Draft Thomas Ravenel for SC Republican Primary, US Senate

Dear Sir:

We the undersigned hereby request your commitment to run as a Republican candidate for The United States Senate from South Carolina in 2008. Your reluctance to make a decision now is understandable; even admirable. 2008 is three years away. But recent events add urgency to this decision. By helping Democrats abort the fight to end judicial filibusters, Senator Graham has revealed how much he cherishes the supposed "traditions of the US Senate". We, his constituents, do not share his reverence for tradition or his preference for comity over victory. We are appalled that our country, founded by men so courageous they put their very lives at risk, is being held hostage by a minority of men and women so tentative and so timid, they equate a mere Senate rule change with violence. Senator Graham said it would "blow up the Senate" and that by averting a rule change, the Senate is "back in business". To this we add: Yes, business as usual. When the time arrived to confront Democrat obstructionists, he shrank from conflict and chose compromise over victory. After Senator Graham participated in the backroom deal, he made several bewildering statements. Among them was this one: I will not use this job to hate people. There are some people on the right and the left, who expect you not only to vote with them, but to hate the people they hate. Count me out. We do not equate political opposition with hatred. We did not ask him to hate and we will not respond to the heated rhetoric he directed at us by returning a similar outburst toward him.

Lindsey Graham is a fine man and no doubt made his decision in good conscience. He chose to make a deal with Senator John McCain and the rest of "The Gang of 14", in the belief that compromise was preferable to victory. In the past, he said he believes judicial nominees deserve an up or down vote. But belief is not the same as commitment. It is his prerogative to change his mind and follow Senator McCain instead of his party's majority leader and his president. However, it is likewise our prerogative to change our minds. We would now prefer that you be our Senator instead of Lindsey Graham. You conducted yourself honorably in your 2004 campaign for Senate; a campaign won by Jim DeMint. You fought hard, and conceded gracefully in a close primary. In the general election campaign, you supported Mr. DeMint much more than the minimal amount that sportsmanship and party loyalty require. You supported his candidacy warmly, enthusiastically and even financially. He won by a wide margin. It was his time then. It is your time now. We trust you will answer the call and commit soon, if not immediately. We wish to send you to join Mr. Jim DeMint to represent the great state of South Carolina in Washington as a member of the United States Senate.