News/Commentary

Lindsey Graham, sabotages GOP, gives Dems a major gift ahead of midterms, WH responds

September 14, 2022 | | Print Article

Sen. Lindsey Graham’s decision to introduce a bill banning abortion at 15+ weeks has attracted an incredible amount of bipartisan criticism.

Members of the left say the bill’s an “extreme piece of legislation” that not only hurts women but makes the senator look like a giant hypocrite.

Members of the right meanwhile say the bill poses a massive risk for Republicans going into the crucial midterm elections.

Criticism From The Left

The criticism from the left starts up top with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

During a White House briefing on Tuesday, the press secretary began by noting that though the bill allows for abortions in cases of rape, incest, and life/death, it doesn’t override states laws that say otherwise.

“The senator’s proposal would keep in place the most extreme state-level abortion bans that ban all abortions and have no exceptions for health, rape, or incest. That’s just what his bill would do,” she said.

“It is an extreme piece of legislation, and … from what we are seeing from Republicans on these extreme agendas, that is not in line with the majority of Americans,” Jean-Pierre added.

She also slammed Graham over his alleged hypocrisy.

“I’m going to quote Lindsey Graham from August 7th, 2022. And he said, ‘I’ve been consistent. I think states should decide the issue of marriage and states should decide the issue of abortion.’ And so there, you know, that’s from his own mouth, and now he wants to do a national ban,” she said.

Criticism From The Right

The criticism from the right revolves around the optics of introducing a pointless 15-week abortion ban only weeks out from the midterm elections.

Critics say the bill is pointless because it stands zero chance of making it through the Democrat-controlled House and Senate.

They also say that at worst, the bill is a liability because it may drive more Democrat voters to the poll booths come Election Day.

To be clear, it’s not that the right opposes a 15+ week federal abortion ban. The right actually staunchly supports such a ban given as it’s in line with the abortion limits most European countries boast.

The problem is the timing and optics of pushing such a divisive piece of legislation only weeks before a make it or break it election.

Speaking of timing and optics, critics also say that Graham’s decision to announce the ban specifically on Tuesday likewise saved President Joe Biden from some embarrassment over his wildly failing economy.

As previously reported, on Tuesday the president held a White House party to celebrate the signing of the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. He did so despite reports emerging that very day showing that inflation has worsened across the board.

Even CNN noticed the dichotomy:

But according to Politico, Graham’s unexpected decision to introduce a federal abortion ban on the same day helped draw some attention away from the president.

“A higher-than-expected inflation report was threatening to black out President Joe Biden’s big celebration Tuesday of party-line legislation designed to bring down prices. The subsequent plunge of markets seemed to ensure a painful head-meets-wall day inside the White House,” Politico notes.

“And then, Sen. Lindsey Graham offered an unexpected soft landing. The South Carolina Republican’s 15-week national abortion ban immediately diverted and divided Republicans and left Biden’s aides shocked at the political lifeline they’d just been handed.”

“Dems might need to send gift baskets and champagne to Graham and other Republicans for their selfless act of service today,” an unnamed Democrat official told  the outlet.

Indeed, instead of being forced to defend Biden, Democrats were able to redirect all their efforts toward attacking Graham.

Case in point:

Vivek Saxena
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