For any non-Americans confused why we are celebrating Lindsey Grahamâs death, hereâs some of the reasons:
All information from news articles and Wikipedia
Overall a major Trump ally in general, despite originally calling him a âjackassâ and a ârace-baiting, xenophobicâ in 2015 (broken clock is right twice a day).
Consistently pushed for anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Voted for the Defense of Marriage Act as a member of the House in 1996, later supported a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Graham voted against the legislation that repealed âDonât Ask, Donât Tellâ policy. Graham also voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in 2013 (law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity). In 2022, Graham voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which repealed the Defense of Marriage Act and required federal and interstate recognition of legally performed same-sex and interracial marriages.
Identified as a âReagan-style Republicanâ
Wanted to push through Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination ASAP. Kavanaugh was accused by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford of sexually assaulting her in high school, in which she gave damning and humiliating (for Kavanaugh) testimony for. Graham stated he was âunmovedâ by it and doubted her recollection. SNL did a pretty accurate sketch depicting his indifference towards her. Graham used his time to speak in Kavanaugh's defense, describing him as a victim who had been put through "hell" by "the most unethical sham" he had seen in his time in politics.
In 2013, when it came out about the NSA accessing private data of citizens, Graham stated he was "glad" the NSA was collecting phone records.
Overall a huge lover of war crimes committed in Guantanamo Bay. Of U.S. citizens accused of supporting terrorism, Graham said before the Senate, "When they say, 'I want my lawyer,' you tell them, 'Shut up. You don't get a lawyer. You are an enemy combatant, and we are going to talk to you about why you joined Al Qaeda.'" Graham said he amended the Department of Defense Authorization Act in order to give military lawyers, as opposed to politically appointed lawyers, a more independent role in the oversight of military commanders. He argued that two of the largest problems leading to the detainee abuse scandals at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib were this lack of oversight and troops' confusion over legal boundaries.
In July 2010, Graham suggested that U.S. citizenship as a birthright guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution should be amended, and that any children born to illegal immigrants in the United States should be considered illegal immigrants.
Graham opposed extending background checks for those seeking gun ownership.
Graham opposed President Obama's health reform legislation; he voted against the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. He played a leading role in efforts to repeal Obamacare, authoring the GrahamâCassidy amendment, which would have given states permission to remove protections for individuals with preexisting conditions.
In 2015, Graham sponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in the Senate, which bans abortion after 20 weeks of gestation (exemption for motherâs health or rape/incest). In May 2022, Graham advocated that the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade. In September 2022 Graham introduced legislation to institute a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the patient.
In 2002, he voted for the Iraq Resolution, which authorized military action against Iraq. He also supported the invasion of Iraq. Graham and senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman, who were frequently dubbed "the three amigos", traveled widely, pushing for American military intervention.
On November 6, 2010, Graham called for a preemptive military strike to weaken the Iranian regime. In 2011, he supported a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq.
Graham supported the NATO-led military intervention in Libya.
On March 11, 2019, Graham said he would encourage the Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights, which is internationally recognized as part of Syria, as part of Israel.
On October 10, 2023, Graham tweeted that he "unapologetically stand[s] with Israel" during the Gaza war. He called the conflict a "religious war" and said that Gaza should be "flattened". On October 31, 2023, Graham said that no amount of civilian casualties in Gaza would lead him to question Israel's goal of eradicating Hamas.
It would be dishonest to say that Graham was always wrong. He was a big supporter with supporting Ukraine and had big involvement with animal welfare laws, but I believe there are more pertinent issues.
