Posted on 03/08/2016 12:32:28 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Republicans should have expelled Donald Trump from the Republican Party, Lindsey Graham said Monday.
The former presidential candidate told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that the New York billionaire's rhetoric toward immigrants has exacerbated the problem the GOP had with Hispanics in 2012.
"He took our problems in 2012 with Hispanics and made them far worse by espousing forced deportation," Graham said. "Looking back, we should have basically kicked him out of the party."
Asked how that would be done, the South Carolina senator suggested Republicans could have united against him like many are doing now.
"The more you know about Donald Trump, the less likely you are to vote for him. The more you know about his business enterprises, the less successful he looks. The more you know about his political giving, the less Republican he looks," Graham said. "We should have done this months ago."
Graham added that the Trump train is leaking oil. "I think this whole assault on his credentials of being a successful businessman and being a true Republican conservative is beginning to work," he said.
Trump has dominated the Republican primary thus far, including in South Carolina last month, besting his nearest competitor by 10 percentage points. Graham acknowledged that Trump's message is resonating with angry voters but insisted he would rather the party lose without Trump than try to win with him.
"This is not about who we nominate anymore as Republicans as much as it's who we are. This is a fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party," Graham said. "What is conservatism? If it's Donald Trump carrying the conservative banner I think not only do we lose the election, but we'll be unable in the future to grow the conservative cause."
Graham refused to say what he would do if Trump won the Republican nomination and faced Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in the general election but advocated for anybody but Trump, a list that includes Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. "As much as I disagree with Ted Cruz, if it came down to Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, I would be firmly in Ted's camp because I think he really is a conservative," he said.
Graham attributed Trump's dominance to the crowded GOP field's reluctance to attack him early but maintained voters are now starting to see the real-estate mogul differently after rival candidates have begun exposing his flaws.
"How many of these guys when there were 17 of us basically hid in a corner?" Graham asked. "They didn't wanna, you know, poke the guy. They didn't wanna get people mad. Ted Cruz was running as his best friend."
"Any time you leave a bad idea or a dangerous idea alone," he warned, "any time you ignore what could become an evil force, you wind up regretting it."
I didn’t say he was a multi-billionaire, though he might easily be one.
“He took our problems in 2012 with Hispanics and made them far worse by espousing forced deportation,” Graham said. “Looking back, we should have basically kicked him out of the party.”
That’s right, with Leslie it’s ALWAYS what hurts the illegals ‘feelings’ but no care in the world about American citizens and what we are dealing with.
“Looking back, we should have basically kicked him out of the party.”
Oh yeah? Well Leslie, you look a little effeminate to do the job. Maybe you could get your little buddy McCain to help....he could wave his V.N.P.O.W. card at Trump since that’s all the ammo he has.
Net worth $ 410 Million, that's a lot of money, but it's a long way from being a billionaire.
Celebrity Net Worth is a lot like Snopes.
[[what next, forced incarceration for crimes?]]
You beat me to it!!
Graham... You drew all of 1%. STFU and go do Senate things now.
We did unite against someone: Graham Cracker.
I just made a post about unintended endorsements for Trump. This is yet another one; there have been quite a few. I may need to start a formal list. Maybe one of the Trump guys already has.
It is a mystery to me how the people of South Carolina ever elected this abject jackass as their Senator...multiple times!
Still Lindsey must know the pulse of the people of SC. And Ted Cruz does not. History will show that SC ruined the Cruz candidacy.
They never flinched at Mikey Bloomerg with a big R on his behind.
By using the word “secret” you try to imply conspiracy...
What a crock!
Limbaugh was invited to a dinner that as a broadcaster was “off the record”....
Wouldn’t you go and listen?
If Limbaugh was that far “up their ass” as you imply, they would have just texted him taking points.....He would have genuflected and followed their wishes.....
Exactly!!
A secret meeting? Are you privy to Rush’s non-secret schedule?
I met with over 14 people yesterday, and to you they were all secret meetings. Frightening isn’t it?
Hmmmmm, I don't think Nevadans see it that way.
"Looking back, we should have basically kicked him out of the party."
Funny, that's what most of us say about you, Miss Linda!
So, Linda, you’re saying, “it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to?”
2d Div, thanks for the post and your service!
Is Lindsey Graham really that stupid?
Trump would have run third party and split the ‘Pubbie vote - Hello, President Hillary!.
But letting him run as a ‘Pubbie, they had SOME chance of beating him - honestly or otherwise.
I see your at 30% approval to be in South Carolina
Your going primaried
Forced deportation of those who broke our laws by coming here “illegally”.
Round em ALL up and send em back from whence they came.
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