Lindsey Graham: Trump’s comments are going to ‘kill my party’

The Politico ^ | July 10, 2015 | Nick Gass

[2ndDivisionVet]

Donald Trump’s statements on immigrants are going to kill the Republican Party, fellow candidate Lindsey Graham says.

“Well, I think he said something that has brought people who are frustrated about our immigration system to light, but he also said it in a way that’s going to kill my party,” Graham said in an interview with CNN on Friday. “I would prefer that Donald Trump bring his economic genius and his talents to the table in a more constructive way,” he added, noting the billionaire’s charity efforts with military veterans and their families.

Trump’s comments, Graham said, reinforce a narrative between the GOP and Hispanics that will “destroy” any chance the party has of winning the 2016 presidential election.

“I think he should do better, because I think he’s a better man than that,” he said.

Graham is not the only candidate in the crowded Republican field to condemn Trump’s comments that many immigrants from Mexico are “rapists” and “criminals.” A number of other candidates, especially those ranking low in the national polls, have turned to Trump-bashing as they seek to boost their poll numbers ahead of the first debate on Aug. 6 in Cleveland.

If the first GOP debate were held today, Graham would not be on the stage, and two people who have never held elected office—Trump and Ben Carson—would be in.

And Graham has a beef about that, making sure to tell the network televising the first event just how he felt during an interview on Fox News on Friday, calling the top 10 format “a dumb way” to pare down the crowded GOP field.

It’s all about money and celebrity he said, blasting the use of national polling averages to determine the 10 candidates who will appear on the debate stage.

Recent polling has Graham in the low single digits; his Real Clear Politics polling average sits at 1.3 percent. Trump’s average is 6.5 percent, though he polled better in recent polls from CNN/ORC (12 percent) and Fox News (11 percent).

Brad Pitt would have a better chance getting in the debate at this point, Graham said.

“Anybody with any celebrity would be in the debate. I think this is a dumb way to weed out the field. I don’t mind weeding out the field over time, but a national poll tests celebrity, big states have an advantage versus small states,” the South Carolina senator and presidential candidate said. “People who have run before have an advantage over those who haven’t.”

“It’s July, for god sakes. So a national poll is a lousy way, in my view, to determine who should be on the stage, and I quite frankly resent it,” he said.

Graham placed the blame on the Republican National Committee and Fox News for the format, declining to name any other names.

“I would find a way for everybody who’s filed and has got a viable campaign to be on the stage, and after a couple of debates, you could start weeding people out. It’s not about me. It’s about destroying the early primary process of Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina,” he said. “At the end of the day, you’re rewarding money and celebrity over the hard work in the early states.”

Graham said he would decide later whether he would participate in the earlier afternoon forum of candidates who don’t make the cut.

[Original Lurker]

I’ll up the ante with an hour of Joel Osteen.

[Caipirabob]

Lindsey’s “party” involves Victoria secret underwear and no women are invited...

[lostboy61]

Linda and Johnny need only look in a mirror to see Who killed the GOP.

[zek157]

Are you kidding? what about the inexperienced jr senator from Illinois

[iontheball]

Oh, do I hope the RINO is right on this one. No greater news could be forthcoming. Then Grahmnesty and all the other RINOs can join the liberal Communist Party and stop their phony masquerade.

[rlmorel]

...Lindsey Graham: Trump’s comments are going to ‘kill my party..."

He says that like it is a bad thing.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

We have never elected a president without government experience of some kind in our entire history.

---

Well we never elected a black, raciest, narcissistic community organizer with a fake birth certificate and undocumented education before either, how bad could this be in comparison? So while we're experimenting....

[Big Red Badger]

My Party !!??

That’s what I thought,
these hacks need real jobs away from the
public service.

[ncalburt]

LOL

BOY thanks for the reminder .

Why is this crooked DC GAY BOY running for PRES unless its a front for his K street owners to shuffle him money .

[rlmorel]

We can fill in that blank for you:

Tyrannical

Kenyan

Foreign

Communist

Marxist

Socialist

Homosexual

Anti-American

Racist

Muslim

Terrorist-loving

Military hating

Arrogant

Lying

Vindictive

Petty

Ineligible for Security Clearances

Drug using

Effeminate

Frivolous

Narrow-minded

Shallow

Contemptible

Base

Cheating

Phony

Equivocating

Prevaricating

Disingenuous

Duplicitious

Hypocritical

Underhanded

Untrustworthy

Double-dealing

Two-Faced

Underhanded

Sneaky

Counterfeit

Fraudulent

Malicious

Spiteful

Malignant

Venemous

Resentful

Ungrateful

Thoughtless

Heedless

Crass

Odious

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In looking to see if there were any good or funny Synonyms for the word "socialist", I used an online thesaurus at thesaurus.com, and humorously and irritatingly, but not surprisingly, when one puts in the word "Socialist" here is what is gives back as synonyms:

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Then, I got curious, and put in liberal, and got this:

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Of course, if you type in conservative, THIS is what you get:

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So, I guess I stumbled across the source used by un-talented liberal hacks when they need to write political hit pieces on conservatives!

[SkyDancer]

The RINO Republican party imploded years ago.

[Vaduz]

His party killed itself when they teamed up with the progressive Fabian democrats.

[Covenantor]

Well Linda, it’s dirty work but someone has to do it.

[Jane Long]

LOL...love that graphic!

Trump is just sticking a fork in what Bonehead and Midge have ALREADY killed.

[Jane Long]

Interesting. No bias, there! /s

[taildragger]

Does anyone get the sneaky suspicion ( or is it just me ) that Lindsey is not doing this for himself or the country but is doing this as a favor for McCain who can't run again and has his own problems, aka someone is gonna run against him and probably beat him in the primaries?

[PGalt]

Your partys are bankrupt, Linda. The party is over.

http://www.usdebtclock.org

YOU DID BUILD THAT.

We are not your debt slaves. Our children and grandchildren are not your debt slaves. We’re Americans.

[aquila48]

Certainly hope so. The sooner the GOPe is wiped out the better.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Yes, the Whigs could not come to terms with slavery much as the Republcans refuse to stop the invasion.
The illegal alien inundation is THE issue of the day and they are on the side of the illegal aliens agaisnt the vast majority of the citizens.

[Joan Kerrey]

Trump’s statements on immigrants are going to kill the Republican Party

1: Trump’s controversial statements are directed at illegal aliens.

2: If statements of one controversial man can kill a party, I’d guess that the party wasn’t very strong to begin with.

3: The bashing that candidates are experiencing is welcome.
Trump is forcing politicians to face some hard issues. They’re upset that they are being challenged on issues that they have skirted around for years.