Republican presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made an impassioned case for his hawkish views on national defense and aggressively defended some of his more unorthodox GOP views Wednesday in a high energy showing in the undercard debate. Graham drew applause and some laughter in his freewheeling performance.
CNBC host Carl Quintanilla noted that Graham believed climate change is real, pushed for immigration reform, and supported tax increases as part of the budget deal. Then, to laughter from the crowd, Quintanilla asked the senator: “Are you in the wrong party’s debate?”
“No, I think I’m trying to solve problems that somebody better solve. Now, you don’t have to believe that climate change is real. I have been to the Antarctic. I’ve been to Alaska. I’m not a scientist and I’ve got the grades to prove it,” Graham paused, to slight laughter. “But I’ve talked to the climatologists of the world and 90 percent of them are telling me that greenhouse gas effect is real.”
He addressed his thoughts on immigration.
“I want to fix an immigration system,” Graham said. “I’m not going to tell you if you like your doctor you can keep it. … I’m tired of telling people things that they want to hear that we know we’re not going to do.”
Graham said that he would secure the border because if “we don’t we’ll get hurt,” and that he wouldn’t deport “11 million people and their legal citizen children,” but that he would deport felons.
“And those who stay will have to learn our language to stay. Because I don’t speak it well but look how far I’ve come,” Graham said. “At the end of the day, folks, I am trying to solve a problem and win an election. I am tired of losing. Good God, look who we’re running against.”
“If we don’t beat these people, who the hell are we going to beat? Let’s solve problems,” Graham ended, to applause and laughter.
Watch the video:
He’s telling stories that will lead him into oblivion.
Not so nice to know you dude.
Sorry Senator…NO ONE HEARD YOU BECAUSE NO ONE’S LISTENING. And btw, you’re never gonna be President so maybe, just maybe. its time to give up your pipe-dream and quit wasting everybody’s time.
He reminds me of David Brooks, constantly wondering why his party is crazy now, without realizing that it has always been that way.
Unorthodox like wearing white pumps after Labor Day?
Except even with Brooks’ denial he happily contributes to the crazymaking in so many ways.