"If You Can't Run With the Big Dogs, Stay Under the Porch": Lindsey Graham Forces SC Senate Debate Cancellation Because He Wouldn't Take COVID Test
October 10, 2020
MARK KARLIN, EDITOR OF BUZZFLASH
In an article for the American Independent Foundation, Donna Provencher writes:
Senate Republicans are refusing to be tested for coronavirus even as they simultaneously push to begin confirmation hearings for Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
The resistance is puzzling, given nearly half the Senate is 65 years of age or older, the highest-risk group for the virus.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made waves Thursday night when he refused to be tested prior to a debate with his Democratic challenger, Jaime Harrison.
Graham tweeted a statement that specifically claimed Harrison was “demanding special treatment” by requesting Graham be tested before Friday’s debate.
“South Carolinians do not appreciate Harrison putting himself above others,” Graham wrote. “If Mr. Harrison is not able to interact with South Carolinians on the same terms as they live their lives, he should not be their senator.”
Graham added, “Is any other South Carolinian demanding that every person they come in contact with be tested before they meet?”
Graham was being disingenuous at best. He has his lips so close to COVID-Infected Trump’s butt, it would be hard to separate them. Furthermore, he has had recent contact with two Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Graham chairs, who are positive for COVID, probably contracting it at the September 26 Amy Coney Barrett Trump superspreader outside and inside nomination non-CDC compliant “celebration.”
As Provencher notes, Senate Republicans are so determined to nominate Barrett before November 3 to help Trump steal the election and improve, they think, election chances for Republican Senate nominees on November 3, that GOP senators appear to be avoiding COVID tests, fearing a positive one might keep them from attending Barrett Judiciary Committee and full Senate votes.
Indeed, COVID infected Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) vowed to show up for the Judiciary Committee Barrett vote in a “moon suit” if he is still testing positive. This is consistent with Republican officials across the nation putting others at risk of Coronavirus infection to achieve their goals.
There is no ongoing COVID testing in the Senate, so it is likely that in addition to the infected carriers in the Senate, there are likely some asymptomatic virus shedders given that so many have been exposed to patient zero in DC, Trump, or people who have been exposed to him.
However, McConnell and Graham are determined to ignore the threat of Coronavirus spread in the Capitol, in enclosed rooms, in order to ensure Barrett confirmation.
That is the most likely reason Graham wouldn’t take a COVID test, and the debate with Jaime Harrison, who is in a dead heat race with Graham, was canceled.