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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSen. Graham: From McCain's Wingman To Trump's Stooge
Alex Henderson
September 29, 2018 3:42 am
When Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, President Donald Trumps embattled nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, addressed members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, DC at a hearing on Thursday, September 27, the Committees Republicans were not shy about stridently coming to his defenseincluding Utahs Orrin Hatch and Iowas Chuck Grassley. But the Committees most over-the-top political theatrics, hands down, came from Sen. Lindsey Graham, who painted Democrats as a lynch mob full of tyrants who had no qualms about destroying a decent, honorable man. Graham, during his shameless rant, pointed the finger at senators who have been on the fence about whether or not they will vote for Kavanaughs confirmationdeclaring that a vote against Kavanaugh would be tantamount to a vote for lynching and mob rule. And Grahams comments were so cartoonish that Joe Scarborough, one of the anti-Trump conservatives at MSNBC, denounced the South Carolina senator as having gone from being John McCains wingman in politics to becoming Donald Trumps carnival barker.
Graham, angry and emotional during his outburst at the September 27 hearing, declared, To my Republican colleagues: if you vote no, youre legitimizing the most despicable thing Ive seen in my time in politics. Though he didnt mention them by name, Grahams heavy-handed comments were obviously aimed at Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Jeff Flakethree GOP senators who have often been cited as possible swing votes in Kavanaughs nomination. Graham was determined to shame and coerce them into voting for Kavanaugh whether they liked it or not. And Flake has announced that he is a yes vote on Kavanaugh.
Scarborough isnt the only conservative who has been critical of Grahams tactics. The evening of September 27, veteran GOP strategist Steve Schmidt was interviewed by Brian Williams on MSNBCs The 11th Hour and said of Graham, Hes corrupted by ambition, corrupted by politicsand its tragic, because this country could use a statesmen right now.
Schmidt went on to say that Graham has been corrupted by the Trump era. To see him become sycophantic, to see him become dishonest and angry and sneering is just tragiccertainly not the person I once knew. But again, if you hang around politics enough, you tend to get disappointed by people, and he is a profound disappointment.
Kavanaughs appearance at the September 27 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing followed the gut-wrenching testimony of 51-year Palo Alto University college professor Christine Blasey Ford, who alleges that Kavanaugh attempted to her rape her at party in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC in 1982. In contrast to the overwrought and tearful Kavanaugh, Ford was composed as she recalled the alleged events of 36 years ago. Graham, during his outburst, avoided attacking Fordwho he tried to paint as being a victim not of Kavanaugh, but of a Democratic Party smear campaign.
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http://www.nationalmemo.com/sen-graham-from-mccains-wingman-to-trumps-stooge/
Bob Loblaw
(1,900 posts)One reason being, I would have started with, "Is the Senator from South Carolina quite finished? Bless your heart." Then lit into him with this, "Don't point your finger at me me you self-righteous, sycophantic, trump humping prick. Not having much fun now that you can't hide behind John McCain's skirt are you?"
lunatica
(53,410 posts)He thought he was hiding it behind a charming southern drawl, but he was just showing his good old boy white male privilege.