Sen. Lindsey Graham argued Tuesday that Democratic attacks against Sen. Jeff Sessions’ nomination to be the next attorney general are really just attacks against conservatism, because Democrats don’t think any Republican is qualified to lead the Department of Justice.
“The bottom line is that most of things said about Jeff Sessions and the way he acted as a senator could be said about almost all of us on this side who consider themselves conservative,” Graham, R-S.C., said on the Senate floor.
He noted that the NAACP has a scorecard that puts all Republicans at 25 percent or lower when it comes to upholding that group’s values. Democrats, in contrast, score 100 percent or in the high 90s.
“Not only did Jeff Sessions have a poor rating, all of us did,” Graham said.
He also said he’s asked that group for ideas about who might qualify for the job, but never heard back.
“I asked the NAACP chairman, name one Republican you would recommend to be attorney general. I’ve yet to get a name,” he said.
“So what we’re talking about here, unfortunately, is an attack on conservatism more than it is Jeff Sessions,” he said.
“Because almost everything said about Jeff could be said about me and most of my colleagues over here.”
Sessions is expected to be confirmed Wednesday evening in a party-line vote. Under rules changed by the Democrats, a simple majority is enough to confirm Cabinet nominees, even though 60 votes used to be needed. Republicans have 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate.
