Source: AP

Lindsey learned his first lessons about hard work from being employed in his family’s business, a restaurant/bar where he racked pool balls. The lessons followed through college, when he got into academic trouble but worked out of it and graduated. Then in law school he flourished. He was in the top 15% of his class and earned a place in the Order of the Wig and Robe. He was an honor graduate from law school, no easy feat.

Lindsey helped raise his younger sister after his parents passed away while he was in college. He assisted with finding out how to recieve the Social Security Survivors’benefits that eventually helped put both Lindsey and his sister through college.

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After law school he entered the Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. He has served in this capacity for 24 years and sits on the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals as a reserve judge.

Lindsey served a tour of duty in Europe during his six years in the active duty Air Force. He was also called up during the Gulf War. While performing the duty of preparing airmen for deployment he recieved a commendation.

He has served in many civilian positions as well. He started out as the city attorney for the City of Central and assistant county attorney for Oconee County. During this time he also had a successful private practice.

He served two years in the SC Statehouse. He also serves his community in many capacities, such as being a board member for the Rosa Clark Free Medical Center and was fundraising chair for the Oconee Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Lindsey secures many grants to assist different constituents in South Carolina. The constituency that he helps that is closest to my heart is the children who utilize the services of the Darkness to Light Foundation in Charleston. This foundation assists child sex abuse victims in recovery. He has secured many grants for the foundation since he was elected to the Senate. He has also secured grants that will allow for adults to be better trained to recognize the signs of abuse and attorneys so that they may help the victims.

Lindsey has also supported Community Health Centers with grant funding. He also secured a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

He also secures many grants for organizations that help abuse victims.

He has shown an ability to be fair in many instances. He keeps an open mind when thinking about issues and seems willing to change his mind when ffaced with evidence that his position may be wrong. He also questions people from either side critically during committee hearings. The best example of this is the way he questioned Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld during the Abu Ghraib hearings. He is opposed to the Medicare prescription drug package because it is too expensive.

It is not all about party favors for Lindsey, becasue he speaks out when he feels it is necessary, to the chagrin of party leaders. When he spoke to the Iowa Republicans he criticized his party for not reaching out to minority voters. This was not well recieved at the time because they fear his independence.

Those outlined above are just some reasons that I admire, trust and support Lindsey Graham. He represents the American Dream and is an outstanding American. He is proud of our country and wants nothing but the best for America. He is someone of which South Carolina and America should be proud that he is one of our one hundred Senators.