“Unorthodox” Republican presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) welcomes Caitlyn Jenner to his party should she decide to, like her former self, identify as conservative.
“If Caitlyn Jenner wants to be safe and have a prosperous economy, vote for me,” Graham said during an interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash that aired on State of the Union Sunday. “I’m into addition. I haven’t walked in her shoes. I don’t have all the answers to the mysteries of life. I can only imagine the torment that Bruce Jenner went through.”
“I hope she has found peace,” the South Carolina senator continued. “I’m a pro-life, traditional marriage kind of guy, but I’m running to be President of the United States. If Caitlyn Jenner wants to be a Republican, she is welcome in my party.”
Bruce Jenner, of course, came out as a transgender Republican during an interview with Diane Sawyer prior to his transition from male to female. Caitlyn, however, has yet to express her own political views.
Graham went on to address the need for the country to fight the Islamic State terrorists, mentioning Jenner in his argument.
“We need to fight radical Islam together,” explained Graham. “Here’s what I would say to the talk show hosts: In the eyes of radical Islam, they hate you as much as they hate Caitlyn Jenner. They hate us all because we won’t agree to their view of religion. So, America, we are all in this together.”
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was also volleyed a question about Jenner during his own interview that aired Sunday on ABC’s This Week.
When ABC News’ Jonathan Karl wondered whether the likely GOP presidential candidate deemed Jenner’s public transformation courageous, Walker answered, “I think it’s a personal decision. And to me, I don’t know that there’s anything more to comment on.”
