2012 SelectSmart.com Presidential Candidate Selector Candidate Positions Lindsey Graham (born July 9, 1955) A member of the Republican Party, he is currently the senior US Senator from South Carolina.

Foreign policy and war issues: Senator Lindsey Graham spoke of an encounter he had with a local mother [in Israel], who told him she loved her country and was not afraid to live here. "This is the spirit of Israeli determination," Graham stated, adding that Israel and the US would continue to stand united against radical Islam. Graham added that during his visit to the country he had met with people who supported the two-state solution, and said that the US should encourage [t]he moderates on both sides of the conflict. Source
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) Source In 2008 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Senator Graham a grade of F. Senator Graham supported the interests of the ACT! for America 100 percent in 2007-2008 when voting on Issues in the 110th Congressional Session.
Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation's position, Senator Graham received a rating of -2. Source

Security/liberties: In 2007-2008 Human Rights Campaign gave Senator Graham a grade of 0. Senator Graham supported the interests of the Center for Security Policy 75 percent in 2005-2006. 2007-2008 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Leadership Conference on Civil Rights's position, Senator Graham received a rating of 17. In 2007 American Civil Liberties Union gave Senator Graham a grade of 14.
Senator Graham supported the interests of the Conservative Index - The John Birch Society 90 percent in Fall 2004. Source 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 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) Source

Social Security: In 2007-2008 The American Geriatrics Society gave Senator Graham a grade of F. Senator Graham supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 0 percent in 2007. Source Voted NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999) Create personal retirement accounts within Social Security. (Jul 2000) Source Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves. Source

Stem cell research: Voted NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007) Source

Same sex issues: Support the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. (Aug 2008) Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006) Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999) Source

Trade issues: Senator Graham supported the interests of the Center for Trade Policy Studies -- CATO Institute 0 percent in 2003-2004 for Trade Subsidy Votes. In 2007-2008 USA Engage gave Senator Graham a grade of C. Source

Budget issues: Actively opposed and voted against the Obama initiated Stimulus Plan. Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Children's Defense Fund's position, Graham received a rating of 30. Source He supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 0 percent in 2007. Source In 2007 National Taxpayers Union gave Graham a grade of A. Source
In 2008 National Tax Limitation Committee gave Senator Graham a grade of B in its special report. Senator Graham supported the interests of the National Tax Limitation Committee 90 percent in 2007-2008. Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Children's Defense Fund's position, Senator Graham received a rating of 30. Source Voted NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million. (Mar 2008) Source

Business & labor issues: Senator Graham supported the interests of the Business-Industry Political Action Committee 100 percent in 2007. Senator Graham supported the interests of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 100 percent in 2007. Senator Graham supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 0 percent in 2007. Source

Abortion issues: Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to National Right to Life Committee's position, Senator Graham received a rating of 100. 2007 In 2007 NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Senator Graham a grade of 0. Source Agrees that abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape. Agrees that abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered. Source

Capital punishment: Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995) Source Would broaden the use of the death penalty for federal crimes. Would support capital punishment for convicted international drug traffickers. Source

Marijuana: Voted YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC. (Oct 1999) Voted YES on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests. (Sep 1998) Source Would not decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Source

Gun issues: In 2008 National Rifle Association gave Senator Graham a grade of A, in its scorecard for candidates seeking office in 2008. On the votes that the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence considered to be the most important as of 2002, Senator Graham voted their preferred position 11 percent of the time. These scores are cumulative for each representative's time in their current office. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence considered votes from 1988-2002 in the House and 1991-2002 in the Senate when determining these scores. Source

Minimum wage: Opposes increasing the federal minimum wage. Source

Health care: Senator Graham supported the interests of the American Public Health Association 20 percent in 2006. On the votes that the Protect Patients Now! considered to be the most important in 2006, Senator Graham voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time. Senator Graham supported the interests of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine 0 percent in 2005-2006. Source Voted NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Nov 2007) Source

Prescription drugs: Voted YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug. (Mar 2005) Source

Immigration issues: "Senator Lindsey Graham has voted in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens... Senator Lindsey Graham has voted for increases in permanent and temporary foreign work visas such as the H1-B." Source Graham condemns Arizona’s anti-immigration law "It does offend me that when one out of every three citizens in the state of Arizona are Hispanics, and you have now put a target on the back of one of three citizens who, if they’re walking their dog around a neighborhood, if they’re walking their child to school, and they’re an American citizen or a legal, legal immigrant, can now put a target on their back and make them think every time they walk out of their door, they may have to prove something. I will tell you that is un-American. It is unacceptable, and it’s un-American." Source In 2007-2008 English First gave Senator Graham a grade of A. Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Federation for American Immigration Reform's position, Senator Graham received a rating of 50. Senator Graham supported the interests of the English First 100 percent in 2007. In 2007 U.S. English gave Senator Graham a grade of A. Senator Graham supported the interests of the American Immigration Lawyers Association 75 percent in 2006. Source

Education issues: Voted YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001) Voted YES on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998) Source Would allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any publicly-funded school. Would allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any participating school: public, private or religious. Would allow parents to use tax-free savings accounts to send their children to any publicly-funded school. Would allow parents to use tax-free savings accounts to send their children to any participating school: public, private or religious. Source

Environmental issues: Senator Graham supported the interests of the Environment America 10 percent in 2008. Senator Graham supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 8 percent in the First and Second Sessions of Congress in 2007-2008. 2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to American Land Rights Association's position, Senator Graham received a rating of 80. Source

Informational website.