maybe the senator is trying to score points back home by bashing Lincoln, but continuing to be a rino in the senate?
Actually, I've heard Senator Graham talk before, and one of his themes for his humor is the fact that the people of his State have long memories, and he often jokes about that. I think I once read a quote of his that when he won his House seat he was the first Republican elected there in 140 years, and they hung the last one. I know I have heard other jokes on the South, and it's always done in good humor. No matter how I read the article with this quote, I see nothing racial in it. It is the usual. Dems looking for any reason to create a stink.