Sen. Lindsey Graham, throughout his career, has been more a follower than a leader. He has always attached himself to men stronger than himself and adopted their moral code or lack thereof, mirroring them to gain their approval. People look back to the days when he was attached at the hip to John McCain, and it was assumed that he had the same moral fiber. Graham was known for his willingness to work across the aisle and work on bipartisan bills. Graham worked with Democrats on issues like campaign finance reform, a ban on waterboarding, cap and trade, immigration reform, and judicial nominees. He criticized the Tea Party Movement, arguing for a more inclusive Republican Party.
Graham owes his political career to another man, Strom Thurmond, a renowned segregationist who fought against civil rights. Thurmond conducted the longest speaking filibuster ever by a lone senator, at 24 hours and 18 minutes in length, in opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Thurmond voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Lest you think it unfair to tie Graham's views to those of Thurmond, the bar owned by his family was segregated until the 1970s. Graham spoke about the “good old days of segregation” when questioning Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. Graham says his question was just sarcasm.
“You aren’t aware of any effort to go back to the good old days of segregation by a legislative body, is that correct?” — Lindsey Graham
Strom Thurmond supported Graham when he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994. After four terms in the House, Thurmond hand-picked Graham to replace him after his retirement. Graham was unopposed in the Republican primary. Thurmond was near death when Graham entered the Senate, so he found a new BFF, John McCain.
In 2016, Graham couldn’t stand Donald Trump. He was annoyed that Trump insulted his buddy McCain with remarks belittling McCain’s war record and having been a prisoner of war.
In 2017, McCain was diagnosed with an aggressive cancerous brain tumor. Even with treatment, life expectancy averaged 14 months. Around that time, Graham became a Trump supporter, blindly supporting Trump’s positions and regularly appearing on the Sunday news shows, advocating on his behalf. Graham spoke out for Trump during his first impeachment.
Some quotes:
- “Impeachment over this? What a nothing (non-quid pro quo) burger. Democrats have lost their minds when it comes to President Trump.”
- “Those who believe that the transcript is a ‘Smoking Gun’ for impeachment, do something about it — have the courage of your convictions. The House of Representatives should take a vote to formally open an impeachment inquiry. Let the American people see where Members of Congress stand!”
- “If you are underwhelmed by this transcript, you are not alone or ‘crazy.’ Those willing to impeach the president over this transcript have shown their hatred for President Trump overrides reason.”
- “From a quid pro quo aspect of the phone call — there’s nothing there.”
- “Underwhelming. If you’re looking for a circumstance where the President of the United States was threatening Ukraine with cutting off aid unless they investigate his political opponent, you would be very disappointed. That does not exist. So, from my point of view, to impeach any president over a phone call like this would be insane.”
- “In the phone call everybody is talking about, there is not one scintilla of evidence that the President threatened Ukraine with withholding money because they wanted him to do Trump’s political bidding. That did not happen.”
Graham supported Trump under every circumstance until reaching the point where he could stand no more after the January 6, 2021, Trump-led insurrection at the Capitol.
“Trump and I, we’ve had a hell of a journey," said Graham. "I hate it to end this way. Oh my God, I hate it. From my point of view, he’s been a consequential president, but today, first thing you’ll see. All I can say is a count me out. Enough is enough.”
Ten days later, Graham voted “Not Guilty” during Trump’s second impeachment trial. Graham’s moment of conviction had passed, and he reverted to being the Trump sycophant he’d been for three years.
Trump is running for President once more, and Graham is having none of the people question his record, particularly Republicans who find Trump’s actions a bridge too far. Graham criticized the growing number of Republicans who have left Trump and decided to support the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris. Graham demanded to know what they were doing, having the nerve to put country over Party.
No, Lindsey Graham, the question is, “What the hell are you doing?” Your inherent weakness has always led you to follow men stronger than yourself, and now, you are no different. You had a moment of clarity after January 6th, but your conscience has since gone missing. How can you question the values of others when you seemingly have none of your own?
You might imagine that when others see you, they see the virtues of a John McCain. Those days have passed. You are only known as Trump’s lackey, willing to support any position, though perhaps he reminds you of the good old days with Strom Thurmond.
The good people of South Carolina can’t be depended on to replace you. Strom Thurmond stayed in the Senate for 47 years despite a history of racism (though he did father an illegitimate Black daughter). What the hell are you doing, Lindsey? What do you want to be when you grow up and have a life of your own?
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of William Spivey's work on Medium. And if you dig his words, buy the man a coffee.