Presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is unique in a field of Republican contenders. He appears to genuinely enjoy his campaign run, unlike the rest of the Republican candidates. Consistently, the debaters trudge across the debate stage, as if they are on their way to an extended game of Russian Roulette.
When Graham arrived in Boulder, Colo. for the third Republican debates, he headed out to a local bar and started tending. Then, when CNN’s Dana Bash asked him to play a game of “Date, Marry, Or Make Disappear Forever,” he sportingly joined them. The game is the politically correct version of “F*ck, Marry, Kill.”
Graham was in town to participate at the “kiddies table” for the last Republican primary debate because he hasn’t polled high enough to make it to the main event. This rare Republican actually appreciates the media, unlike his competitors; and earlier in his career, he said:
“Well, thank God for a media that will ask questions.”
On Political Women
The bar game gave him a perfect opportunity to voice his opinion of three well-known political women; two are his opponents in the 2016 election. His choices were half-term former governor of Alaska Sarah Palin (R) and presidential contenders, Carly Fiorina (R) and Hillary Clinton (D).
Of the three, Graham chose a date with Palin and marriage to Fiorina. “Hillary says she dead broke,” he teased the bar’s customers, and then he commented that the former Hewlett-Packard CEO Fiorina is rich.
Graham diplomatically avoided answering who he would “make disappear forever” or “kill,” depending upon the version of the game played. But we know which of the three women was left.
Speaking of marriage, the senator, 60, has never married. His personal life may explain why. After both of their parents died, Graham was left to care for his sister, Darlene. Graham said:
“I haven’t been lucky that way [marriage]. But I have a family. I have my sister, Darline, and her family.”
On Marijuana
Of course, the question of legalizing marijuana arose in Colorado. Graham says he has never smoked pot and believes marijuana is a gateway drug, but he supports it for medical reasons. He told the bar patrons:
“Yeah, I’ve never smoked pot. I don’t know what that makes me. Personally I don’t like the idea. I’m not a big fan of legalizing marijuana, I think there’s enough problems with alcohol without adding to it. Count me in for medical marijuana. I’ve been convinced that it helps people with epilepsy.”
On ISIS Leader Baghdadi
Graham used his off-beat humor to shift the topic:
“I’ll be honest with you, this [marijuana] is about 10th on my list of things to worry about. After I kill [ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-] Baghdadi, I’m gonna come after y’all.”
Bash asked Graham if he ever started using email (no) and who would be the first person he would email if he did start. Graham replied he would email Baghdadi to let him know the senator was on his way.
Graham has a law degree and is a colonel in the Airforce Reserves. Some consider him a war hawk, and he has a hands-on-perspective:
“According to the FBI and the director of national intelligence, Syria’s becoming a perfect platform to strike our nation. I’ve got a very simple strategy as your president against ISIL [ISIS]. Whatever it takes, as long as it takes, to defeat them.”
Graham is an overlooked, underestimated candidate. Strange things happen during presidential campaigns. Democrats and Republicans alike would be wise to keep an eye out for this astute senator.
