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.”
If he has to, Trump can just quit being a birther. What's so hard about that?
How you so sure? Pajama Boy
And not sending all of his campaign contributions.
Killed, as opposed to the resounding successes achieved in the last two elections? That kind of killed?
It's the establishment's modus operandi - conservatism scares them and the Constitution is an impediment.
Linda has a bad case of the vapors.
Linda, are you campaigning for Trump?
[GOP gets ‘killed’]
Yes, GOPe gets ‘killed’.
Which is a good thing.
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.