Showing clear signs that the GOP is finally acquiescing to real estate mogul and nominee Donald Trump, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a failed 2016 candidate, gave Trump some reluctant praise for agreeing to talk to the National Rifle Assn. about preventing suspected terrorists from buying guns. Saying Trump was “on the right path,” Graham showed signs of coming around but falling short of endorsing the blustery 2016 GOP nominee. Graham once called Trump a “jackass” for questioning the heroic military service of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.} in Vietnam, locked up as a POW for five years in the notorious Hanoi Hilton. Graham admitted that failing to support Trump hurts the Republican Party’s effort to stop Democratic presumptive nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in November. Graham sees Hillary as no different than President Barack Obama on fighting the war on terror.
Softening his tone against Trump, Graham shows signs to backing off the concerted “Never Trump” campaign led by 2016 GOP candidate former Florida Jeb Bush and 2012 GOP nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, both have so much antipathy toward Trump they’re practically willing to hand the White House to Hillary. As anti-Trump Republicans have come to their senses, beginning to fathom the stakes of watching former President Bill Clinton return as First Gent to the White House. “I’m so sorry we are where we are but as to Hillary Clinton, if you voter for her, you’ll continue the failed policies,” said Graham, referring to her history of making egregious mistakes in the Middle East. “Her approach to the war on terror is no different than Barack Obama,” said Graham, admitting that the GOP has one option left [Trump] to upend Hillary in November.
Used by CNN in GOP primary debates, conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt echoed the GOP’s change-of-heart about Trump. Hewitt dismissed recent calls by the anti-Trump faction to change the Party’s rules at the convention, the so-called “dump Trump” movement. Hewitt had some of the debates’ most heated exchanges with Trump, prompting Trump to lash out. When asked by Hewitt Feb. 25 about his tax returns, Trump bristled. “Very few people listen to your radio show.” Since that exchange, Hewitt has taken every opportunity to denounce Trump or find some alternative GOP candidate. “Although there’s been talk in recent weeks of implementing new rules at the Republican convention in Cleveland that would allow part leaders to replace Trump—talk that I’ve entertained—the appetite for that sort of drastic measure is gone,” admitted Hugh.
Trump’s response to Obama in the aftermath of the June 12 Orlando, Fl. massacre prompted criticism from Democrats and Republicans. Trump implied that Obama had another agenda when it came to terrorism, something viewed as disrespectful, prompting Obama to go to his own defense June 13. Trump criticized the White House immigration policy that continues to allow Syria refugees to resettle in the U.S. without proper vetting. Trump implied Obama has another agenda, suggesting to some he might back terrorists. Trump “seems to be suggesting that the president is ‘one of them.’ I find that highly offensive. I find that whole line of reasoning way off base. My problems with President Obama are his policy choices,” said Graham, not realizing that Barack backs Saudi-funded rebel groups fighting along side the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS] and al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra Front in Syria.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) went one step further today accusing Obama of direct responsibility in the Orland massacre. While Graham objected to Trump’s insinuation that Obama backs terrorism, McCain ripped Obama for not doing enough to neutralize ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Obama and Hillary back the five-year-old Saudi Arabian proxy war to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Backing the Saudis, Obama and Hillary pit the U.S. against Russia, sending U.S.-Russian relations to Cold War lows. Neither Obama nor Hillary can explain why the U.S. backs Saudi rebel groups that fight along side ISIS and al-Qaeda for regime change in Damascus. Even when confronted with failures of toppling Midest dictators, Obama and Hillary excuse their actions by highlighting dictators’ failings. Trump sees Obama and Hillary backing terrorism because they’re fighting, like ISIS and al-Qaeda, to topple al-Assad.
Trump’s desire to reestablish a working relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been rejected by Obama and Clinton. Sixty years of U.S.-Russia diplomacy helped end the Cold War, leading to the Dec. 25, 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union. Pitting the U.S. against Russia, Obama and Hillary have harmed U.S. national security, compromising U.S. influence around the globe. Backing the five-year Saudi proxy war against al-Assad, Obama and Hillary have made improved relations with Russia and Iran next to impossible. “For the good of the country,” Hewitt conceded. “Republicans have to be clear about the binary choice in front of us, close ranks around Trump and encourage him to eschew the frivolous and move ahead with a serious message.” Trump’s message doesn’t deviate from mainstream GOP voters, only presents it in a more entertaining way.
