Lindsey Graham says Black people are safe in South Carolina — if they’re conservative
On Friday night, Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham debated his Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison virtually because Graham refused to submit to a COVID-19 test.
As a result, both Graham and Harrison were separately asked debate questions. And on a question about whether he'd met with leaders of the Black Lives Matter Movement, Graham said in part, "I care about everybody. If you're a young African-American, an immigrant, you can go anywhere in this state, you just need to be conservative, not liberal."
The context of Graham's horrid sound bite was that anyone can have a safe and secure political career in the state regardless of skin color as long as they're conservative. "You can be an African-American and go to the Senate, you just have to share the values of our state," he said earlier in his response, but his aforementioned closing line seemed to make the Black female moderator stammer as she moved onto the next question.
Lindsey Graham, facing a Black challenger: "If you're a young African American...you can go anywhere in this state,… https://t.co/1hSzdvJ25R— Steve Morris (@Steve Morris)1602287672.0
Graham's response almost sounded like he was saying if you're white, you'll be completely okay in the state, but if you're Black or from another country, you'll only be okay if you're conservative like him.
Of course, being conservative or pro-police doesn't magically protect Black people from being harassed or killed, no matter what state you live in.
Twitter users weren't impressed with Graham's creepy answer:
@stevemorris__ https://t.co/IHu51d9CKb— 🇺🇸~ Roni ~ 🇺🇸 I stand with Gov Whitmer (@🇺🇸~ Roni ~ 🇺🇸 I stand with Gov Whitmer)1602296372.0
@stevemorris__ So a white man still thinks he makes the rules on how BIPOC get to exist? “You can go anywhere in th… https://t.co/d6jGEyb1YH— Primrose Lane (@Primrose Lane)1602297817.0
@stevemorris__ In his best Bob Ross voice to soothe us into believing he didn't just spew the most vile anti-Americ… https://t.co/6cdsm3ng3G— avalovesyou (@avalovesyou)1602301807.0
@stevemorris__ I have never heard a clearer statement of intolerance from a major politician than this. Graham says… https://t.co/yQwYpcM71O— Tia Will (@Tia Will)1602331123.0
@stevemorris__ @frankrichny Graham has decided that black people in SC should have GOP or DEM on their clothes to decide how to be treated— Donald J. Trumptin (@Donald J. Trumptin)1602333550.0
@stevemorris__ A sitting US Senator, sworn to uphold the basic human rights of every person, suggesting that people… https://t.co/ubfZa24YoG— Joseph Robertson (@Joseph Robertson)1602306009.0
@stevemorris__ And just when I thought it was impossible I think any less of Lindsey Graham he opens up his spare bottle of racism.— Matthew J. Kuiken (@Matthew J. Kuiken)1602291916.0
