Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was trying to defend Trump from racism allegations by describing a president who isn’t racist but mentally ill.
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Graham was asked by CNN’s Dana Bash if Trump is a racist.
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His answer was telling, “Absolutely not. You could be as dark as charcoal and lily white, it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re nice to him. You could be the pope and criticize him, it doesn’t matter, he would go after the Pope. You could be Putin and say nice things and he’ll like you. Here’s what I found. He’s a street fighter. It’s not the color of your skin that matters, it’s not the content of your character, it’s whether or not you show him respect and like him.”
According to Graham’s answer, Trump wants to deport all of the black and brown immigrants, not due to the color of their skin, but because they were mean to him. Sen. Graham’s answer doesn’t hold up as a policy explanation, but there is some truth to his description of Trump as thin-skinned, shallow, insecure, person who will do anything to be loved and praised.
The Republican defense of Trump has morphed from to racism to crazy.
What Sen. Graham described was not a sane president, and his description of Trump opens up a whole new set of questions about his mental fitness for the presidency.
With friends like Lindsey Graham, who needs enemies?
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
