This episode underscores the palpable friction surrounding national security discussions, casting a spotlight on the sharp disagreements and impassioned debates that define contemporary Congressional politics.
Tempers flare after Graham accuses Sinema of ‘half-ass’ border effort
Tempers flared on the Senate floor Thursday when Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) asked Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to explain why he voted against advancing the border security deal she negotiated and Graham responded by panning it as a “half-ass” effort to secure the border.
Sinema appeared frustrated about Graham’s vote to block the border deal from even coming up for debate on the Senate floor after Graham and his staff played what she called an “integral” role in crafting the bipartisan deal, along with Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
Sinema challenged Graham to justify his vote to block debate on the bill, which also included other foreign policy spending including aid for Ukraine and Israel.
That’s when the fireworks started to fly.
“So could you help me understand why you voted against the motion to proceed, before we’re able to offer any amendments?” she asked.
But Graham scoffed at the notion that there would have been a real chance to change the border deal that Sinema, Lankford and Murphy negotiated with the White House.
“We did not do that here, so you’re losing votes on Ukraine,” he told Sinema.
Sinema appeared frustrated about Graham’s vote to block the border deal from even coming up for debate on the Senate floor after Graham and his staff played what she called an “integral” role in crafting the bipartisan deal, along with Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
Sinema challenged Graham to justify his vote to block debate on the bill, which also included other foreign policy spending including aid for Ukraine and Israel.
- Graham said the deal Sinema negotiated “did a pretty good job in many ways” but added, “I didn’t think it was enough.”
That’s when the fireworks started to fly.
- Graham said he didn’t think Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) would have given him a chance to offer amendments that had any chance of passing and then boiled the matter down as bluntly as he could.
- “Here is what I’m saying. This has been a half-ass effort to deal with border security,” he declared.
- She tried to ask Graham several follow-up questions, but her colleague from South Carolina refused to yield the floor, his voice rising with passion as he vented his complaints about how the bill was put together behind closed doors.
- “I didn’t see any willingness by anybody to allow an amendment process where we could deal with the border issue,” Graham said hotly.
- "That’s ass-backwards.”
“So could you help me understand why you voted against the motion to proceed, before we’re able to offer any amendments?” she asked.
But Graham scoffed at the notion that there would have been a real chance to change the border deal that Sinema, Lankford and Murphy negotiated with the White House.
- “I think the fix is in,” he said.
- “That’s why I voted no, because I didn’t see any willingness” to have a lengthy debate over amendments.
- “So to my colleague from Arizona: no, no, no.
- This has not been a real effort to find border security in a bipartisan way,” he declared, insisting that Schumer tried to rush the bill through the chamber.
“We did not do that here, so you’re losing votes on Ukraine,” he told Sinema.
Sinema seemed perplexed by Graham’s claim that it had not been a true bipartisan effort, noting that “Sen. Graham’s team and Sen. Graham himself were integral parts” of the four-month negotiation.
- Murphy, the lead Senate Democratic negotiator, backed up Sinema, by pointing out that Graham had a lot of opportunity to shape the border deal.
VIDEO
Tempers Flare After Graham Accuses Sinema Of ‘Half-Ass’ Border Effort
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Tensions reached a boiling point on the Senate floor this Thursday as disagreement over a pivotal border security deal sparked a fiery exchange between Senators. The confrontation unfolded against the backdrop of a contentious vote that has brought the Senate’s bipartisan efforts under close scrutiny.
Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), visibly irate, confronted Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) after he voted against even considering the border security package on the Senate floor. The proposed legislation, a product of bipartisan negotiation to which Graham was said to have contributed valuable input, also contained foreign policy expenditures that included support for allies such as Ukraine and Israel.
- In response to Sinema’s demand for an explanation, Graham conceded the negotiated deal had its merits but ultimately fell short in his estimation.
- His primary contention, which he expressed in no uncertain terms, was his belief that the deal represented an inadequate approach to border security.
As the dialogue intensified, Sinema questioned Graham’s decision to prevent the bill from reaching the Senate floor, thus disallowing further amendments and potential enhancements. This critical junction set the stage for a fervent back-and-forth that delved into the procedural intricacies and political maneuvering within the Senate chambers.Standing his ground, Graham argued that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) handling of the bill would have essentially thwarted any substantive amendments he sought to introduce. In perhaps his most candid moment, Graham openly criticized the negotiations, labeling them “a half-ass effort to deal with border security.”
___________________________________________________________________________________
RELATED
Uploaded: Feb 4, 2024
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., tells ‘Fox News Sunday’ that if President Biden’s goal is to deter Iran, he is ‘failing miserably.’
__
No comments:
Post a Comment