voted YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems. (May 2013)
• Voted NO on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Aug 2009)
• Voted YES on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land. (Dec 2007)
• Voted NO on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations. (Sep 2005)
• Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
• Allow longer than 10 years to rebuild depleted fisheries. (Sep 2011)
• Rated 60% by HSLF, indicating a mixed voting record on animal welfare. (Jan 2012) 

On Famlies and Children:

• Voted YES on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years. (Mar 2001)
• Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-Family-Value voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Use tax code to reinforce families. (Sep 1994)
• Fund 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs in underserved areas. (Dec 1997) 

On Foreign Policy:

• Condemn & isolate Cuba; they deserve no new engagement. (Dec 2014)
• Cuba is still a security threat to America; no aid. (Dec 2014)
• Sanctions on North Korea: terrorist list & China's help. (Dec 2014)
• Without American leadership the world disintegrates rapidly. (Jul 2014)
• Sanctions against Putin; arm & train the Ukrainians. (Jul 2014)
• UN has become more anti- Israeli & anti-Semitic. (Jul 2014)
• America is the glue that holds the free world together. (Jul 2014)
• Create a democratic noose around Putin's Russia. (Mar 2014)
• Create a democratic noose around Putin's Russia. (Mar 2014)
• Voted YES on cooperating with India as a nuclear power. (Oct 2008)
• Voted NO on keeping Cuba travel ban until political prisoners released. (Jul 2001)
• Voted YES on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
• Voted NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (May 2000)
• Voted NO on $15.2 billion for foreign operations. (Nov 1999)
• Rated +1 by AAI, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
• Vigorous support for State of Israel against Hamas in Gaza. (Nov 2012)
• Let Ukraine & Georgia enter NATO. (Jan 2008)
• Support Iranian demonstrators against Iranian government. (Jun 2009)
• Pressure friendly Arab states to end Israeli boycott. (Oct 2007) 

On Free Trade:

• NAFTA drained away textile trade from Upstate SC. (Jan 2014)
• Voted YES on promoting free trade with Peru. (Dec 2007)
• Voted YES on free trade agreement with Oman. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade. (Jul 2005)
• Voted NO on establishing free trade between US & Singapore. (Jul 2003)
• Voted NO on establishing free trade between the US and Chile. (Jul 2003)
• Voted NO on withdrawing from the WTO. (Jun 2000)
• Voted NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements. (Sep 1998)
• Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record. (Dec 2002)
• Free trade with post-Orange Revolution Ukraine. (Apr 2005) 

On Government Reform:

• Increase campaign contribution limits; but no foreigners. (Nov 2000)
• Voted NO on Congressional pay raise. (Jul 2009)
• Voted NO on providing a US House seat for the District of Columbia. (Feb 2009)
• Voted NO on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
• Voted YES on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
• Voted YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)
• Voted YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions. (Feb 2002)
• Voted NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties. (Jul 2001)
• Voted YES on banning soft money and issue ads. (Sep 1999)
• Sponsored bill allowing individual votes on each earmark. (Feb 2006)
• Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks. (May 2010)
• Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements. (Feb 2013)
• Prohibit IRS audits targeting Tea Party political groups. (Feb 2014)
• Restrict campaign donations from foreigners or 3rd parties. (May 1999)
• Require all laws to cite Constitutional authorization. (Jun 2009)
• Limit punitive damages; term limits on Congress. (Sep 1994)
• Government is too big, too intrusive, too easy with money. (Sep 1994) 

On Healthcare: 

• US troops in Africa is the right way to fight Ebola. (Oct 2014)
• Opposed ObamaCare from day one. (Mar 2014)
• Let ObamaCare show itself as a continuing debacle. (Oct 2013)
• Voted YES on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts. (May 2011)
• Voted NO on regulating tobacco as a drug. (Jun 2009)
• Voted NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
• Voted NO on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008)
• Voted YES on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium. (Mar 2008)
• Voted NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Nov 2007)
• Voted NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
• Voted NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000. (May 2006)
• Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. (Feb 2006)
• Voted NO on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics. (Nov 2005)
• Voted YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug. (Mar 2005)
• Voted NO on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Jun 2003)
• Voted YES on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)
• Voted YES on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on banning physician-assisted suicide. (Oct 1999)
• Voted YES on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts. (Oct 1999)
• Rated 12% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Establish a national childhood cancer database. (Mar 2007)
• Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy. (Apr 2011)
• Expand medical savings accounts for employers & individuals. (Feb 1999)
• Establishment of Office of Health Care Fraud Prevention. (Oct 2009) 

On Homeland Security:

• The next stage of the fight against terrorism is in Africa. (Jan 2015)
• Fill Guantanamo with more terrorists instead of closing it. (Dec 2014)
• Benghazi:Focus on talking points, not how intel was gathered. (Nov 2014)
• Doing nothing about Benghazi leads to a more dangerous world. (Mar 2014)
• More budget & more than 440,000 troops against North Korea. (Mar 2014)
• NSA domestic spying only targets terrorism suspects. (Aug 2013)
• NSA leaker Edward Snowden is a felon, not a hero. (Jun 2013)
• Cuts to military systems will leave us with a hollow force. (Mar 2013)
• President did not do enough to protect Benghazi embassy. (Feb 2013)
• Canceling Pole/Czech missile defense capitulates to Russia. (Dec 2011)
• 2005: interrogations must follow US Army Field Manual rules. (Aug 2011)
• Ensure terrorists cannot sue American troops. (Aug 2008)
• Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps. (Feb 2011)
• Voted YES on cutting $221M in benefits to Filipinos who served in WWII US Army. (Apr 2008)
• Voted NO on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls. (Feb 2008)
• Voted YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
• Voted NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
• Voted NO on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
• Voted NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
• Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
• Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
• Voted NO on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
• Voted NO on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on permitting commercial airline pilots to carry guns. (Jul 2002)
• Voted YES on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill. (Jul 1999)
• Voted YES on deploying SDI. (Mar 1999)
• Federalize aviation security. (Nov 2001)
• Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Prohibit torture of terrorists in US custody. (Jul 2005)
• Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget. (Jun 2006)
• Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11. (Dec 2007)
• Improve educational assistance for veterans. (Apr 2008)
• Set minimum spending on defense at 4% of GDP. (Dec 2007)
• No US troops under UN command; more defense spending. (Sep 1994) 

On Immigration:

• The next stage of the fight against terrorism is in Africa. (Jan 2015)
• Fill Guantanamo with more terrorists instead of closing it. (Dec 2014)
• Benghazi:Focus on talking points, not how intel was gathered. (Nov 2014)
• Doing nothing about Benghazi leads to a more dangerous world. (Mar 2014)
• More budget & more than 440,000 troops against North Korea. (Mar 2014)
• NSA domestic spying only targets terrorism suspects. (Aug 2013)
• NSA leaker Edward Snowden is a felon, not a hero. (Jun 2013)
• Cuts to military systems will leave us with a hollow force. (Mar 2013)
• President did not do enough to protect Benghazi embassy. (Feb 2013)
• Canceling Pole/Czech missile defense capitulates to Russia. (Dec 2011)
• 2005: interrogations must follow US Army Field Manual rules. (Aug 2011)
• Ensure terrorists cannot sue American troops. (Aug 2008)
• Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps. (Feb 2011)
• Voted YES on cutting $221M in benefits to Filipinos who served in WWII US Army. (Apr 2008)
• Voted NO on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls. (Feb 2008)
• Voted YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
• Voted NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
• Voted NO on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
• Voted NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
• Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
• Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
• Voted NO on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
• Voted NO on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on permitting commercial airline pilots to carry guns. (Jul 2002)
• Voted YES on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill. (Jul 1999)
• Voted YES on deploying SDI. (Mar 1999)
• Federalize aviation security. (Nov 2001)
• Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Prohibit torture of terrorists in US custody. (Jul 2005)
• Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget. (Jun 2006)
• Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11. (Dec 2007)
• Improve educational assistance for veterans. (Apr 2008)
• Set minimum spending on defense at 4% of GDP. (Dec 2007)
• No US troops under UN command; more defense spending. (Sep 1994) 

On Jobs:

• Biggest business headache is worker's compensation system. (Jan 2014)
• Voted YES on extending unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks. (Nov 2008)
• Voted YES on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008)
• Voted YES on terminating legal challenges to English-only job rules. (Mar 2008)
• Voted NO on limiting farm subsidies to people earning under $750,000. (Dec 2007)
• Voted NO on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Jun 2007)
• Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Feb 2007)
• Voted NO on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports. (Oct 2001)
• Voted YES on zero-funding OSHA's Ergonomics Rules instead of $4.5B. (Mar 2001)
• Rated 17% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Incentives to businesses create jobs & raise wages. (Sep 1994)

On War and Peace:

• Returning from Iraq prematurely was a mistake. (Jan 2015)
• Form regional coalition to enforce no-fly zone in Syria. (Jan 2015)
• Ok to hold off Iranian sanctions but only while negotiating. (Jan 2015)
• U.S. ground troops to fight ISIL in Syria and Iraq. (Oct 2014)
• We should have left 10,000 US troops in Iraq. (Oct 2014)
• 2012: Arm the Syrian rebels & fight Assad's air force. (Oct 2014)
• More intervention in Iraq avoids an American city in flames. (Aug 2014)
• Israel: stay as long as needed in Gaza to deal with Hamas. (Jul 2014)
• Arm Ukraine; sanction Russia; more NATO troops to region. (Jul 2014)
• ISIS plans to take Jordan; that throws Mideast into turmoil. (Jun 2014)
• OK for Iran to help in Iraq, but not to dominate. (Jun 2014)
• ISIS makes Iraq & Syria the staging area for the next 9/11. (Jun 2014)
• Obama "screams loudly & carries no stick," in Russia & Syria. (Mar 2014)
• Support the Syrian rebels against Assad & Iran. (Oct 2013)
• Intervention in Syria to degrade Assad's chemical weapons. (Sep 2013)
• Getting Syria wrong leads to Iranian nukes & war with Israel. (Sep 2013)
• Syria: Assad must go, and small arms won't do it. (Jun 2013)
• Get involved in Syria to protect against al Qaeda and Iran. (Apr 2013)
• Slow Afghan withdrawal, with 15,000 US troops left behind. (Jan 2013)
• We need more troops for long haul, Iraq is like WWII. (Sep 2004)
• Voted NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months. (Dec 2007)
• Voted YES on designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorists. (Sep 2007)
• Voted NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)
• Voted NO on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding. (Apr 2005)
• Voted YES on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
• Voted YES on authorizing military force in Iraq. (Oct 2002)
• Voted YES on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo. (May 1999)
• Sponsored prevention, not containment, for Iranian nukes. (May 2012)
• Support the completion of the US mission in Iraq. (Feb 2007)
• Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program. (Apr 2009) 

So...there you have it!

Next week we will take a closer look at:   Martin O'Malley