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The two sides of Lindsey Graham
I was saddened to learn of the untimely and sudden death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was a steadfast and faithful friend of Israel. This is a painful loss for the Jewish state.
I believe it is important to examine the life of public figures who have made a strong impact upon us. In doing so, I must conclude that Sen. Graham was a hypocrite of the highest order.
When Sen. Graham ran against Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, he told us the truth about his opponent. He said that Trump was “a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot. He doesn’t represent my party; he doesn’t represent the values that the men and women who wear the uniform are fighting for.” He said that Trump is “shallow, ill-prepared to be commander-in-chief, that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about in terms of how our laws work. I just can’t go where Donald Trump takes the party and the country.” He noted that he could not vote for Trump.
After Trump surprised us by winning the presidency in 2016, Graham did a 180-degree turn, befriending and embracing the man he had vociferously condemned just weeks prior.
After the Trump-incited Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, Sen. Graham expressed the outrage of the moral center of the nation, saying on the Senate floor, “Trump and I, we had a hell of a journey … but today, … all I can say is count me out.” Days later, Sen. Graham was not only back in the fold, but he joined Trump is his despicable effort to get Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to throw out enough votes to cause his pal Donald to be declared the winner in that key state.
History will render the verdict on Sen. Lindsey Graham. I believe it will be concluded that he was a smart, capable, engaging man who, like so many, shed principle and integrity in exchange for relevance and power.
Oren Spiegler
Peters Township
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