Senator Graham Admits Lack of National Security Knowledge Amid South Carolina Senate Runup
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Graham made the candid admission just days before South Carolina’s GOP Senate runoff between her and Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., after a moderator asked whether Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security issues for the United States. She responded that national security is "not my thing" and "not my area of expertise."
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New York Times‘I’m Not That Informed on National Security,’ Graham Says in South Carolina Debate Senator Darline Graham made the remark in a debate against Representative Ralph Norman, her opponent in the runoff election to succeed her brother, Lindsey Graham. Here are five takeaways.
BreitbartIn the only televised debate for South Carolina’s Republican U.S. Senate runoff, Sen. Darline Graham Nordone said she “is not that informed on national security” when asked a question about Taiwan and the South China Sea.
PBS NewsHourSen. Darline Graham avoids giving direct answer to national security question in S.C. debate: 'Not my thing' It was a high-profile misstep a week before she faces a runoff election in her bid to hold onto the South Carolina seat to which she was appointed last month.
ABC NewsSen. Darline Graham, running in South Carolina's runoff election, stumbled over a foreign policy question during a debate Tuesday night
Washington TimesTrump-endorsed Sen. Darline Graham is facing questions about her readiness to serve a six-year term after admitting in a South Carolina GOP Senate debate that she’s “not that informed,” about national security.
Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Darline Graham, who is competing in next week’s runoff election in South Carolina, stumbled over a question about foreign policy in a debate on Tuesday night.
The Guardian USAsked whether Taiwan and the South China Sea threaten US national security, republican fill-in senator Darline Graham hesitated. “I’m just going to be honest here,” she told Tuesday night’s debate audience. “I’m – not that informed on national security, so – but I do support the military.”
New York PostWASHINGTON — Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) had two brutal stumbles Tuesday night during her primary runoff debate against Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) — admitting to being “not that informed” on vital national security issues and bungling South Carolina’s population.
NBC NewsIn a Fox News interview that aired July 20, Darline Graham — who never held office before she was appointed to the Senate last month, days after her brother died suddenly — emphasized that the main difference between her and her brother is that she would focus on issues that matter to “the average person,” not foreign policy.
USA TodayThe Republican senator took over her brother Lindsey Graham's seat after he unexpectedly died July 11, made the comments during the South Carolina Republican Party debate.
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"I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security," Graham responded. "But I do support the military. My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years, so I will do everything I can to support the military. My dad was in the Army. I’m not a polished politician up here. National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise. But I do support the military."
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Associated PressGraham started her answer by saying, “I’m just going to be honest here.” “I’m not that informed on national security,” she said, then paused. “But I do support the military.”
ABC NewsGraham started her answer by saying, “I’m just going to be honest here." “I’m not that informed on national security," she said, then paused. "But I do support the military."
BreitbartIn her answer, Graham Nordone stated: “I’m just going to be honest here; I’m not that informed on national security, so — but I do support the military. My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years, so I will do everything I can to support the military. My dad was in the Army. I’m not a polished politician up here. National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military.”
Washington TimesMs. Graham didn’t even try to answer the question. “I’m just going to be honest,” said Ms. Graham, whose career has focused on people with disabilities. “I’m not that informed on national security. But I do support the military. My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years so I will do everything I can to support the military.”
New York Post“I’m just gonna be honest here,” Graham replied. “I’m not that informed on national security. But I do support the military.”
NBC News“I’m just going to be honest here — I’m not on national security,” Graham said. “I’m not that informed on national security, but I do support the military.”
The Guardian US“I’m not a polished politician up here,” she added. “National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military.”
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After the debate, Graham told reporters that South Carolinians are "worried about their pocketbooks more than they’re worried about the South China Sea, quite honestly," according to the Post and Courier.
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Washington TimesA Graham campaign spokesperson said Ms. Graham told reporters following the debate that voters are “worried about their pocketbooks more than they’re worried about the South China Sea, quite honestly.”
6 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 New York Post The US has long maintained a complex policy of strategic ambiguity on Taiwan as part of an effort to deter a Chinese invasion of the self-governing island while maintaining good relations with Beijing.
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02 Fox News The political newcomer has the backing of President Donald Trump, who urged her to seek a full term and endorsed her candidacy after she was appointed to the Senate by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.
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03 NBC News “I fully trust President Trump when it comes to the war in Iran,” Graham said, adding: “Iran is the weakest they have been in 47 years. The one thing that concerns me is we cannot let them get a nuclear weapon. So I trust President Trump and everything he’s doing. I think he’s got this, and I trust him on it.”
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04 The Guardian US Graham, endorsed by Donald Trump and leaning on her outsider credentials, recovered later in the evening, describing her family’s reliance on social security survivor benefits after her parents died, and accusing Norman of being unable to decide whether he wants to work in South Carolina or Washington, citing his gubernatorial loss just this year.
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05 Breitbart The two candidates in next week’s contest — Graham Nordone and Rep. Ralph Norman — met on Tuesday in a debate that aired statewide and nationally on Newsmax.
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06 Washington Times At President Trump’s urging, Ms. Graham soon after launched a campaign to win a full six-year term and placed first in the state’s Aug. 11 primary.
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