Unelectable Lindsey Graham throws caution to the wind

Now that Lindsey Graham is totally unelectable, he's decided to drop out of the "say the craziest thing I can think of" race and started a new one: the race to say things that are obviously true to everyone who's not trying to win the Tea Party, low-information-voter, religious fundamentalist vote.

For about seven minutes during a speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition Presidential Forum, Graham excoriated his party for its unelectable fundamentalism, bashing policies like forcing women to bear their rapists' children, deporting the parents of serving military personnel, and lashing out at his fellow candidates for their divisive fundamentalism and unwillingness to work with Democrats on anything.

Of course, Graham went on to say a bunch of generally crazy, wrong, factually unsupportable stuff, but that was to be expected. For eight shining minutes, he was the sanest thing in the GOP race.

It's not because of social issues that we will lose. It's positions we take regarding social issues that can disconnect us from America at large. How many of you believe there should be an exception for a woman that has been a victim of rape, has become pregnant? I don't believe you can be pro-life and win an election if you're gonna tell a woman who's been raped she has to carry the child of the rapist, you're losing most Americans.


"I Am Tired of This Crap"—Lindsey Graham Plays Thundering Scold in Wild-Eyed, Nothing-to-Lose Speech [Chris Thompson/Gawker]