U.S. senator Lindsey Graham is enjoying a bit of a renaissance in his home state of South Carolina. In the aftermath of his impassioned defense of U.S. supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh, Graham appears to have mollified many of his Palmetto State haters … for now.
The politician described as former U.S. president Barack Obama’s “best GOP ally” is rehabilitating himself nicely among conservatives just in time for a reelection campaign – once again highlighting his ability to “count to six.”
Originally a devout #NeverTrumper, Graham is now a golfing buddy and congressional ally of U.S. president Donald Trump – as well as a potential candidate for any number of positions in Trump’s cabinet.
This uptick in Graham’s stature and favorability is no doubt why the “Graham is gay” rumor is being revived. Or is it? Ironically, this time it wasn’t the “intolerant” far right stoking the “Fire Island” flames, it was uber-liberal comedienne Chelsea Handler.
(Remember Handler? She’s the one who blamed Republicans for a mass shooting at a Texas church last fall).
Last week, Handler sent a tweet implying that Graham was a closeted homosexual.
If you’re wondering why Republicans took a sick day today, it’s probably because it’s #NationalComingOutDay. Looking at you @LindseyGrahamSC
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) October 11, 2018
His response?
“I don’t think much about what she says at all,” Graham told TMZ. “If she wants to live her life that way, that’s up to her. She knows zero about me.”
“To the extent that it matters, I’m not gay,” he added. “These comments – I don’t think they reflect well on her. We’re moving on from that. Belittling people is not as fun as it used to be, and that’s a good thing.”
We agree …
[su_dominion_video_scb]This news outlet has never concerned itself much with Graham’s sexual orientation. Maybe he is gay, maybe he isn’t. We hear the same rumors everybody else does, but it simply isn’t something that factors into our assessment of him as an elected official. We are far more concerned that Graham is a perpetual warmonger, amnesty pimp, tax-hiker, Obamacare enabler, chronic flip-flopper and supporter of abortion-on-demand.
Still, Graham continually finds himself on the defensive when it comes to his sexuality. Eight years ago, he used humor to deflect the issue.
“I know it’s really gonna upset a lot of gay men – I’m sure hundreds of ’em are gonna be jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge – but I ain’t available,” he told The New York Times Magazine in 2010. “I ain’t gay. Sorry.”
Pretty funny …
This time, Graham is using indignation against the far left’s selective “tolerance,” which strikes us as an equally effective rejoinder.
The math on this is simple: The more Hollywood attacks Graham over something totally unrelated to his left-of-center voting record, the longer he is able to keep attention off of that record and extend his recent winning streak with the South Carolina GOP base.
***
WANNA SOUND OFF?
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our stories? Please feel free to submit your own guest column or letter to the editor via-email HERE. Got a tip for us? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE. Want to support what we’re doing? SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Banner: S.C. National Guard