Jaime Harrison Debates Lindsey Graham From Behind His Own Plexiglass Shield

By Aliza Worthington — October 4, 2020

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is facing quite the challenge in the form of Democrat Jaime Harrison, who's gunning hard for his Senate seat. They're tied in the polls, and Harrison is raking in the bucks from all over the nation. Not only that, but Harrison is only doing exactly what Graham has insisted we all do: use his own words against him — in a debate between the two candidates that took place last night.

The best part? Harrison did it from behind a plexiglass shield that he brought himself to protect himself and others since the candidates and moderators wouldn't be wearing masks, and Graham had had contact with people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

HARRISON: You know, sometimes listening to Senator Graham is like -- it reminds me of playing monopoly with my son, he changes the rules every time he gets. You know, Senator, you said use my words against me and you said it after the Kavanaugh meetings, not before the Kavanaugh hearings, after the Kavanaugh hearings and your words, your promise, was that no judicial nominee should be considered or approved or what have you in the last year of an election. My grandfather always taught me, JaIme, a man is only as good as his word. Senator, how good is your word when you made a promise to the American people? Even more you made a promise to the folks in South Carolina that you wouldn't be doing what you're doing right now.

Graham seemed as if it was an affront for him to even have to appear at the debate to defend his atrocious record. Mr. Harrison spoke this morning to Maria Teresa Kumar on AM Joy, saying, "I told folks that Lindsey Graham was going to try to scare them to vote for him and support him, but I was trying to inspire people to vote for me and I think we accomplished our goal last night."

Kumar asked him about Graham's declaring that the nation needs to "move on" from COVID-19, even as Trump is in Walter Reed with the virus as we speak. Harrison responded,

HARRISON: Lindsey graham said that the virus is serious, but he's still not taking it seriously. I mean, even last night and, you know, in retrospect maybe I shouldn't have done, but this guy was exposed to one of the senators yet he should have quarantined himself. We really have to take these things seriously. It's not just about me, but it's about the people in that room and all those folks that we have to take care of as well.

Kumar played a clip of Graham "griping" about how much money Harrison was bringing in, sounding super aggrieved that people don't seem to like him:

GRAHAM: Let's talk about money and politics. Where the hell is all this money coming from? What is it about South Carolina that's attracted almost $100 million into Jamie Harrison -- Mr. Harrison's coffers? They hate me. This is not about Mr. Harrison. This is about liberals hating my guts because I stood up for Kavanaugh when they tried to destroy his life. This is me trying to help Mr. Trump. The only good Republican is the one that tries to undercut Mr. Trump.

Harrison laughed and wondered how the senior Senator from South Carolina, and the Judiciary Committee Chair can be having so much trouble raising money. He wondered why it was okay for Graham to crow about his donations when he was getting them at the campaign's start, but now he's complaining that Harrison is receiving donations of his own.

I'll go even further. Everything Graham said in that last quote is completely accurate, with the exception of trying to destroy Kavanaugh's life. People DO hate Graham. Partly because he stood up for Kavanaugh. Largely because he is Trump's lapdog. And Republicans who see Trump for what he is ARE at least considered less intellectually dishonest than the rest of the GOP, who tolerate, support and glorify everything he does so that they can cement their power with judicial appointments. So, yes, in my mind, the only good Republican IS the one that tries to undercut Trump.

The difference between me and Graham is that he thinks all that is a BAD thing, and I think it's the very least I can do.

Twitter was mesmerized by this debate that was only carried on CSPAN.

Jaime Harrison Brings Plexiglass Barrier to South Carolina Senate Debate to Separate Himself From Lindsey Graham https://t.co/B8wKDdqgtx via @mediaite

— Sarah Rumpf (@rumpfshaker) October 4, 2020

Wouldn’t you?

You don’t know where Lindsey’s been. https://t.co/TcqwviLWnD

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) October 4, 2020

I just watched the 'highlights' from the Harrison/Graham debate.
Harrison absolutely shines.
Graham looks like someone who has never debated before & comes across as someone shocked that anyone would challenge the position he believes is his birthright, especially a black man.

— Rob Cavanaugh🇺🇸 (@CavanaughRj) October 4, 2020

In case you’re not watching the Harrison/Graham debate, Lindsey just proposed that us older folks take less in social security benefits to save the program. As opposed to making big business and billionaires pay their fair share.

— Fed up in Illinois (@mickivoss) October 4, 2020

There's two more Harrison-Graham debates before election day.

— David Darmofal (@david_darmofal) October 4, 2020

The #DebateCommission should pay attention to the moderator of the @CSPAN debate between Harrison & Graham. She is doing an incredible job of managing this debate. Kudos to her.

— Debra Isaacs Schafer (@DebraISchafer) October 4, 2020