It's not unusual after a sporting event to see the opposing players congratulating each other for a hard-fought game. While the stakes of the emotional immigration debate were far greater than any game, good friendships survived the battle. The first person to shake my hand after the vote last week was my good friend, Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Some may be surprised to learn that throughout the immigration debate, Sen. Graham and I continued to talk about how to achieve tax reform, how to get every American insured with private health care, and how to expand South Carolina's leadership in nuclear energy. And just last Friday, we both cosponsored a bill to keep the federal government from reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine, a policy that would gag talk radio and everyone's First Amendment right to free speech.

Lindsey and I have worked closely together in Congress for over eight years and we make a good team for South Carolina. Both of us have been willing to take unpopular stands when we thought we were right, and both of us have gone against the president when we thought he was wrong.

We may have different views on how to improve our immigration system, but I have a deep respect for the hard work, conviction and passion Sen. Graham brings to policy debates. I'm proud to work alongside Lindsey; he's a trusted friend and a true asset to South Carolina and the nation.



-- Sen. Jim DeMint

The moral high ground

Sen. Lindsey Graham talks with the smug assurance that he holds the moral high ground on the illegal immigration issue. Moreover, he refers to those who disagree with him with contempt and derision. He should look twice before stepping onto his thinly chosen ice.

Exploiting the cheap labor of poor people from third world countries is nothing to be proud of. Even though they come here voluntarily, they are lured to this country by the employers who unscrupulously take advantage of their hardship by offering wages most U.S. citizens would not accept.

Because employers assume none of the social costs associated with tens of millions of illegal immigrants, these costs are passed along to the American taxpayer. Billions of dollars for health care, education, welfare, policing and a myriad of other costs are taken from the American people and transferred, via the illegal immigrant population who use these services, to the companies that provide them. A massive transfer of wealth from the average American Joe to the elite corporate bosses who run these companies. The same companies lobbying Graham and his senate colleagues to do their bidding.

Furthermore, these employers are not only undermining the welfare of their fellow citizens, they are breaking the law.

Graham needs to be reminded that he was elected by the citizens of the State of South Carolina. He was not elected by the corrupt elite of foreign countries pushing their down-trodden people north of the Rio Grande. And he was not elected to serve the interests of a handful of corporate bosses growing fat from the exploitation of these same people.

Next time Senator Graham tells the bigots to shut up, he should look into a mirror.



-- Ronald F. Maxwell, Flint Hill, Va., writer, producer and director of the movies  Gettysburg and Gods and Generals

Showing he's not 'my' congressman

Well, I thought he was "my" congressman.

On June 26, I was in Washington participating in an event with my daughter and we were able to get an appointment with Congressman Henry Brown of Charleston. In the waiting area was a young woman who introduced herself as Tara, a journalist writing an article on the ACLU demonstration and how Congressman Brown's constituents felt about the issues.

Brown came out and introduced himself and I introduced my daughter and myself. I expected to be invited into his office to discuss the issues I'd traveled 500 miles to talk about. Instead he chose to verbally assault and proceeded to yell at me in his waiting room and even did the same to the journalist.

I've gotten accustomed over the years to Congressman Brown taking a different stance on the issues than I would like him to. I've gotten used to his "canned" responses to my letters on issues. But I think screaming at constituents you don't agree with is taking political partisanship a bit far, even for a congressman from South Carolina.

Though we disagree, Congressman Brown is still supposed to be the congressman for everyone in the 1st District, not just those he agrees with or can fill his re-election campaign account. We have a right to responsible representation and good government. Sorry to say, we don't right now.

But there is a good side to the story. Last year we had to beg my daughter to go vote. After she watched Congressman Brown in action, she implied that she'll make sure to vote from now on. I can't be sure who she'll vote for, but I'm pretty sure who she'll vote against.



-- Nancy Seufert, North Charleston

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