It’s that strange time again in American politics when politicians support candidates they have repeatedly said they can’t stand.
For months, South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham has been warning the nation about Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. But on Thursday, Graham told CNN that not only is he supporting Cruz, he’s fundraising for him. Graham pointed to Donald Trump’s rise as the reason, explaining that Cruz might be the only one to stop him.
“I think he’s the best alternative to beat Donald Trump,” Graham told CNN. “I’m going to help Ted in any way I can.”
It’s a strange position for Graham, who has said all kinds of terrible things about Cruz.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane …
Graham thought Cruz would kill the Republican Party.
“If you’re a Republican and your choices are Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in the general election, it’s the difference between being poisoned or shot. You’re still dead.”
Graham considered Cruz a phony.
“Ted Cruz, at his core, is an opportunist when it comes to his political career. He has an ideological bent that won’t sell with the American people. And when it came time to say what Ted Cruz has done in the Senate, what he’s done is run down other Republicans. He hasn’t solved any problems.”
Graham thought Cruz was terrible on foreign policy.
“I think he’s been just as wrong as Obama, if not worse.”
Graham hated Cruz so much, he’s joked about murdering him.
“If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you.”
All of that culminated in Graham supporting Cruz for president.
“I’m going to help Ted in any way I can.”