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."
South Carolina should kick you out, Goober!
What is a "secret dinner"?
You didn't invite me to dinner last night, much less tell me about it.
Ah!
Thou descriest what there I did!
I guarantee if any of us broke into Lindsay Graham’s house, he’d call the cops and have us arrested for breaking/entering and trespassing. What’s the difference with the millions of people who crossed our border illegally?
Since most Republicans consider themselves to be Conservatives, it is clear that Trump is more representative of the Party than is Senator Graham.
The people of South Carolina disappoint me. They voted in Nimrata Nikki Randhawa as their governor, and this flaming gay boy Graham, not to mention for year kept Fritz Hollings in the Senate.
I remember what Rush did to Newt before the Florida 2012 primary. He read an Elliot Abrams piece from the National Review trashing Newt over Reagan... What I did not know was who Rush was backroom dealing with in 2011.
Did Rush ever tell his listeners that he was getting amnesty talking points from Schumer and Graham? I am not the one who labeled this dinner as a ‘secret’.
NO I would not ‘go’ and listen to the likes of Schumer and Graham in getting talking points to sell amnesty to this nation.
Calling Rubio a ‘full throated’ conservative is carrying the water of the amnesty crowd... And comparing Rubio to Reagan is a disgrace and utter bilge water.
Ah, Rush never expected that somebody would out him, getting talking points on how to sell amnesty to his audience... But he was whole hog in NOT telling who he spends his private time getting talking points in how to dress up little Rubio in conservative digs.
It’s the same thing.
Shouldn't you think about retiring in Cuba with l'il Foam Boy, and you can go play two-man baseball?
Two man baseball is a version of the game with just the battery.
Today, Senator Lindsey Graham announced his full-throated support for Senator Ted Cruz, to include giving Cruz access to Graham’s extensive donor and lobbying lists for financial support.
[…] Sen. Lindsey Graham will host a fundraiser on Monday in support of Sen. Ted Cruz.
So no neocons or RINOs support Trump? Don’t make me laugh!
I’m 42 and was thinking of all the Republicans I’ve voted for for the presidency in my lifetime: GHWB, Dole, GWB, and Romney. Trump is the first guy since I was eligible to vote that I actually WANT to vote for and am RARING to vote for. No wonder the elites who foisted those duds on us are running scared.
What you are doing there, I am to be seeing, da?
Lin Graham is full of hate and bigotry and is becoming unhinged.
Agree with you. So very tired of RINO GOPe. Liars all! ...some hold their Bible in the air , put it down and then lie like a dog! Just like Hillary...”arf, arf, arf”.
Yep. Rush and Levin make millions by pretending to be on our side.
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