![Republican Presidential Candidate Lindsey Graham Speaks On National Security In New York Republican Presidential Candidate Lindsey Graham speaks about the threat America faces from radical islamic movements at the Metropolitan Republican Club on November 19, 2015 in New York City.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/lindsey-graham-republican-jewish-coalition.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham took aim at the Republican party on Thursday in no uncertain terms, saying the GOP had gone “bats–t crazy.”
The former Republican presidential candidate was speaking at the Washington Press Club Foundation’s 72nd Congressional Dinner, according to CNN, when he laid into the current candidates vying for the Republican nomination with a series of off-color digs. “If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you,” Graham said, taking aim the body’s widespread distain for Cruz.
Graham also gave Democrats their fare share of ribbing, but he reserved much of his ire for Republicans, and Donald Trump in particular. “The most dishonest person in America is a woman who is about to be president, that can get me,” Graham said, alluding to Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.”My party’s gone bats–t crazy.” At another point, the Senator openly pondered how he been beaten by the current GOP field. “How did I lose to these guys?” he asked.
He later acknowledged his own failed presidential bid and the CNN Republican debate which was being broadcast at the same time from Houston, telling the audience that “this is the largest number of people I’ve ever talked to during a Republican debate.”
To cap it off, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi handed Graham one of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” hats, which he put on. Graham then took a crack at himself for jinxing both his own candidacy, and that of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who he endorsed after dropping out of the race. “I endorse Donald Trump and hope that Graham magic still exists,” Graham declared.
[CNN]
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