Posted on 07/30/2015 4:34:36 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
(AUDIO-AT-LINK)
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, one of many recent targets of fellow presidential hopeful Donald Trump, took the opportunity to swing back at Trump during an appearance on Boston Herald Radio’s “Morning Meeting” show.
“I see (the GOP) getting killed if he is the nominee,” the South Carolina Republican said. “We are not going to elect a man president of the United States who has said the things he’s said about John McCain, who believes that most illegal immigrants are drug dealers and rapists, who has openly espoused the fact that he thinks the president of the United States was born in Kenya.
“I don’t see a birther becoming president,” he added.
Graham took Trump to task on a number of statements the outspoken real estate mogul has made, including saying McCain is only considered a war hero “because he was captured.” Trump has also said the Arizona senator has not done enough for veterans. Graham and McCain are friends and will be campaigning together this weekend in New Hampshire. Graham said part of the reason he takes such a direct tact when it comes to confronting the Donald is out of an effort to speak up for his friend.
“John McCain is not a loser because he was captured, John McCain is a hero because he risked his life in the service of his country in an unpopular war,” said Graham, who achieved the rank of colonel as a member of the Air Force. “When it comes to the military member, military service, and understanding the needs of our armed forces, there is no better voice in Washington than John McCain.”
In the past, Trump spent thousands to investigate whether President Obama was actually born in the United States. While he has said he no longer has interest in birther theories, he told CNN last month that he “doesn’t know” whether he accepts the fact that Obama was born in Hawaii.
“I am confident that President Obama was born in Hawaii and that he’s a decent guy who’s a bad president,” Graham said. “But Donald Trump is a guy who went around the country and openly said he spent thousands of dollars … claiming that the president was born in Kenya.”
In next week’s Republican primary debate, Graham is one of six candidates relegated to a preliminary evening debate, starting at 5 p.m. The top 10 candidates, as ranked by national polls, will participate in the 9 p.m. prime-time debate, including current front-runner Trump.
“I think the whole process the Republican party has chosen this early on is a mistake,” he said. “We have a lot of good people in the field … and the difference between 16 and 10 is well within the margin of error. You are shutting people out who I think have something to offer, start out with everybody’s voice being heard.”
Graham and Trump have at least one thing in common, they both say they play golf with Tom Brady and both support the quarterback in his latest Deflategate entanglement.
“Brady is a guy you want to hate, he’s tall, he’s good looking, he’s married to a beautiful woman, he’s an all-star athlete, and you want to hate him but you can’t, because he’s so nice,” said Graham, adding that the Deflategate controversy was “BS.”
“If I’m president, I’ll make sure Tom Brady plays every game,” Graham joked.
The Patriots quarterback and the senator have each recently destroyed a cell phone. Brady destroyed his before getting a new one in March, a move the NFL has said points to his attempt to cover up evidence in the Deflategate query. Graham released a video showing him wrecking cell phones after Trump gave out his number during a rally.
“I’ve got seven ways to destroy a cell phone,” Graham said. “If (Brady) needs any advice, give me a call.”
Anybody care what Lindsey Graham says?
“If I’m president, I’ll make sure Tom Brady plays every game,” Graham joked.
And that’s supposed to get my vote????
It’s the fault of the GOP that Trump is doing so well.
Trump is the voice they’ve refused to use, saying the things they refuse to say. If they lose to Trump they did it to themselves.
Linda Grahamesty is at again I see.
Lindsey and many others have been blabbering about birthers for so long that they've forgotten the first question that should have been asked, and asked often:
Why didn't Obama present a valid BC back in 2007 or 2008 when first asked about it? John McCain did and a Senate committee reviewed and agreed he was eligible as he was born in the US facility at the Panama Canal.
What Trump did, was become the only one to generate enough pressure on Obama that Obama finally provided something.
There are many opinions about what Obama provided, but Trump succeeded more on that issue than anyone else.
I know, the Washington cartel, both Dem and Rep are going down...isn’t this exciting!!!!!!!!!!
Trump’s popularity must be giving Linda PMS. I couldn’t be more tickled.
Lindsey,
If telling the truth precludes one from ‘winning’, then there is no reason to win. If telling the truth is ‘too radical’, then we are lost. You’ve contributed to this, and should be ashamed.
...so with Lindsey as the nominee, we win, right?
I think you’re right, 2DV...this candidacy is a way for LG to get attention from the sycophant media....not a serious run.
Why, South Carolina, why did you re-elect this liberal?
Lindsey doesn’t see Trump becoming President.....but somehow sees himself in that spot?????
Thanks for insight Lindsey. Stop back by when you can break 0.2% in the polls.
BTTT!
Liindsy bears a large part of the blame for this.
This smacks of cronyism to me.
If one used a scanning electron microscope, one could still not detect Graham’s poll numbers.
Need new party—Liberty Party. Symbol—the ringing liberty bell, Mascot the bear, Motto: “Don’t Tread on me”.
The GOPee may have set their own selves up. South Carolina is a crossover state. Conservatives have long complained that Democrats can vote in the republican primary by will of the GOPee. In 2012, Obama is not running again. Trump is a favorite of many blacks. They may want to be a part of history and crossover vote for Trump. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the very system the GOPee established to ensure repeat RINO wins is the same system that blows them up.
I'm failing to see the downside here.
Nah. It’s you and your pals Boehner and McConnell who have killed the gop. You broke it, you own it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.