The South Carolina Republican Senate debate turned awkward for appointed Sen. Darline Graham when she was asked about whether the U.S. has a national security interest in Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Graham was appointed to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, a famous foreign policy hawk, who died unexpectedly of an aortic dissection last month. President Donald Trump endorsed her for a full term, but much of the GOP establishment in South Carolina is unsure of her, and Rep. Ralph Norman is running against her in the runoff.
When pressed on the issue in the debate, Graham said, "I'm just going to be honest here. I'm ... not that informed on national security." She added that "I do support the military" but "I'm not a polished politician up here."
This answer failed to satisfy online commentators on both sides of the aisle.
"Please. This charade cannot continue," wrote conservative columnist Mark Davis.
"1. Why are you running for the United States Senate if you’re not up to speed on basic national security issues? 2. How are you Lindsey Graham’s sister if you’re not into national security issues??" wrote Zeteo News founder Mehdi Hasan.
"Point in favor of 'Congress is dead,'" wrote Curt Mills, executive director of The American Conservative magazine. "How dare the legislature, expected to have opinions, have views on anything as highfalutin as National Security? All that matters is that you support the troops, as the Founders intended"
