Modeled After Lindsey

The Discovery

Two years ago when I traveled for the campaign of John Edwards I never dreamed I would be writing about modeling myself after Lindsey Graham becaue at the time I didn't know who he was and hadn't cared much to watch C-SPAN. I began watching C-SPAN during the campaign hoping to see John Edwards give the blockbuster speech on the Senate floor that would set me swooning. However, this never happened because John Edwards was out campaining.

One day while listening to the Sneate proceedings I heard a refreshingly eager voice. He was talking about trade and jobs. It was enough to make me wonder about the speaker. I turned around and watched as the gentleman spoke and I saw that it was Lindsey Graham. I had just returned from campaigning in Milwaukee at this time. I couldn't believe that in the middle of a campaign I was getting interested in someone else; on the other side no less. Sen. Graham had captured my attention and I did research to find out more about his life, career, and positions. The more I looked into it the more I admired him and decided that he was the person I wanted to model myself after.

Disagreement, Defense, and Support

I disagree with him sometimes and other times I wonder shat he is thinking, but this never makes my question his status as my role model. We tend to question those items we disagree with more than that with which we agree. However, I chose to adopt his idea of compromising and finding a middle ground in order to get something done. The largest example of this is the judicial compromise, which he took flak for, but I founf it easy to defend.

I know I have moved slightly left (populist-leaning conservative to populist conservative] over the last two years and appearantly Lindsey has also, at least on immigration. He has a populist streak that causes his independent, some would say maverick, actions. I share this streak and the desire to help people. I share the willingness to challenge orthodoxy when necessary, like in supporting a payroll tax cap increase to pay for the transition cost of the Social Security reform.

I do not agree with his support of the Marriage protection Amendment for Constittuional reasons, but I honor his wish to support it. I will also defend his action should it becaome necessary, which I hope it never does, to use the Constitutional Option evnthough I hope it never sees the light of day again.

I choose to model myself after Lindsey because of his willingness to compromise and stand for principles, as well as his life being a model of the American Dream.