Graham On BFF McCain Opposing His O’Care Bill: We’re Still Friends!

UNITED STATES - MAY 11 - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., joke as they arrive in the basement of the U.S. Capitol for a vote, in Washington, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (Photo By Al Drago/CQ R... UNITED STATES - MAY 11 - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., joke as they arrive in the basement of the U.S. Capitol for a vote, in Washington, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (Photo By Al Drago/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made it known on Friday that the likely fatal blow that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) landed on Graham’s last-ditch Obamacare repeal bill would not hurt the two Republicans’ storied friendship.

“My friendship with John McCain is not based on how he votes but respect for how he’s lived his life and the person he is,” Graham said in a tweet storm and an accompanying statement about an hour after McCain announced his opposition to Graham’s legislation.

Graham continued to defend the bill that he co-sponsored with Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Dean Heller (R-NV).

McCain’s stance on the Graham-Cassidy bill was being closely watched because he sank the last Senate GOP attempt to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, after complaining about the rushed and partisan process Republicans were using to ram it through.

This time around, Republicans very clumsily attempted to gloss over those concerns by scheduling a sham hearing on the Graham-Cassidy legislation and by halting the bipartisan negotiations on a more narrow Obamacare fix.

Neither those moves, nor his friendship with Graham, were enough to win McCain over this time around.

“I take no pleasure in announcing my opposition. Far from it. The bill’s authors are my dear friends, and I think the world of them,” McCain said in his statement announcing his opposition.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Note Lindsay insists on FOUR sponsors now. Failure has many fathers.

  2. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    Obamacare is collapsing in Arizona, South Carolina and across the nation -
    driving up premiums and reducing choices.

    In terms you understand. Obamacare need not fail. It can only be failed. You’re welcome, Lindsay.

  3. Hence the bi-partisan “fix” that was in the works, but halted so they could get back in their donors’ good graces.

  4. “My friendship with John McCain is not based on how he votes but respect for how he’s lived his life and the person he is,” Graham said in a tweet.

    Translation: …


    Ah, I just can’t do it. It involves too many references to knees, couches, “bendys,” cooing and gurgling noises, and “the soundtrack of their lives.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CscU6WW4Y-M
  5. Oh good…the bromance lives. Now…’.Obamacare is collapsing in Arizona, South Carolina and across the nation – driving up premiums and reducing choices.’ Horsepucky Linds…it’s only in the states where you made no effort to have it work. You screwed over the voters the first time and you are trying to finish the job with the 49th time. Give it a damn rest.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

26 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for lestatdelc Avatar for sysprog Avatar for navamske Avatar for randyabraham Avatar for mike_in_houston Avatar for ottnott Avatar for fitley Avatar for candirue Avatar for dickweed Avatar for califdemdreamer Avatar for bigdaddydrj Avatar for dddinah Avatar for benthere Avatar for pshah Avatar for jonney_5 Avatar for madmadworld Avatar for tiowally Avatar for grack Avatar for tindalos Avatar for coprophagoussmile Avatar for jstrummer Avatar for 19tibekius6

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: